Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare

"What kind you are ???"

I have liked to try on any survival horror games since I began to know Resident Evil series. Although Alone in the Dark series has been known before Resident Evil, but Alone in the Dark : The New Nightmare is really the game type I like. I don't like previous Alone in the Dark games because their story and graphic were too simple. And I hope Alone in the Dark : The New Nightmare would be better. But...

Gameplay 7/10
Not very fun. Although there are some good puzzles, the game is still bored because there are too less of them. Mainly we play to find and fight, not to think and fight. I don't like that feeling. Fighting is not the only way to survive. Most of the puzzles have no creation. I just think it might get from Resident Evil series. Generally, it's bored !!!

Story 6/10
Such a confusing story and irrelevant ! What do Aline and Carnby really want in their journey ? Is that guy Alan necessary to find ? And all the guys we meet on our way, are they needed to appear ? Or just useless situations in the game ?

Graphic 8/10
Alone in the Dark : The New Nightmare has better graphic than previous games because of modern consoles and skills. But it isn't good enough to receive my ''10'' marks.

Sound 8/10
Just like the graphic. The sound is made well, too. But I think each sound of different things should be made more various and real. In this game, the sounds are too simple and sometimes incorrect.

Character Design 6/10
Darkwork never changes this. I wonder their designs are always bad in my eyes. Edward Carnby in Dreamcast or Playstation console, both looks terrible, unlike the real colour of Dreamcast with Resident Evil Code Veronica. I have played previous Alone in the Dark and I always see this bad point in the series. Or just because I'm too strict ???

Battle System 5/10
Bad, bad and bad !!! That's what I see. With a survival horror game like that, our weapons are almost guns and that's all, nothing more. About this point, Alone in the Dark 2 might be better because the characters could defend by themselves. The auto-aim in this game is the worst I know. Is it ''auto-aim'' ? We can't shoot at the enemies in manual aim even our gun is controlled toward the enemies. We must depend on the stupid ''auto-aim'' that never appears on time. What is this ?

Replayability 7/10
Anyway, this game might not bad enough to play again. It's lucky when the game still keeps some attraction. One good thing I can't abuse is that the weapons are very creative and cool. So it might not be so bored at this point.

To rent or to buy !
I can't decide what I should do because I have bought it. It depends on your taste about this game.

Overall score : 6/10 (not an average)
This is what I can give this game. Am I too strict ?

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 08/31/01, Updated 02/04/03