Alan Wake's American Nightmare Review

[Sarge034]

Uh, yeah, Alan (Alan) Wake was trying to elicit some scares. It wasn't trying to be a full-on horror, but it was most definitely trying to get some scares.

Yes, Alan. Spellcheck did not like it I guess. Thank you for the correction. >Adds to dictionary<

When did the game try to give some scares? Even in the first one everything was presented in a cut scene or the game slows down to bullet time to introduce new enemies and the like. I would say the creepiest thing was the environment. The taken were unsettling at first, but soon became "just another bad guy". The environment, however, was consistently dark, creepy, and unwelcoming. That was the "scariest" thing in the game.

And I was talking about the first game and what I hope to see for the second, not American Nightmare.

Then why are you posting on the forum for the review of American Nightmare?

Although I'll add that simply adding an achievement to do something does not mean they are supporting that play style (probably why you found it "annoying" - because the game wasn't built with that focus in mind), or even particularly encouraging people to do it for that matter.

I found it annoying because it does not fit the story or the character. Alan is bad enough a dude to live in the dark place for 2 years, survive, and thrive. Now I'm (Alan is) supposed to run from a handful of taken in a story I (Alan) wrote??? As far as I'm concerned Alan should be able to illuminate things with his eyes alone like the spotlights from the first game and kill taken with a single shot from his hand in the shape of a gun at this point. He has "no-clip" and "infantine ammo" enabled and his "hand" cannon can pierce the darkness without the need for light. This is just how bad enough a dude Alan is.

Spoiler: This is how Alan SHOULD illuminate and kill taken (click on me, I have pictures!!!)

His "spotlight" eyes.

His "hand" gun.

I argued for less guns and ammo, with a heavier emphasis on using light sources. I didn't say ditch either completely.

And I was exaggerating the point that it would break the metaphor of the gameplay if you favored one to the other. The game is about balance, so favoring logic to reason (light to guns) would have thrown the balance. To completely run out of ammo and have to run away is saying that Alan ran out of reason and slipped into insanity for a bit. Notice that even in the first game, that didn't have infinite ammo, you were never completely out of ammo. You may only have had three shots left in your revolver, but you had ammo. That is supposed to equate to Alan is being pushed to the edge of sanity but he always has a small reservoir of reasoning to fall back on.

 

[Susan Arendt]

This was interesting to watch. Truth be told I played a little bit of Alan Wake, I couldn't get into it at the time because my friend kept wanting his game back so after 30 minutes of gameplay I just returned it on the go. But this 'DLC' (if it is that) looks interesting, and wow they actually showed footage of some guy strangling someone in from of Alan. That wasn't expected, I thought he would of merely shot the victim. Mm.

Mr. Scratch is genuinely, truly creepy. My favorite game villain in quite some time.

 

[Nelson Goodrich]

Nice Video Review Susan! My only problem with it is that they are too few and too far apart. You are my favorite escapist reviewer but there are to few reviews from you lately. We need more of this.

 

[Something Amyss]

Forget Barry though, I need more Susan reviews. Someone get you a weekly show on The Escapist. I'd enjoy that.

I second that. I really like your style, Susan!

 

[Draxonfly]

I hope it comes to the PC, now the Original game is on Steam, Only just recently been through it (it is awesome) and really hope the DLC come to Steam too..

 

[Susan Arendt]

Nice Video Review Susan! My only problem with it is that they are too few and too far apart. You are my favorite escapist reviewer but there are to few reviews from you lately. We need more of this.

Forget Barry though, I need more Susan reviews. Someone get you a weekly show on The Escapist. I'd enjoy that.

I second that. I really like your style, Susan!

You guys are sweethearts. Thank you! I have another review coming up next week.

 

[Ickorus]

Keep you playing through to the end.. and then maybe one or two more times

I see what you did there.

I really liked American Nightmare, very fun, the story is just as engaging and the additional weapons and enemy variety is very welcome. The atmosphere isn't gone either, it's just very different to that of the first game.

There were a couple of things I didn't like though such as the ammo points preventing you from ever reaching really panicking at a lack of ammo and how the crossbow puts every other weapon in the game to shame.

Even with those negatives, the game is well worth the asking price.