Previous installments of Alone in the Dark have been renowned for their puzzles and gameplay. That legacy has carried over to the most recent game — unfortunately, not in the greatest ways. That said, Alone in the Dark is a game you just hate to hate.

The premise of the game is intriguing, to say the least. You play as Edward Carnby, who has recently awoken with a conveniently timed case of amnesia. During the course of the game, you must discover who you are and uncover an evil plot centered on Central Park and save a city from its imminent destruction.

The games' numerous episodes are divided by a "previously on" message screen usually seen in TV shows, which is an innovative feature. This would be much better if the other innovative features didn't make the game such a hassle to play.

The game is plagued by sluggish controls, very bad driving sequences, frustratingly hard goals that have to be completed using said controls and, most of all, dealing with the fact that you have been let down by such a promising game.

It's not all bad. The game does have interesting characters, the ability to fashion weapons and explosives from objects found in the game world, an engaging plot, plenty of playable actions you would do in the real world, lots of bizarre and demonic enemies to smite with your arsenal of random objects and household cleaning products, and just the overall unique and terrifying feel inherent in all of the previous Alone in the Dark games.

So, suffice to say this game isn't all bad, but so much more could have been done to make it a pleasant experience. Fans and diehard gamers out there probably will be very disappointed in this game, but the negatives likely will be seen as a plus for those looking for a hard game to give them a satisfied feeling if they actually finish it.

If you are into obscenely hard games, another survival horror to add to your list, good story lines or just anything different, then think about going out and renting this game or plopping down $60. You might rather spend that money on 60 bucks worth of jelly beans.



Francis Trujillo just finished his sophomore year at Academy for Technology and the Classics. You can reach him at fx-trujillo@hotmail.com.