There are 65 billion cows and pigs in the world!
You don't have to play Alan Wake long to realize that the folks at Remedy Entertainment are big fans of novels and TV shows. The game is constantly referencing the likes of Stephen King and Twin Peaks, is narrated like a novel, and is segmented into TV-like episodes. It's interesting to see these approaches applied to a game, and even if the resulting gameplay might be a bit boilerplate for some, the overall package provides a compelling story that will easily keep your attention from start to finish.
As mentioned, Alan Wake's artistic influences are strongly pronounced, and proudly worn. In fact, there were times where I felt like it might have been better suited as a novel or TV show. Not only is Alan Wake's voice constantly narrating the game's events in a manner that would feel right at home in a novel, but the game is also chopped up into a handful of episodes, each one beginning with a "Previously on Alan Wake" bit and ending with a cut to the title screen accompanied by a licensed song. Some of these things are kind of neat, but I found most of them to be somewhat jarring. I didn't feel like I needed constant narration and recaps to tell me what I was doing, and the breaks between episodes did a number on the game's otherwise brisk pacing. In spite of these minor oddities, however, I really liked the overarching story in Alan Wake. The characters were endearing, the writing was sharp, the atmosphere and setting were fantastic, and the plot had me constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. Alan Wake was at its best when it buckled down and focused its storytelling, which proved to be the most compelling aspect of the game.
Which is, in part, due to the fact that the gameplay doesn't do much to challenge it. Combat boils down to pretty basic third person shooting, not really venturing out past the genre standards. It could have done better to break from the mold a little more, the largest beneficiary of which would have been the variety- the environments, enemies, and general combat scenarios remain virtually unchanged throughout the whole affair. Fortunately, it all controls remarkably well, and the basic shooting and dodging can be highly rewarding on their own merits. Other than the shooting, Alan Wake puts a premium on collectibles, which are kind of a mixed bag. The manuscript pages are great additions that flesh out the story in clever ways, but everything else just feels unnecessary- Alan Wake overuses the concept of collectibles more than it probably should. Third person shooting and collectibles form the entirety of Alan Wake's gameplay, making it a predictably serviceable experience that does what it needs to, but has a hard time mustering up unique, memorable gameplay moments.
In some ways, it can feel like Alan Wake moves away from what it means to be a good video game. By coupling a heavy focus on story with light gameplay mechanics, it could be argued that Alan Wake devalues the very things that set video games apart from other forms of entertainment. At the same time, Alan Wake makes a strong case for the power of great storytelling, regardless of its medium. It's an average shooter that's overshadowed by an above average story, and anyone who appreciates a thrilling tale should come away satisfied with Alan Wake as a result.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
