Alone in the Dark 1

Alone in the Dark 1

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Getting started and understanding Alone in the Dark
By Specter ゼロ ★
Welcome to this short and perhaps useful guide to understanding the mechanics present in Alone in the Dark (1992)
   
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Guide introduction
In this guide you will not find a way to continue through the horrors present in Derceto Manor, instead I will give you some advice on the various mechanics of the game.

Many people complain saying:
<<Yes, but this game is too cryptic, how am I supposed to understand and learn these commands from scratch?>>
You have to consider the fact that many games of the time, including this one obviously, were sold together with "Strategy Guides", but don't worry!
I'll give you a hand myself below, also adding some "veteran" advice.
Very first steps
Our character (Edward or Emily) will move with "tank" controls, that is, whatever direction you are looking, with the pressure of the Up Arrow key, your character will always walk in that direction.
To change it you will have to press the right or left arrow key, while to go back you will obviously press the Down Arrow key.

To run or escape you will need to press the Up Arrow key twice.
Be careful though, often the run animation won't start, but don't worry, and put down those torches and pitchforks before screaming: <<The game is ugly and unplayable!>>
Because it's not 100% Alone's fault, but your PC's, well yes, a modern PC is too powerful for such an old game, and every now and then it will happen that the input will not be recorded, let's also remember that the game is from 1992!
Inventory
The Enter key will open your inventory, you can also check your health at the bottom left.
Actions menu
The first command "Actions" will help you choose one depending on the situation.
By pressing the Spacebar you will select the Action you need, let's see them together below.
Fight
To enter in the combat mode you will first have to select it from the menu and then hold down Spacebar, while Spacebar is held down you can click and hold down the directional arrows to punch and slap enemies (my favorite unarmed attack is the slap given with Spacebar+Right Arrow key)
These same controls also apply to swords and firearms that can be equipped from the inventory (aim with Spacebar and shoot with Up Arrow key).
Open/Search
One of the most useful commands if you like exploring and stocking up on useful items! Just select it and hold Spacebar, you will also have to be close to the object you want to examine or open, for example a door or a drawer.
Close
Pretty clear and no need for further explanation if you have read the commands above.
Push
Sometimes you will have to push something that is blocking your passage, could be a chair or something else. Once selected, remember the Spacebar key to perform the action.
Jump
This action is blocked until a certain point in the game, so don't worry if you don't see it in your menu from the beginning, don't worry, the game isn't glitched :P
Useful tips to make you appreciate even more your adventure!
Exploration in Alone in the Dark rewards the player a lot, almost everytime the answer to a difficult puzzle lies in a document, I recommend you always read the in-game books, not only are they very interesting, but they often give clues to the mysteries of the Manor, you won't regret it.

Another precious advice I want to give you is: leave objects on the floor with a certain logic, let me explain better, understanding which objects are useful and which are useless is quite difficult during a first run, many are vital to continue and you cannot afford to forget where you left them, my advice is the following: try to leave the stuff you don't need in rooms that you know and leave all the stuff in one point or more points of the same room, it will be easier to track down an object that you have left behind, an example of a "useless" object is books once read, you can leave those once collected all the information or empty potion bottles, which brings us to the third tip:

Heal yourself every time you find bottles, the character's health has no cap limit, you can instantly use any healing items, food, bottles etc., for example an empty first aid kit box will be useless to carry back, and you don't need to leave it in a "familiar" spot as I told you just now.

The last but not least advice is the following: SAVE IN DIFFERENT SAVE FILES
It may seem like stupid and boring advice but trust me, the real danger for you is a softlock, well yes, it is possible to get stuck because perhaps you left a key item behind, or you saved your game just as an enemy is killing you and ruining your run, you will thank me while loading a saved game from 5-10 minutes earlier, instead of starting the game from the beginning... (You can open the save menu with the Esc key)

I can only wish you good luck in your adventure, I really hope that these tips can help you appreciate the title a little better!
Good night!
7 Comments
Specter ゼロ ★  [author] 30 Jun @ 2:35pm 
Some of them yes, but 2 and 3 have way more combat and action compared to the first game
Average bnuuy enjoyer 30 Jun @ 2:12pm 
i suppose these tips also work on alone in the dark 2 and 3 ?
RIPAROVENATOR 4 Apr @ 4:43am 
thank you! :dsdclike:
killersamson 13 Nov, 2024 @ 2:35am 
I'm on steam deck so maybe that's why but I can't seem to select any save games bar thr most recent one
pashoriwe 10 Aug, 2024 @ 9:10am 
nice
Specter ゼロ ★  [author] 21 Mar, 2024 @ 3:17pm 
You're welcome Spartan, have fun! :tobdog:
Spartan 21 Mar, 2024 @ 2:46pm 
Thank You for that short introduction, i am beginning my first ever playthrough now ^^:re2zombie: