Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare

"Bummed cuz Resdent Evil got canceled? Consider this"

I'm sure many Game Boy fans got bummed to hear that Capcom canned what could have been the best handheld experience. Resident Evil is king over ALL survival horrors, and many wanted it on their little pocket friend. Well, stop pouting!!! There's another game here you's want to consider!!! Alone in the Dark... The New Nightmare...

Graphics- 10
I wish I could give a higher score here. If you thought the RE screenshots were impressive, this is 10 times better!!! The use of color is outstanding, the shadowing effects proves the creepy enviroments, and Charles looks much more realistic than Chris did in RE. He looks really cool, having that trench coat sway in the breeze, and the way he zooms in or out when moving around. This is the biggest quality in the game!!!

Sound- 6
...Barely anything, which may be a GOOD thing for a GameBoy game. Still, the music is just enviroment tunes, even though during the adventure, there really is no music. Still, you can hear creatures in the background screeching, or even a loud surprise sound when something strange happens (like when you see a shadow move where you're at) Though, there's music in battle mode, just to bring some tension.

Gameplay- 9
This is another good quality in the game. When you're wandering around, the controls are smooth. As for battle mode, you'd have to get used to it. It plays like Metal Gear. You have to walk and aim in only eight directions, even though enemies can be anywhere around you. Still, practice. In little time and patience, you'll be shootin' down baddies in a heartbeat.

Story- 8
An archaeologist finds a neat discovery, but it gets stolen. So, you have to investigate. Unfortunately, you don't know whats coming. At first, it's like an old British detective film, but then it turns into other types of suspense films. Really cool stuff.

Difficulty- 8
Depends on how you handle handheld games or horror games. The game can be simple in some areas, but there are many puzzles you'd have to solve. It takes control skills, thinking skills, and possibly bladder control to play this game easily.

Overall- 9
This is a must-have for those still looking for tense games on the go without having to buy an LCD screen to play Resident Evil on your Playstation on Gamecube. But, just in case, if you're like me, rent it first just to see if you'd like it.

PS- If you're into ROMs and Emulation, don't download it. I tried it out, and it's glitchy, it's blockier, and it sounds like PacMan on the Atari 2600. Play it on your GBA under good light for the best results! Besides, what's the point to playing handheld games on a PC? This game is ONLY meant to be played like it was supposed to be... Right in your hand.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/30/02, Updated 06/30/02