LD-5 Reviews

Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare (2001 Video Game)

Could have been so much more...

[28 June 2001]

I have been a huge fan of survival horror, ever since I started playing Resident Evil for the PSX some four years ago. Since then, I have played through countless tired imitations...only a few of which captured the genuine atmosphere of the first RE. I used to play Alone in the Dark 1 and 2, and it became obvious that if any game was to give the genre the boost it needs, it would have to be the one that started it all...

So when AITD: The new nightmare was announced (it's been a while...), I was more than thrilled. So I took it home just last week and hoped for a revelation. Turns out Infogrammes were really devoted to making this a special game...still, they could have done better.

The graphics are simply great for a PS1 title. The lighting effects and the rendering used for the flashlight are extremely well done. The monsters look pretty decent...and the backgrounds rival those of RE3.

The gameplay is basic Resident Evil, altough the inventory screen does add some "new" features...you run around a deserted mansion and slowly discover what happened on Shadow Island. This brings up the story, and it is a very decent one. The only drawback is that you can guess the ending, and thus, the whole story after only an hour or so of gameplay.

My only real complaint would be the polygonal characters. They are very poorly animated (especially Aline Cedrac).

So I guess we'll have to wait for Silent Hill 2. I guess SH will be the game to lead survival horror beyond the B-Movies (however enjoyable they could be...)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

not so surprised...

[19 August 1999]

This movie isn't entirely without originality, but I was kind of disappointed. I was told that 'you can't guess the ending !'. Unless you've never read a Stephen King novel or any similar piece of literature, you'd best ignore this tagline if you want to enjoy the movie...

It is a dark, haunting thriller. Bruce Willis and his young co-star are both fantastic ! Although I am sure that I've read an incredibly similar short story once, I must say that it is captivating...and scary.

Daria (1997–2002)

it has everything...

[18 August 1999]

This is certainly one of the best animated series ever ! Of course, The Simpsons would come on top of the list, but still...

Daria is a more serious show. The writers have done an excellent job of portraying the classic American high school teens: the football champ, the show-off girls, the disillusioned teachers and of course, the smart outcast. With her similarly offbeat friend Jane, Daria does her best to succeed in school...all the while trying to freak her parents and sister out. On each episode, we see Daria struggling against the popular mass. This MTV series has brilliant dialogues and will always make you laugh. We see yuppies' pitiful attempts at understanding their children, brain-dead teenage girls lost in their little world of fashion and popularity contests, teachers on the verge of a nervous breakdown and many more.

Daria is a somewhat underrated show with enormous potential. It's not just something to entertain today's kids. I think parents should look at this and maybe they'll see what's wrong with this entire generation.

Silent Hill (1999 Video Game)

Fear you will enjoy...

[14 August 1999]

After reading much about this game, I decided to buy it and see if it was really all that my friends said it was...

Being a die-hard fan of "survival horror" games from Alone in the Dark to Resident Evil, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist playing this one for months.

I was impressed by the CG intro, but the actual real-time graphics in the game were kind of butchered. Even the original RE looked better than this. Anyway, the gaming experience that is Silent Hill quickly makes you forget about details like that. This game *is* scary. There are very little "jump-off-your-seat" scenes. Everything relies on disturbing images and the exploration of what appears to be a ghost town. Konami has created an horror masterpiece which goes beyond games like Resident Evil.

The only disappointment I had was with the replay value of this game. It is far too short, even with multiple endings. Still, any fan of the genre will love it.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

An experience in fear

[14 August 1999]

By far one of the most original concept for a movie, The Blair Witch Project is what any "scary" film should aspire to be.

While it is quite different from slasher movies like Scream or earlier productions such as the 'Friday the 13th' or 'Nightmare on Elm Street' series, I don't think this film is meant to be anything serious.

For what it is, though, it is incredibly well done. While the actors are far from experienced, each performance is believable. After all, it was meant to be an amateur video. Unless you are not very fond of anything described as suspense, horror or thriller, you are sure to be haunted by this movie. It's not incredibly scary, but it gives you a rather unpleasant feeling. Some images will probably stay in your mind for a while. This is the first film of the genre where you really can't guess the ending. It is not something you can cut into scenes to look at good vs. bad parts. Either you love it or you hate it.

It really was a project, an experience in cinematography...and I think it deserves all the praise.