I'm a sucker for games that are centered around story telling. Mass Effect 1 & 2, Heavy Rain, Indigo Prophecy, and the like. So, when I first heard about Alan Wake, I knew I would have to get my hands on it.
The story follows Alan wake (duh!) as he tries to escape to the small mountain town of Bright Falls with his wife, Alice. He's been suffering from writer's block for two years, and Alice thinks this trip to the mountains will help inspire him. I won't go on for the sake of those who haven't played the game yet.
First thing's first, the graphics. They are… in a word… AMAZING! The mountains in the background really make you feel like you're right in the middle of them. The character animations and cut scenes are amazingly done. I was so immersed in this game, I actually found myself not responding to my room mates when they would ask me a question.
One feature of Alan Wake that I really enjoyed was the television style presentation of each "chapter". Every time I passed a chapter it felt like I had beaten the game, which I suppose would be a good feeling to a more casual gamer.
While I'm on this subject, I want to talk about the music in the game. Specifically, during the "credits" at the end of each chapter. The music choices fit the mood of the ending of each chapter perfectly. Honestly, I didn't notice much of the music during the actual game because I was really paying attention to each and every corner of the darkness, just waiting to see what, if anything, would be coming after me.
There were a plethora of spooky (pronounced: HOLY SH*T) moments in Alan Wake. I would actually tense up whenever I would run from one light spot to another, muttering “run, dammit!” to myself quietly.
I've compiled a list of pros/cons of the game: (I know this is kind of a cheater's way of reviewing)
Pros:
- Everything I've already mentioned
- Competent team mate AI that can hold its own in a fight.
- No troubles with combat.
Cons:
- Vehicle controls are shoddy.
Wrapping this up now, I'll just say that Alan Wake is my current choice for Game of the Year (until Portal 2 comes out, that is), and it is a must buy.
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Be on the lookout for my review of BACKBREAKER, coming soon. As well as my review of Red Dead: Redemption, due whenever I feel like finishing the game.
