Alone in the Dark 2

Alone in the Dark 2
Developer	Infogrames Arrow Micro-Techs Corp (PC-98, FM Towns) Krisalis (3DO)
Publisher	Infogrames (Europe) Interplay (North America) Arrow Micro-Techs Corp (Japan/PC-98, FM Towns) Electronic Arts Victor (Japan/3DO, SS, PS)
Designer	Franck De Girolami
Released	September 25, 1994 (DOS) December 3, 1994 (PC-98, FM Towns) September 8, 1995 (3DO) August 22, 1996 (Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Mac)
Genre	Survival Horror
Modes	Single Player
Ports	DOS PC-98 FM Towns Mac OS 3DO Sega Saturn PlayStation

Alone in the Dark 2 is the second installment of the series and a direct sequel to the original game.

It was announced by Infogrames in 1993, via a minigame called Jack in the Dark, that when finished, showed screenshots of the game.

Plot

It is Christmas of 1925, three months after Alone in the Dark. "Supernatural Private Eye" Edward Carnby and his partner Ted Stryker are investigating the kidnapping of young girl Grace Saunders. The trail of clues leads to an old mansion named Hell's Kitchen - the home of infamous gangster One-Eyed Jack and his gang. Edward decides to pick up the trail when he learns of Ted's disappearance. When he soon finds out that Ted has been murdered, he goes even further on the case.

Carnby eventually finds out that the mobsters are pirates that plundered the seas hundreds of years ago. Fighting his way into the house and ultimately onto a pirate ship hidden in the cliff on which Jack's house is built. Edward must rescue Grace and find out why the pirates have taken an interest in her.

Gameplay

Alone in the Dark 2 works exactly the same way as the first game. It counts with, then again: fixed camera angles, where the player can walk/run with the arrow keys; aiming and/or preparing with the space bar and perform certain action with the arrow keys; and an options screen, where the player can sort out inventory items and choose Carnby's next move.

The game mechanics were updated, allowing actions, such as aiming and running, to run more smoothly.

Reception

Alone in the Dark 2 received mixed reviews. Most of the critics considered it a good game, but still not a good sequel, as it was a lot less scary, with a much faster pace and an overly difficult gameplay, turning the game to the action/adventure genre, which wasn't well received by most of its fanbase.

The PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions were roughly criticized. Despite the fact that these versions are updated with texture mapped models, the graphics were still considered outdated compared to other games released around the same (namely Resident Evil). Its awkward controls, which weren't an issue years back on the PC but were then considered inconsistent and non-intuitive by most console players, didn't help either.

Trivia

• This game was awarded for its protection code, which was considered the most annoying of its time. Even today, players seem to have problems to solve the puzzle.

Characters

• Edward Carnby
• Ted Stryker
• Grace Saunders

Bosses

• Jeremiah "Shorty Leg" Johnson-Tucker
• Sean "Music Man" O'Leary
• Tom "T-Bone" Flaherty
• Alister "Black Hat" Fein
• Mister Eye
• Bubble Blade
• De Witt
• One-Eyed Jack
• Elizabeth Jarret

Items

• List of Items in Alone in the Dark II

Locations

Hell's Kitchen

• Hedge Maze
• Underground Tunnel

The Flying Dutchman

Hold

• Cargo Hold
• Parrot Room
• Corridor

3rd Level

• Corridor
• Foundry
• Wine Cellar
• Powder Room

2nd Level

• Crew Dormitory
• Cannonroom
• Galley
• Pantry
• Captain's Quarters
• Jarret's cabin

Gallery

PC Longplay 254 Alone in the Dark 2