Alone in the Dark: Inferno Hands-on Preview

We were really rather excited about Atari’s Alone in the Dark. For about a year leading up to release we were treated to numerous demonstrations that all showed the game as one to look out for. A year ago at Games Convention 2007 we saw a tech demo and were blown away. The fire propagation technology looked amazing and hinted at potentially brilliant gameplay situations, and the in-game inventory system seemed to be a unique idea that others would copy. Fast forward to June this year and Alone in the Dark released on Xbox 360 and PC (also Wii and PS2, but we’re better off forgetting about those) to a rather negative reception. Alone in the Dark wasn’t the game we wanted it to be, tied down by camera and control issues, and an awful lot of bugs. The Xbox 360 game is the epitome of our 6/10 Disappointing rating. So, one year after our first look at the game we’re back at Atari’s Games Convention booth to see whether developer Eden Games has managed to make the PS3 version what the 360 game should have been.

So just what has been changed? The PS3 game is still a few months from release (Atari is targeting a November launch) but the build on show at Games Convention 2008 certainly suggests PS3 owners will be getting the definitive version of the game. We’ve been fooled by impressive demonstrations before though, and we’re not making the same mistake again. We’ve got a list of things we want improving, and we’ve found out if they will be.

Something David Nadal, Game Designer on Alone in the Dark was keen to point out before our presentation of the game began is that none of the innovations from the Xbox 360 game have been removed from the PS3 version. At its core the PS3 game is the same as what Xbox 360 and PC gamers have been able to play since June, but numerous, significant improvements have been made in key areas.

One of the biggest complaints levelled at the original release is how awkward Edward Carnby, the main character, is to control. In the PS3 game this has been improved by changing the camera system and by making him more agile. Instead of the almost locked camera that stuck behind Carnby in the 360 release, now it’s completely free. By using the right analogue stick you’re able to get a much better view of the surrounding area, and this gives you a greater sensation of freedom. Eden Games has also made his movement on the left stick more responsive and made running dependent on how far forward you’re pushing the stick. Atari found that many players simply forgot to press the run button in the Xbox 360 game, getting them into trouble when trying to get away from enemies.

Players of the previously released versions will know that melee combat was handled entirely with the right stick while using a third-person camera. The same is true of the PlayStation 3 version, although you need to press L2 in order to switch between free-cam and a locked view-point, freeing up the right stick to swing items all around you. Melee combat is an essential part of the game, as enemies need to be burnt to be killed. By smashing them with a heavy object you’re able to knock them out, allowing you to drag them to a fire. Thankfully Eden has made it easier to knock down enemies, so you’ll feel more confident about a good outcome when you’re picked on by an unsavoury enemy.

While melee combat is performed when using a third-person camera, shooting is only possible from a first-person point of view. The shooting mechanics haven’t been changed, but Eden has made the view more immersive and in keeping with what gamers expect from an FPS. The Xbox 360 and PC versions didn’t feel right when played in first-person, and the subtle changes made to the view bob and additional animations make it a far more believable view point. Aiming has also been tweaked, so it’s now slightly easier to target enemies with your reticule.

Another area of the game that caused problems for gamers is the in-jacket inventory system. Carnby uses his jacket and belt to store items so you just look into it to access all your tools. This all happened in-game with the game running in the background. Although it sounded like a great idea, in practice it caused problems when trying to create items – unless you had found good cover you’d be attacked while messing about with items, which wasn’t a good gameplay experience. On PS3 the game will pause when you enter the inventory. You’ll also have more room to play with as your torch no longer needs batteries, you can combine items without needing to select a certain item before the other, and dropping items no longer requires confirmation. These are all subtle changes that should go a long way to making the PS3 version of Alone in the Dark a much more enjoyable experience.

Gamers may have found Carnby’s movement annoying, but most people found the car handling to be atrocious. Eden wanted to make it feel relatively easy for all players, making the car slide without any trouble, but in practice it made the car handle unlike what gamers are used to. In the PS3 game they’ve made the driving model more realistic, improved the physics and changed the spectacular escape scene in which you’re racing through New York City as it falls apart all around you. On the Xbox 360 this is one of the most annoying and disappointing next-gen experiences, but on PS3 Eden added a checkpoint and toned down the speed of the ever incoming deadly wave of rubble. These changes combined with the new driving model meant that we were able to complete it first time – something we imagine few Xbox 360 and PC gamers were able to manage. If you still have trouble finding your way through the chaos, female friend Sarah will shout out directions to point you in the right direction.

By far the biggest, most talked about problem in the original release occurred when gamers appeared to be approaching the end of the game. In order you increase your spectral vision you had to burn roots that had appeared all over Central Park. In the 360 game you were forced to go on a rather lengthy and often tedious hunt for these roots, trekking all over Central Park on foot or by a rather tricky to handle car. In the PS3 release Eden Games has made a few changes to how this element of the game works. Rather than having the player do all the root hunting at the end the game now tasks you with burning them throughout the game. A root burning tutorial-like section has been also added at a point in Central Park that players can’t miss, and you’ll need to have destroyed fewer roots in total to complete the game than in the Xbox 360 version.

There are other improvements and changes too. Item placement in the original release used an algorithm to randomly place them around Central Park. In the PS3 game this has been refined so that players won’t find themselves desperately seeking certain items as often as they did in the 360 game. PS3 gamers will also get a completely new section that takes place just after the forklift section and some visual improvements here and there. Currently the game looks pretty good, with Eden saying it’s around 80% up to par with the 360 release. Fire effects are still being worked on, but it already reacts and propagates as it did on the 360.

Having got our hands on Carnby while on foot and in a car the improvements are abundantly clear. We’re not sure if it’ll completely transform the game (although the changes made to root burning will go a long way), but all signs point towards Alone in the Dark on PS3 being the ultimate version of the game. So where does this leave the original 360 and PC releases? Nothing has been set in stone, but a patch to implement the gameplay changes (core Carnby controls and camera, car handling and inventory tweaks) is possible. The only thing existing owners of the game won’t be able to get in a patch is the extra content being added to the PS3 game. Hopefully Atari will work out the details and let 360 and PC gamers play the game as PS3 gamers will be able to this November.

If all this sounds like too too good, there is some bad news: there won’t be trophy support in the PS3 game. As with many games due for release this year, trophies were announced a little too late to make it in. On the flip side, Atari plans to release a demo ahead of the PS3 game’s release date so you’ll be able to see most of the improvements before handing over your cash. Look out for our review of Alone in the Dark on PS3 later this year.