Hey guys.
 
I've really benn thinking on these last couple of days if I should get Alan Wake. Reviews are positive and all, but I'm not really sure. I'm really worried because I don't have that much money to spend and I am wondering wether or not it will be a good purchase. 
 
Could you please help me out guys? I would really appreciate if you could share your experience with Alan Wake, and give me details about the gameplay, length, and overall quality of the game.
 
Thanks again,
Cheers

The game is awesome. Very much like a RE4 in gameplay, but the graphics, story, music is generations ahead.

BUT, the game is short. You can complete the whole game and see all there is to see in less than 12 hours, if that.

So the choice is yours, short but great.

Also, if you do purchase, do a barndance when shady grove music comes on the radio.

You probably could get it cheap for like 20-30 bucks now. It's definitely worth that.
 
The game certainly offers a unique experience. No other game has the "out in the forest at night"-feeling down like AW. If you like good atmosphere in your games, get it. It's long enough as well, about 10 hours which is enough for this kind of game (it's a linear action adventure, not an rpg). I have ambivalent feelings towards the story though. I'm a huge fan of Lynch movies and games like Silent Hill 2 and it felt like a flat and forced mix of many generic mystery elements to me. Therefore I wasn't really sucked into the story as in games like SH2.

See, I had the exact opposite view.  I just couldn't get into the game, and I have no idea why.  The story didn't really grab hold of me, and I don't really do the whole "jump scare, dark ambiance and atmosphere" type of games.  I actually bought this, then traded it in a few days later because, no matter how many times I tried to play it, I just couldn't get into it.  I hear the story is great, but I'd just as soon read a synopsis on wikipedia or something, than play the game.

"BUT, the game is short. You can complete the whole game and see all there is to see in less than 12 hours, if that."

" I hear the story is great, but I'd just as soon read a synopsis on wikipedia or something, than play the game. "

Hell yeah get it its a great game. I loved the story.

" @FourWude said:

"BUT, the game is short. You can complete the whole game and see all there is to see in less than 12 hours, if that."

What linear action adventure is considerably longer than that? AW is not an rpg.  The lengh felt completely fine to me. "

In the totality of all that is videogaming the 12 hour benchmark, when factored in with the need to stretch out the funds is deemed to be on the shorter side. So gentleman, it is not a videogame that I can recommend based on longevity. Even though the genre it is a part of is on the shorter side in length scale, it is still on the whole not worth the purchase as a long term value, especially when considering the many ubiquitous alternatives at the original posters choice of whim. 

I hope I have made my point clear, adieu to you.

" @CptBedlam said:

" @FourWude said:

"BUT, the game is short. You can complete the whole game and see all there is to see in less than 12 hours, if that."

What linear action adventure is considerably longer than that? AW is not an rpg.  The lengh felt completely fine to me. "

In the totality of all that is videogaming the 12 hour benchmark, when factored in with the need to stretch out the funds is deemed to be on the shorter side. So gentleman, it is not a videogame that I can recommend based on longevity. Even though the genre it is a part of is on the shorter side in length scale, it is still on the whole not worth the purchase as a long term value, especially when considering the many ubiquitous alternatives at the original posters choice of whim. 

I hope I have made my point clear, adieu to you.

"

I loved it, get it new so you can get the free DLC voucher. Got the collector's edition at launch and although it was kind of short, I really dig what the guys at Remedy did with it.
 
Still wish it had been a PC title, though.

The game is super solid, but it's not a game you'll replay a lot. With no multiplayer it might be a game best bought used...

It's an amazing game and I'm glad I bought it on day 1. 
 
But if you don't have that much money you shouldn't be buying anything.

I really wanted to like it, I REALLY WANTED TO LOVE THAT GAME. 
 
Ultimately I was disappointed by the story and the combat got really boring towards the end of the game for me. 

I think that to really get into this game, and get the full experience, you have to have enough patience to read all of the pages. If you're not a big reader, then skip it.  The game is story driven, and somewhat slow paced. It's not a shooter.

I've also heard that, without the DLC, the ending is sub-par, so make sure you buy a retail copy, or at least plan on spending the money on the DLC.

" @FourWude said:

" @CptBedlam said:

" @FourWude said:

"BUT, the game is short. You can complete the whole game and see all there is to see in less than 12 hours, if that."

What linear action adventure is considerably longer than that? AW is not an rpg.  The lengh felt completely fine to me. "

In the totality of all that is videogaming the 12 hour benchmark, when factored in with the need to stretch out the funds is deemed to be on the shorter side. So gentleman, it is not a videogame that I can recommend based on longevity. Even though the genre it is a part of is on the shorter side in length scale, it is still on the whole not worth the purchase as a long term value, especially when considering the many ubiquitous alternatives at the original posters choice of whim. 

I hope I have made my point clear, adieu to you.

"

That's just retared. Following your little "playtime"-rule, you could only recommend rpgs like Fallout 3 or Dragon Age to players who want a single player experience. 10 hours is totally fine for a single player action adventure.  Come on, name some linear action adventures that are considerably longer than 10 hours. "

Not really. If you managed to pull your head out of your ass maybe you'd realise that MOST games last longer than 10 hours.

Heck even action adventure games like Lara Croft last longer than that. Sports games, Racing games, Puzzle games, Multiplayer component games, all have longer playtimes and longevity to them. A 10 hour game for a guy who says he's hard up for money isn't going to be satisfactory. And I haven't mentioned a single RPG game yet.

Now a 10 hour game might seem SATISFACTORY TO YOU, but to a lot of people who want longevity from their games it isn't.

I love everything about that game and it's my favorite game of the year, after Mass Effect 2 of course. Just buy it, it doesn't have any real replayability but it's still worth it.

It's a great game, but really short and without much replayability.
 
It sounds as if you won't be able to buy another game for some time and want something that you can play for more than just one weekend. If this is the case, then Alan Wake is probably not for you.

I can't know if you will like it. I certainly did. 
 
It just didn't seem to get the hype. It also tried shooting itself in the foot with some product placement that thankfully was very easy to ignore. So they failed at selling out, and suceeded creating a credibly good and story deep shooter'/adventure. 
 
I do understand the deliema. I hate buying hyped games, or games others like, and realize I tossed my monies away. But the only one to know is you.

 Thanks guys. After reading all your threads, I've come to the conclusion that Alan Wake is not for me. If something really pisses me off is buying a short game. It makes me feel like I wasted my money. 
 
I made this thread because I'm traveling to the States on Wednesday and I was still a little dubious about buying AW. Now that I know all this, maybe I can focus on other games (most probably, I'll buy a used game)
@tsolless:
@Jamer91:
@GeekDown:
@FourWude:
@zegolf:
@CptBedlam:
@blacklab:
@Cloudenvy:
@DrPockets000:
@burjeffton:
@benjaebe:
@WinterSnowblind:
@audiosnag: 
@NTM:
@Manhattan_Project:
 @bybeach: 
 
Thank you all for your comments. It's very hard to finally save enough money to make this trip and buy games. I'm really thankful with all of you for helping me out.
Cheers, jrodrz.

I think if the option is available to you, at least give it a rent.

I just had it sent to me from GameFly. I kept it for a week (I'd also gotten Medal of Honor the day Alan arrived), and finished the campaign on normal mode. It was a well-made game that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I had no qualms about sending it back after I'd completed the game's story.
 
Unless you're looking to get 100% achievements or you really like collecting stuff, I'd suggest this game as a rent.

It's inspired by Lost, so yes. Definitely.

I completed the game eight times, and playing my ninth.  
 
It doesn't have unlockables, although it has some cool collectibles like the pages of the novel he wrote and posters. 
 
Despite all the playthroughs i haven't collected them all. 
 
And the game is very atmospheric and it has an awesome story. 
 
I recommend it. 

when the game ended and the cutscene played. it panned to the waitress from the restaurant with a grin and somebody was behind the window. Who was it? also... *spoilers*alan wake's character died in the story but hes still alive right?

" when the game ended and the cutscene played. it panned to the waitress from the restaurant with a grin and somebody was behind the window. Who was it? also... *spoilers*alan wake's character died in the story but hes still alive right? "