For this month's "Maps Of The Month" featurette, I wish to draw your attention to VGCartography's Alone In The Dark (PC) maps.
In 1924, Jeremy Hartwood, the owner of the mysterious Derceto Manor, dies by apparent suicide. His niece, Emily Hartwood, believes a piano in the attic of the mansion has a clue to her uncle's death, while a private investigator, Edward Carnby, is asked to procure the piano for an antique dealer. You choose to play as either character and, upon entering the mansion, you find yourself trapped inside. As you look for a way out, you will learn of the evil that inhabits this place, and how the world at large might also be dependent on your survival.
Alone In The Dark is significant in gaming history. It is often cited as the first 3D survival horror game and one of the best games ever made. A remake is coming out this month, with Hollywood talent Jodie Comer and David Harbour. The original game's legacy includes being an influence on the Resident Evil series, whose director, Shinji Mikami, has said that the first Resident Evil game might have had a first-person perspective, if not for Alone In The Dark and its fixed camera angles.
Indeed, the fixed camera may have been due to technical limitations, but also allowed for scenes to be framed in intentional ways to build tension. Games with such a look make for interesting "maps" and, thanks to VGCartography, who is quite skilled at his craft (and we
love his
craft!), we not only have all the screens you may see, but also hand-drawn interpretations of the Derceto Manor and the Underground Maze below. These original diagrams serve well as actual maps and require artistic and interpretive skills beyond taking screenshots. These maps that are both "original" and "ripped" are a feast for the eyes, and are quite helpful if you ever find yourself... alone in the dark (in Derceto Manor). Great job, VGCartography!
So to recognize the effort put into mapping this landmark horror classic, VGCartography's Alone In The Dark (PC) maps will be known as VGMaps.com's Maps Of The Month for March 2024.
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