Remedy Entertainment’s latest horror title delivers a lot more than a standard game in the genre. As the Alan Wake 2 review will explain, the game is a mix of survival horror and mind-bending storytelling. If you are a fan of classic horror movies or Hideo Kojima’s twisting narratives, then you’ll love what Alan Wake has to offer.
ZHorror fans have been eating well these past couple of years. From remakes like Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill to new games like Still Wakes the Deep, there’s plenty of choice here. Alan Wake 2 review acknowledges that this survival horror title offers something fresh and unique. Gone is the dated gameplay of the original, and the sequel offers much more flexibility and even more narrative-driven horror.
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Alan Wake 2 Review – Alan isn’t Alone
Alan Wake 2 starts 13 years after the last game, the same amount of time we had to wait for a sequel. Alan is trapped in a nightmare dimension called the Dark Place. Alan, a novelist, finds himself trapped in a maze-like world, forced to write his way out. The world and narrative of Alan Wake are so unique that it’s hard to describe them without ruining the fun for the player.
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In the real world, an FBI detective comes to Bright Falls investigating ritualistic murders. She and her partner, played by Sam Lake, the game director, soon discover the murders are not natural. Supernatural elements soon began seeping into the real world with manuscript pages predicting the future. Is Agent Saga Anderson a real person? Or is she the creation of a writer? These are the mind-bending questions Alan Wake 2 review won’t answer.
A few hours in, Saga discovers Alan Wake and brings him back to the real world. The story shares a lot with Remedy Entertainment’s other game, Control. You can spot a lot of similar elements and faces in Alan Wake 2. The biggest links are the FBC and the Janitor. I went into the game blind, so it was a pleasant surprise to see Remedy connect two of my favourite games. Maybe in the future, we could see a third supernatural franchise join the squad.
Alan Wake 2 Review – Shooting in the Dark
The first Alan Wake had serviceable combat. It wasn’t great, and it didn’t feel nice either, but it got the job done. Thankfully, coming from Control, Remedy Entertainment significantly improved the combat. It’s still not where I’d say it’s fantastic, but it doesn’t feel like a chore. The Alan Wake 2 review should highlight that the controls are responsive, resulting in a significantly improved shooting experience. The PlayStation 5 DualSense features are also present, leading to each shot feeling impactful.
The controls aren’t the only reason why the combat in Alan Wake 2 feels better. The improved arsenal helps a lot. Both characters get to enjoy a wide range of weapons in the game. From shotguns to crossbows, there are plenty of options to dispatch enemies. I loved how powerful the crossbow felt with Saga, while I preferred the shotgun with Alan.
The light defeats the darkness mechanic is back in the sequel, too. This time, however, the batteries don’t run out of juice rapidly. Sure, the “intense beam” will drain the battery faster, but the game is a lot more forgiving in resource management. If you love exploring, you won’t run out of new batteries to use. Use the flashlight to make the darkness possessed enemies vulnerable and then shoot them to end their misery. A simple yet engaging gameplay loop that doesn’t get stale thanks to the pace of upgrades and new weapons.
Alan Wake 2 Review – Bright Falls
Combat is only half of the game; exploration carries the rest of the game. With a heavy emphasis on exploration, Alan Wake 2 does a great job of generating curiosity among the players. I was always excited to check out every nook and cranny of the map. While not open-world, the Bright Fall sections are expansive with plenty of exploration. It’s a quaint town that’s preparing for the Deer Fest, and it shows in the decorations and NPC chats.
Alan, however, is thrown in The Dark Place, which resembles New York City but isn’t. The Dark Place is trying to keep Alan trapped, and this is where most of the wacky stuff happens. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much Remedy has put into this section of the game. From the Max Payne-like monologues to musical numbers, there’s a lot to enjoy here.
The Alan Wake 2 review won’t be complete without praising the graphics. The game looks stunning in both Saga and Alan sections. From sun-drenched Bright Falls to the slick with rain Dark Place, the game pushes the visuals. It looks even better on a capable PC, but the console versions are not far behind. Overall, I cannot wait to see what Remedy cooks next in their single-player game worlds. Yes, I’m going to ignore Firebreak.
Conclusion:
Alan Wake 2 is a master class in uniqueness. Just like Hideo Kojima titles, there is no other game quite like Alan Wake 2. Despite having OK combat, the game had me glued till the end. The narrative, voice acting, environment, and level designs are all top of the line. The only department where I felt the game lacked was facial animation. That does detract from an overall superbly immersive experience. I had a lot of fun exploring the world of Alan Wake and immediately started another run.
I played the game on PlayStation 5, PlayRatedGames didn’t receive a review code from Remedy Entertainment. Check out Alan Wake 2 OpenCritic page to see how the game is doing in ratings.
