Alan Wake II (Computer)
User Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): October 27, 2023
- Release Date (EU): October 27, 2023
- Release Date (JP): October 27, 2023
- Publisher: Epic Games Publishing
- Developer: Remedy Entertainment
- Genres: Survival horror
- Also For: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative
Review Approach:
It is not truly a terror survivor lake, it's the same ocean painted in a different light.
A non-frightening horror game with an excellent thriller plot.
13 years have passed since the first game of the series was released. The original Alan Wake quickly became a cult classic and excelled at creating a terror atmosphere without embracing terror itself. All the elements were there, it's a solid thriller, but it warns you of potential scares and gives you the tools to persist in a power trip if you like. One of the reasons I enjoyed the combat so much back in the day. Built on a mechanic of light and darkness where darkness protects your enemies but your flashlight or luminous tools make them vulnerable.
It comes as a surprise to me that newer players of the game tend to criticize the combat of the original title, which now seems to be boring. Remedy took note, it seems. But instead of changing the combat itself, which is the starting concept of the game series, approach the issue by framing it in a new genre.
In Alan Wake II, the superb atmosphere is still there. The difference, however, is that Remedy decided to embrace terror survival this time and, instead of shielding the player from fear, tries, for the most part, to scare them. Trying is the important part. In that regard, the game is pretty mild. Most fear-inducing moments are relegated to what I find cheap jump scares of flashing live action faces on screen, which, apart from the first one excellently performed by Linda Cook, really don't do much aside of inducing a headache. There was only one other moment that managed to frighten me, where a shadow figure attacked me from behind unexpectedly, but all the rest doesn't really achieve much for the self-proclaimed survival horror - which is fine, to be honest.
As for the combat itself, it didn't change much. Suffered in pace and is void of the gratifying light explosion that we had in the first game when we'd kill an enemy, both in line with the genre switch.
The non-combat part of the gameplay introduced some investigative mechanics to it that work great, even providing the player with an investigation board that has to be built up for deduction with an uncertain level of completion after gathering clues throughout the game. The fallout of this investigative part is that, as it provides an exciting buildup to the story, it loses its edge by the ending. There are also some light puzzles that provide power-ups, extra weapons and inventory.
As for the plot, it is another aspect where the game really shines. It continues to establish the link between Alan Wake and Control, as per the latter, but also connects in a more indirect way to the other Remedy hits that Remedy doesn't own the IP for: Max Payne and Quantum Break. Well, perhaps, it's more indirectly Max Payne, where Alan Wake II pays a proper homage, and less indirectly Quantum Break, where ties seem to be a little stronger than only an homage (I recommend playing at least Control and Quantum Break first). It's a connected universe that may be more inspired by Stephen King's Dark Tower than the MCU, but I hope they know how to manage it to become a shore in the future to keep up with everything, like with the MCU.
The plot also walks a fine line between thinking highly of itself (rightly so, I might add) and not taking itself too seriously. It is still a beautiful homage to Twin Peaks and Stephen King, dwelling more into the Twin Peaks side this time, I'd say, with a much darker tone and also alluding to the 2017 Frost and Lynch follow up. There are other clear inspirations, like True Detective. Comic relief is still present, with an entire chapter dedicated to it even, that ended up as a live show on the VGA - though I'd like to digress that took more from it and contributed to the overall mood of that side of the game.
My biggest critique also comes from the plot, though. As much as the continuation of the story, even if as DLC, feels welcome, the main plot requires the player to beat the game twice to reach the proper ending: the first time and the new game plus option (here called The Final Draft). The Final Draft provides the players with a new game experience where they can keep their inventory and upgrades (as per the 'new game plus' mode standard), but makes them have to reattain all the collectibles and clues that are required for the investigation board's completion - and hence plot completion. It ends up making the game overstay its welcome.
Despite my critiques, though, it is still a great game and has my full recommendation. If you're playing it on a PC, do be aware that this is a demanding game that requires modern and middle- to high-end hardware (depending on your target resolution and frame rate - but don't be surprised with frame rate dips here and there).
It comes as a surprise to me that newer players of the game tend to criticize the combat of the original title, which now seems to be boring. Remedy took note, it seems. But instead of changing the combat itself, which is the starting concept of the game series, approach the issue by framing it in a new genre.
In Alan Wake II, the superb atmosphere is still there. The difference, however, is that Remedy decided to embrace terror survival this time and, instead of shielding the player from fear, tries, for the most part, to scare them. Trying is the important part. In that regard, the game is pretty mild. Most fear-inducing moments are relegated to what I find cheap jump scares of flashing live action faces on screen, which, apart from the first one excellently performed by Linda Cook, really don't do much aside of inducing a headache. There was only one other moment that managed to frighten me, where a shadow figure attacked me from behind unexpectedly, but all the rest doesn't really achieve much for the self-proclaimed survival horror - which is fine, to be honest.
As for the combat itself, it didn't change much. Suffered in pace and is void of the gratifying light explosion that we had in the first game when we'd kill an enemy, both in line with the genre switch.
The non-combat part of the gameplay introduced some investigative mechanics to it that work great, even providing the player with an investigation board that has to be built up for deduction with an uncertain level of completion after gathering clues throughout the game. The fallout of this investigative part is that, as it provides an exciting buildup to the story, it loses its edge by the ending. There are also some light puzzles that provide power-ups, extra weapons and inventory.
As for the plot, it is another aspect where the game really shines. It continues to establish the link between Alan Wake and Control, as per the latter, but also connects in a more indirect way to the other Remedy hits that Remedy doesn't own the IP for: Max Payne and Quantum Break. Well, perhaps, it's more indirectly Max Payne, where Alan Wake II pays a proper homage, and less indirectly Quantum Break, where ties seem to be a little stronger than only an homage (I recommend playing at least Control and Quantum Break first). It's a connected universe that may be more inspired by Stephen King's Dark Tower than the MCU, but I hope they know how to manage it to become a shore in the future to keep up with everything, like with the MCU.
The plot also walks a fine line between thinking highly of itself (rightly so, I might add) and not taking itself too seriously. It is still a beautiful homage to Twin Peaks and Stephen King, dwelling more into the Twin Peaks side this time, I'd say, with a much darker tone and also alluding to the 2017 Frost and Lynch follow up. There are other clear inspirations, like True Detective. Comic relief is still present, with an entire chapter dedicated to it even, that ended up as a live show on the VGA - though I'd like to digress that took more from it and contributed to the overall mood of that side of the game.
My biggest critique also comes from the plot, though. As much as the continuation of the story, even if as DLC, feels welcome, the main plot requires the player to beat the game twice to reach the proper ending: the first time and the new game plus option (here called The Final Draft). The Final Draft provides the players with a new game experience where they can keep their inventory and upgrades (as per the 'new game plus' mode standard), but makes them have to reattain all the collectibles and clues that are required for the investigation board's completion - and hence plot completion. It ends up making the game overstay its welcome.
Despite my critiques, though, it is still a great game and has my full recommendation. If you're playing it on a PC, do be aware that this is a demanding game that requires modern and middle- to high-end hardware (depending on your target resolution and frame rate - but don't be surprised with frame rate dips here and there).
Verdict
What I Liked ...
- Plot
- Atmosphere
- Combat
What I Didn't Like ...
- Cheap jump scares
- 'New game plus' mode that overstays its welcome
8
Gameplay
Same great combat, but with slower pacing and more sporadic. Great investigation mechanics.
9
Presentation
Great visual presentation, great plot, superb atmosphere. Taxing on the hardware.
6
Lasting Appeal
The requirement to play the 'New Game Plus' mode to properly finish the story without major changes or at least keeping collectibles makes it overstay its welcome.
8.4
out of 10
)
