One has to pose the question: would Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare be here if it weren't for Resident Evil? It doesn't matter that Alone in the Dark was the series that launched the survival/horror genre, because up until Capcom's horror games came along, this wasn't a market anyone cared about. By that same token, one might wonder if Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, Windtalkers or the stellar HBO mini-series, Band of Brothers, would be here if it weren't for Saving Private Ryan. As we've learned time and time again, it's not always the originator of a movie, a game or any other entertainment medium that matters. It's always the ones who did it right that we remember.

Which is why Darkworks and Infogrames have released an update to the Alone in the Dark series. Resident Evil opened the market that they created, and now they hope to finally cash in on Capcom's success. With developers and gamers alike jumping ship from Dreamcast to PS2, Xbox and GameCube as quickly as possible, I doubt that Alone in the Dark will receive the recognition it deserves. Even the PSone version will likely be overlooked in favor of the flashier next-generation survival/horror games. But it shouldn't be.

Unlike the recently released Silent Hill 2, Alone in the Dark's main draw is not its story, though it is somewhat intriguing. Private eye Edward Carnby seeks revenge when his best friend, Charles Fiske, is found dead off the coast of Shadow Island. After speaking with Frederick Johnson, Carnby decides to take over the case and find out who's responsible for Mr. Fiske's death. Because this investigation is seemingly too big for one man to take on alone, Aline Cedrac, a young University professor, joins the team. Aline specializes in ancient Indian languages. Together, Edward and Aline will attempt to find three mysterious tablets hidden somewhere on Shadow Island and translate the undecipherable descriptions (at this point in the game, it's unknown as to why Edward would even care about completing such a meaningless task. All he cares about is getting revenge, and there is no indication that finding the tablets will help Edward accomplish his true mission). To no one’s surprise, Edward and Aline have a hard time making it to the island safely. As the sea plane they're riding prepares to land, an unknown force attacks it, sending it down in flames. The only option is to jump out of the plane and parachute to safety. Of course, Aline lands on top of a huge mansion (sound familiar?) and Edward lands in the forest, both of which are anything but safe.

Since Edward is the only one carrying any weapons, he calls Aline on his radio and tells her to find a safe place and stay put. Prior to this revelation, you have the option to play as either Edward or Aline. Had you known that Mr. Carnby was the only one packing heat ahead of time, you would have likely chosen to play through the game with him first. However, there is no way of knowing this until you select a character, except for the hints given by the bios and sketches in the manual.

Those who chose Aline will finally know what it's like to be the overly ditzy girl in horror flicks who always gets hacked up first. She comes equipped with a flashlight, an item that allows you to save your game and some health. You don't have any guns or knives, though you can collect some ammo in the room down the hall (which is completely useless for the time being). How do you defend yourself against hordes of flesh-eating monsters if you don't even have a weapon? By shining your flashlight on them, of course! Apparently the ghosts in Luigi's Mansion aren't the only ones afraid of battery-powered lighting. Be aware though: your light won't kill most monsters. Instead, it simply stuns them or chases them away. If you're cornered in the back of a room, it won't matter how skillful you are with the game's awkward controls because you're still going to get attacked at least once. Saying that Aline's scenario is frustrating would be an understatement. I recommend playing with Edward first to gain some much-needed experience.

If Dreamcast is the only next-gen console you own and are impatiently awaiting the time when you can get a PS2, Xbox or GameCube, Alone in the Dark will keep you occupied for at least a little while. That doesn't mean that you should buy Alone in the Dark to tide you over until you can get something better. You should never, ever buy a game for that reason alone. But if you're a die-hard survival/horror fan and aren't satisfied with having one new Silent Hill or Resident Evil game every two years, Alone in the Dark isn't a bad choice. The thing is, it's not a great choice either.

Graphics: 8.5 
When compared with other Dreamcast releases, Alone in the Dark is a stunning, beautiful game. The character animation is pretty good, the lighting effects are amazing and the computer-generated backgrounds are the closest a Dreamcast has ever come to matching Onimusha. Compare Alone in the Dark to games on all platforms, however, and it doesn't look quite as impressive. I have to give the design team a lot of credit though for pushing the limits of the fast aging Dreamcast.

Sound: 7.5
Alone in the Dark's music is surprisingly good. It's very moody and tends to add to the experience a lot more than you might expect. The voice acting is nothing to write home about, but Aline is definitely a step up from Rebecca Chambers in Resident Evil.

Difficulty: 8
Edward's quest is no harder than Silent Hill 2 or Resident Evil CODE: Veronica X, but Aline's quest will drive you insane. I've never liked the brief parts of Resident Evil where you play as someone other than the main characters (Ada Wong, Rebecca Chambers, etc.) because you are hardly given any ammo. At the game's start, Aline doesn't even have a weapon, let alone ammo. This creates one extremely frustrating experience.

Concept: 2.5 
Alone in the Dark is anything but original. From the plane crash on your way to the island, to the mansion you spend a great deal of time exploring, Alone in the Dark is a been there, done that kind of experience. Gamers who can't get enough of the genre might not mind, but others certainly will.

Overall: 7
There aren't too many survival/horror games being released on the Dreamcast these days. Come to think of it, there aren't many games being released on the Dreamcast in any genre. Both of those factors make Alone in the Dark that much more appealing. However, if that's the only reason you have to buy this game, then it's probably not for you. Anyone who's played Silent Hill 2 and/or Resident Evil CODE: Veronica will find himself constantly nitpicking. I can't blame you for that because I too am guilty of it. As good as Alone in the Dark plays, as good as Alone in the Dark looks, and as good as Alone in the Dark sounds, we all know that it could have looked, played and sounded better.