Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare
Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare see short title
You can play The New Nightmare as either Edward Carnby, a paranormal private investigator and poster boy for the series, or Aline Cedrac, a college pr... » full description
You can play The New Nightmare as either Edward Carnby, a paranormal private investigator and poster boy for the series, or Aline Cedrac, a college professor and requisite video game babe. As in Resident Evil 2, the protagonists cross paths but have separate adventures within the main story, which, in this case, involves evil supernatural forces at work on the appropriately (but unimaginatively) named Shadow Island.
Although The New Nightmare uses the genre-standard, third-person, fixed-camera viewpoint, it adds a twist by bathing most of its detailed, predrawn 3-D backgrounds in darkness, and then equipping the player with a controllable flashlight. Not only does this create some rather impressive lighting effects, but it also heightens the sense of fear that is further fueled by the game's ominous music and sounds.
Unfortunately, the rest of The New Nightmare isn't very inspired. Its underdeveloped controls are on par with the first Resident Evil, which might not be so bad if not for that fact that this combat-light game has you tediously running around looking for keys to match its many nondescript locked doors, as well as trying to find solutions to vague puzzles that all too often leave you in the dark. --Joe Hon
Pros:
- Play as either of two protagonists, each in a separate adventure
- Impressive lighting effects
- Effectively ominous music and sounds
- Awkward v « short desciption
User Reviews
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Review Date: 2009-05-07
I purchased this game and at first I was a bit skepical
because many of games said they were this and that and so I thought
this might be another. I was so wrong. This game was EXCELLENT and I enjoyed it! Of course I'm not quite out of it yet but it seems to get more and more thrilling. Cool Game what more can I say here.
User: Sue Geldof
Rating:
Summary: Horror
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 0
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Review Date: 2007-05-14
I haven't played this title in years, but I still recall very fond memories of how creepy it was. People complain AITD 4 is nothing but a shoddy rip off of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Whether AITD is the original progenitor of the survival horror genre within digital entertainment, I am unsure. But, I know the francise did touch upon the idea long before RE or SH came along (I remember playing a very primitive and earlier edition of AITD on my computer as a child, and I'm almost 25 as of this review!) and improved and expanded upon the possibilities of the survival horror video game.
However, I can understand the criticism. After all, there are many...MANY...similarities between this title and RE or SH. Except the storyline follows a more evil/supernatural (a la' Silent Hill) course than any Resident Evil title, which, for me, makes the story all the more disturbing, and thus more pleasurable. The story was pleasurable because it is evident that its creators attempted to put some thought into it. I find this "evidence" in the fact that the reading files are numerous, very detailed, and serve to enrich the game's environment and plot by providing background information. The creators went at great lengths to develop the plot itself, which is richly embued with history, drama, mystery, occult practices, aboriginal culture, and malevolent supernatural forces. The puzzles can be very difficult and even frustrating, which is good in my opinion, since the idea of a puzzle in Resident Evil is pushing a few buttons or boxes in a particular order. Survival and thinking are encouraged over trigger happy shooting sprees, as ammo for the weapons are usually scarce.
I do recall that an annoying faux metal melody begins when monsters appear, this did detract from the dark atmosphere. I also recall the process required to defeat the last boss was rather anticlimatic and stupid. Some puzzles will probably require help from an online guide (thank God for gaming nerds who spend all their time figuring the nuanced elements of a video game) Other than these and a few other minor gripes, AITD 4 was a fun and creepy play. This title isn't the best (see Silent Hill for that), nor is it groundbreaking, but for those who truly love the survival horror genre, this might be a good addition to a collection, or at the very least a fun rental, if you can still find it.
User: A Pilgrim
Rating:
Summary: A solid survival horror title for its time...
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 0
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Review Date: 2006-03-03
I love survival horror games. It's one of the only reasons I play video games at all on consoles. Alone in the Dark 4 is one of those games that grows on you and now I can't stop playing it. I'm hooked.
I am a huge fan of the Resident Evil series and I think AitD4 separates itself from RE in such a way that it is close, but not too close, evoking its own sense of fear and even loathing at some of the creatures.
If you are a fan of HP Lovecraft, you will appreciate the Alone in the Dark game even more. If you haven't read, HP Lovecraft, do yourself a favor and pick up one of his books. You will find laid out before you the type of gothic horror world envisioned by a person of Lovecraft's talents and neatly woven into a game like AitD4.
For survival horror fans, you will not be disappointed with this game. I have always been a fan of Infogrames and I will be forevermore.
User: Curious George
Rating:
Summary: Excellent in its own right!
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 0
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Review Date: 2003-11-09
This game is the best of horror games it is very good when I play it I can't put it down i thought at the first when aline meets that old woman that was creepy the whole game is creepy if you like horror games go out and buy it you won't be sorry
User: $review.reviewer.Names
Rating:
Summary: best horror game
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 0
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Review Date: 2003-03-08
This game is the best i love it I thoght at the first of the game when aline meet that old woman that was scary the whole game is creepy i love games like this so if u like scary games go out and buy it you wont be sorry
User: $review.reviewer.Names
Rating:
Summary: best game
Helpful Votes: 0
Total Votes: 3
Editorial Reviews
Edward Carnby, detective of the supernatural, returns to investigate the death of his best friend, Charles Fiske, whose body was found in the waters of amysterious island off the coast of Maine. Carnby's investigation quicklyleads him to his friend's search for three ancient tablets, which, whenplaced in a specific location, will unlock an incredible and dangerouspower. Armed with a flashlight and a pistol, Carnby must find the necessaryitems to survive as well as the clues that will help him escape hisultimate nightmare.Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare carries on the survival-horror series tradition of intense action and suspensefuladventure. Within its dark and strange atmosphere, conventional rules donot apply. The player must overcome his natural fear of the dark unknownand control Edward Carnby through the game's deep storyline.
Product Details
- plays perfect