Published by: Microsoft
Developed by: Remedy Ent.
Release Date: 05/18/10
Available on: Xbox 360
INTRO: This one has finally hit. Originally this game was supposed to be a launch title for the XBOX 360- a launch title! That is a lot of time to be stuck in development hell, no matter what kind of medium you’re trying to put out. But as gamers, we place games on pedestals and the longer time goes by, the more hope we have for the title (unless you’re Duke Nukem forever).
And there we have it- Alan Wake is upon us and attempts to shake up the videogame culture a bit by defining itself as a sort of playable horror story, broken up in to specific and distinct episodes. You will assume the titular role of Alan Wake, a popular author who just can’t seem to get around a case of writer’s block. Alan and his wife take off to a small town known as Bright Falls in order to get away from everything and relax. As fate would have it, your wife disappears almost immediately and you’re forced to take Alan through a lot of literal and figurative nightmares in order to find her.
GAMEPLAY:
While Alan Wake doesn’t end up becoming the most innovative of games, that doesn’t mean that it is one to pass by. This is a well made game that immerses you deep in a fantastic story in a pretty neat way. The game is literally broken into episodic chapters, and feels a lot like a made-for-TV movie. The game will even recap what happened in the last episode at the beginning of the current one. Each part is well paced and has a specific goal and will leave you on the edge of your seat many times, leaving you hungry to keep playing. The whole thing feels like a book that you just don’t want to put down, which is saying something. That’s dedication, and the little details add up to make a compelling package.
As you go through the game, you don’t just fight things (although I’ll discuss the combat in a minute). The town of Bright falls is a character in and of itself and is constantly evolving as you find out more about the town and its inhabitants. The game is structured to have a ‘something isn’t right’ vibe throughout, and it really delivers on that fish out of water feeling. There’s much to be learned from various information sources along your journey (TV programs, manuscripts, radio broadcasts and more), and the conversations you have with people are really well done- they feel organic and purposeful and don’t always serve as simple exposition. As you attempt to uncover the mystery, you’ll love dealing with some of the various townsfolk that you encounter along the way.
In terms of gameplay, Alan Wake delivers for the most part. This is a game that deals with the dynamic difference between dark and light. Alan is the light, and he must fight off the dark with various light sources. His foes are known as ‘the Taken’- they are folks who have been possessed by the darkness. You wipe them out by casting light on them and blasting them with bullets.
Your main weapon is a flashlight, but you also get other light sources along the way. The method of dispatching them is almost always the same- douse them with light and then blast them with a standard firearm. You can’t use melee attacks to dispatch your foes, which gets frustrating in close quarters, and my main complaint is that there is a lot of combat in the game and it feels a bit repetitive after awhile. Some of the enemies change and things get a little tougher, but there are times when you just wish things felt a little more varied in terms of fighting the what feels like the same foe every time. There are driving sections thrown in to break some of the monotony. The driving mechanics are mediocre at best, but they work and its fun to wipe out enemies with your high beams.
Gameplay: 8/10
GRAPHICS:
Alan Wake is packing some pretty nifty graphical heat. The game is really well designed, character models look really nice and the lighting effects are just fantastic. The only real gripe here is that facial expressions aren’t very good and Alan’s outfit looks a little ridiculous considering he has to wear it for the entire game.
Graphics: 8/10
AUDIO:
The orchestral score, sound effects and voice acting are almost all top-notch. There’s some great song choices to round out the end of each chapter too.
Audio: 9/10
FINAL VERDICT:
The gameplay can get a little repetitive after awhile, but at least it’s more than functional and it is indeed fun to take out the bad guys. The episodic presentation of the game is really what should keep you coming; this is a quality product that plays out a bit like a Stephen King story and has some great moments that will certainly stick with you after you’ve given the game a run through. While you may not play it more than a few times, Alan Wake is definitely not a disappointment and really exudes a lot of effort and although it doesn’t break new ground it is certainly worth your time.
Final Score: 8.5/10
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