Where the Alone in the Dark series is concerned, it seems that the saying "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is extremely appropriate. Back in 1992, the first title in the franchise became the grandfather of survival horror in the Western world, only to see its offspring overtaken in popularity by the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Now, in 2008, Alone in the Dark is back, courtesy of developers Eden Studios and publishers Atari, and while its basis very much remains traditional survival horror, it's also striving very hard to once again be the home of innovation in the genre.

Reprising the character of Edward Carnby from the original Alone in the Dark, you begin the game waking in a dimly lit room with your memory gone and your very existence about to follow, at the hands of a group of men who appear to have taken you prisoner. One of the clichés of the series to date has been a tendency for a lot of its action to be set in dark corridors and, at the beginning of the story, the developers make a very public announcement of their intention to step away from this construction in this re-imagining of the franchise. As your captors are leading you away to be shot, the building you are in is torn in two by a mysterious force that leaves you hanging on to some increasingly unstable masonry hundreds of feet above Manhattan. Down on the streets, all hell is, literally, breaking loose, and the starting point for what seems to be the beginning of the end of the world is apparently Central Park. So, as every sane person on the island is heading in completely the opposite direction, there are no prizes for guessing where you and Edward are heading.

The first area of interest that Eden has devoted a lot of time and effort to is the real-world experience created by the game engine. Aside from the standard weapons, Edward can make use of many things he finds around him to defend himself. Kitchenware, pieces of furniture and other everyday items can all be wielded in various different ways by moving the right thumbstick, but it's the invention the game allows you to engage in that really sets the it apart; the ability to use fuel and fire to assist your survival really shouldn't be underestimated. Breaking off a chair leg and using it to whack someone is one thing, but setting the chair leg alight before introducing it, with force, to an enemy's face results in greater satisfaction, and damage. Cars can not only be hotwired and used to aid your escape in a conventional ways, but they can also be turned into improvised bombs by puncturing the fuel tank, driving to the required location, exiting the vehicle and then retreating to light the trail of liquid from a safe distance. Even your inventory has been cleverly designed; call it up and your view tilts down to show the inside of Edward's coat with what you can carry limited to what you can fit into the various pockets. The space may be limited but, from here, you can once again combine items you have together for more fun, such as turning a bottle, some petrol and a rag into a Molotov cocktail.

The second important inclusion, and possibly the most tantalising feature in Alone in the Dark, has come as a result of Eden's appreciation of the current crop of American TV dramas, such as 24, and their realisation that very few people actually see games through to completion. Just like the box set of a TV series, Alone in the Dark is split up into individual episodes and, just like on a DVD, it is possible to skip these at will, if, for example you get stuck at a certain stage of the game. While each part is given authenticity by the way it builds to a 'hold your breath' ending and includes a 'previously on' recap every time you load up, the design is sure to be a hot potato.

On the one hand this could easily be seen as gaming heresy by the hardcore fraternity, as it makes content that used to be the preserve of the dedicated and skilled available to anyone who can be bothered to do the bare minimum to reach the point at which the ending can be unlocked. On the other hand, it could, if used sympathetically, open up a huge array of options that could quite easily include the ability for the developers to make the game much more challenging than they otherwise would have dared.

After so many years it's great to see Alone in the Dark back on the cutting edge and while its ambition may give the development team some issues to deal with, the real excitement around the game is because it appears that it will be a showcase for really creative people who are pushing to innovate. With not long to go until its release, it's looking extremely promising that Eden will not only deliver a great game but also the kind of experience that many envisioned when the phrase 'next gen' was first banded around.

Alone in the Dark is due for release on PC and Xbox 360 in the UK on 20th June and in the US on 24th June 2008. The PlayStation 3 version is currently scheduled for UK and US release in October. The Will and PS2 are each set to received their own versions of the game, due for release on the same dates as the PC and Xbox 360 versions.

Previewed by James Hamblin for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).

Read external ALONE IN THE DARK reviews on ciao.