Parents' Guide to

Alone in the Dark

By Brett Molina, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Gory survival horror with subpar game mechanics.

Game Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Windows, PlayStation 2 2008
Alone in the Dark Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Tom_Gamer_Tom
Tom_Gamer_Tom Adult
June 25, 2010
age 14+

Alone in the dark is very scary.

Alone in the dark is a very violent and scary game. There is a lot of blood throughout, Blood all over the place. If you have played Nazi zombies, expect the same level of violence. There are mutated zombies and stuff there. Its one of the most violent 3rd person game, near to Resident Evil. There isn't much language. Some F words but not much else.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Atari, known best for its classic gaming library, takes a frightful turn with the release of ALONE IN THE DARK. While this survival horror adventure incorporates some unique concepts, there are too many scary features lurking in the shadows. As Edward Carnby, you rove New York City's Central Park investigating a supernatural phenomenon. As you progress, you'll uncover not only Central Park's dark secret, but mysteries about your character. Perhaps the story's most interesting element is an episodic layout. Each level is treated like an episode of a television series. When you return to the game, you're treated with a brief recap of what happened previously. Levels end with closing credits, allowing you to absorb the game in small chunks. If certain sections are too difficult, you can even skip to the next part.

Alone in the Dark is a mix of multiple game genres, including first-person shooter, platformer with puzzle solving, and open-world exploration. You'll kill zombies one moment, then hop in a car to escape a barrage of creatures, or study how to get out of a decimated skyscraper. A key component to the game, as well as your primary weapon, is fire. Most enemies can only be killed by burning. A clever inventory system offers great variety in determining how you do this. Combine flammable liquid and a handkerchief to create a Molotov cocktail, pour liquid on ammo for fire bullets, or grab an aerosol spray can and lighter to create a mini-flamethrower.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (5):

While the choices are robust, pulling them off is a vexing matter. Combat is maddening. You're constantly flipping between a first-person and third-person perspective, often to your detriment. Players can only throw items or melee attack in third-person, and can only fire their gun in first-person. Shooting is difficult because the mechanic lacks a more precise aim feature. Driving is equally frustrating since cars are nearly impossible to control. Moving and striking with objects like axes looks and feels stiff. Alone in the Dark's attempt at blockbuster status is unraveled by subpar gameplay mechanics.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the survival horror genre. What's the key to making these games scary? The game introduces an episodic structure, similar to a television series. Is this format better or worse than a more traditional layout?

Game Details

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