Seven years after going dark, Remedy shines the light of Alan Wake on gamers. And yet again, it delivers a masterpiece.
For starters, the story delivers many thrills and will keep the player hooked until the very end, its not groundbreaking, but it surely is very well told, I go as far as saying that no other game accomplished that kind of storytelling so far. (Much like Remedy's previous title, Max Payne). All that under the premise of a best-selling writer who is suffering from a "writer's block" for two years, that decides to go on vacation with his wife to a small town. However, it doesn't take long until things start to go very wrong with him, and the town itself.
Secondly, the graphics look outstanding. From the beautiful landscapes of Bright Falls, to the light and shadow effects provided by Wake's flashlight, and the violent encounters he has with The Taken. The effects are simply gorgeous, and for that kind of game, it's a must. On the other hand, the stiff overall animations might turn you off a bit, even if all else looks great, it is a bit disappointing to see the facial and lip sync were unpolished.
The sound delivers precise (and sometimes creepy) effects and interaction with the enviroment, added by an outstanding soundtrack, both licensed and original.
The gameplay is solid, with a smart enemy AI to take you by surprise, and very responsive controls for most of the time. Much like Max Payne with its "Bullet time" feature, Alan Wake stands out by delivering the concept of using light as a weapon, one more powerful than any other firearm you may encounter. By aiming, Wake focus his flashlight on the enemy, lowering his defenses and allowing the player to finish his foes off with gunshots. Even better, sometimes the player will be able to use flashbangs and flare guns to dispatch the enemies without the need of firing a single shot. Flares also come in handy during the most visceral battles, keeping the Taken at bay and allowing Alan to recover his health. It's a very creative concept, being executed almost flawlessly during the course of the game. The only drawback was the camera, which sometimes doesn't allow full view of your surrounds, and that results in a Taken ambushing the player from behind, and many times not giving a chance to fight back. But even the greatest masterpiece has its flaws, and Alan Wake is no exception.
Alan Wake shines among many games for not being derivative like most of them, added by a great story and narrative, and also a solid, unique gameplay. In the end, it was much worth the wait.