Alan Wake is a fantastic use of the medium and a not-great game. There are obviously both great and horrible things about the game, but it is a cult classic for a reason. Let me explain.
The experience of going through the story is dragged once and time again by the repetitive gameplay. The fact that you're CONSTANTLY faced with the same type of enemies is exasperating, and things get even worse when you take into account the limited stamina system. You can cheese most of the combat secuences by dropping flares and running towards the light, which can be both a good and a bad thing. The resources you can loot are ubiquitous, so at least there's that. But not all of the gameplay is bad. I found the gunplay to be decent and the flashlight mechanics are honestly quite fun to use.
The story, more precisely, the narrative, is where the game really shines. I feel like I've seen the plot before, but the combination of media Alan Wake uses sets it apart. The game itself is fine, but the way the pages you keep finding complement the narrative (one of the few cases where I didn't mind reading notes in a game), the way the radio broadcast adds background information in an organic and fairly entertaining manner, and the way the TV shows and programs add to the uncanny vibe (mixing real people with video game characters, stuff looks weird) make the game more than the sum of its parts.
On top of that, we can't forget about the characters. For some people they are annoying, me (partly) included. But by the end of the runtime, which is not that long really, you learn to love those goofy little guys. The whole cast feels like a mix between Twin Peaks and some really edgy TV show about a snob writer. Whatever.
Alan Wake is a product of its time. The gameplay feels slow and slightly out of fashion, but the way the story is told alternating between different types of media really adds to the experience and elevates what could've been a fairly boring game. I'd say it's worth it to play the game (even with its shortcomings) and immerse yourself in a timeless Pacific Northwest experience.
The experience of going through the story is dragged once and time again by the repetitive gameplay. The fact that you're CONSTANTLY faced with the same type of enemies is exasperating, and things get even worse when you take into account the limited stamina system. You can cheese most of the combat secuences by dropping flares and running towards the light, which can be both a good and a bad thing. The resources you can loot are ubiquitous, so at least there's that. But not all of the gameplay is bad. I found the gunplay to be decent and the flashlight mechanics are honestly quite fun to use.
The story, more precisely, the narrative, is where the game really shines. I feel like I've seen the plot before, but the combination of media Alan Wake uses sets it apart. The game itself is fine, but the way the pages you keep finding complement the narrative (one of the few cases where I didn't mind reading notes in a game), the way the radio broadcast adds background information in an organic and fairly entertaining manner, and the way the TV shows and programs add to the uncanny vibe (mixing real people with video game characters, stuff looks weird) make the game more than the sum of its parts.
On top of that, we can't forget about the characters. For some people they are annoying, me (partly) included. But by the end of the runtime, which is not that long really, you learn to love those goofy little guys. The whole cast feels like a mix between Twin Peaks and some really edgy TV show about a snob writer. Whatever.
Alan Wake is a product of its time. The gameplay feels slow and slightly out of fashion, but the way the story is told alternating between different types of media really adds to the experience and elevates what could've been a fairly boring game. I'd say it's worth it to play the game (even with its shortcomings) and immerse yourself in a timeless Pacific Northwest experience.