Despite the review embargo till the 5th of May, some have been written and made public. Bellow is a brief summary of what have been said.
In Hobby Consolas (an old spanish games magazine with great tradition in Spain, around since October of 1991) the reviewer said:
- The game is divided mostly in two parts (in a similar way to Silent Hill Shattered Memories), where during the day you be investigating, trying to uncover the secrets of the Bright Falls and disappearance of Alan Wake's wife, and in the night you will be fighting the dark presence and the consumed villagers, solving puzzles, and scouring the village and woods for collectables, as the pages of Alan's new book.
- The story is divided in 6 chapters (similar to the last Alone in the Dark game) , with a summary of the happenings in past episodes at the beginning of each new part, and a brief clip of the highlights in the end.
- It has a very cinematic feel in the characters, the plot, dialogues, soundtrack and terrific environments.
- Technically the game is awesome, with an amazing graphics engine, as it show in the big indoor and outdoor scenarios full of details, like the moving branches during a storm. It has also amazing light effects, shown in the first rays of light of a sunrise or in the way the flashlight is recreated, as for example you can use the light to look inside a house and see if it's vacant of any enemies.
- The character models are very detailed, though they lack a bit of expression.
- The end result is an excellent survival horror game that mixes, with great quality, the best of "Silent Hill" with very enjoyable fights, deep characters and an impressive atmosphere, creating a mood during the night that really affects the player.
- Its intriguing story and pacing entices the player to continue playing during the 10 hours the game lasts, as to discover the riddle behind Bright Falls.
The best about the game:
- The story have us engaged with ingenious script and atmosphere.
- The combats are very numerous and worthwhile. The use of the "light" is very well integrated.
The worst about the game:
- The duration is very slim. We would have liked more hours of fun with Alan.
- The characters' expression isn't at the same height as the game intensity.
Review scores:
- Graphics: The amazing atmosphere, light and weather effects. - 92
- Sound: The soundtrack is really good, but what really shines are the sound effects. - 94
- Duration: The weakest point of the game. It doesn't last long (10 hours) and there aren't many reasons to replay it. - 82
- Enjoyment: The pacing of the story, the clashes, and the dialogues keep us playing from the start to final credits. - 93
Overall score: 93 / 100
Final comment: Despite having past a lot of time since it was announced and the high expectations, we can say Alan Wake is a great game. It doesn't revolutionize the genre or invent anything, but the experience of playing it is very enjoyable, addictive and fright inducing, being impeccably made. It's noticeable the effort put in the making of this game. If you like horror adventures, this game will mesmerise you. Don't miss it.
The magazine scans for spanish readers:
There has also been a user review posted on Todo Xbox 360.
Some interesting transcripts from said review are:
The light effects are however more incredible thanks to the scenarios in which they take shape. Bright Falls is a typical north american village, with an undeniable connection with Twin Peaks in its mood. A little town surrounded by dense woods and mountains, small with a beautiful lagoon. Everything seems to have been thought in the intent of isolating ourselves in it, and witnessing the intriguing story that befall us."Pero estos efectos lumínicos, son todavía más espectaculares gracias a los escenarios que han diseñado y desarrollado. Bright Falls es un típico pueblo del norte de Estados Unidos, con una innegable relación con aquella serie, Twin Peaks, en su ambientación. Un pequeño pueblo rodeado por un denso bosque y albergado en un pequeño espacio en una bella laguna y rodeado por imponentes cordilleras. Todo parece estar pensado para aislarnos en él y padecer la intrigante historia que se nos avecina."
The richness of the backgrounds is sublime, ingenious, spectacular and precise, as the quantity of elements on screen animated with the light effects, from natural or artificial light, offer a visual spectacle of which we could continue to talk for months. The background elements' design, together with the textures and the light effects, offer a very realistic and profound appearance. Everything has an overwhelming level of detail, though obviously, this realism can make try to pick non-interative inanimate objects.La riqueza de los escenarios es sublime, genial, espectacular y precisa, en conjunto, la cantidad de elementos en pantalla unidos a los juegos de luces, procedentes de luz natural o artificial, ofrecen un espectáculo visual del cual se podría estar hablando meses y llenar folios y folios. El diseño de los elementos del escenario, aunado a las texturas empleadas y los juegos de luces, ofrecen un aspecto muy realista y profundo. Todo tiene un nivel de detalle realmente abrumador, aunque obviamente, este realismo nos puede llevar a intentar coger objetos inanimados y no interactivos… quiero esa revista!!! Va a ser que no…
The same graphics engine is employed for the cinematographic scenes that narrate the story, resulting equally spectacular. The characters really have an impressive appearance, and their faces are capable of transmitting sentiments and feelings with great accuracy.El mismo motor, es empleado para las escenas cinematográficas que nos narran la historia, resultando igualmente espectaculares. Los personajes presentes tienen un aspecto realmente impresionante y sus rostros son capaces de transmitirnos sentimientos o estados de ánimo con gran veracidad.
(Amazing to note the discrepancy between the magazine review and this one, concerning the expression of the character models.)
Sin lugar a dudas, la magnificencia gráfica de este título parece no tener precedentes. Obviamente, el ritmo de juego no ofrece el mismo espectáculo de movimiento, pero sí que ofrece una espectacular puesta en escena y riqueza de detalles en todo lo que aparecerá en pantalla. Simplemente soberbio.
Without doubts the graphic magnificence of this game doesn't look to have precedences. Obviously, the pacing doesn't offer the same degree of spectacle, though it offers an amazing staging and richness in detail in everything on screen. Simply superb.
A superb narration, intriguing dialogues and an overwhelming soundtrack that we'll leave us at edge of our seats.una narración soberbia, unos diálogos intrigantes y una banda sonora abrumadora que nos dejarán pegados al sofá.
Without a doubt, results comforting sitting in the middle of a dark room with a Home Cinema with the volume turned up, enjoying the amazing mood that has been employed to give one almost illimitable depth to this title.Sin lugar a dudas, resulta acongojante ubicarse en medio de un salón oscuro con un Home Cinema a todo volumen y sufrir la sobresaliente ambientación que se ha empleado para darle una profundidad ilimitada a este título.
During the nights, with the action that will force us to play carefully, the use of the surrounding technology will help us, as will introduce the tension.Durante las noches, con la acción que nos obligará a andar con muchos ojos, el uso de la tecnología envolvente nos ayudará, así como introducirá en situación de gran tensión.
Realmente, el guión, la historia y la narración, son fundamentales en esta aventura, son básicas para introducirte en un personaje y una situación en la que nos tendremos que enfrentar a unos hechos paranormales.
Really, the script, the story and the narration are fundamental in this adventure, are basis to introduce a character and a paranormal situation.
The village transmits tranquillity, suddenly shattered with the abrupt and inescapable descent into the night. The darkness transforms completely the aesthetic department as it does with the gameplay of the game.El pueblo transmite una tranquilidad que se rompe inesperadamente con la abrupta e irremediable entrada de la noche. La oscuridad transforma por completo tanto la estética del juego como el devenir de la actividad de Alan
Far from being a title of changing dynamics (gameplay), the circumstances will make us adapt to the precaution, to look for cover and to advance in the darkness of the night, where the same swamp will became a point that absorbs the little light the moon offers. Whatever method of lighting that will keep us safe from the baddies, the flairs, are fundamental and with the weapons, we can kill the shadowy minions. It looks like a easy gameplay, but it takes its time to adapt and not to spend the flairs in vain.Lejos de ser un título de dinámica cambiante, las circunstancias nos harán adaptarnos a la precaución, a cubrirse las espaldas y lograr avanzar en la oscuridad de la noche, donde el propio pantano se convierte en un punto que absorbe la poca luz que ofrece la luna. Cualquier método de iluminación nos pondrá a salvo de los malvados entes que nos rodean, las bengalas, son fundamentales y combinando con las armas, podremos dañarlos. Parece un procedimiento sencillo, pero lleva su tiempo adaptarse y no gastar las bengalas en balde.
Alan's movement is very chilled (slow), what helps to be prudent, to advance with care and to have clear thought in what to do. In some occasions, it can result a bit exasperating, when it is required some speed or agility, but it isn't a game where that is required in excess, and it is provoked more by the anxiety of wanting to advance than a requirement of the game. The use of the camera will help us, more than in another games where disorientation is not an issue, and its movement is soft and precise.A la hora de jugar, el manejo de Alan es bastante suave, esto ayuda mucho a ser prudente, avanzar con cuidado y tener las ideas claras a la hora de actuar. En ocasiones, puede resultar algo exasperante, cuando se requiere algo de rapidez o agilidad, pero no es un juego que lo requiera en exceso y es más provocado por la ansiedad de avanzar que a la impronta del propio juego. El uso de la cámara nos ayudará, más que en otros juegos donde desorientarse resulta sencillo, y su movimiento es suave y preciso.
The story follows a very good script, intriguing and well divided in episodes, though they are maybe too big. It's similar to Alone in the Dark in its cinematographic nature, making remembering what was happened a very smooth process, and progressing very easy. This can become a small problem, but apart from the story more, this game doesn't have anything else... but the satisfaction when playing, will ask for a another run and the intent of doing some things differently, as it is very easy to advance and very intuitive. It's inevitable, that at the first time, things won't happen as we want them to... but that isn't important. as playing it again will be a pleasure. It's a game that make us desire more, but it doesn't deliver it directly, and we have to repeat the adventure.La historia sigue un argumento muy bueno, intrigante y dividido en episodios de manera correcta, aunque quizás, sean demasiado amplios. Reiniciar la partida obtiene un resultado muy cinematográfico, muy propio de las teleseries mediante un método de resumen muy similar al que ya pudimos disfrutar en Alone in the Dark, permitiendo que recordar lo avanzado sea sencillo y progresar resulta muy fácil. Esto puede ser un pequeño problema, ya que a parte del modo historia, este juego no aporta absolutamente nada… pero la sensación de satisfacción a la hora de jugarlo, nos ofrecerá la posibilidad de rejugarlo para intentar hacer algunas cosas de forma diferente, ya que resulta fácil avanzar y es muy intuitivo. Es inevitable, que la primera vez, las cosas no salgan como queremos… pero eso no importa, ya que volver a jugarlo será un placer. Es un juego que deja ganas de más, pena que no lo ofrezca directamente y tengamos que recurrir a repetir la aventura.
Definitively, the game is brilliant and it was worth waiting for. The brilliant staging, graphics, intriguing script, the narrative and the overwhelming ambience, will leave us at the edge of our seats. Maybe it's this that make us feel the game is brief, as we could enjoy hours of a brilliant story, without getting tired of Alan Wake or Bright Falls, but the time spent isn't in vain.En definitiva, es un juego brillante, la larga espera no decepciona, ha merecido la pena. Su brillante puesta en escena, su brillante apartado técnico, el intrigante guión, la narrativa y la abrumadora ambientación, nos dejarán pegados al asiento. Quizás sea eso lo que nos haga sentir que el juego es corto, porque podremos disfrutar horas seguidas de una historia brillante, sin cansarnos de Alan Wake ni de Bright Falls, pero el tiempo no pasa en vano.
Final score:
Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Duration: 8.5
Total: 9.
Now just an amazing picture of the lighting in-game.
What are your thoughts about the game?
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