Basically Alone involves you as a detective to solve the mysterys of a mansion - and of course escape. The game is done up in 3D-like polygons with a few textures on some of the characters and room decor. You control one of two detectives (a choice between male/female) and walk/run your almost puppet-like character throughout the house. You can pickup/manipulate objects, solve puzzles (a few can be tricky), but the most fun is going one on one with some of the creatures in the mansion (i.e, ghosts, gargoyles, pirates, knights, spiders, etc..). The fighting is in REAL TIME (fists, guns, bow n arrow, etc..), so if you sit there fumbling with the control pad you'll get wrecked in no time. The musical score (3DO's new addition) sets a good mood, and the sound effects are creepy at times (sounds are exactly like the original PC). The mansion is fairly large (unlike Hauzer), so the game-playing time for a newcomer should be lenthy enough. Oh, as you wander through the house, the camera's point of view will automatically change (which can get annoying at times in the heat of battle). An overall good game which was a chart-topper on the PC.
michel.buffa@cmu.edu