Alan Wake's psychological thriller story contains exciting combat, profound graphics and a sustained creepy atmosphere
Contains: Strong Horror, Violence and Sustained Threat
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Alan Wake is a story-driven survival horror/action game in the psychological thriller genre, set in the American Northwest.
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STORY - 4/5
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Bestselling thriller writer Alan Wake is suffering from a 2 year stretch of writer's block, and so he and his wife decide to travel to the small rural town of Bright Falls, hoping that Alan can find inspiration in the attractive setting, recover his creative flow and find some piece and quiet out of the way of city life. After arriving and acquiring keys to their cabin on a lake, and after meeting some of the townsfolk aswell as a mysterious woman in black, they drive to their cabin which sits on an island in the scenic Cauldron Lake. As they unpack their supplies, Alan discovers that Alice has set up a typewriter for him in the cabin's study, hoping that he would be able to start on his new work regardless of what he previously mentioned to her about writing a new book. Angered by her persistence, Alan storms outside for a walk, only to hear Alice's screams moments later as the power goes out (Alice has a phobia of the dark). He finds something has dragged her from the cabin into the lake, and he comes to the rescue, attempting to dive in after her. He then suddenly wakes up in a vehicle which has crashed, unaware of what got him there, and with no memory to the events which happened after he jumped into the lake in an attempt to rescue Alice. Confused and worried, Alan sets off to obtain answers by seeking nearby locations, only to uncover something far worse than he could ever imagined… or written.
It's a psychological thriller that makes you unsure whether the protagonist is confusing fiction with reality, keeping you intrigued right up to the climax. Is Alan Wake really conflicting and hallucinating dark forces in his imagination? Or is an otherworldly realm actually splitting itself into the real world with devastating paranormal energy? These are the questions you'll be thinking over and over in your head as a tornado of other ideas strike you now and then as you eventually possess the truth later on in the gradual coming together of clever storytelling elements that fuse to make for a novel-like story brought to life. Alan Wake heavily plays out like a mystery television program, where each episode brings another piece of the puzzle to the main ongoing story. Including narrative and plot devices used commonly on TV, Alan Wake is organised into episodes and concludes each with a cliffhanger and then a song before borrowing a prominent element used in most programs, a "Previously on Alan Wake…" recap sequence serving to refresh your memory and sum up the story events so far. It makes the game unique, and the pacing is superb right up to the finale and closing credits.
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CHARACTERS - 4/5
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As an acclaimed writer, you can expect some well narrated dialogue throughout from Wake himself, speaking what he thinks in disturbing detail and chilling choices of vocabulary. For him, the supernatural was only a tool for use in fictional writing, and now he must come to accept that it's all real and happening miraculously around him with unparalleled power. Alan Wake is a character who, despite being a bestseller, isn't particularly happy at the present time, and his personality is somewhat unlikable as you begin to see his angry side. However, he never for one minute assumes all is lost, and never gives up in the pursuit to save his wife, and these strengths alone allow you to understand the protagonist whilst also keeping you immersed for his efforts. You won't sympathize for him immediately, but it won't take long before you feel responsible for the safety of his dear wife. Other characters have great performances to back up their diverse array of characteristics, and are a solid cast of people who fit in well with the plot and never feel unnecessary with the strong impact they have on proceedings, overall advancing the story admirably and efficiently without interrupting the flow with forced dialogue.
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GAMEPLAY - 5/5
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Alan Wake is a third-person shooter that progresses unlike any usual shooter. Since enemies are smothered in darkness which can only be dispersed with light, you'll be combining the use of light-based equipment (such as flashlights which come in different versions, flash bang grenades and flares among other things) with firearms (revolvers, shotguns and hunting rifles) to tremendous effect. The aiming reticule is in the form of the torchlight, and you'll have to focus all the energy of the beam of light to push away the cloak that protects enemies from bullets. Boosting the flashlight drains the battery at a faster rate but at the same time is more effective at getting rid of the thick layer of darkness , especially when battling numerous shadowy assailants. Supply stashes are placed randomly, and are a satisfying find after long lengths of time in the darkness with draining ammunition and equipment that needs more batteries, or more of it.
As you trek through the foreboding woods at night you'll blindly hope that whatever is lurking in the shadows will remain hidden. But the threat you fear is hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike and reveal it's shadowed identity will appear sooner or later, forcing you to use light-based weapons or equipment to vanquish the blanket of darkness that is enveloping the possessed corpse of someone who was once a person to be reasoned with. Once the light covers your target and is trapped in your flashlight beam, you'll have to maintain the strange foe in the light until the pitch black presence is dispersed, subsequently making them vulnerable to conventional weapons to be blasted back to wherever they originated from. A dense and foreboding fog clouds the environment, informing you that enemies and exciting combat are imminent, whilst the camera delightfully pans out to showcase the foes that spawn behind you. You can't afford any slip ups once combat ignites, and the stressful realisation when you are outnumbered is a nerve-wracking yet exciting feeling and should be cherished every time the opportunity to savour it arrives. Taking advantage of the intermittent street lights or lamps on woodland trails can literally save your life if the odds look like too much to handle without falling back and planning your assault to evade the aggressive monsters, and the zones of light regenerate your health at a much faster rate than if you were just out of the proximity. And if you have to create a zone of light yourself from a generator on your trail, the intense realisation to hit the correct buttons while you start it up is beyond any kind of panic you may have felt before, and can be the barrier between life and death, replenishing health or succumbing to the darkness. Lighting enemies up and then shooting then is satisfying, and upon defeating the last enemy in each precarious battle a classic slow motion visual effect occurs which never gets old or repetitive even though each attack sequence is familiar to the last apart from a few variations, such as a cleverly made turret sequence using a searchlight or a nightmarish concert scenario that involves music and fireworks.
This psychological action horror game is essentially a linear game, but environments are open enough for traversing into the trees at your free will if you have the guts to do so. If you are brave enough, then rewards await you for exploring deeper into the woods such as pages of text from an unclear and unknown source Wake claims to have not seen before, powerful light-based weapons which are rare and very helpful in perilous situations, and even TV episodes from a show called Night Springs with a cool, uncanny resemblance to the Twilight Zone on televisions buried in cabins off the main path. Manuscripts are pages from a book that Wake supposedly hasn't even written, yet the bold writing is clear, and the message on the page is even clearer at hinting of what will happen next, or what impending scenario lies further into your search for your wife. This method of announcing a horrific scenario awaiting around the corner in the not-too-distant future amplifies the horror factor tremendously, keeping you on edge not because you have no idea what to expect like in most cases, but because you know exactly what threat is likely to intrude on your objective path, throwing you into a mad panic to repel the evil that engulfs its targets before you are overwhelmed by the lone mysterious entity, or worse, a horde of them equipped with all manner of deadly handheld weapons that range from sharp axes to menacing chainsaws (deadly enough to make you desperate to avoid their dangerous blow that's for sure).
The combat mechanics are excellent, and the pacing of building a scary atmosphere before forcing you into life vs. death situations is downright awesome and terrifying that leaves you craving for more even if it has the potential to get right under your skin and manifest itself deep into your mind and sanity. It's a game that hinges on aspects that make it's long development cycle worthwhile when you witness the outstanding array of results that allude themselves, and overall the gameplay is near-perfection with it's fantastic combat and remarkable level design that strikes you in so many positively commendable ways that reflect its gripping uniqueness.
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GRAPHICS - 5/5
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First impressions of this modern action adventure are extremely well received thanks to the stunning graphics. Environments look outstanding, and the terrific lighting effects and detailed character models (right down to the realistic textures of fabric on clothing) contribute further to the overall brilliant visual presentation. The crystal clear night sky and calm weather augments the atmospheric tension, even more so when the calm weather turns into a raging storm of shadows and windy fog containing hostile figures that loom in the distance waiting for the correct moment to jump out and cause electrifying terror. You'll welcome the safe havens of light as it restores your health quickly and shields you from attackers, momentarily making you feel comforted before you inevitably resume your pursuit through the night to find what you are looking for, and the bright light justifies the safety you feel stepping into its yellow beam.
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SOUND - 5/5
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Creepy audio that amps up in the set piece moments and the ambient noises that unnerve you in the quiet exploration all add up to a fantastic sound design that improves the quality of the gameplay while the voice acting compels you into the mysterious storyline littered with unanswered questions and interesting twists. The Taken's distorted yells of projected anger are chilling and unnerving, while sound effects are fantastic and killing enemies as they disintegrate into thin air sounds effective. The sound overall does a fine job of keeping you immersed with everything that happens, from the suggestive rustling of bushes as you nervously jog down a woodland trail, to the noisy clattering of a possessed vehicle being launched at you from afar.
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CONTROLS - 4/5
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You may feel the control scheme could possibly have been reworked to subtract the level of pressure felt in the midst of combat to change weapons, rather than apply slight awkwardness, but otherwise the control layout is good and easy to get used to. Also, the protagonist is incapable of running for very long, which can make for some troubling scenes in gameplay when enemies swarm on you, but you don't have the means to defeat all of them and run out steam just before a safe haven, subsequently falling victim to the dark presence.
Dodging is critical in most instances of nerve-jangling combat, and successfully timing a ducking manoeuvre to avoid an incoming projectile thrown by the malevolent forces of darkness feels just as rewarding as it looks as slow motion briefly incurs to highlight your perfect timing. However, dodging poltergeist controlled objects is made unbelievably difficult - not just because timing is so crucial, but because the objects are often too big for the relatively small dodge animation (it would help if you could evade several more feet), and because in some instances multiple objects are hurled at you repeatedly at once until you extinguish the darkness within them. Aside from a few frustrations that can occur, the controls are tight and responsive, and well laid out for the most part to make learning them a breeze for the oncoming psychological battles.
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ATMOSPHERE - 5/5
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An incredibly thick and eerie atmosphere pervades every dark environment and only pulls away from the eeriness when you are comforted by daylight sequences of gameplay (which isn't often). It's a very creepy atmosphere that is sustained as you continue on your path, and you'll constantly be terrorised and stalked by the unspeakable horror beyond the tree line. You can often feel something stirring within the heart of the forest - something ferocious… something undeniably evil, and this horrifying factor is what manifests itself in the pit of your stomach, asking whether you feel capable to go on as you know you'll be fighting for your life with just a flashlight on some occasions, having to force back the shadowy monsters and make do with that while you plan your escape ahead. Alan Wake generates an exceptional horror-style atmosphere, and matched with the amazing environmental lighting and visual sharpness you can guarantee to always be on the edge of your seat.
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ENEMY AI - 4/5
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The cover of darkness that disguises the human beneath controls enemies, almost like puppets, manipulating them to do what it wants until the blackness is no more, freeing them up for an explosive demise from the combination of your light source and your guns. They are known as The Taken, and are conjured by their own making, can come equipped with deadly melee weapons and often armed with long range throwing tools if you keep them at a distance. They aren't stupid forces of evil either, and if you light a flare they'll back off immediately and wait for the illuminated light to die away and succumb once again to the supernatural darkness. If you step into a safe haven of light, they won't wait outside of the ring of brightness, but instead disappear into the night until you are brave enough to engage in battle again, where they'll spawn anywhere in the area and show an unprecedented hunger to engulf you within the chilling blackness.
Poltergeists prove the most difficult of the enemy types, and are an unseen force that possess various equipment, machinery and vehicles in a violent attempt to thwart your progress, while flocks of birds can occasionally obstruct you as they swoop down menacingly with the darkness engaged. The main shadowed enemies come in varying sizes, with the bigger brutes being more slow, having more health and dealing great amounts of damage with the large weapons they hold, while a few of the agile enemies even possess the ability to teleport short distances and resort mainly to up-close melee attacks. Being outnumbered by these people who are engulfed in the dark presence makes for frantic struggles and exciting combat, and they are intelligent enough to make you fear them when in numbers in the middle of the pitch black night.
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LENGTH - 5/5
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Alan Wake is a very satisfying length, and all 6 episodes can take about 15 hours to finish. During this story-driven adventure you'll get to experiment with weapons which you may not have used before in a game, or perhaps never used it to an extent where it sustains its importance in your inventory in much the same way it does here. Hunting rifles and shotguns are powerful, but require enemies to have no evil darkness cloaking them to make an effect, whereas one shot from a flare gun, or a throw of a single flashbang grenade is often enough to kill the enemies outright, and flares provide a necessary source to rely on when you are swarmed by multiple targets and need some space to think quickly. The time to complete this excellent psychological thriller can be extended aswell through thorough exploration of the dark environments, and the manuscript pages which are commonly placed secretly, but also directly on your path, are great to read and understand more in the story.
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REPLAY VALUE - 4/5
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Alan Wake takes pride in it's many inspirational elements that all fit in perfectly to the role of this mystery adventure. There are references to horror author Stephen King based on the characters he created in his books and the way the protagonist explored his dilemmas; inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' in the form of relentlessly attacking crows; it pays homage to a couple of scenes famously found in 'The Shining' aswell as creative inspiration from the 1950's science fiction TV series 'The Twilight Zone', used for the game's horror offerings in the episodic version called Night Springs scattered randomly throughout the entertaining environments that encourage thorough exploration to find. Taking inspiration from classic movies and books and making it into your own source of entertainment without striking a derivative tone is a worthy achievement, and Alan Wake does it brilliantly. There is also plenty of content that make revisiting the mysterious and beautiful setting of Bright Falls worthwhile, and replay value is high here for various reasons. The Taken appearances are never exact each time you stray into a hostile zone where the wind picks up and the shadows loom large, and this factor itself yields some replay value, while a few missing pages of manuscript can only be found by venturing through Wake's quest on the hardest difficulty setting. Those intent on uncovering every piece of the story may be enticed by this tempting reward for negotiating a brutal challenge.
The frantic combat is original and never overstays it's welcome, and extinguishing the darkness from shadowy figures known as Taken is a satisfying feeling from the intense opening nightmare to the pulse-pounding conclusion that wraps up all loose ends and answers all the questions you pondered over in gameplay. Being grasped by an imposing story is no small feat, and when it involves characters that you can feel the emotions spilling off of and wanting you to help them, it makes for sensational storytelling that is admirable. A terrifically chilling atmosphere full of suspense and horror, groundbreaking graphics with sensational lighting effects, and solid sound design are just some of the highlights of Alan Wake, which is a revolutionary game that is an unforgettable experience and a must-play for anyone craving something unique and scary.
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OVERALL SUMMARY - 9.5/10
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Good Points: Very creepy atmosphere and shadowy assailants make for unsettling treks through the dark woods, Intrepid exploring has it's fair share of worthy rewards and suspense for those who wander off the main path, Terrific lighting effects and outstanding visuals combine to create a believable setting, Satisfying and nail-biting combat that never loses it's impact long into the experience, Innovative improvisation of light-based weapons and items throughout gameplay, Excellent storytelling within a gripping psychological thriller plot that hosts intriguing twists and turns in an episodic and novel-like format, Frequently chilling audio that is effective and immersive.
Bad Points: Some screen tearing, Dodging possessed objects can become frustrating.