Alone in the Dark PS3: The Version that should have been?
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:47 pm
Looks like Eden have taken the criticisms on board and are making a real effort to sort out the problems of AitD for the PS3 release, with a possible 360 patch, too.
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=220284
The inventory system has also changed for the better:
And thankfully, the driving is improved:
I may be inclined to pick this version up if it's as potentially good as the original vision suggested.
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=220284
First up, Eden has taken on board the camera issues. Gone is the restrictive single-stick system which the player often fought against, and gone is the dynamic, somewhat zoomed-in perspective. Instead, players see Carnby from a more conventional zoomed-out third-person view, more central to the action, and, crucially, are given the option of full manual camera control with the right stick.
Other movement elements have been overhauled too. Carnby now runs by default, so there's now no longer any need to hold the run button down the whole time. He changes direction quicker too, and as a result he feels more responsive and fluid...
The inventory system has also changed for the better:
Now you only have the choice of flicking through your items with the d-pad. A small, but worthwhile change. You also don't have to pick up and insert batteries the whole time, or combine objects in a specific order to make them work, or confirm that you want to drop items. Such pedantic niggly little things, and worth changing.
And thankfully, the driving is improved:
One absolutely essential change, though, is to the hateful driving mechanics...
...the twitchy drift-heavy handling has been kicked out, and replaced by a sensible model that gives you half a chance.
But 360 owners of Alone in the Dark, at least, need not feel completely hard done by. Eden has confirmed that it is working on a patch which will implement most of the changes that have been made to the upcoming PS3 version. It wasn't completely clear on exactly what would and wouldn't be tweaked or fixed, but it's fairly safe to assume that the control, camera, inventory and driving changes will all be taken care of.
I may be inclined to pick this version up if it's as potentially good as the original vision suggested.
Will get this on the Ps3 when its cheap, despite already owning the 360 version.