After years in the shadows, the remake of the classic Alone in the Dark looks to revitalize the pioneering series. A survival horror genre originator, Alone in the Dark released back in 1992 and set the tone for games that followed such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Despite some unfortunate detours over the years that ruined the reputation of the franchise, the upcoming remake has serious potential to recapture what made the original so special. Alone in the Dark was one of the first games to feature a rich story about its creepy setting as the main source of its horror, and the remake is already showing a commitment to the same foundation.
2022’s announcement of the remake was a shock to survival horror fans, as the Alone in the Dark franchise had seemed scattered, lacking the same strength of other iconic horror properties for years. Fortunately, the new game’s faithful adherence to the same period piece plot as the original is a refreshing and engaging departure from underperforming modern outings. After years of a mainstream association with a troubled 2008 reboot, many players had forgotten the importance of Derceto Manor’s pivotal horror scenario. With the remake staying true to the 1920s setting while also having the benefit of three decades of technical advancement, its atmosphere is capable of reaching unknown places.
Alone in the Dark Remake Benefits from Decades of Innovation Inspired by the Original
The Alone in the Dark remake doesn’t seem to be solely focused on retreading old ground with its story, however, as the more developed story has received new details and plot elements that keep things fresh. While Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood are still investigating the suicide of Jeremy Hartwood within his mansion, the focus on visual fidelity and storytelling now presents the game with an unprecedented level of immersion and depth. While even the original game managed to provoke scares with its subversive enemy encounters for the time, its MS-DOS era environments were only capable of expressing so much about the complex setting of Derceto Manor.
Alone in the Dark inspired horror classics that went on to the define the genre in the years since the release of the original game. While these games had largely surpassed the series in their own ways, their accomplishments only show the remake’s potential to continue their success. There have been many titles such as the Mafia series that highlight finely crafted representations of specific time periods, a concept that was limited in its execution all the way back in 1992. There have been modern games like Resident Evil 7 that saw the player investigating a creepy home in Louisiana, but rarely is such a premise interwoven with a historical setting in the style of Alone in the Dark.
Alone in the Dark’s Demo teases the Mysteries of Derceto Manor
Developer Pieces Interactive recently released the “Prologue” demo for Alone in the Dark, finally allowing players to step into the creepy mansion of the game. Through the eyes of a little girl, the beautiful vintage feeling of the manor is evident as she innocently explores its halls and rooms. The game shows its central juxtaposition as her travels to the downstairs take her into a surreal, cave-like area before a dark ending befitting the genre. Without giving away where the mystery is headed, it's been firmly established that Derceto Manor has something deeply uncanny flowing through it.
The intricacies and disturbing imagery showcased in the demo and footage so far make it evident that Alone in the Dark’s setting sits at the heart of the new game. Between the realized sense of corrupted ornate luxury exclusive to this premise, the serious performances of famous actors David Harbour and Jodie Comer, and a willingness to remain faithful to the original’s winding plot, Alone in the Dark remake’s historical horror mansion is set to become its own monster that strikes terror into the hearts of players.
Alone in the Dark launches October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
