Alone in the Dark, one of the seminal survival horror games that helped create and define the genre in 1992, is getting a new addition to its portfolio, which was revealed at the recent THQ Nordic Digital Showcase. Something between a sequel, a remake, and a reboot, the new Alone in the Dark will be a new experience for returning and new players alike.
Based on the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, the original game was set in the 1920s and featured Edward Carnby as the private detective protagonist. The original game was so successful that it spawned six sequels. The newest game, Alone in the Dark: Illumination came out in 2015. THQ Nordic became the new owners of the series in 2018, taking over from Atari SA after the latest game in the series was panned universally. The new Alone in the Dark revival was announced with a new game and a new developer, Pieces Interactive.
The new Alone in the Dark game, according to the PlayStation Blog, will be a "completely original story" that incorporates "characters, places, and themes from the original '90s trilogy." The game will have something new for fans of the original, while also keeping faithful to the setting and the main characters: Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood. The latter is the other main protagonist from the original game, and will make a comeback alongside Derceto Mansion, a prominent location in the series. The mansion will be updated and expanded, but all the enemies will be brand new with "nods to monsters from the past."
Alone in the Dark Revival Promises All-Star Collaborators
THQ Nordic seems to be investing a lot in this revival, as it's hired a lot of experienced names to work on the game. The story was written by Mikael Hedberg, who wrote Amnesia: The Dark Descent, both of which flourished in the horror genre. Guy Davis, the famous comic book artist and monster designer who is known for his collaborations with Guillermo del Toro, is responsible for numerous monster designs in the game. Jason Köhnen, a musical legend in the Doom Jazz genre, will be applying his gifts to the soundtrack. With names like these, the new Alone in the Dark appears to have serious potential.
Alone in the Dark created and revolutionized an entire genre 30 years ago, and from the names attached to this new project, it looks to be a series that could once again step into the spotlight of survival horror, rivaling newcomers like Scorn. The game itself promises to be a reboot of the original with new monsters and expanded settings, while still keeping the original protagonists. This new Alone in the Dark, which will be a love letter to the genre the original helped create, will be the start of THQ Nordic's vision for the series.
Sources: PlayStation Blog
