Fresh from the creators of Max Payne, Alan Wake is a “psychological action thriller” set in the idyllic town of Bright Falls. A successful author with a serious case of writer’s block, Alan and his wife take a vacation to the sleepy town, in order to get the creative juices flowing.

However things take an unexpected turn for the worst, which leads to Alan waking up in the middle of nowhere with a week missing from his memory, after hearing his wife scream in terror. It’s up to Alan to discover the fate of his wife, as well as figure out what happened during the week that he can’t remember.

During his travels, Alan Wake is set upon by a number of humanoid creatures known as The Taken. Fuelled by darkness, Alan quickly finds that light is the ultimate weapon in defeating these new found enemies, as he attempts to unravel the mystery of Bright Falls.

While darkness is essentially your best friend in games like Splinter Cell: Conviction, the exact opposite is true in Alan Wake. When flash light batteries are running low, you’ll find your heart pounding as you search for a light source to keep you safe.

I wish I could tell you more without spoiling things, sadly I can’t. The story is by far the greatest part of Alan Wake, it’s instantly gripping and filled with constant plot twists that will keep you guessing the truth right up until the end credits.

Presented in 6 “episodes” which get progressively longer, and taking inspiration from the likes of Vanilla Sky, the BtVS episode Normal Again, and pretty much every Stephen King novel; Alan Wake will have you constantly questioning if events are real, or merely a figment of Alan’s imagination.

Alan Wake’s controls are simple enough to learn, leaving you free to explore the engrossing game world, dodge attacks, and defend yourself with relative ease. This is all important, because when you’re surrounded by enemies you’ll be able to quickly dispatch them, without fighting the controller.

Sound design shines in this game, whether it’s the general ambience of the forest at night, the radio talk shows, or even Alan’s narration; it all fits perfectly in place, and serves to make you feel truly alone.

There are very few negative aspects to Alan Wake, as the story, the sound design, graphics, gameplay and even the voice acting are at such a high calibre. However it only serves to make you want more. Sadly due to the linear nature of the game, once the main story has been completed, there is very little to draw you back to the game (collectables aside).

It’s such a pity, as I can see this game being traded in by many gamers, long before any DLC actually surfaces. While some has already been confirmed (the limited edition DLC goes live in July), I can only hope that there is more in the works. I want more episodes, more Alan Wake, and more of that expertly crafted psychological gameplay; even if it focuses on minor characters from Bright Falls. PLEASE!

Alan Wake is an excellent example of a story driven game, and a refreshing change of pace in today’s market. Gritty and engaging, it’s clear that Remedy have really done their homework, and have once again presented a character whose world you’ll love to explore.

8.5/10

Support Old School Gamer

You can help support Old School Gamer by purchasing Alan Wake from the following sites: -

ShopTo: Standard Edition.
Amazon: Standard Edition.
Play.com: Standard Edition.