Download Alone in the Dark 2

Basics

Eager to capitalize upon the success of their previous game in the Alone in the Dark series, Infogrames released the second installment just a year after the first game hit stores. Considered by many to be the first true 3D games, the innovative Alone in the Dark series was a revolutionary step in the video game industry. 

Unfortunately, Alone in the Dark 2 is not a very fitting sequel to the original. Somehow the second game in a trilogy always seems to be the worst of the three. Sadly that remains true in this case. But that does not necessarily mean that Alone in the Dark 2 is a terrible game, for its many outstanding aspects outweigh its faults. 

Story

I will start by analyzing the best part of the game, its story. Though it does not evolve as you play the game like the original does, the extremely well explained cast of characters provides enough plot to keep it very interesting. 

The story begins with a man named Striker who travels to the seaside mansion of Hell's Kitchen to investigate rumors of a little girl kidnapped by a gang of, er, gangsters, headed by Jack. No, not Jack Sparrow! I’m talking about One-Eyed Jack. Sounds like a pirate name, huh? 

Upon entering the mansion, Striker finds the girl. But I bet he didn't count on Jack showing up in the form of a knife-wielding clown! Luckily Striker sent out a message by wire to our old hero Edward Carnaby. Edward gained considerable fame from his defeat of the Cthulian sorcerer in the first game. He arrives at the mansion with a six-pack (Of dynamite.) just as soon as the game begins. 

Much to Carnaby’s horror, he discovers a deadly voodoo curse placed upon an ancient group of pirates, and the true reason why the poor little girl was kidnapped. Your task is to help Carnaby and our damsel in distress, Grace Saunders, to escape from One-Eyed Jack and the vile depths of Hell’s Kitchen. 

Ins and Outs

Now I will discuss the inner workings of this brilliant game. Compared to games like Dark Seed 2, which only came out a year after Alone in the Dark 2, the graphics could have been better. Personally, I love the way the graphics are. It's like playing Lego Horror movie on your computer. Seriously, though, the animations are very realistic in contrast with the chunky nature of the characters. Each character moves exactly how you would expect a real life person would move. 

Unfortunately, the control scheme is not as smooth. I have frequently been frustrated while playing this game because I could not aim my gun or stop running into walls. I had such difficulty with the controls that I decided not to collect any screenshots past the introduction. 

The music is almost non-existent. You’d think maybe that would make the game more frightening, but it doesn’t. Let’s face it, in contrast with the strange and freaky creatures of the first game, these real people and shadow ghosts just don't cut the cheese. (And I’m thankful for that.) 

The only truly scary characters in the game are the voodoo lady and One-Eyed Jack. The rest make you feel like you're playing Lego Godfather. Don't get me wrong, I'm just saying that the game is not as scary as it tries to be, and that the control system is terrible. You’re probably used to the bad controls if you played the original Alone in the Dark, so it’s not that big of a deal. After all, these were the first true 3D games. It’s to be expected that the controls would be a bit complicated. 

Conclusion

In summary, Alone in the Dark 2 is a great mystery game. Despite its flaws, it has many redeeming qualities. Its excellent story will help you forget everything else you may not like. The story is so good that you will yearn for more of it. 

Replayability is not very good. At least I don’t think so. Some of you may disagree with me, however. In any case, this game is quite enjoyable. I'd love to rate it higher. But in my opinion, this game just can't budge past a 3. You may disagree with that, so download it as fast as you can and enjoy this rare adventure jewel.

When you reach the room with sleeping pirates save often! Depending on what actions and moves you perform, the game may freeze up. It’s still possible to finish the game without walking into any corners, though. To put the barrel in the pirate’s room, use the door in front of the cannon room door. (Not the one next to the ladder.) Doing this will allow you to avoid the bug and help you complete AITD2.

Optimal Settings

- cycles: 15000 - no need for more or you may bump into trouble when trying to run (double tap cursor up key).