Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3

I had little experience playing thse games back when they were new. However, I had always heard good things about the original. Having played it several years ago, it is impressive how it really was the original survival horror game. I love the Lovecraftian atmosphere of the first one and while the controls leave a lot to be desired, I enjoyed it up to the end. Although, I did get stuck at the very end due to a missing item. And so are adventure games of old. Good thing for YouTube as I didn't have a save before where I would be able to aquire the item. About a year later I tried the second one. A much different game overall. I'm not really sure what the devs were thinking on this one as there is a ton of combat and not much ammo. Not to mention the goofy overall atmosphere, I do not recommend the second game as it really misses the atmosphere of the first one. The third has a western ghost story theme which just doesn't have the same feel as the first game. But, at least they realized this is an adventure game first and foremost with some combat sprinkled in for tension. Final verdict, get this collection & play the first. If you feel the need for some more after the first one I highly recommend you save yourself a lot of frustration and skip the second and try the thrid.

Love this game! I play it from start to ending continually. I love the atmosphere, story, puzzles, books, enemies, weapons. The only bad thing about this game, is the complicated controls. For examble, sometimes if I want to run in the game the character sometimes stops running and walks. The other examble is that the aiming is sometimes difficult, especially when you're trying to shoot flying enemies. Thank god, there is only two flying enemies and they are quite weak. Magnificent masterpiece. BEST HORROR GAME EVER MADE, imo.

This game holds up surprisingly well. I did not grow up playing this game or anything, but so I am judging it for what it is. The game actually holds up after 25 years. Sure the graphics arent great, but the atmosphere, the story, and the mechanics hold up just fine, if not better than most horror games we have now. The fighting mechanic is great, but not easy, like it should be. The guns are extremely limited, im talking 30 bullets MAX in the whole game. Everything is extremely well thought out, and the lovecraftian elements arenailed in the monsters and the books. You can only really kill two types of enemies using weapons, and everything else has to be avoided because they can kill you with one touch, which is great and what lovecraft monsters should be. DO NOT LET ITS AGE KEEP YOU FROM PLAYING THIS. I fully recommend this title.

This is the granddaddy of what's known as "Survival Horror". If you enjoyed the original Resident Evil, then you should like this. The graphics may be a bit dated, but the game-play is rock solid. The game isn't big on Story, and there is NO character interaction. You are, after all, ALONE in the Dark! Basically, you find yourself in a house that is pure evil, and you just want out. It isn't that simple though, the house doesn't want to let you out. Sure the front door is right there, but just try opening those doors... make sure you save first! You'll need your wits to not only solve puzzles, but also to figure out what to do about the ghouls wandering the house. They can be killed by conventional means, but fighting a ghoul isn't easy, you're not some weapons trained SWAT officer or typical bad ass modern game star. Weapons are limited and of the few firearms you find, ammo is even more limited. Fighting is really a last resort in this game. As mentioned, there isn't really a story, just a goal; to get out alive! However, as you play you'll find documents and diaries explaining just why and how this mansion became a den of insanity. It's a nice alternative to a story, considering a story isn't needed. Not to repeat myself, but it's simplicity is it's strong point... just get out! Getting out alive is an accomplishment you'll relish, IF you can get out! As a bonus it come with AitD 2+3. These games are hidden away in the Free Goodies section, and even though they are fully fleshed out games, there ARE just a bonus to maybe kill an hour with. They don't hold a candle to the original game. They do continue the history of The Decerto House, but the game play is nowhere near as good or fun. The second game is more like Resident Evil with guns and weapons aplenty and combat is at the forefront, which might sound fun, but it's not. The third installment is even worse. If you clear the original, you might want to try these, but you'll quickly lose interest, I'm sure.

Alone In The Dark is truly a historical piece in gaming as it was the 1st game series to bring the tropes of the survival horror and the Resident Evil series. Does the trilogy holds up to this day? In terms of graphics, all 3 of em are pretty similar and very dated, but every next game slightly improves it in terms of the 2D backgrounds while adding some details, such as the ghost hand coming out from the ground in AitD 3, the 2nd and 3rd game also adds the cutscenes which were recorded in-game, but are played as actual movies instead. In Alone In the Dark 1 most of the mansions are made in 3D which, later on got rendered as a background until you reach underground part. Gameplay: If you have played classic Resident Evil series, then the control scheme is very similar. However, you need to select from the inventory to perform an action such as Search,Open,Fight etc. and in some sections of the game you get an additional one (Mainly Jump), melee fights depends on the direction you hold down to perform a specific attack, while it is considered bad, it is possible to even beat the enemy with bare hands without even hurting yourself while stunlocking the enemy. Most of the time you spend yourself solving puzzles around the game and in some cases it's pure trial & error. Many of the stories are told in a form of books and diaries, however the 3rd game keeps that way minimalistic. Be aware that you must check everything before moving on, otherwise you will miss one crucial item you need and get stuck with no way to progress. Audio: The GOG version offers the CD quality soundtrack and it nails the atmosphere really well, mostly the 3rd game. I do have an issue with Carnby's pain sound in later games which is too quiet. AitD 1: Pure horror, good and not so hard puzzles, many ways to die in the game. AitD 2: Best in the trilogy and pure action, somewhat tricky puzzles to perform, very few ways to die. AitD 3: A mix of horror and action, best atmosphere, hard puzzles.