3DO

Alone in the Dark

The 3DO version improves some on the PC title by adding extra digitized sound effects and voices. Overall, this is a scary little number that's well worth the time and effort. Go for it!

A faithful translation of the PC title, this game has excellent graphics and sound plus is more strategy-oriented. Getting used to the perspective and controls takes a little bit of time. But for fans of more deliberate gameplay, this is the one to get. Playing as a man or a woman is a nice touch (each with their own stories), with plenty to explore.

Alone in the Dark is for gamers who want a little puzzle, a little challenge and lots of hangtime. While the action is nothing to write home about, you'll marvel at use of fully animated polygons and 3-D views. The problem is, after that you'll be all alone.

The controls are a bit clumsy thanks to a confusing user interface. An "action" menu lets decide if you want to fight, search, push, etc. Thank goodness there is a "run" button, because otherwise the slow pace would be unbearable. While most of the puzzles aren't too bad, getting past some of the monsters can be a chore. A few of these creatures look downright silly - one looks like the Tasmanian devil! Alone in the Dark is at its best when you're searching and exploring, but the low frame rate makes the fighting slow and confusing. There aren't too many thrills in this game, but there is a certain amount of suspense. The sound effects and background music are particularly effective. You can save your place at any time. Alone in the Dark was an innovative game for its time, but it has not aged particularly well.