The 2024 re-imagining of the classic 1992 survival horror title Alone in the Dark brings back the original game's iconic protagonist duo: Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood. While Carnby had gone on to appear in several Alone in the Dark sequels, Hartwood had all but vanished from the series after the original game. Pieces Interactive decided to restore Emily's role in the re-imagining, bringing her back to the Alone in the Dark series for the first time in decades.
The original Alone in the Dark featured two separate campaigns, allowing players to control either Emily or Edward as they explored - and attempted to escape - the haunted Derceto Manor. In a conversation with The Best War Games, key members of the Pieces Interactive team, including creative director and writer Mikael Hedberg, detailed how the entire team was eager to bring Emily back, as they felt her connection to the Hartwood family and unique perspective on the story were crucial elements of the franchise.
Emily Hartwood is a Key Part of Alone in the Dark
Edward Carnby, as a detective now fully aware of the paranormal horrors lurking in the world, went on to make appearances in multiple Alone in the Dark sequels. Emily Hartwood, however, ceased to appear, except for a brief role as a "damsel in distress" whom Carnby must rescue in Alone in the Dark 3. While Carnby went on to arguably become Alone in the Dark's most iconic and recognizable character, Emily Hartwood was left as little more than a footnote.
According to creative director and writer Mikael Hedberg, bringing back Emily was something the team got on board with quickly. Originally, Edward Carnby was planned as the only protagonist, but, when Hedberg was brought on, he suggested adding Emily. His plan was met with great enthusiasm:
I remember kind of lobbying the idea of getting Emily’s character back into the game and eventually building a case for her inclusion before talking to our publishers. However, it turned out to be like kicking in an open door. I basically said: I want Emily back, and everyone just gave a big thumbs up.
Emily's inclusion in Alone in the Dark is key, as she is directly tied to the events going on as Jeremy Hartwood's niece. In the original game, Hartwood commits suicide bringing her to the manor, but this time around, he has gone missing and potentially succumbed to the H. P. Lovecraft-inspired "Hartwood curse." She is desperate to understand the curse, save Jeremy if possible, and learn Derceto's secrets before she falls victim herself. Describing the team's interpretation of the character, Hedberg said, "She's not just this sad little girl in Edward's shadow." The re-imagined Emily Hartwood is a dignified, defiant protagonist who will fight to free herself from the shackles of the family curse and escape Derceto Manor alive.
Alone In The Dark Works Best as a Two-Character Experience
Like the original, the re-imagined 2024 Alone in the Dark will feature two campaigns: one for Emily and one for Edward. This time around, there's an incentive to play both perspectives because "They both feature unique cutscenes and levels and together form a whole story," according to THQ Nordic producer Andreas Schmiedecker. Doing so also unlocks secret endings and special cutscenes for the entire experience.
Telling one story through the perspectives of multiple characters is a technique pioneered by Alone in the Dark that has since become extremely popular within the survival horror genre. Most installments in the Resident Evil franchise feature this method of storytelling, as do several Fatal Frame titles, Until Dawn, and all Dark Pictures Anthology games. Seeing the new Alone in the Dark return to this, rather than giving Carnby the spotlight alone again, is a treat for fans of the genre.
Alone in the Dark
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 64 /100 Critics Rec: 43%
- Released
- March 20, 2024
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Pieces Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
WHERE TO PLAY
Alone in the Dark weaves a chilling tapestry of psychological horror and Southern Gothic charm, reimagining the iconic game that set the benchmark for the genre. We invite you to join us on a journey into madness, where each encounter could be your last. With each step you take closer to unravelling Derceto's mystery, the eyes that watch from the darkness grow hungrier.
Every bullet means the difference between survival and an unthinkable end. The next door you unlock could lead to a nightmarish realm offering nothing but slashing claws, grasping tentacles, and frayed sanity. Journey to interbellum Louisiana, where an era of decadence hides a darker tale - of escape from past traumas and an intolerant society, into the waiting grasp of something darker, something that has patiently lurked for impossible eons.
This is Alone in the Dark as you've never seen it - a skillfully-woven narrative of Southern Gothic elegance and eldritch madness that pays homage to its legendary origins while taking the next step forward in survival horror storytelling.
- Franchise
- Alone in the Dark
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
