Alone in the Dark
| Alone in the Dark | |
|---|---|
 Opening screen for Alone in the dark online version | |
| Developer(s) | Unfogames |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft |
| Genre | Horror |
| Platform of origin | The interwebs |
| Official website | www.aitd.com |
Alone in the dark is a 2010 horror game developed by Unfogames. It is still considered as the first 1920's themed on-line MediaWiki based survival horror first person graphic adventure games starring Victorian characters of its name.
Story[edit | edit source]
In 1925, Jeremy Hartwood, a noted artist and the owner of the Louisiana mansion Dercetin, has committed suicide by hanging himself. His death appears suspicious yet seems to surprise no-one, for Dercetin is widely reputed to be haunted by an evil power. The case is quickly dealt with by the police and soon forgotten by the public. The player assumes the role of either Edward Carnby - a private dick who is sent to investigate the death - or Emily Hartwood, Jeremy's niece, who is also interested in investigating his death because she believes that her Uncle's mental state mirrors that of her own. The player, either as Carnby or Hartwood, goes to the mansion to investigate. As the player enters the attic of the house, the doors mysteriously slam shut behind him or her. In that moment, the action begins.
Characters[edit | edit source]
Edward Carnby[edit | edit source]
A superlative private investigator who is sent to a Louisana mansion to investigate Jeremy's death after being hired by Hartwood's niece. Little is known about Edward expect that he works from the "rougher part of town" and is desperate for a few dollars, but has no apparent fear of lunacy.
Emily Hartwood[edit | edit source]
The ever affectionate niece of the departed Jeremy Hartwood she believes that there is more to her Uncle's death then meets the eye. As she received a cryptic letter penned by her Uncle not long before his death she believes it somehow holds the key to unravelling the mystery.
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
Players are given the option of choosing between a male or female protagonist (Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood respectively), and are then trapped inside the haunted mansion of Dercetin after dark. The player character starts in the attic (the place of Jeremy's suicide by hanging), having ascended to the top of the mansion without incident, and is then tasked with exploring the mansion in order to find a way out while avoiding, outsmarting or defeating various supernatural enemies including slave zombies, giant bipedal rat-like creatures, and other even more bizarre foes.
However, combat only plays a partial role in the gameplay, as the majority of villains can be defeated simply by unravelling clues and solving puzzles. Much of the game involves exploration of the house and solving Lateral thinking puzzles.
Movement around the house is through point and click in one of four cardinal directions - forward, back, left, and the other left. Interaction with the environment is done simply by clicking on "hotspots" on the screen. The player can also use items that they hold in their inventory as well as accumulate other items along the way.
Are you ready?