I never had an Xbox and never felt the urge to purchase one until “Alan Wake” came out. The mood seemed to somehow bring together two of my favorite franchises: “Silent Hill” and “Twin Peaks”. I mean, it even has its own Log Lady alternative!! Finally able to play the game over a decade later, I have to say that the mood and atmosphere are definitely its strongest points. It masterfully captures the unsettling tone of its inspirations, enveloping players in an eerie and mysterious world.
However, despite the intriguing setting and atmosphere, "Alan Wake" falls short in the gameplay department. The novelty of using light to weaken enemies before shooting them is refreshing, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop becomes a burden too quickly. Some areas drag on for too long, making the experience feel monotonous and, at times, unsatisfying. The constant resetting of inventory and equipment, even within a single episode, hampers player and character progression, leaving a sense of stagnation throughout.
I also found the narrative a little fragmented. It's not the non-linear structure that poses a challenge, but rather the clunky dialogue and abrupt transitions during chapters and cutscenes, which make things difficult to follow.
In short, "Alan Wake" shines in its ability to conjure a haunting atmosphere, paying homage to franchises that hardly find a counterpart in video games. However, its gameplay struggles with repetitiveness and a lack of progression, while the narrative, though intriguing, tends to stumble due to its fragmented presentation. Despite these shortcomings, the game manages to carve its niche, offering a unique experience for those drawn to its distinctive mood.
About the DLCs: the first one is just a patchwork of areas previously encountered in the game, definitely skippable. The second one makes a more creative use of the surreal elements of the setting, and also uses the environment in interesting ways. The ending is as anticlimactic as the main game, but the overall experience felt slightly more diversified.
However, despite the intriguing setting and atmosphere, "Alan Wake" falls short in the gameplay department. The novelty of using light to weaken enemies before shooting them is refreshing, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop becomes a burden too quickly. Some areas drag on for too long, making the experience feel monotonous and, at times, unsatisfying. The constant resetting of inventory and equipment, even within a single episode, hampers player and character progression, leaving a sense of stagnation throughout.
I also found the narrative a little fragmented. It's not the non-linear structure that poses a challenge, but rather the clunky dialogue and abrupt transitions during chapters and cutscenes, which make things difficult to follow.
In short, "Alan Wake" shines in its ability to conjure a haunting atmosphere, paying homage to franchises that hardly find a counterpart in video games. However, its gameplay struggles with repetitiveness and a lack of progression, while the narrative, though intriguing, tends to stumble due to its fragmented presentation. Despite these shortcomings, the game manages to carve its niche, offering a unique experience for those drawn to its distinctive mood.
About the DLCs: the first one is just a patchwork of areas previously encountered in the game, definitely skippable. The second one makes a more creative use of the surreal elements of the setting, and also uses the environment in interesting ways. The ending is as anticlimactic as the main game, but the overall experience felt slightly more diversified.