It has been in the making for five years, so when it did come out, there was an aura of “we-do-not-quite-know-what-to-expect” about Alan Wake, Remedy Entertainments new game for the Xbox 360. Remedy, in case you have forgotten (five years is a long time in tech, after all) are the same folks who brought us arguably the most classy videogame shooter series of all time, Max Payne. So, there was a fair deal of apprehension in the air when the game was released. After all, five days are a long time in tech – the Xbox 360 was a newbie when Alan Wake was announced, and there was no sign of the PS3 or the Wii. Gamer expectations were pretty different (we thought that GTA 3 series and Half-Life 2 were the coolest thing around) then. So how would a game that had started out in those days end up in an era when gamers had been spoilt by the likes of God of War, GTA IV and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare? Two days of playing Alan Wake on the Xbox 360 have given us our answer: we think Alan Wake is simply the best game of the year on ANY platform. No, and that is not a judgement based on gamer-rush adrenaline generated by playing the game. Here, is our six-point rationale.
- Storyline: Storylines have been taking a bit of a battering in the gaming world with graphics and “open-ended” worlds hogging the spotlight and the storyline just being something that leads you from one battle to another. Yes, we have had some exceptions, but for the most part, gamers today play games simply for the sake of achievement of knocking off some big villain. Alan Wake is refreshingly different – you will play this game just to find out what happens. And it is a story that Stephen King would have been proud of – Alan Wake, a writer, and his wife go away to a small town for a trip, the wife disappears, people get turned into zombie-like creatures, and everything seems to be happening according to a book that Alan cannot remember writing. He keeps getting pages of his manuscript, telling him what might happen next, even as he tries to find his wife. We have not seen such a strong storyline since Indigo Prophecy. Mind you, we could have lived without the “Alan Wake’s journey through the night will continue” line at the end. Sure, we would love a sequel but to be told that there is more to come after one has been through nearly fifteen hours of gut wrenching tension and finally finished the game can be a tad irritating.
- Creep factor: We have played games like Resident Evil that have scared the daylights out of us, but honestly, nothing has creeped us out the way Alan Wake has. There were times when we knew, thanks to a manuscript page found somewhere in the forest (there are lots of those around), what exactly was going to happen, and yet we still quaked in our shoes, waiting for it to take place. Most of the action takes place in the night, with fog thrown in for good measure, and you never know what is going on behind your back as you walk through the jungles.
- Good baddies: All right, we know that term sounds a tad contradictory, but The Taken make up for some of them most impressive enemies we have seen for a while in gaming. They basically seem to be zombies of some sort, only they are pretty much invulnerable in the dark – you need to shine a light on them to make them susceptible to injury (hence, Alan has to carry torches and flares, as well as guns). They also have an eerie sense of humour – “How does it feel to be killed by your own creation?” One of them asks a petrified Alan – and a habit of creeping up behind your back. All of which makes for some pretty compelling, if terrifying, gameplay.
- Gameplay: The gameplay is not Alan Wake’s greatest strength but the whole concept of shining a light on a person and then taking a shot at them adds a completely new dimension to the third person shooter. It gets particularly interesting when Alan gets attacked by multiple enemies, in which case he often has to rely on flares or run back and find a generator in the forest. Yes, we did not like the episode-like arrangement of the game, but Alan Wake is a relatively easy game to get used to, which allows us really to focus on the story instead of wondering which button to mash.
- Lookin’ good…: It would be incorrect to call the graphics of Alan Wake as ground breaking or as impressive as those seen in some recent titles (GOW3 is a prime example), but there is no doubt that this is one of the better games in the looks department. Mind you, we think it looks a lot better at night than in the day, when the graphics tend to fade somewhat. And yes, we would insist that you play the game with the lights switched off for best results.
- …sounding better: But if amazingly stunning good looks are not Alan Wake’s forte, its sound effects and soundtrack are. Be it the ambient music from Petri Alanko or the soundtrack, with numbers like War from Poets of the Fall, this has got to be one of the best sounding games ever. Good enough for us to hope that its soundtrack is released as a stand-alone album some day.
Do you think we have a case for our claim? We certainly think so. Call us sentimental idiots but the main reason why we like Alan Wake is the fact that it seems to bring back the glory days of gaming when stories mattered as much, if not more, than action. Think we are exaggerating? Play.
Go play God of War 3 and then we’ll talk, until then you just sound desperate.
Don’t listen to Link01, hes just a PS3 fanboy. I played God of War 3 and its nothing special. Sure its a great game, but the first two God of War games were much better and with better story. I played Alan Wake yesterday and finally beat it today. Its easily my Game of the Year too.
Honestly, it would sort of be a tie with Mass Effect 2, but I think I give the slight edge to Alan Wake for its refreshing unique take on what a video game can be. I cant remember the last time I actually cared about the characters of a video game. I cared so much about the characters in Alan Wake. I also think the graphics is some of the best Ive seen on a console yet.
Sure some of the facial animation could use some work and Kratos character model is better looking, but the lighting in Alan Wake game is by far the best in any video game. I’m kind of embarrassed to say this, but I’m actually looking more forward to the Alan Wake DLC than any other game in months. I know thats a bold thing to say since we have a ton of great games coming this year like GT5, Resistance 3 (hopefully), Halo Reach, Fable 3, etc, but I’m seriously craving more from this game.
I cant wait for the DLC. Go Remedy and I hope they end up making Alan Wake 2. I know it will be great and better than the first one just like how Naughty Dog made Uncharted 2 better than the first.
Alan Wake is a good game, but too short, linear but storyline is great. To be honest I wos expecting more from the game in graphx department. Normal mapping all over the place, and ugly textures here and there, but good design. Hell, facial animations are bad as in Heavy Rain, if not even worse.
God of War 3 owns every single game to date in graphx department so far.
@ Farzan
All because I state the obvious * which the majority agree on the N4g discussion board and obviously your out numbered here already * I’m dubbed a fanboy. It looks like your the fanboy here dumbass. Also, Alan Wake has no refreshing take on a game… it’s basically Alone in the Dark on the Dreamcast remastered * literally *.
i beat this game in 3 days.
Like Farzan my GOTY slighty above ME2. though, I will say I haven’t played Uncharted 2 yet.
This is the first game that I actually can’t wait to play again. especially with the DLC.
It’s not the best looking game, but it is close, and is perfect for the game style and atmosphere.
My only complaint is some levels seems alot shorter than others. I finished the first two in under 3 hours. and the third episode by itself took my about 4.
And the soundtrack CD doesn’t have GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM by David Bowie. Which i was surprised to hear at the end credits..
i agree with your praise, but i gotta still give my personal GOTY vote to Mas Effect 2. Alan Wake is a close second though, and definitely deserves an award for best writing. i just think ME2 was overall a more fulfilling experience. =]
the only problem with ME2 is that it IS only fulfilling experience if you played ME1. While the graphics, story and character development IS great. as a standalone title the story can’t compete with Alan Wake. Even if you don’t play any more Alan Wakes. you can come to your own conclusion of the meaning behind the ending, as was intended by the creators.
And the Audio of AW is better than ME2. But that is most likely due to the nature of the worlds. A strict linear story is easier to write dialogue sfx and background noise than an open world like ME2.
@Link01
Hey Link01, I really love how you reference N4G when everyone knows that website is filled with nothing, but Sony fanboys. Nice try though, but it just wasn’t good enough and we ain’t talking about graphics here you loser. Did I ever say Alan Wake is better looking than God of War 3? No I didn’t, so I don’t know why you pulled some shit out of your ass acting like I did. I said Alan Wake has the best lighting effect on any console. Thats a fact and not an opinion. If you seriously think God of War 3 is better than Alan Wake in terms of lighting alone, than you seriously need to get your eyes checked.
Thats not to say Alan Wake looks better than God of War 3. I don’t think anyone thinks that way. I’m just saying in terms of lighting, Alan Wake is better. Also, if you honestly think Alan Wake is nothing, but Alone in the Dark HD than you obviously haven’t played the game. Are their similarities between the two? yes no doubt, but Alan Wake is a much better experience with a fantastic story that grips you by the throat and never lets go. Its the only game Ive ever beaten and craved more in terms of story. Is the game short? kinda, but is that a bad thing? if the story of a game is really good and makes you care for the characters than I don’t really care if it takes me 5 hours to beat it.
My play-through took me at least 10 hours and I plan on playing through the story again just like I did with Heavy Rain. Alan Wake is the only game that actually got me creeped out and kinda frightened without even having to use blood to make the effect. Thats already an impressive feat. To make you audience scared and on the edge of your seat without having to use blood.
Its a shame how people keep bringing up the games 5 year development time as some sort of negative point towards the game even though the developer only has around 45 people at their studio. You look at a game like Assassins Creed 2 and Killzone 2, which had over 200 people working on it and it took then 2 years to bring it out.
If reviewers are going to count a games development cycle as a point in their reviews than GT5 is going to run into the same problem. If the game ends up being good than I don’t care how long it took them to bring it out.
hey Link,do you even have both systems?did you even played Alan Wake?
@link
I’ve played Alan wake and gow3 and tbh i am more impressed with alan wake. While I love gow up to the point where it is one of my favorite franchises, the third game kinda just had the feeling of a been there done that with shinier graphics. Alan wake has nowhere near the graphics of gown but there is so much more the game offers. A fantastic story with a great narrative, great atmospherics, great characters, and a certain “it” factor that makes you want to keep playing. After i finish with an episode i feel compelled to keep playing. While the game is a tad short the exceptional quality of the game more than makes up for it. Just my thoughts and i do indeed love gow3 but to say Alan wake is better is in no way fanboy-dom, it’s simply being more story-based than action-based
Alan Wake is so much better the God of war 3.Alan wake has a much better storyline yes a bit short but a different game then the usual games today .And who could forget Barry what at a man,what a hero unforgettable charactors
Forgot to say that Alan Wake is my game of the year to.Until Fallout 3 New Vegas come out :-). Link01 your acting the ps3 fanboy Alan Wake is such a better game as Farzan said its a speical game its something new then just a hack and slash game that is god of war. And who doesnt want that sexy carboard cut of Alan Wake
Hmm i’m stuck between mass effect 2 and alan wake. Mass effect is a great game with well developed characters but Alan wake’s story is kind of better than that. Also Wake’s atmosphere is darker, deeper and has a great storyline. At least that’s what I’ve heard.