Alan Wake is a linear, action-horror themed third person shooter with a story to tell. How best to describe it?

Resident Evil 4 meets Twin Peaks. If you like one or both of those things, you'll absolutely love this game.

Let's get the cons out of the way first, though really, they're minor gripes.

-This is an older title, but even relative to it's contemporaries, character models and certain facial animations don't look all that good. For the most part they get the job done, though.

-Some combat sections can be needlessly frustrating, though you'll never be stuck in them for too long.

-Certain sections of the game may leave you temporarily confused about where exactly to go, or what exactly to do, though this is relatively rare and generally won't last too long.

-Sequel baiting for a sequel that will likely never come (American Nightmare sort of counts, I guess, but it's SHORT.)


With that out of the way, the positives:

-Lighting and shadows look excellent for a game that came out in 2012.

-The story is interesting and well told, with solid voice acting across the board. You find collectible pages scattered across the game which add to the narrative without revealing too much.

-Gunplay is weighty, intense, and responsive. Enemies respond dynamically to being shot with weapons, lights being shined in their face, etc., and they almost always feel like a genuine threat. Even encounters with single enemies feel tense, especially for a first time player.

-This game bleeds atmosphere no matter where you go- maps feel like real world places, without having needless or superfluous areas, and more often than not reward exploration. There are lots and lots of little details to be found, whether during high or low intensity scenes, which add to the game's immersion and charm.

-The music accentuates each scene and encounter very well. Some tracks are cliche horror stings during high intensity moments, but most of it is great.

-There are small nods to certain... "other" properties Remedy Entertainment developed in the past, which are sure to make anyone who played those games grin.

Now, there is one quality of this game that is neither good nor bad- this game is short. Collectibles and achievements will give some replay value for anybody who beats the game loving it and wanting more, but even then, you're only adding a few more hours to a ten or so hour long campaign.

That being said, I can tell you that without a doubt, I was one of those people that ended up loving this game, and I am not alone. If any of this sounds like it's your cup of tea, this game is definitely worth a shot. If you're on the fence, or if fifteen dollarydoos sounds a little steep for a 10-12 ish hour experience, there's no shame in buying this game while it's on sale, and it seems to go on sale fairly regularly for a good bargain. (At the time of my writing this review, it's on sale for three USD!)

Alan Wake is a linear, action-horror themed third person shooter with a story to tell. How best to describe it? Resident Evil 4 meets Twin Peaks. If you like one or both of those things, you'll absolutely love this game. Let's get the cons out of the way first, though really, they're minor gripes. -This is an older title, but even relative to it's contemporaries, character models and certain facial animations don't look all that good. For the most part they get the job done, though. -Some combat sections can be needlessly frustrating, though you'll never be stuck in them for too long. -Certain sections of the game may leave you temporarily confused about where exactly to go, or what exactly to do, though this is relatively rare and generally won't last too long. -Sequel baiting for a sequel that will likely never come (American Nightmare sort of counts, I guess, but it's SHORT.) With that out of the way, the positives: -Lighting and shadows look excellent for a game that came out in 2012. -The story is interesting and well told, with solid voice acting across the board. You find collectible pages scattered across the game which add to the narrative without revealing too much. -Gunplay is weighty, intense, and responsive. Enemies respond dynamically to being shot with weapons, lights being shined in their face, etc., and they almost always feel like a genuine threat. Even encounters with single enemies feel tense, especially for a first time player. -This game bleeds atmosphere no matter where you go- maps feel like real world places, without having needless or superfluous areas, and more often than not reward exploration. There are lots and lots of little details to be found, whether during high or low intensity scenes, which add to the game's immersion and charm. -The music accentuates each scene and encounter very well. Some tracks are cliche horror stings during high intensity moments, but most of it is great. -There are small nods to certain... "other" properties Remedy Entertainment developed in the past, which are sure to make anyone who played those games grin. Now, there is one quality of this game that is neither good nor bad- this game is short. Collectibles and achievements will give some replay value for anybody who beats the game loving it and wanting more, but even then, you're only adding a few more hours to a ten or so hour long campaign. That being said, I can tell you that without a doubt, I was one of those people that ended up loving this game, and I am not alone. If any of this sounds like it's your cup of tea, this game is definitely worth a shot. If you're on the fence, or if fifteen dollarydoos sounds a little steep for a 10-12 ish hour experience, there's no shame in buying this game while it's on sale, and it seems to go on sale fairly regularly for a good bargain. (At the time of my writing this review, it's on sale for three USD!)