ALONE IN THE DARK Lives In Its Own Shadow | Series Retrospective

#aloneinthedark #returntoderceto #thqnordic #survivalhorrorgaming
SUPPORT ME HERE! - / highfunctioningmedium
Everyone's heard of Resident Evil and Silent Hill but surprisingly few know how much of their design and atmosphere they owe to Alone in the Dark, an obscure survival horror series from 1992 by visionary designer Frederick Raynal at French developer Infogrames. Tank controls, fixed camera angles, 2d backgrounds, you name it, this game had most of the classic survival horror tropes. So what happened to the series and why isn't it a household name like Resident Evil and Silent Hill? Join me in remembering where the series has been and what triumphs and tragedies befell it, then we'll envision where the series is heading in the future...in this Alone in the Dark series retrospective!
0:00 What the hell is ALONE IN THE DARK?
2:01 - History of Horror Games Before ALONE IN THE DARK
3:33 Going Dark - ALONE IN THE DARK's Development
5:55 ALONE IN THE DARK (1992)
13:46 JACK IN THE DARK (1993)
14:45 ALONE IN THE DARK 2 (1993)
24:06 ALONE IN THE DARK 3 (1995)
30:36 ALONE IN THE DARK: THE NEW NIGHTMARE (2001)
40:00 ALONE IN THE DARK (2008)
57:53 ALONE IN THE DARK Remake (2011)
58:52 ALONE IN THE DARK (2005 film)
1:03:04 ALONE IN THE DARK 2 (2008 film)
1:08:43 ALONE IN THE DARK: ILLUMINATION (2015) featuring @Shh'Kotsky
1:16:28 ALONE IN THE DARK's Legacy - Where Do We Go From Here?
1:19:59 A Most Unexpected Surprise!!!
1:23:04 A Tidy Conclusion to a Messy Production ;)
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RESOURCES:
• Alone in the Dark 1 Re... - Alone in the Dark Remake @TheLartek
• Classic Game Postmorte... - GDC presentation from Frederick Raynal @Gdconf
• Silent Hill | Full UHD... @SHNHorror
• Alone in the Dark live... - @JayBinus
• Le Mystere des Voix Bu... - @kexp Bulgarian Choir
• VAMPYR - Behind the Music - @oderiviere interview Vampyr music
• Alone in the Dark live... - end to a prelude live
• STRANGE & SCARY PEOPLE... - central Park footage @ActionKid
central park photo copyright Perfect Little Planet - perfectlittleplanet.com/centr...
• Darksiders 3 Walkthrou... - Darksiders 3 gameplay @WishingTikal
culturedvultures.com/new-alon...
• Alone in the Dark (199... - @CommanderGrog
• Alone in the Dark Illu... - illumination last boss glitch - @TheBlueDragonnn
xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/a... alone 2008 development
• PC Longplay [855] King... - Kings Quest VI @worldoflongplays
• Alone In The Dark Seri... insert disk review of Alone in the Dark @Insertdiskgames
• Myst - Full Longplay classic myst walkthrough @theadventuregamer9062
• Loom Full Playthrough ... - loom playthrough - @Ludophiles
• Sonic CD Good Ending P... @retromaster6163
• Pac-Man - Perfect Game... - pacman @jameypittman
• Shinobi III: Return of... - shinobi III @AmyRoseLongplays
• Resident Evil inspiré ... - Frederick Raynal Interview @Afjv-jeuxvideo
• Splatterhouse Longplay... - Splatterhouse @AL82RetrogamingLongplays
• History of Horror Game... - Haunted House @Necronomikyle
www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/...
www.hardcoregaming101.net/alon...
reelrundown.com/film-industry....
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/...
• 2Dark [PS4/XOne/PC] De... - @worthplayingvideos
/ before-resident-evil-t...
www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article...
• Alone In The Dark Seri...
www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/...
www.somethingawful.com/featur...
• ALONE IN THE DARK: THE... - @GAMERSCINEMA
• Blood- Little Calebs g... - Little Calebs @spidermastermind100
• Army of Darkness - Lit... - Ashes @Kruegerfan
• Tomb Raider 1 (1996) 1... - Tomb Raider @Steven

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Corrections: 1. I didn't include Project Firestart in 1989 as one of the formative survival horror experiences as few sources even seem to know it exists so my research didnt turn it up in time. Man, I guess we'll have to make that a video someday to rectify this problem! 2. Alone in the Dark 3 came out in 1995, not 1994! 3. My horrendous Uwe Boll impression is in no way meant to mock Germans or their accents, which I'm a great fan of, only to tease Uwe about his inflated self importance. Cheers!

[@hairy_cornflake]

You were right not to pronounce the s, in French the s used as plural is almost always silent. It's supposed to be an amalgamation of the two words informatics programs, so informatique et programmes in French (Infogrames, with only one m for some reason). So yeah yeah you were after all! Just listen to some of the old interviews, they do call it Infogrames.

[@azertyuiopqsdfghjklm]

Nope, the S is actually silent !

[@TheMoviePlanet]

I don't know where you had the idea the S is supposed to be pronounced? It is silent, as you pronounced it...Do correct your correction.

[@Ludophiles]

Thanks for the credits. We happen to have a quality Project Firestart longplay too, in case you need material.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks for the offer! I may just, as Im having a terrible time trying to the emulator to work XD

[@SummonerDagger88]

This is the most complete Alone in the Dark retrospective I've seen on KZbin. Amazing job!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, to be fair, there wasnt any competition when I started working on it in April ;) only recently did Jwlars vid pop up and that gent who reviewed the first 3 separately sometime around August. Thanks so much!

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

And the worst too.

[@bernardorodrigues7048]

1 hour and a half of alone in the dark? LET'S GOO!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeahhhh man! Check it outtt! I hope you have a good time! It was really fun to discover this series and take the last half of 2022 making it!

[@pixlman]

Man, Olivier is such a great composer. His soundtracks range from cinematic, like his work in Alone in the Dark or A Plague Tale, to truly dynamic, like his work in Remember Me, Get Even or Dying Light 2.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

He has an exquisite talent. Cant wait to play his other games

[@radek4634]

For random gaming material that's found on the internet without even searching, it's a really good video. And a really good topic! Alone in the Dark is a bit of a forgotten series (unfortunately for good reason), so it was fun to watch this compilation to remind ourselves why this series made history.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Dude, KZbin must be helping out for once! Glad you enjoyed!

[@SomePolishChick]

It’s funny that this is the first video I’ve seen devoted fully to Alone in the Dark. I remember attempting to play them when I was around 11 years old, and them freaking me the fuck out. Yet, seeing the scenes in this video unlocked some hidden memories for me. Great work on your part.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks very much! Yeah i tried to make it a tome of sorts to the whole she-bang since i didnt see anyone else doing anything of the sort

[@hazbin1572]

Omg I can't believe this only has 1k views!! This was a great retrospective it deserves more 🥺😭

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks so much! I mean it is my fastest growing video so I cant complain too much! Feel free to share around ;)

[@VaGdude]

It now has 12k views … not bad

[@benjaminamouroux8395]

Let’s go!

[@thunderwarriorprods]

49,000

[@morzemus1805]

70 000

[@TheLukeylala]

I remember my family all sitting down watching and helping my dad play The New Nightmare on the Ps1. We even kept a notebook to take down clues etc. Still one of my favourite survival horrors even after all these years.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thats awesome! Really is just an altogether decent game. Kinda nice to play a survival horror type game thats just good and doesn't have glaring, frustrating problems

[@cappedminer369]

What about the 2008 game

[@chancemeeting7752]

How did y’all do with the Library Boss lol

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Dude, its an awful fight. Theres a couple frames of that backpedaling animation hes vulnerable i think. I had to look it up. Its requires way too much precision

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

My favourite game memories are with my first BF. I worked so many extra hours & got him his first console, the PS1, for Xmas. I suck at fighting; he sucked at puzzles/exploration. We basically did FF10 together & it's still one of my favourite memories ever. It's funny bc so many people told us we should be "out making memories", not inside playing games. Couldn't have been a better bonding experience.

[@tomisaki6]

Amazing vid! I have pleasant memories of alone 4 in the PS1. That outside window shot made my skin crawl. And he'll let's not get started with the blind lady in the bed. Jesus. I think they nailed the haunted house atmosphere pretty well.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks so much! I know right! That lady was really wild looking and that thrumming sound effect gave me the heebie jeebies. I wish she'd showed up more than once! Yeah, I'm really anxious to play the OG Resident Evils and see how those mansions stack up because I really enjoyed the atmosphere of New Nightmare too!

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

@@HighFunctioningMedium There's got to be a Tier List of Horror Game Mansions but if there isn't, you should do one if you think they're fun. You seem to have a great memory for gaming quirks.

[@HeyBlondieGamer]

Great retrospective! There was more to this series than I realised, and you presented it in a compelling way which understood the core material down to its dusty bones.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Aw thank you! It felt pretty natural so that may be the value of coming to bat for a series that youre not having to push through the crowd on opinion wise

[@PyroNexus22]

oh hey, I'm a subscriber of yours

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

@@PyroNexus22 so you are and i appreciate it!

[@freefaregaming6174]

As someone trying to unravel the mess that is this franchise with several reboots and a variety of console\platform releases. I thank you, for this amazing chronological breakdown.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre so very welcome. It was a pleasure to bone up on the whackiness of this series. You excited for the new one this year?

[@freefaregaming6174]

Definitely, starting to play through The New Nightmare now prior to the reboot's release! (And I've now finished the video, you did an excellent job, subbed for your future work).@@HighFunctioningMedium

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks so very much! I look forward to seeing you around. And enjoy New Nightmare, its prob the best Alone!

[@CultoftheCyberSkull]

What an utterly gripping video! I had a blast watching this and immersing myself in a series that I knew a little bit of, but haven't played very much. Outstanding work with this! This is compelling stuff!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I can only blush as deeply as is possible for a synthwolf 😉

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

When the narrator said Alone In The Dark, that reminded me of Resident Evil 2 for some reason, especially when he hangs on the two, creepy stuff!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, exactly! Def a callback to that!

[@masterofbloopers]

When I was a kid, Alone in the Dark 2008 was downright _ORGASMIC_ to me! I watched the various trailers countless times, spent several hours a day on the official website, and listened to the soundtrack (or whatever was available before the game's release) every day on my way to school. To me, this was the future of gaming! Incredible graphics, chilling atmosphere, a badass protagonist, and a "billion" different game mechanics that let you do whatever you wanted! When I eventually got old enough to purchase and play the game for myself, I quickly realized that my past self had hyped this game up a bit too much. It was certainly different, but not revolutionary. That being said, I still love this game for the janky schlock fest it is! I still find myself breaking this bad boy out around Halloween time and having a blast!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ikr! One of these days i might even push past those root sections and try to finish out my playthrough. Something charming about the whole thing. Also I saw a game yesterday that looks and feels a lot like it called DarKnot you may wanna check out. Also similarly janky i hear XD

[@masterofbloopers]

@@HighFunctioningMedium DarKnot does look pretty cool. I'll have to pick it up sometime!

[@wazburg]

Thank you for this video I got over an hour of weeding done with no breaks and was entertained the whole time!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

We talking weeding flowerbeds or decals? Youre so welcome, thanks for taking the time!

[@theultralight]

Just when I thought i heard everything about RE, great vid

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks, bud!

[@raven9778]

The algo brought me here and I stayed for the whole thing. Nice work, HFM - this was a good watch.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Very glad the algorithmic winds swept me to you! Thanks so much!

[@piotrbijak3545]

this video has so much effort put into it, like before I looked at the views subs likes and stuff I thought you were like a bigger youtuber

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thats awfully kind of you to say, thanks! Def was a labor of love!

[@ToGamesItMayConcern]

You're doing a fantastic job keeping me engaged. I'm loving this! I remember reading about the Dreamcast sequel in some gaming magazines and thinking it looked amazing for the time, but I never got around to playing. Nice to see it still holds up.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Whew, thank God! Thats prob the hardest thing to know how to next level--keeping engagement! Its the most nebulous and yet the most crucial!

[@Yuuretsu]

A great, comprehensive video detaling a franchise that just couldn't find its own places and had just kept stumbling I 'd wished to see just a short bit on the PS2/Wii version of the 2008 game as it is by and large a different game. I honestly had no idea about the upcoming game but I'm excited to see where it goes.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Me too! Hope it revitalizes interest and is a success!

[@greg6191]

This was really really great, and made me nostalgic for alone in the dark 2008. I remembering loving and hating it and just finding it such a weird game mechanically that I couldn’t stop playing it. I wish more (aa/aaa) games swung hard at something odd and interesting like this now

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thats what I love about it too! the 360/PS3 era is where a lot of the industry's bad habits got started I guess but we were still in an era where 1 million copies sold was a great success, and that games could have sequels that sold less than that. The industry's become a victim of its own success, and so they crank out safe, boilerplate games every year to hit mass market appeal and dont care to or even often have the creative fortitude to innovate or iterate past all the standards set by the 7th generation :/

[@gamerboy6787]

Just found your channel purely by chance. Subbed. Interesting vid with good amounts of comedy peppered throughout. All this, with an IP that I'm actually indifferent to. Thank you.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

:) yeah its a topic thats so random seeming, it kinda makes the craft of the video an exciting challenge cuz you cant rely purely on fandom to maintain interest in the video

[@gamerboy6787]

Thank you for the reply. Just went and watched your review of Far Cry 6 also.

[@paulnelsonisnotabot]

Just came across you today, it's criminal that you don't have more views. Can't wait to binge the rest of them

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thats awfully kind of you. I hope you enjoy the rest!

[@paulnelsonisnotabot]

@@HighFunctioningMedium 3 videos in and haven't been disappointed yet! Have you thought of a "rise of the Triad" perspective? First game I played on my dad's pc 🤠

[@rebeccawuollet1406]

I have really distinct memories of insisting my younger sisters sit with me while playing the 92 game because I was so creeped out.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Strength in numbers! Yeah, its interesting whats scary when youre young cuz when i see 2, i see a very quirky, bouncing kind of game. But I used to be terrified by the movie the Troll Under the Bridge when I was 5 XD

[@nathansummers6920]

I am absolutely subscribed now! Fantastic video, learned a ton about this classic series. Looking forward to seeing your channel grow.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you so much, Nathan! Its great to have you!

[@BalkanRedneck]

I really appreciate the shout-out you gave the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices. It's one of the few remaining points of cultural pride for my country. I also really enjoyed how high-quality, informative and funny the video was. Definitely worth the sub.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Aw, thanks so very much! And yes, I've a lot of respect for more classic musical styles so I'm happy to shout out their artistry!

[@Hawbitten]

I really like Alone 2. It reminds me so much of classic voodoo tales. Plus clearing out the bad guys one by one is just satisfying.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Alone 2 isnt terrible. It can be frustrating but i do like its pulpy feel and how full of history it feels

[@SadTown99]

Awesome video! Very well made & packed with great info…. Soooo hype for a new remake, looks incredible 👏

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks a million! Heres go hoping, its mostly just amazing it even exists!

[@zonemorte5053]

Really good video, you deserve way more view man! 👌 The retrospective is complete and interesting and your narration just goes well with it ! You got one more sub and it's well deserved 🙏😘

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Very kind, appreciate it. Well we are popping off this last week so some people are definitely noticing it :) glad to have ya!

[@EliTheGleason]

I stg I find a new, highly underrated longform analysis channel ever single day, subbed and loved 🥰

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

well thank you kindly! I look forward to having you around!

[@chexytiger9426]

This is a great retrospective of the series. Thanks for this immense work ! Hope your channel grows and gets more recognition.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Its getting there! Thanks so much!

[@keearapowell801]

These edit scenes are the best 🤣 great video of the whole franchise!!!! I loved alone in the dark inferno lol@humanz

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you so much. Had so much fun making this one, glad you enjoyed it!

[@KingInfernagon]

Awesome video! Its ridiculous how I only found out about your channel today given the quality of the said video. Excited for more!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Just been grinding, looking for a break and I got it! Thanks so much!

[@nikerboker1995]

Very well done. I must say, all the little movie clips interjected into the video take me back to the old days of reviewing. Makes me feel nostalgic

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I got an old school lo fi (read: unskilled) kinda affinity, dont I ;)

[@miguelcanoura9355]

Amazing work! Alone in the dark is one of my favourite games, till this day i still have an original copy of Alone in the Dark 3 as well as a long forgotten game called "Time gate: Knight's chase" (1995). Detailed and well structured video, kudos!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Time gate knights chase you say? Dont make me aware of yet another game I have to play ;) thanks and i appreciate you dropping by!

[@rojoajax4441]

Great video, well produced and edited, also an interesting topic! Thank you!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks very much! Yeah weirdly untapped for whats an important series. Thought it was funny I was gonna be the only one making anything on it this year then the remake gets announced and Jwlar and another gentleman make 4 videos on it between them XD

[@joelman1989]

Never thought two of my most polar interests, NYC drill music and 2000s horror games would come together like that. Had no idea that pop songs beat sampled a video game.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Isnt it the best XD

[@davidagiel8130]

The 90s were a great time to be alive when looking back, games ps1-ps3 were the golden age.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

90s were amazing. Its a whole new world for me playing many of these for the first time in the 2020s

[@arkham666]

Hey man I'm about half way in. So far so good. Very thorough and detailed and well delivered. It's such a shame that despite being a revolutionary title for it's time they've never really knocked it out of the park with this one. I'll be back for the rest later.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I appreciate you making the time to check it out. It was def an uphill battle to get through the series sometimes but I want it work, yknow?

[@nekonekopanicnekonekopanic7335]

just got yourself a sub this video went into really good detail, and I had no clue about some of these games.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks very much! Not gonna lie, I just happened to see them on sale on GOG and was like wth is that? Looked them up, saw how they fit into the history of games and was like "I gotta do something on these guys, they're too important!"

[@Maguuma33]

Finally found a new channel with interesting reviews and retrospectives. Keep your work up! Going to look through your videos 👍👍 Greetings from Germany

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you kindly! Glad to see ya, and salutations from the US!

[@cheif9OO]

Saw that there's a new entry to the series coming, so I looked this video up to see the history! You did an awsome job with this, and now I'm definitely getting the new one in the hopes that there will be zombie pirates (or at least a reference lol).

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks for checking it out! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Wouldn't be great, even in passing? Would show a great understanding of even the inside jokes to the series. Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic!

[@hairy_cornflake]

Alone in the Dark is pretty much my introduction to video games, with the first Dune. So the series will always have a special place in my heart. I'm really intrigued about the upcoming remake.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Me too! Im amazed its coming at all

[@weirdautumn]

I unironically loved the 2008 game. It was raw but so innovative. It came out at the time when game companies didn't afraid to come up with experimental and immersive stuff and put it in their games. Alone in the Dark and Far Cry 2 came out the same year and were the epitome of that mindset. The fire physics in both games, the immersion, the lack of hud felt like the future of gaming at the time. I really miss the cool experimental features in AAA games these days. Also it had one of the best soundtrack I've ever heard in a videogame. Even the Bulgarian lyrics made sense in the context of the game.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Mhm, the jacket opening in Alone 2008 reminds me of Far Cry 2's map too, if I didn't already say that in the video itself (I do reference that map quite a bit). I agree on all fronts: it may be messy as fuck but at least it was trying to provide a full experience where you did everything and weren't constantly watching cutscenes of actions they didnt want to code. Bravo to them for trying something really unique

[@weirdautumn]

@@HighFunctioningMedium oh, and the part where you have to burn devil's lettuce. People universally hate it for some reason, but the first time I played AiTD I found it kinda fun. Every root had some sort of environmental puzzle tied to it. Some of them were physics puzzles similar to Penumbra, some were fire or light related, some had platforming or combat sections. I remember one was constructed like a small dange with smaller enemies and environmental hazards. I think those were neat little breaks player could take from open world exploration. And the devs were really flexing all the cool game mechanics they had, showing them off in those constructed segments. I found and burnt every single roots, just because I really wanted to see every single set piece the game had it store.

[@cristpfer]

the best alone in the dark retrospective on youtube Thank you you awsome !!!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

definitely was my goal! thanks for calling it that, I appreciate the ups!

[@dorpth]

It's hard to convey just how mind blowing those fixed cinematic camera angles were at the time. Everything before then was either top-down, isometric, or first person. This was pretty much the very first experience had with a video game trying to be cinematic. Also hard to convey: how PANTS SHITTING it was at the time when the werewolf jumped through the window, or the zombie banged to get through the floor.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I know right! I was just thinking about how different and brainbusting those camera angles when trying to convey how Sweet Home despite all its influences, cant really be called the first instance of survival horror as we know it today because it was top down and turn-based. Nothing prepares you for games becoming so cinematic, even movies, because the movie is happening to you and not in a detached way that you've no control over!

[@NthReview]

Very cool! I didn't know much about these games, really, or this franchise at all beforehand. Keep going, buddy!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks, man! You're always my muse when it comes to "I'll probably never play this but please help me vicariously feel like I have!" so I know just how to modulate the information so its more experiential than just informational :)

[@HopeHorizons]

As someone born in '98, i didn't get my first taste of Alone in the dark until the 2008 xbox 360 version and honestly, I loved the game as a 10 year old from start to finish and what do you know? I love Alan wake as well and everything to do with it... Makes you think huh. Great Work HFM and can't wait to see your other works

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I loveee Alan Wake as well. Thanks so much and Im excited to keep bringing them to ya!

[@davpreec]

Fantastic Retrospective buddy. You did an awesome job :)

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Aw thank you! I really appreciate you reaching out :)

[@davpreec]

@@HighFunctioningMedium No problem buddy. Your channel poped up in my recommended :) I also subbed :D

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

You freaking rock! Yeah, KZbins been promoting me very kindly. Huge surge these past 2.5 weeks!

[@davpreec]

@@HighFunctioningMedium Awesome im glad :) Keep up the good work.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Will do. Just got done editing voiceover for a big ole project. Then we get to the lions share of video editing. Hopefully be out in a couple weeks

[@RobotDinosaur]

Fantastic video, the soft "I'm here all week" after the Stone Cold joke had me coughing laughing. I know it is a clear choice by you, but I wouldn't mind if you made more videos like this but were not afraid of spoiling things. It's just my preference, I like when long form videos can really dig into everything about their topic without worrying about it. If that's just not your jam, I understand. Cheers!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I timed and retimed that one quite a lot till it hit right so im so glad that one got you too :) yeah my next videos spoiling eerrythang but itll only be on a case by case basis. It makes videos kind of a book report instead of a transformative piece but ill def be less allergic to it in the future. Got some really granular deep dives coming up! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@MaitreMechant]

ok so I've just got myself a new favorite channel :) great vid

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Awww thanks 😊

[@thesummerofmark]

Great video, very thorough and detailed! I have never played any game in this series, but I do have one very distinct and specific memory of Alone in the Dark 2008. We had this library/stationery/movies store in a mall in my hometown that also sold games. For years, I saw a collector's edition copy of Alone in the Dark 2008 slowly gathering dust and becoming progressively shriveled after years of people absentmindedly picking it up, inspecting it and putting it back on the shelf. Nobody wanted it, and that's where it stood, in that precise spot, until the store finally closed around 2016.

[@Deadforge]

Damn that's sad I would have bought it just to have in my collection snd see if I could finally get past that damn garage driving section in the beginning 😫

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks, bud! Oh my Lord, thats such a vivid and pitiful memory! Poor Alone 2008!

[@ericrhodesii9025]

You forgot to mention Project firestart. This game predates sweet home and is considered the first true survival horror game.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre right! Unfortunately ive only seen it mentioned in one video just a month or two ago and nowhere else so hard to know it even exists because it seems like no one thinks it does either XD. Its silly how little known it is! Thanks for reminding me of that one though, i need to track down a way to play it!

[@ericrhodesii9025]

@@HighFunctioningMedium Wasn't trying to be rude or anything. I enjoyed the video and I like the use of humor throughout

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre good, I didnt take offense. Id be rather be more correct anyway! Appreciate it!

[@Henrik_Holst]

@@HighFunctioningMedium It's really strange how unknown Project Firestart have become. It was one of the few original games that I bought for my C64 back in the day (pirate copies was the norm). But I guess that it was never commercially successful so it got lost in memory (like tears in rain).

[@hesitantseagull]

Damn you sound frighteningly like Philip Seymour Hoffman! Great video too! 👍

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Really! Thats the first time Im hearing that. I gotta test this theory out with people who hear me all the time and see what they say. And thanks much for watching!

[@arturbb]

Excellently written and edited. Can't wait to go through the rest of your channel!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks! Let me know what ya think and glad to have you around :)

[@kreevisful]

*Tremendous* I instantly subscribed. 😎

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

;) and i appreciate the frick out of it, homie!

[@LucasMartins-dy6no]

Subbed, i would love to watch more survival horror reviews from your channel

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Well, youre in luck! I plan to do most all of them eventually. Itll be a minute as Ill be doing a lot of 90s classics with some random projects in between but we'll get there :)

[@NinjaNibbs]

Excellent retrospective. Truly fascinating to see how far this series has come!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah! It may be a bit of a mess to traverse but its also a more interesting journey than most series because of it! Really hope this next game is a worthy successor!

[@shibitoobscura3348]

I haven't watched the video yet, but I plan to. I just wanted to share a fin fact: Frédérick Raynal, the creator of the first Alone in the Dark (and more recently, 2Dark), used to live near my hometown (in Brive, somewhere in the center of France). He also got La legión d'honneur for pretty much creating the survival horror genre with this game (Michel Ancel also received it the same day, for being the creator of Rayman, among other things). I'm proud my country gave birth to the Alone in the Dark series and the Obscure series.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

That is really cool! Id be proud too. Im finding so many great things came from France like Another World and the later AA games like Call of Cthulhu, Vampyr, Life Is Strange, etc. So much creativity coming from over there!

[@shibitoobscura3348]

@@HighFunctioningMedium Yeah, and I'd games like Beyond Good and Evil, Kya Dark Lineage, King Kong the video game based on Peter Jackson's movie, the old Dune game, etc. Many things from Ubisoft and the late Infograme. We've always had a pretty solid and rich video game industry. Even though I must Ubisoft's glory has passed.

[@Show_My_Name_Not_My_Handle]

The first AITD game, for me, maintains a top 5 position in multiple categories. It's not perfect, but it is a masterpiece. I could so so much about that game, but a note of my admiration is enough. I enjoyed the video very much. I don't agree with all of your sentiments, but but I do agree with most of them. The few I don't aren't worth mentioning specifically, they're rather small. Great work!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Well i appreciate you taking the time and glad it was enjoyable!

[@Oranalysis]

Great video!! I recently bought the games as a bundle on Steam and am glad I watched this now so that I'm aware of the puzzle situation.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Oh thanks so much, bud! Yeah, lemme know how you found it. Some people just have different mindsets and can luck into solutions but Im apparently not one of them XD

[@monsieurmagic]

One hell of an awesome video. Subbed.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Much appreciated!

[@steelcurtain187]

Great job on this it was very interesting and comprehensive

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks very much! Def try to make the most information available while taking up the least amount of space 🙃

[@cooltrainervaultboy-39]

I remember my siblings all trying their hands on playing Alone in the Dark 2, but we couldn't even get past the front gate! I remember seeing ads for A New Nightmare in the PlayStation magazines, and even played the demo! Really wanted to get into that one. As for 08, the only real way to beat that game was to level skip. Christ Almighty that was bad.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I almost didnt make this video because i got stuck on the front gate too. I was like welp there goes that XD yeah Alone has some heinous sections. Thank God they had the self awareness to let us skip

[@CodyReader]

Really solid retrospective fam! Looking forward to the new game and hearing your take on it after it comes out :)

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks so much! I am hella invested in the new game. I hope its a good surprise for everyone and brings people into the franchise's fold!

[@helenkord6244]

Once again youtube delivering exactly what I wanted. AITD is a series Ive been curious about for years so it was lovely watching this documentary! Thank you for this!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

:) youre so very and I appreciate your kind word!

[@MitsurugiR]

Your voice sounds kinda like Gabe Newell lol Great vid!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ive gotten Mandalore and Phillip Seymour Hoffman recently, but Gabe Newells a new-ell one!

[@quincyrich5817]

44:20 I nearly threw my phone across the room with laughter. Bravo sir!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Im glad you had a good laugh :)

[@phantasmrain]

Excellent video, enjoyed it all!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks very much!

[@generalmcfancypants]

I wasn't overly familiar with the series but this one came up in my feed. Interesting retrospective for an interesting series. You gained a sub, and I'm honestly shocked you don't have more, the video was very well put together.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Its a grind out here! But I really appreciate you taking the chance and sticking around!

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

This video rules! Glad I found this channel.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you! Im glad as well that youre here!

[@ACougarSwagnum]

FANTASTIC VIDEO VERY HAPPY WILL LIKE AND WATCH ALL OTHERS !!!!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Excellent and a happy Valentines to you as well!

[@chasewystone]

Super informative and very much appreciated!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I very much appreciate you checking this out!

[@Megametalwolf]

Great work thank you

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

My pleasure! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@ajflink]

I am surprised how much Alone in the Dark (2024) takes notes on the original 1992 one before going off into the depths of Lovecraftian horror and making you still questioning things when you reach the credits. The most notable difference is that Jeremy does not off himself in the 2024 one. The 2024 one relishes in pulling the rug out from under you when you just got footing. They don't get you on a second playthrough as badly. Well, until you forget about certain ones. Lastly, on the Normal difficulty, you'll be desperately searching for weapons and ammo. Also, there are some moments where it you will seach a room all over in one playthrough and find a good number of stuff, only for the second to give you nothing. It is like the game is mockingly saying: "You idiot. I'm not giving you stuff after being so careless. Suffer!"

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Im surprised how little they ended up referencing tbh at least visually and if they do reference something other than namedropping, they totally spin it on its head like Jeremy and the uh END ;) like some rooms look similar but its basically an entirely new mansion and theres nearly zero attempts to recreate any old moments or gags. Tbh its pretty wise in a way to just make new things but i am fairly surprised

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Also found it strange how empty most containers were then i read that its likely a dynamic drop system based on need so if you have "enough," nothing spawns

[@ajflink]

@@HighFunctioningMedium In retrospective, that would explain a lot.

[@ajflink]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I bought the game on a whim for PS5 (i.e. physical disc) and was surprised how much I enjoyed the game. I actually remembered watching this very video several months ago after hearing "Alone in the Dark" referenced a lot in seemingly random things with it making sense in retrospective. What won me over was a long pseudo-preview of the game having Carnby and Emily acting like characters straight from a Lovecraft story minus a cat He-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless (so, let's call him Mr. Meow). It was advertised as a PS-News kind of thing. The fact that it never explicitly explains what happens at the mansion aside some vague yet strangely logical pieces you can put together. The END....Well, we don't need to mention that. It definitely took inspirations from a variety of Lovecraft's stories and not just Innsmouth or Call of Cthulhu. There is a bit of Poe's work in it too. Lovecraft was not shy about his love of Poe's work. So, no surprise there.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

@ajflink oh yeah the original loved Poe too. Carnby even resembles Poe and used to have dark hair. Ive already played the new one twice and have ground out various sections to get all the collectibles. Ill be honest, the plot just gives up justifying anything but its almost charmingly messy. I do wish it msde a little more sense on its face in terms of why things are happening and not just that they are, get onboard ;)

[@GaGaWarhola]

Man I'm glad this popped up in my feed. I haven't been into this series as heavily as Silent Hill, but I do feel that it's super underappreciated like Clock Tower. I try to mention this series to people as one of the true original survival horror games. I wanna say the New Nightmare was actually the first horror game I ever played, it's hard to remember, but the first few minutes of the game for both campaigns have always kinda weirded me out as a kid from what I saw/remembered. Thank you for making this retrospective AND for showing some of the alpha footage for the new game! I heard about it, wishlisted it on Steam, but never really saw any footage! It's looking good! Let's hope this is a true revival and not another Silent Hills disappointment.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yes! I hope its not just a paint by numbers suck up to old cliches type of game. Got some decent pedigree behind it with the writer so thats at least legit promising

[@soulreaver1983]

Outstanding video! as a big fan of this series i really appreciate this video many thanks!😎👍🏻

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Glad to meet ya! Im a hard won convert whod never heard it till 2022 so it was kind of a whirlwind romance to get this video out "so fast"

[@soulreaver1983]

@@HighFunctioningMedium 😎👍🏻👍🏻

[@kayfimt7769]

Super duper Alone In The Dark nerd here - you actually do wear the Santa Claus costume for a reason in AITD 2. You get it from a zombie who’s going to dress up as Santa as it’s Christmas time. By killing him and putting it on you’re able to walk around the mansion safely for a while as the others think you’re him.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Whattttttt. That's so cool! I really appreciate you sharing that! You excited for the upcoming Alone in the Dark?!

[@kayfimt7769]

I’m mixed - from what I’ve seen AITD7 looks like a return to the AITD4 method of imitating recent resident evil games rather than being it’s own thing. But even that is better than the heart-breaking AITD6. Btw thanks for making this, it’s an important series that due to the wonky graphics and hostile control system of the ground-breaking original, has been largely excluded from the horror canon passed down to younger games. Videos like this will help it to be remembered. I played AITD1 on release and I would say that at the time, it was a candidate for scariest game in existence. The bad controls actually *enhanced the atmosphere* because they fed a feeling of panic and desperation that suited the situation the character was in. Hope you consider similar videos on the Clock Tower and Thief series.

[@karenprime3849]

A new vid in my feed? Let's have a look. Very nice, sub earned. Did a double take when I saw you had 865K subs then realised there was no K!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Haha maybe someday ;) sure appreciate ya hanging out

[@RetroGamesCouple]

A well made retrospective!! Well done!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Much appreciated! Thanks so much for taking the time to check it out!

[@RetroGamesCouple]

@@HighFunctioningMedium Of course we did, we are huge fans of the first game and looking forward to the remake/reboot/remaster/whatever it will be :)

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Veryyy stoked the Alone remake even exists. It prob wont be amazing but i bet itll be more fun for the informed players :)

[@SpirosKography]

@@HighFunctioningMedium We are optimistic after the trailer. Fingers crossed!!

[@Darien_England]

This was pretty good! I admit I enjoyed the random noises that were in transitions.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

thanks! which random noises you meaning? like the little fade in and fade out music thingies ? just curious, i cant remember XD

[@Darien_England]

@@HighFunctioningMedium More like the memes, like I think there was the meme laugh and such and a few other things but I might've just had a fever dream or forgot how to English enough to explain

[@Darien_England]

@@HighFunctioningMedium "You don't say!". Things like that! It makes it really engaging when the shock of laughing his me during the long video so it's not just listening to tapping the whole time cause if I get distracted I would only be able to half pay attention, but with those it's a shock of dopamine that made me refocus on the video until the next funny moment

[@LoneWolfAudio0524]

Really great. Sat through the whole thing after having it on my watch later for while. I've only played the first ten minutes of Ii when it came out, New Nightmare and the first episode of the 2008 one - because the car section broke me. That soundtracke for 2008 is one of my top soundtracks - admitedly my top list is lengthy. It's so great. I appreciate the detail and time that went into this. I look forward to seeing where the new one goes - it's wishlisted on Steam.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Im glad you liked it! Very excited for the future of the franchise!

[@WulfricUlfang001]

I actually remembered enjoying the first Alone In The Dark movie, until I re watched the movie years later 100% sober.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thats the kicker, isnt it XD

[@WulfricUlfang001]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I know right!? Re watched it and finished asking myself, just how drunk was I when I watched this!? lol

[@TurbulentEitri]

Really curious franchise. I stumbled across it by chance with the Gameboy version on the Switch earlier and was really impressed by the mood of it despite being on a handheld. It's a shame how much the games have deviated from what it did so strongly at first. I can only hope that the future game remake does it justice.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Def a weirdo series. Im curious if the new one will be so modern and trendy, it wont even feel that familiar, but maybe we will be pleasantly surprised

[@PikaStu666]

Excellent video. My only experience of the series is the original game which I got at Xmas 1992 for our new Family 386 PC. While I remember it very fondly, there's no way I'd go back and play it now. Other than that, I've watched the first movie, which I don't think is Uwe Boll's worst movie, but it is pretty terrible 😁 I've never played the other games, although I was aware of them. It's been awesome to revisit the series through your video.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

:) im glad it could be a good vicarious experience for ya

[@KatoBloodsoul]

This is an incredible accomplishemnt. Fantastic analysis! Alone int he Dark wasnt big on my radar (Silent Hill Man) But now I feel I both dont need to play them, but also want to finally play them! I worked at Game Stop when Alone 2008 Came Out. I remember so many people trying to returnt hat game... I even returned mine.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Poor 2008, it just wanted to be good too hard! Thanks so much, I appreciate that a lot. Im about to become a Silent Hill man. Ive really only played 2 and watched some of the others but im planning to emulate them all if theyre not on console :) oh nice. I worked at Gamestop around 2014 or so

[@KatoBloodsoul]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I seem to find the best people worked for Gamestop sooner or later. lol. Go witht he first trilogy first, one two and three are so deep in lore and ideas of lore that youll dig the hell out of that rabbit hole. After that though.... The western silent hills were frankly a mistake. Until all the announcements recently! The teams behind all the lineup of new SH coming have been dream studios for this franchise to me. Anyway I am rambling, If you ever need some voice work done for free hit me up. I like your work, and will be happy to help.

[@dvdbox360]

@@HighFunctioningMedium silent hill, silent hill 2, silent hill 3 and silent hill 4 the room is all good

[@Mogadypopz]

You voice gives me a younger mandolore gaming feeling.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ive been told that actually! Def see the similarity!

[@BestCupid]

Honnestly watching this has me nervous but hopeful with the Remake/reboot of Alone in the Dark that comes out this year.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, God help Pieces Interactive. Embracers been really poorly handled all the studios theyve bought recently, canceling Deus Ex and laying people off and shutting down Volition after Saints Row fizzled after intense crunch

[@benjaminamouroux8395]

Great video! Cheers 🍻

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!

[@benjaminamouroux8395]

@@HighFunctioningMedium For sure! Keep it up! Awesome content 🤘🏼

[@ChrisDanceMusic]

Great in depth work. Really enjoyed this

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Def tried to be comprehensive so glad it could be of enjoyment to ya! Thanks!

[@GothicXlightning]

Chris Redfield Hails to Edward Carnby any day of the year ALONE IN THE DARK The New Nightmare will NEVER be forgotten by me it was the first true Survival horror classic i ever got to play a month before the other RE classics and NON game will ever be liked it still to ahead of it's time and it really is one of the greatest game of all times but somehow., some what tragically underrated specially nowadays and screw it i also love AITD INFERNO despite all it's problems

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Amen! New Nightmare is a standout!

[@andreasheiss8441]

Great vid - thanks 🙌

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

My pleasure!

[@darkjack9021]

The term "survival horror" is the marketing label of Biohazard (Resident Evil). Frédérick Raynal, one of the fathers of Alone in the Dark (1992), does not refer to his game as Survival Horror. If we want to be fair, we can say "Alone in the Dark, one of the modern fathers of horror games" or "Alone in the Dark, the technique that inspired Survival Horror (Biohazard)". Horror games existed before Alone. One of the most famous is Sweet Home (1989). And before that, there was Alien or Friday the 13th. Survival horror has become an abuse of language. In Japan, Silent Hill is an "Adventure Horror", Dino Crisis, a "Panic Horror". But all of them belong to the same genre, whether it is Biohazard, Alone, Silent Hill or Dino Crisis: Action/adventure (in a horror setting).

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Right. The first sentence of the video makes the point that the term came into fashion because of Resident Evil but that Alone protoyped its specific mixture 3D, third person, fixed camera angles plus puzzles and inventory management. Mikami said he basically lifted Alones template wholesale and just fit the zombie stuff onto it

[@darkjack9021]

@@HighFunctioningMedium After played Sweet Home (and Alone), Biohazard is a "remake" of Sweet Home transposed in the technique of Alone. It's a strange mixed. But it works so well. Of course, there are easter eggs (two characters, dog with the window, etc.). Mikami forgot one thing: Biohazard 96 is not really his game. Tokuro Fujiwara was his chief: the director of Sweet Home. Sweet Home (1989) is important is this story, as well as Alone in the Dark. Thx for the answer!

[@frostgem8013]

The new remake was a fun ride, it has problems but it stays true to the original material and is way better than the 2008 game and illumination. I hope they take the new RE route and remake the next 3 games.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, I just finished the new one for the second time already! Its fun. Has wild plot moments and janky combat but i cant help but like it. Writing my review now actually :) yeah i dont have high hopes cuz Embracers destroyed almost every studio or project for the new IPs theyve bought and the games press is being very hard on it but i sure we keep getting Alone games as that weird outlier thats having fun doing oddball things

[@ajflink]

Or go in a unique direction as the 2024 game breaks the continuity (almost explicitly intentionally) of the first game as well as needing to address, which, if any, of the endings of the 2024 are "canon".

[@gerarddonaghy2720]

Thank you so much for creating this, I'm a huge fan of both the games and the mythos and would still play new nightmare if it wasnt for the hassel setting up the PS2 I had it on. The game's resource restriction is deliberate BTW and supposed to encourage you to evade and escape the monsters as your weapons are only partially effective, at least until you access the weirder over powered ones. Also there's a light switch which insta kills all the monsters in the house somehow. I wish to God that someone had collected all the detective materials into a single place as they were all brilliantly written and really enjoyed reading them during play throughs. Its like Lovecraft but in many respects better than Lovecraft, I dont mean Clark Ashton Smith either, I mean like the weird west themes and other aspects of the earlier games are present in some ways. I wish the comic books tie in had been a success, really do, I even saw TV series potential from the Abkhani relics storyline and the bureau set up at the end of the game was definitely all about sequels which were directly linear developments from the that games mythos.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre very welcome! What! Now i want to go find the light switch, thats awesome. Yeah it had an abrupt kind of ending begging for more elaboration so that was too bad. That Darkworks team knows their way around survival horror so id have to love to see them continue. Do you have a PC you can run New Nightmare on?

[@gerarddonaghy2720]

@@HighFunctioningMedium no, I only ever played it on PS2, the first couple of times I played it I missed the shotgun because of the camera angles and it therefore required shocking resource management and evasion rather than combat. In the main room with the staircase I think the light switches are there, if you flip it when the beasts appear the first time they are all immediately killed and vanish due to their photo-sensitive nature. I dont think you can do that indefinitely though as the lights cut out eventually if you cross areas repeatedly. Plus monsters regenerate. I think its to try and encourage you to progress rather than run around a certain part of the game. I did think this game had more of a sandbox, albeit real restricted, feel than the Res Evil games which always felt more linear.

[@ThePrimordialChronicles]

Look at this boio hitting 10.000 views in a sec 😂 Congrats mate!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Dude, its been a heck of a two week period. Thanks!

[@ThePrimordialChronicles]

@@HighFunctioningMedium aaaaaaannnnnddddd... my comment is already outdated haha! Congrats bro

[@lycanart876]

Great video, wonderful.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you! Lot of fun to make, glad you enjoyed!

[@lycanart876]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I, like you. Am i a big fan of the series. Im glad its making a comeback.

[@beardalaxy]

Really great video! I'm pretty excited for the remake as someone who has never played the other games but I know a lot of the games I like owe a lot to the original.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Glad you liked it! It was kinda awesome to just randomly decide I was gonna do this video then have a new game in a dormant series announced the exact year I tuned in

[@alexsm3882]

You really need to make more long reviews like this

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Im trending that way! Algorithm likes em and they're rewarding to make. Video im working on now is nearly as long as this one!

[@alexsm3882]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I didn't sub because I didn't find any other videos in the style of this one, but I'm going to on the strength of what you just told me 😁 this video was super entertaining, keep up the good work 👍

[@bokcmeatyvstheworld8273]

Bro you played this game and beat it lol I was too scared to get past the part when you gotta walk through he streets

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ooh which one was messing with ya?

[@bokcmeatyvstheworld8273]

@@HighFunctioningMedium the big headed things from like the 2nd or 3rd level.