Alan Wake is a atmospheric thriller that deserves to be played.
I love Remedy, in fact I have no problem saying that they are one of my favorite developers. And it's on that note that I step into the realm of Alan Wake, Remedys long awaited survival-horror game. In Alan Wake you play as a famous writer named ( obviously ) Alan Wake. The story follows Alan and his wife Alice as they take a vacation in a small town called Bright Falls. As you may have already guessed, things don't go as planned and Alan finds himself in the middle of the woods with no answer to why he's there and why his wife has gone missing. The story is Alan Wakes stongest feature and it will take around 10 to 12 hours to get through it.
The gameplay consist of your standard over-the-shoulder shooting and cool dodge mechanic. But it's the "light" mechanic that really helps set Alan Wake apart from other shooters. Basically, before you can actually kill any enemies in the game, you have to "purge the darkness from them" which makes them vunerable to bullets. There are also weapons ( mainly flares ) that act as an all-in-one weapon, and prove to be the most valuable resources in the game. Though the combat is great, it does drag on a little towards the end. It's just that the game doesn't have a huge amount of variety in it's enemies and puzzles.
Alan Wake is by far one of the most atmospheric games you will play all year. The attention to detail is simply amazing in some spots,and the game uses shadows to great affect. Though I did notice some minor bugs and a few stiff character models, but in the long run these proved to be minor problems in an otherwise great looking game.
The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with each "episode" closing in a full length song. Also the Voice actors do a pretty good job of conveying they're characters unique personalities. Though the star of the show ( at least for me) would have to be the random mumbling enemies.
Alan Wake sets out to be a heart pounding thriller that also makes you think, and for the most part, it does just that. Though there are a few problems both from a gameplay and a thechnical standpoint, it's hard to deny the quality of the story and overall product.
