Recent reviews by Loote

I first attempted a playthrough of Alan Wake 7 years ago - according to the dates on my achievement list - and abandoned the game for reasons I can't remember. Having heard the news about the upcoming sequel I decided to go back and finish out the story. As you would. It wasn't too long before I realised why I may have abandoned the game first time round.

Story-wise it's ok. It's no Twin Peaks, which it gets likened to a lot; the absurdity isn't there nor is the feeling that this is a world detached from reality. For a game that might want to seem scary or creepy in parts, it ends up being neither and I felt that it took itself far too seriously; a bit of ham might have made it more enjoyable I guess.

I was never really invested in the characters, didn't care much about Alan (he's a bit of an ass) or his wife and most of the townsfolk are forgettable. Unexpectedly, Barry, Alan's agent, and the most obnoxious character in the game, managed to liven up the game somewhat, adding much needed levity to the story.

There are some tense parts but I never felt any sense of dread or unease whilst playing. Games like Resident Evil or Dead Space ramp up the tension on the player, are heavy on atmosphere and make you feel very vulnerable. Alan Wake doesn't feel like that. Sure there's a darkness surrounding the town but no real sense of foreboding for me.

It doesn't help that a story is trying to be told around some tedious game play. Bright Falls is a pain to get around, and every journey is just a long, boring slog. The trek is broken up by too many frustrating sections of repetitive, and uninspired combat. The idea is good; use a flashlight to weaken enemies and shoot to kill, but it gets old real quick. You can run away from most fight sections, but Mr Wake is not the most athletic guy in town, and his stamina drains quickly. Thankfully checkpoints are abundant in the game so you won't have too much progress lost if you mess up.

These sections make the game feel too long. There's too much empty space between one area and the next. There are driving sections that feel tacked on and pointless, adding nothing to the experience.

Take out the driving sections, shorten the travel distances, limit the combat encounters and concentrate on the story and atmosphere and maybe it would have been more enjoyable. It's not a bad game, but it's not a good game either.