Some of the best story telling seen in a game, a beautiful world and combat that is simple, Alan Wake doesn't disappoint
The game focusses on Alan Wake, a writer getting some RnR in the eerie town of Bright Falls. After settling into his mysterious cabin which seems to exist due to some dark magic, his wife is kidnapped. This then sets you on a quest for love, that takes you through an immersive history and a few side stories.
Events are linked, and as you pick up manuscript pages, your entire world becomes seemingly larger, as it gives you a prospect on simultaneous events never viewed on-screen, or stories from the past that all connect in the game's overall story.
Some of the best parts of the game are the story-developing exploration scenes. This leaves you in daylight, walking around talking to characters and learning more about the world, or simply completing mundane tasks. Some parts of the story can also make you smile, seeing the emotional connection between Alan and Alice.
The shooting is spot on, simple and effective. While the combat may seem repeditive, and at times it is, the game generally keeps you interested. Conservation of ammunition is no problem, as, although you might be frightened to run out of ammo - it never seems to happen, and often your powerful weapons will go unused through a level.
The vehicle sections take a bit of getting used to, with an uncomfortable camera (for me anyway), but they still retain a high fun-level, along with the rest of the game.
Goods and Gripes of Alan Wake
Goods
-Fantastic Story
-Great combat
-Level variation to enough extent to keep you playing
-Little extras keep you entertained throughout
-Voice acting is pretty good
-Character investment
Gripes
-Some really dumb plot points, as with many mediums that have this style of theme
-Combat can get redundant
-Sometimes you feel like you are running through the same place over and over
-Vehicle camera
-Lip-syncing is substandard to the rest of the game
Overall, Alan Wake is a fantastic game with a fantastic story that keeps you coming back for more. I recommend it not to hardcore 3PS fans, but to someone looking for a deep, dark storydriven game.