Exavold
Not good, do not play. Skip to Control or Alan Wake 2.
I'll just say, If you wanna play this for the context in other Remedy games : skip this one and watch the cutscenes on YouTube as they are the only thing worth experiencing.
I have several major issues with this spin-off (I know this is DLC-sized but if it's a standalone game, I won't call it a DLC).
1. PADDING.
This took me around 2h to finish, while not especially going fast (except on the last loop because I was fed up).
If this spinoff had the vehicles from the first, It would've probably taken me 1h. The only reason I can figure out for their absence is to make this a little longer.
Also, the time-loop itself is really repetitive and a bad example of how to handle such a mecanic..
2. TONE
I originally wrote this off of my notes because this is (probably) not the same Alan Wake universe as the first but damn... where did the horror go ?
It really feels like a Third Person Shooter thanks to the way Alan feels like John Wick; he reacts fast, has almost unlimited resources and his weapons hit hard. The combat feels "better" than Alan Wake 1 because it's less purposefully restrictive, but the tightness and anxious combat of the first was very intentional because Alan isn't a soldier...
There is an argument to be made for him to be better at weapons since he's been stuck for a while but this still feels jarring after playing through the first game and It's DLCs.
3. DIFFICULTY
Very much tied to my previous point, PLAY IN NIGHTMARE MODE.
I played in Normal and the game was a snoozefest with an arsenal of weapons way way too powerful and ammo everywhere. Oh and the flashlight recharges much quicker too, how nice. =)
Again, Normal felt much more balanced in original game thanks to the tighter ammo economy, enemies having way more health and them having ranged attacks.
If I had to pick one positive about this game, Alan feels better to control and the shooting is more "standard" of Third-Person Shooters but I feel like it's also a detriment to the game. Oh and the live-action cutscenes are pretty much the highlight of the game, but I feel the gameplay does not back that up at all, watch them online. I love this studio so much but i'd get my hours back in a heartbeat, do not recommend.
I'll just say, If you wanna play this for the context in other Remedy games : skip this one and watch the cutscenes on YouTube as they are the only thing worth experiencing.
I have several major issues with this spin-off (I know this is DLC-sized but if it's a standalone game, I won't call it a DLC).
1. PADDING.
This took me around 2h to finish, while not especially going fast (except on the last loop because I was fed up).
If this spinoff had the vehicles from the first, It would've probably taken me 1h. The only reason I can figure out for their absence is to make this a little longer.
Also, the time-loop itself is really repetitive and a bad example of how to handle such a mecanic..
2. TONE
I originally wrote this off of my notes because this is (probably) not the same Alan Wake universe as the first but damn... where did the horror go ?
It really feels like a Third Person Shooter thanks to the way Alan feels like John Wick; he reacts fast, has almost unlimited resources and his weapons hit hard. The combat feels "better" than Alan Wake 1 because it's less purposefully restrictive, but the tightness and anxious combat of the first was very intentional because Alan isn't a soldier...
There is an argument to be made for him to be better at weapons since he's been stuck for a while but this still feels jarring after playing through the first game and It's DLCs.
3. DIFFICULTY
Very much tied to my previous point, PLAY IN NIGHTMARE MODE.
I played in Normal and the game was a snoozefest with an arsenal of weapons way way too powerful and ammo everywhere. Oh and the flashlight recharges much quicker too, how nice. =)
Again, Normal felt much more balanced in original game thanks to the tighter ammo economy, enemies having way more health and them having ranged attacks.
If I had to pick one positive about this game, Alan feels better to control and the shooting is more "standard" of Third-Person Shooters but I feel like it's also a detriment to the game. Oh and the live-action cutscenes are pretty much the highlight of the game, but I feel the gameplay does not back that up at all, watch them online. I love this studio so much but i'd get my hours back in a heartbeat, do not recommend.