Alone in the Dark is a game of a giant legacy- specifically within the horror world where it can be considered one of the backbones that shaped what modern horror gaming has become. But out of all the 'grandfathers of this industry' so to speak- I don't think anyone holds their pedigree as loosely as Alone in the Dark does. It's startling. I'd reckon that Clocktower gets more lips service as 'influential media' than Alone in the Dark receives- and when I think about- I'd chalk that down to the genuinely awful reputation this franchise has held onto for all the failed revisions, resurrections and adaptations that collectively poisoned this proverbial well. Let me present the worst of these messes and pose the question to you- does Alone in the Dark deserve more respect than we give it?
Alone in the Dark was a pioneer in 1992 as what is said to be the 'the first survival horror game', featuring one gloriously moustachioed man called Edward Carnby and a nowhere near as iconic woman, traversing their way out of a dangerous house full of puzzles, supernatural foes and weight-based inventory management. The game was the first to really present staples that the best of the survival genre exemplify, non-linear level layout, limited resource maintenance- the horror not of being out of control, but being in control and not knowing if that's enough to get out of the situation. Honestly that original Alone in the Dark strikes me as such a lighting rod for horror that it's frankly unbelievable we don't talk about it in the same breadth as say 'Resident Evil' or 'Silent Hill'.
Of course, this is coming from someone who's first experience with this franchise was the lamentably confused 2008 revival which, upon reflection, reeks of 'unfocused updating' energy. Starring a greased haired creep with no moustache that is somewhat disrespectfully labelled 'Edward Carnby'. Rather than presenting a non-linear environment to slowly unravel you are 'treated' to linear episodes that are offered in a DVD-style menu screen with 'previously on' segments and all. For literally no reason. It's not like video tapes or DVDs have anything thematically to do with this franchise, they just did it. The game was also sprinkled with set pieces such as fighting non-descript monsters down an elevator shaft, at least one car chase (there might have been two) and I'm sure I remember a big explosion at the top of a skyscraper. (Although my memory is fuzzy- the game didn't exactly leave any clear impression on me.) It's not a long game and it's not a good game- abandoning everything that original title made unique and adopting general mediocrity in it's wake.
But would you believe that was actually the second mortal blow the franchise was struck in the 2000's? Would you believe me if I told you that 2005 saw a movie adaptation of the... no- I'm not gonna call it an adaptation of the games. That movie was a garbage action trainwreck by Uwe Boll plastered with the Alone in the Dark name atop it despite having absolutely nothing to do with that franchise whatsoever. In theme, in tone, in... narrative. I stand by the belief that Boll had literally no idea what the franchise was and just grabbed whatever IP he could work on. In fact, I blame this movie for AiTD 2008. I don't know how, but somehow it's responsible. I know it.
Which brings us onto the modern game? Absolutely not, because as I just recently reminded myself, like a bullet to the head, there was another disaster product released between the 2008 game and the recent title! Alone in the Dark Illumination was a four person action horror competitive title from 2015 wherein a cool assault gun wielding Carnaby 'descendant', (he's called a 'descendant' despite only being old enough to be a son or nephew at best) a dual-gun wielding Dracula type and two strapped rocker-chicks fight shadowy enemies through themed levels with lightly randomised elements and literally what are we doing anymore? How have we evolved from a franchise literally inspiring Resident Evil to a franchise so lost it's actually copying Resident Evil's awful 2010's co-op trash trend? What went wrong with humanity?
Which now finally brings us to the modern Alone in the Dark game, within which a lightly moustachioed man called, shocker, Edward Carnby and slightly more human female protagonist called Emily Hartwood partake in what is largely a reimagining of the original 1992 title. And the thing about this game- it's actually the best this franchise has seen since the original trilogy that went until 1995. (Remember when games took a year or less to make? What a time!) It stays true to the formula of the original, basing itself around survival elements around a large exploration-heavy environment utilising the dual protagonist set-up to actually explore distinct viewpoints across the same plot somewhat intriguingly. But the game still bombed.
To be clear, the game is no hidden masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. Alone in the Dark doesn't feature the greatest writing we've ever seen under the sun and the launch was buggy, controlled somewhat heavily and just felt largely dated in the wake of the incredible Resident Evil Remakes that pushed this franchise to the cutting edge. But to be honest- I'd consider that an unfair comparison to make. Alone in the Dark was never a huge budget franchise and Resident Evil is the belle of the horror ball, adjust your expectations and this new game is certainly fine for what it is and what went into it and, in those respects, went somewhat underappreciated by both critics and the gaming public. At the very least it plays better than Callisto Protocol.
So Alone in the Dark both cannot catch a break when it tries to spin itself off in wildly bizarre directions trying to seize a new audience, nor when it goes back to it's honoured routes. So why can't this franchise catch a break? Honestly, I think it lost it's spot in history. That might sound callous, but seriously- what is considered the grandfather of video game horror? Resident Evil. The game that took everything which Alone in the Dark presented and sharpened it to a knife's point. They refined and reiterated on what that original simply opined and and elevated the source material to such a point they became the source material. Resident Evil surpassed the father and now there's no place even for respectful consideration put his way.
Alone in the Dark is a game that had it's influence in the gaming pantheon- but I don't ever think it will be a classic worth returning to for anyone but the historically inclined. Nothing of what that original game did is so unique to warrant revisiting, and no attempt to 'modernise' it's quirks survives the translation in a meaningful way. The effort to make this brand a modern day competitor would be so extreme that there's little reason to not just make something wholly new and start from there- it's not like 'Brand recognition' has gotten anyone anywhere with this brand so far. So alas this franchise is likely to slip into hibernation once again, unloved, alone and in the dark.
No comments:
Post a Comment