Alan Wake wears his influences on his sleeve. "I've always loved Stephen King," was among the opening lines in the first game, and it soon became obvious that the comment was a statement of intent from Remedy's Sam Lake, the writer behind the writer, in a game that's (curiously) about how amazing and powerful writing can be.
But Alan Wake wasn't just a homage to the books of King, there was a tangible love of TV. The original game came divided up into six evening-sized chapters, each with a "two minutes ago, on Alan Wake" intro, and genuine cliffhangers. It's a mysterious universe with shifting goalposts. It walks a clever line - while you'll never really know what's going on to the point where you could explain it to a persistent inquisitor, there's enough internal logic to keep you warily satisfied.
Now, Alan appears to be the star of an episode of Night Springs, the Twilight Zone homage that appeared on the televisions in the original game. He no longer narrates his own actions, he's narrated by the Rod Serling-a-like presenter of that show. With only limited access to the story he's starring in, Alan has a new problem. He's not getting his own story right, with interesting (and map recycling) consequences.
LIGHT CLUB
While the story has moved on, the combat system remains the same blend of light and bullets. Enemies have a shroud of darkness that needs to be burned away before the bullets can get at their meat. Shining your torch on them will slowly do that - and you can boost your torch to sizzle off their smoky shields more quickly. This, however, drains your battery, potentially leaving you prone for a couple of seconds.
More absurd and irritating enemies have disappeared - sizzling, inanimate puddles that attack you through your shoes were never Wake's most atmospheric or terrifying enemy. A new transforming Taken makes a debut, but Wake isn't so much about the details of the enemies you're fighting, as much as the number of them, and their claustrophobic intelligence.
Comments
30 comments so far...
StonecoldMC on 20 Feb '12 said:
Really really really looking forward to this!
Bring on more Wake
!
gillri on 20 Feb '12 said:
only 2 hours!?
Ive read 2 other reviews, they said 4, 4/5 and 4 hours!
in a rush CVG?
dicky1993 on 20 Feb '12 said:
disappointing, 2hours for main story? ridiculous at 1200points ,
DOTW
gillri on 20 Feb '12 said:
read others review they say 4/5 hours, CVG did a speed run
Fr33Kye on 20 Feb '12 said:
How would 2 hours be a ripoff?
gmcb007 on 20 Feb '12 said:
I feel like they may have been too heavy on the survival mode. Seems these days, horde modes are all the rage...
BenThomasFoster on 20 Feb '12 said:
Basically it's brilliant but 2 hours makes it quite insulting.
woodins on 20 Feb '12 said:
At least this review was a bit fairer than the IGN one (Although IGN have given it a higher score overall). The IGN Americano dude just couldn't get over the fact that the flavouring and pace wasn't anything like the original "full game". Never mind that Remedy have been telling us throughout all the marketing that its an XBLA arcade game (I don't buy the BS that it 's a full release - They had some time on their hands and the engines been built, so lets make a few quid) and has a more arcadey "shoot 'em up" vibe.
If it does what it says on the tin, what with it being a dodgy "Tales from The Crypt" homage from Alans sloppy early writing days, loads of action and cheesey dialogue, I'm up for it (could save the points for the inevitable Skyrim/ME3 DLC deluge, but sod it). Only thing that worries me is the whole "ground hog" concept. I f00kin hate having to revisit areas in a game, it smacks of laziness.
Rock Strongo on 20 Feb '12 said:
Two hours? Pffffttttttt.
Ror1984 on 20 Feb '12 said:
SPIDERS!!! WHY MUST EVERY GAME HAVE SPIDERS!!! GYAAAAAHHH.
dicky1993 on 20 Feb '12 said:
2 hours gameplay for 1200points? and a horde mode which i'm hearing isn't good, loads of other games that price give far better for your money
YouStoleMyKill on 20 Feb '12 said:
Well a certain ps3 exclusive named killzone 3 has a 3 hour campaign and that cost £40 on release if Alan Wakes American Nightmare at a quarter of that price has a 2 hour campaign what's the problem ?
Fr33Kye on 20 Feb '12 said:
Dude...games are way under priced anyway...
dicky1993 on 20 Feb '12 said:
but for a story driven game?
Rock Strongo on 20 Feb '12 said:
No, it doesn't.
YouStoleMyKill on 20 Feb '12 said:
Well a certain ps3 exclusive named killzone 3 has a 3 hour campaign
No, it doesn't.
It actually does I beat it in 2 hours and 57 minutes it's very short.
Rock Strongo on 20 Feb '12 said:
A simple Google search will show that most gamers/reviewers found it to be around 6-9 hours. I own it. I completed it. It did not take 3 f**king hours, or anything remotely close to that.
Notwithstanding, of course, that it comes with a huge multiplayer element, making comparisons with AW:AN even more ludicrous.
porkchopz on 20 Feb '12 said:
Killzone and Alan Wake should not even be mentioned in the same sentence. Well, not unless it's to point out the vast superiority of Sony's behemoth that is.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Alan Wake (it reminds me of the original Alone in the Dark) but from what I've read so far both games are a bit more Alan Half-Bake which is a bit of a shame really.
YouStoleMyKill on 21 Feb '12 said:
Rock Strongo A simple Google search will show that most gamers/reviewers found it to be around 6-9 hours. I own it. I completed it. It did not take 3 f**king hours, or anything remotely close to that.
Cool Story Bro but I did beat it in 2 hours and 57 minutes you weren't present when I beat it were you and btw I beat it on normal so i didn't have to keep going into cover it wasn't my game I borrowed and returned it within 2 days.
"porkchopzKillzone and Alan Wake should not even be mentioned in the same sentence. Well, not unless it's to point out the vast superiority of Sony's behemoth that is.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Alan Wake (it reminds me of the original Alone in the Dark) but from what I've read so far both games are a bit more Alan Half-Bake which is a bit of a shame really.
Key word there is read I actually played through Alan Wake it's a very good game if I judged games on what id read I probably wouldn't buy most , name me 1 game that doesn't get some form of criticism and this myth that all ps3 exclusives are better than 360 exclusives is a load of horse s**te Alan Wake , Gears 3 , Left 4 Dead 2 , Halo Reach all s**t all over Resistance 3 .
StonecoldMC on 21 Feb '12 said:
Come on guys, this is about Alan Wake. Not which console has the superior exclusives. Leave that sh*t at the front door please.
Thanks
DAEDALUS79 on 21 Feb '12 said:
I really dont understand the childish "lul wut, only 3 hours, must be a s**t game then, wut a rip off luls" on ever single topic about a game. Since when did quantity ever amount to quality. Id rather play a short game thats bloody epic then trawl around a game for 20-25 hours that runs out of ideas after 6.
StonecoldMC on 21 Feb '12 said:
Nail. On. The. Head DAEDALUS79 !
woodins on 21 Feb '12 said:
I finally got round to playing Costume Quest this weekend. That was only 4hrs in one playthrough, but it was the most pure, unadulterated fun I have had in ages. Its really changed my whole view on "Indie" games (maybe I'm just getting old and its hitting that rose tinted nostalgia itch we all get from time to time). No "Fos Ro Dahing", no side quests that took a day to complete, no decisions that have massive moral/political/personal rammifications - just a good quick jolt of fun.
Oh yeah and to echo StoneCold, please leave out the console comparisions. We save that for offical CVG comparison articles when its a slow news day and theres new ad campaigns to navigate through.
Black Mantis on 21 Feb '12 said:
Took CVG 2 hours, took Kotaku 8 hours. For me, I love the franchise so I'll be picking it up tomorrow. For those who aren't that into it, wait for it to go on sale.
Rock Strongo on 21 Feb '12 said:
DIE SPAMMER DIE.
EDIT good work.
dicky1993 on 21 Feb '12 said:
how did you rent it youstolemykill?
porkchopz on 21 Feb '12 said:
I know! I think somebody has unfortunately stolen his sense of judgement as well as his kill lol.
Anyway, back on topic I'll not deny that I've got no first hand experience with AW. It does indeed look like a good game but just maybe not an absolutely stellar one like for example Uncharted 2. I think maybe they could've pushed the franchise forwards a bit rather than just releasing a 1.5. That's all I was saying, just a random rumination.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 22 Feb '12 said:
I'm actually happy its relatively short. I have far too many other massive games i'm playing at the moment.
Damn KoA they really weren't lieing when they said it was 200 hours. It's going to miss out though because its going back on the shelf this friday when The last story arrives and if i don't finish that by the time Mass Effect 3 is out its sitting on the shelf untill the beginning of april.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 23 Feb '12 said:
Sorry for the double post. I bought American Nightmare and so far 3 ish hours in i haven't finished it. I'd say i'm about halfway through.
I guess how you play the game has as much bearing on this as anything though as i'm trying to hunt down all the manuscript pages in my first playthrough. As a game it does exactly what it say on the tin. Its more alan wake. It's bound to be shorter than the original but i i'd be more than happy to pay for more if the quality reamins as high as in this sequel all the fats been trimmed. the endless wandering has been replaced with ambushes more weapon choices and sense of immediacy that was kind of missing from the orignal despite the premise of Alan trying to find his wife. As a character he's grown and the fact that he's now stuck in the dark place means that the series can now get good and weird and not have to apologise for it.
Yes Mr.Scratch does just seem to do horrific things without much of any justification, but rather than being an issue with the character thats probably the point of him. He is all the worst parts of Alan brought to life. His vanity, His rage, His womanising. He's terrorfying but not wholly unbelieveable.
I'd give it a 9 for the fact that its the quality of a full release title at a reasonable price. Sure its not as long but its also not £40.
metallicorphan on 23 Feb '12 said:
I bought it yesterday,finished it last night it took me about 5-6 hrs to get through the story(i started playing and just didn't stop until it was done),and then i went back this morning to mop up all collectables,which i had already got about 90% off in the game
and then there is also the Arcade mode,which isn't my kinda thing but its there for people who do like that kinda thing
Taking into account that the arcade mode isn't included the only way i can see CVG getting 2 hrs from is if they were doing a speed run and skipping all the cutscenes and of course knowing exactly what to do,there is no difficulty selection so they have to play it on the same setting as everyone else
I enjoyed it anyway and looking forward to the third Alan Wake game
make sure you watch the end credits for a nice little Bond type sentence and a short cutscene