Overview
Alan Wake is best described as a psychological-thriller that plays out like a novel being narrated in a film series. It is brought to us by Remedy Entertainment for a single-player experience exclusive to the Xbox 360.
The game’s namesake protagonist is a bestselling author currently experiencing writer’s block. He has no recollection of a novel which appears as if he wrote about his darkest nightmares. Fortunately for us, those nightmares come true in a misty, picturesque small town and its surroundings in the state of Washington, which just is the perfect setting for a horror novel.
Gameplay and Features
One of the most important and noticeable aspects of the visual is the use of light/lights and darkness to create an eerie atmosphere that goes stunningly with the Stephen King novel like horror atmosphere. The graphics are good, not exceptional but one would be nit-picking to complain. While the animations were very good, they were often out of sync with the dialogue almost as if this aspect of the game was unfinished.
The soundtrack is stylish and really well selected to fit the series-like theme. The sound affects are good and atmospheric which helps create the almost always sense of unease. Alan Wake narrates the story very well; even the tone of his voice is well suited to add to the tense suspense and generally the voice-work was outstanding. Very well thought of indeed.
The game design is mission based with the player working through his own story as the driving force behind the action. Remedy clearly focused completely on delivering the best possible single player experience by heavily concentrating on creating an ambiance you will be happy to divulge ten to fourteen hours in. You piece the pages of each story as you make your way through the series of episodes. The game follows a sunning pace which is necessary for a horror to deliver what they do best. With tense slower moments that build up to climax. Gripping to say the least.
The game-mechanics and controls were my favourite aspect of the game and really took the game to another level for me, faultless and smooth. The controls felt similar to Resi Evil 5, just better and cleverer. The centre-piece of the game’s mechanics is that you need to use of a flashlight to “bring the enemies out of the dark” so you can eliminate them… and they can stop making you screech like a little girl. The flashlight worked stunningly with the controls and played like a dream for me, only to be topped off by cinematic bullet time when you take down the last bad guy. Then its scramble for more batteries for the torch, a great reloading mechanic has you furiously mash a button to reload faster and … well add the tenseness and you know you are definitely working through a thriller.
What I loved
- Clever use of light
- Excellent short stories
- Great cinematics
- A narrative dream
- Soundtrack
- Great game mechanics
- Great controls
- Tense atmosphere
- Submerging game
- The use of light and darkness worked well
- Torch was extremely well done
What I disliked
- Animations felt unpolished
- Could have done with a little more action
- Could have been a little more scarier
Conclusion
It games like these that make me glad Zombiegamer refuses to conform to traditional numerical scoring. This title would have lost many ‘marks’ with me with its flaws and unfinished aspects. The score probably would have sunk to and ‘okayish’ level when I was done deducting marks for ‘this’ bad and ‘that’ flaw. And that would have been a huge injustice. Yes, the gameplay becomes repetitive and yes, the story becomes predictable, but it is still one of the best written games and the good heavily outs the bad. Alan Wake is one of the most atmospheric games I have played, making for an absolute pleasure to play through and all while keeping me tense through most of the ride.
Stylish. Gripping. Fun.
So I leave you with one bit of advice – run towards the light!
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