Alone in the Darkoriginally launching in 1992 and is widely considered to be one of the games responsible for launching the survival horror genre. Unfortunately, many may not have heard of it before, but that seems to be changing.
Although the franchise has waned in recent years with other IPs such asResident Eviltaking the genre by storm, it appears thatAlone in the Darkis attempting to stage a comeback. With THQ Nordic recently announcing a modernized reboot of the original title, there are two distinct playable characters that will most likely feature, who fans should be aware of.
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Alone in the Dark - Edward Carnby
Considered to be the main protagonist oftheAlone in the Darkfranchisedue to his consistent appearance throughout different installments, Edward Carnby is likely the character that most fans will remember. A professor and private investigator, Carnby is as intelligent as he is proficient in combat and self-defense.
A decidedly no-nonsense and jaded individual, Edward Carnby was first introduced within the originalAlone in the Darkas one of two main character choices. Should the player choose Carnby as the protagonist, he is sent intothe sinister Derceto Manorto obtain a historic piano for an antiques dealer. Upon entering the mansion, Carnby discovers a litany of nefarious secrets and dark magic, forcing him to fight an array of paranormal monsters. Edward’s gameplay differed from the title’s other protagonist in that he had a longer reach and a wider array of kicking styles during combat, making him a much more proficient fighter. Eventually escaping the tumultuous mansion, Carnby would go on to be the sole protagonist of most otherAlone in the Darkfranchise installments.
Alone in the Dark - Emily Hartwood
The other protagonist available within the originalAlone in the Darkwas Emily Hartwood. Emily is the niece of Jeremy Hartwood, the deceased owner of the aforementioned Derceto Manor, whose surprising suicide directly led to the events ofAlone in the Dark. Sensing that there must have been foul play behind her uncle’s suicide, Emily travels to Derceto Manor in search for an explanation.
Playing as either Emily or Edward, the player will eventually discover that the occult happenings within the mansion can be attributed to the spirit of a pirate named Ezechiel Pregzt. Obsessed with the occult during his life and building Derceto Manor after purchasing a slavery plantation, the cruel and vindictive nature of Pregzt would follow him into the afterlife. With Pregzt driving Jeremy Hartwood to suicide and possessing the house, it is up to either Emily or Edward to defeat Pregzt and thus endAlone in the Dark’sstory.
In terms of differences in gameplay when controlling Emily over Edward, the former runs slightly faster than the latter. When considering the combat advantage that Edward possesses, it can be said that Emily’s gameplay is suited more towards evasion and agility as opposed to direct fighting. It is highly likely that both Emily and Edward will feature within the upcomingTHQ Nordic remake ofAlone in the Dark, although likely with more modern twists and differences to how they were originally portrayed. Regardless, the return of two historic and iconic video game protagonists will surely bring a lot of attention to the upcoming remake.
Alone in the Darkis currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
