The gameplay of Alan Wake puts a refreshingly unique spin on conventional shooter mechanics, offering gameplay that is largely themed around the concept of light and dark. Alan fights with a torch in one hand and a gun in the other, and enemies are surrounded by a darkness which must be burned away with the torch before they can be successfully shot at. The torch has limited power and recharges slowly but should all its power be expended Alan will have to insert a new battery (of which you can carry a limited amount) and when reloading his gun you can tap X to make Alan reload faster, a simple but beneficial addition to standard reloading mechanics. You will also occasionally be able to use lights in the environment around you to help weaken enemies and utilise flares to make sure enemies keep their distance. All in all this unconventional take on the standard design of a third-person shooter means that for a large amount of the time the combat is a fun experience.
The game does a good job of throwing just enough enemies at you and pathing those enemies so that fights are often imposing scenarios which have you continually watching your own back and remaining just a little on edge. The unfortunate downside to this is that occasionally you will run into situations where unforeseeable attacks which come from behind seem just unfair and in scenarios such as this not even Alan’s dodge ability will help.
Aesthetically the game presents one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever seen. Most of the game takes place in the forests around Bright Falls where the game uses rolling mists and well-crafted environments to create an eerie tension which feels only too fitting in the world of Wake. The contrast between light and dark is a very pleasing effect which helps reaffirm the thematics of the game and Remedy manage to present the world in a way which makes it seem appropriately grim. The looping orchestral pieces which play during fights also do a great job of enhancing the apprehensive tone of the enemy encounters and the full pieces of music at the end of each chapter are a nice touch too.
Along with the atmosphere the other real high point of Alan Wake is the narrative; this is a game that is not only original in its story but also compelling. The game primarily takes influence from Stephen King and Twin Peaks, although also regularly references other writers. Having the game based around a writer and his supernatural encounters is a welcome change up from the traditional shooter plotlines. The dialogue holds up well, from Wake’s dramatic narration of the unfolding events to the wise-cracks of his superhero and part-time sidekick in the story, Barry. The plot takes some excellent twists, some of them quite unpredictable, and provides a memorable if not slightly inconclusive experience by the end. The way the game is divided into chapters with firm divides and recaps of the events so far between each of them also provides a unique pacing to the experience.
Unfortunately Alan Wake has one big downfall. As well as this whole package comes across to begin with, it doesn’t quite hold up for the entirety of the game. The environments aren’t as impacting by the third act of the game as they are to begin with, all being a bit samey, but I think a far larger issue lies in the combat of the game. By the time the game reaches its third act you’ve seen all the weapons, are still fighting the same five or so different types of enemy over and over, and the game doesn’t switch up the gameplay in any way that seems new or exciting. For the back third of Alan Wake you find yourself slightly begrudgingly pushing your way through the gameplay simply to get to the far more tantalising story beats. The game is saturated with a ridiculous number of collectibles for the completionist players out there but with the repetitive nature of the gameplay, the prospect of jumping back into the game to try to nab these trinkets after you’ve finished the story sounds a lot more enticing than it actually is in practise.
While Alan Wake’s final two or three chapters drag, the
replay value is limited and an unforeseen axe in the back is not an uncommon occurrence,
it’s still a great game. The graphics, sound and enemy design come together to
create an expertly crafted atmosphere, the initial gameplay is an inventive
change to the third-person shooter formula and the story does an excellent job
of grabbing you and not letting go until the final moments. If you haven’t got
Alan Wake yet it absolutely deserves a space in your collection.