It’s been a long time coming – not least for fans of the last instalment, which came out seven years ago – but Eden Studios’ larks-in-the-park reimagining of the Alone in the Dark series finally hits later this month.
A steady stream of spectacular trailers has ramped up interest very nicely in this Central Park-set adventure. And Eurogamer TV even blundered around in the real park after dark in pursuit of the game’s secrets.
Originally a moustachioed detective, series hero Edward Carnby has been treated to a hunky Hollywood makeover in preparation for his grand return. And that’s in keeping with the slick TV-style feel of an adventure so obviously in thrall to present-day entertainment colossi like Lost and 24; so much so that the story unfolds in episodic format to suit the structured tastes of today’s discerning telly addict.
Game-wise, most positive chatter has been reserved for the inventory system, which enables creative combining of items as both a means of outside-the-box thinking your way through puzzles, and just tearing strips out of enemies and the environment in freshly satisfying ways.
With the game out on 20th June, you don’t have much longer to wait before Eurogamer delivers its verdict on one of the biggest single-player games of 2008 – which, if you believe Phil Harrison, are a dying breed. And, as former PlayStation dev boss, he should know.
