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Alan Wake
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Genre: Adventure
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: T - Teen
Reviewer: Eric
Remedy Entertainment is known for their work on the Max Payne series. Going
from a series like that to Alan Wake is a huge step for Remedy, mainly since the
kind of game Alan Wake is could be risky in the video game market right now and
it is really different than the action packed Max Payne games.
Alan Wake has been teased and in development for quite some time. I think in
that amount of time Remedy Entertainment was able to give gamers the same feel
of excitement we got when playing Heavy Rain for the first time. That feeling I
got from Heavy Rain is almost how I felt when getting deeper and deeper into
Alan Wake.
Before I get ahead of myself let me give you a brief synopsis. The story
revolves around a famous writer, Alan Wake, who travels to a small town called
Bright Falls. Alan ends up at Bright Falls with his wife since she booked the
trip, thinking Alan might be cured from his writers block. Alan isn’t too happy
about this factor and after getting upset things start to change and Bright
Falls ends up being a living nightmare.
What makes Alan Wake so neat to play is how the game is about an unpublished
book written by Alan himself. Throughout the game Alan will talk like he is
reading from the same book he supposedly has written. The game feels like you
are playing a real life novel, unique since most games just give you a task and
be off with it. Alan Wake has you playing a novel, as its being told to you,
it’s just so different and refreshing to see and play games from a developer
that isn’t afraid to try something new.
The gameplay has you balancing two main attack factors. Alan Wake is a dark
game, literally. You’ll have to use a flashlight to make your enemies week, then
use some fire power. Single foes are easy to destroy but when you got enemies
from every corner the real strategy will come into play. Running from the enemy
might not be such a bad idea since light is your friend; you will want to find
any source of light when you get the chance.
It really helps a lot that the controls in Alan Wake are tight. Dodging is as
simple as moving a thumbstick. Instead of hitting a button and hoping it’s done
at the right time, you as the player, will have to move the right thumbstick in
the proper direction you want to dodge. Third person adventure games don’t tend
to have as good controls as Alan Wake does. High five Remedy Entertainment, high
five!
Alan’s novel comes to life in some of the best graphics I’ve seen on the Xbox
360. Lately the 360 in general has impressed me with their products, they look
real damn good. Backgrounds are movie-like and Alan Wake’s character detailing
is great! If you get the chance to play this game on a nice television I highly
recommend it. Little things like flares being thrown will amaze you.
Remedy Entertainment has however done a not so great job on the lip syncing on
characters. The game is so damn good in every other category and then Remedy
went ahead and didn’t match up the dialogue with the characters mouths. You
would have thought with some much time put into this game that they would make
sure everything was perfect.
Alan Wake has a real good soundtrack. Sound effects are top notch during those
eerie fog sequences. As upset as I was with the lip sync efforts the character
voice worked real well. I wasn’t too sure on some of the games humor at
ill-placed areas. Remedy Entertainment might have wanted to stick with the
series side of gaming throughout the whole game, but hey this is just one video
game reviewer talking.
Games like this typically don’t have the best replay value. There isn’t any
death matches or team play in Alan Wake. This is a single player experience that
will hopefully keep you hooked until downloadable content comes out. Remedy
Entertainment has already given gamers who bought the game in its first week
launch a voucher to get the first downloadable content for free. If the content
comes out on a bi-monthly bases then this is a sure hit. I personally could see
myself playing this a good amount of times, since it is that good, but one play
through could easily get you a good amount of the achievements.
Final Verdict
Alan Wake was in development for 5 years. Remedy took a different approach with
Alan Wake and I think they created a real good game. This Xbox 360 exclusive, to
me, is the equivalent to Sony Playstation’s sleeper hit Heavy Rain. The video
and audio is superb, along with the story and the so called “on a regular bases”
downloadable content. All of this makes for a good game that should be
experienced immediately.
Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 10 out of 10
+ A unique game that gives 360 owners a reason to brag about
their system again.
- Could argue and say it copies off of other
adventure/thriller titles.
Story: 10 out of 10
+ The story of Alan Wake is the main focus and it shouldn’t
upset anyone who plays it.
- You will want so much more from this game; it’s that good
(game is on the short side).
Graphics: 9 out of 10
+ Hands down the best looking game on the Xbox 360.
- It is a shame. The game looks great but the goddamn lip
syncing is pretty bad and noticeable.
Audio: 10 out of 10
+ If you ever wanted to know how a Stephen King novel sounded
like this is it.
- Nothing.
Replay Value: 8 out of 10
+ Promised downloadable content on a regular bases?!?! Better
buy some Microsoft Points.
- Nothing really to do after one play through, unless you
want to earn all the achievements.
Overall
9.40 out of 10
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