Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)

Did You Know?

• The game's storyline was inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos of H. P. Lovecraft and the work of directors Dario Argento and George A. Romero.
• A reimagining of the original game, published by THQ Nordic, was released on 20 March 2024.
• Alone in the Dark inspired two live-action films: Alone in the Dark (2005) and Alone in the Dark II (2008).

Plot

In 1925, artist Jeremy Hartwood died by suicide in his Louisiana mansion Derceto, which is rumored to be haunted. The player character—either private investigator Edward Carnby or Jeremy's niece Emily Hartwood—enters the mansion to investigate a piano in the loft. Once inside, the doors slam shut, and monsters attack. Documents reveal that Derceto was built by occultist pirate Ezechiel Pregzt, who performed dark rituals in caverns beneath the house to extend his life. After being shot and the mansion burned by Union soldiers during the Civil War, Pregzt's spirit inhabited a tree in the caverns. Jeremy killed himself to prevent Pregzt from using his body as a host, and Pregzt now targets the player. If the player is incapacitated, their body is dragged to a sacrificial area and possessed, unleashing horrors. In the other ending, the player throws a lantern at the tree, flees the collapsing cavern, and leaves the house. The player returns to their car to find a zombie at the wheel, who drives them back to civilization.

Development

In 1991, Infogrames acquired rights to adapt Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu role-playing game. CEO Bruno Bonnell proposed a game where players used matches for snapshot views in darkness. Programmer Frédérick Raynal, a fan of horror directors Dario Argento and George A. Romero, wanted to create a horror game and asked to lead the project, suggesting 3D animation. Bonnell deemed it impossible and assigned Raynal to port SimCity. Determined, Raynal worked evenings with colleague Didier Chanfray to build a 3D animation engine. Chanfray created a concept sketch of a figure in a dark hallway with a lantern, which Raynal called iconic. To find a set decorator, Raynal held an internal contest; graphic artist Yaël Barroz submitted paintings that emulated traditional styles, and Raynal hired her to develop the game's environments.

Reception

Alone in the Dark received positive reviews, with critics calling it a breakthrough. Dany Boolauck of Tilt called it a revolution in gaming, comparing it to Dungeon Master, Prince of Persia, and Another World. Next Generation described it as a breakthrough game, and AllGame noted it stood out as a graphical gem. The atmosphere and sound design were highly praised: Next Generation said the mix of eerie music, grim animation, and suspense created tense horror. Charles Ardai in Computer Gaming World reported jumping in fright at sounds. Scorpia commended the mood established through interactables and effective sound. Lawrence Neves of GamePro noted that moaning, laughter, and screams instilled the right mood. The fixed camera angles drew comparisons to horror film cinematography. Jacob Blackford of Computer Shopper said it created an engaging, movie-like environment. Scorpia called the camera system unique, arguing that perspective changes kept players alert. John Cantees of GamingBolt later noted the angles set a cinematic tone while working within technical limits.