User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2165 Ratings

User score distribution:
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Sep 13, 2013
    8
    The GOOD
    - hooked story. I can't put a stop to it. I don't know why too.
    - new kind of evil 'Darkness' thing aside from zombies, ghost, zombies, devil, zombies, did I mention the old evil like zombies?
    - get me scared without scary things at all.

    The BAD
    - game play is ultimately repetitive. Just walk to there, fight yourself through, and activate it, the repeat again
  2. Jun 22, 2013
    8
    A very enjoyable game with a great story and interesting game play. Only thing that holds it back from a top score is that it does tend to get a bit repetitive in combat.
  3. Nov 28, 2012
    8
    I buyed this game during the Summer-Sale at Steam. I expected not much, but i was suprised. The Atmosphere is great and the gameplay makes fun. There are some Moments you are wishing a checkpoint-light. The Story is a little bit confused, but it fits to the game.
  4. May 20, 2014
    8
    Alan Wake is definitely a weird game, but a weird game that is worth to be played. The story and the writing makes the game reach for gold, but it also holds it back. The story is not very clear, and it ends up not being very clear after you finish the game, it poses a lot more questions than it cares to answer - maybe shooting for a yet unannounced sequel or maybe an extended universe (IAlan Wake is definitely a weird game, but a weird game that is worth to be played. The story and the writing makes the game reach for gold, but it also holds it back. The story is not very clear, and it ends up not being very clear after you finish the game, it poses a lot more questions than it cares to answer - maybe shooting for a yet unannounced sequel or maybe an extended universe (I can see some potential in it). There are also some annoyances with the camera angles and I found that, even if the game is 6 chapters long (extending about 2 hours each), the gameplay became a bit repetitive/boring at the end - at least for my liking. Also, I played on normal difficulty but it seemed by the end of the game I found myself overstocked with ammo and flares, which made it very simple to progress through the combat scenarios (which were definately predictable by the later half of the game), even if the game emptied it all out from me following certain cutscenes.

    But as I said ,this is a game worth checking out, the music is fantastic, the acting is top notch (mostly), and the graphics are amazing (those lighting and volumetric effects are unreal). The story is a bit of everything, there are some Lovecraftian elements here and there, but its mostly Stephen King that comes to mind (the protagonist being a would be colleague of his). There is some humor to lighten the mood between episodes as well.

    The few detractors should not prevent you from giving this game a try; definitely a welcome guest on every gamer's collection.
    Expand
  5. Nov 1, 2013
    8
    Superb storytelling, memorable characters, and a dark but yet gorgeous atmosphere that will stick with you long after you are finished Alan Wake. I need to address one thing first...

    This is not a scary game...it's not meant to be. It's a psychological action thriller (check the box art if you don't believe me...) Unfortunately people have rated this game based on "scare factor" and
    Superb storytelling, memorable characters, and a dark but yet gorgeous atmosphere that will stick with you long after you are finished Alan Wake. I need to address one thing first...

    This is not a scary game...it's not meant to be. It's a psychological action thriller (check the box art if you don't believe me...) Unfortunately people have rated this game based on "scare factor" and that's not fair. Although this game has the makings of "horror" game, it's not. That's like trying to call the movie "Se7en" a horror movie. It has the atmosphere and aesthetics of one but its a psychological thriller all the way through.

    Alan Wake puts you on the edge of your seat and keeps you coming back for more. The game plays out like a thriller/mystery TV show with "Chapters" and "Previously On..." segments. You play as a best selling author who is having difficulties writing his next book. He decides to take a vacation with his girlfriend up to a town called Bright Falls. Located in the pacific northwest, Bright Falls shares many similarities with the fictional town of Twin Peaks (the TV show from the 90's). It's a small, cozy, honest working mans town where everybody know everybody. When your just about settled into the cabin, your girlfriend goes missing. You must then try and track her down while avoiding the darkness that plagues the town and the evil that lurks within.

    The game has several key features. The atmosphere by far steals the show. You can tell a lot of attention to detail went into crafting this beautiful northwestern landscape. The lighting and particle effects are excellent as well. The sound design is well done and the narration from the main character adds to the tension and mystery.

    I do have a few gripes though... One being the character models and stiff animations. The character models look a little dated. I guess from a distance they don't look to bad but once you see them up close you can really notice the lack of detail. The characters seem to move around in the most simplistic ways possible. Also, the lip syncing is some of the worst I have seen in years. It's like watching a poorly dubbed kung fu movie. The driving mechanics, although short, are poorly done. You never feel like you have full control over the vehicle. Too far to the left or right and you swerve out of control and into a ditch.

    My last complaint would be the lack of replay-ability. Once you complete the game...that's it. Your not awarded any bonus missions or free roam. Sure you can go back and collect some coffee thermoses (no seriously there's like 100 to collect) but what is that going to get you? Seeing as how the game was first designed as an open world game (and still feels much like one at times) they could have left that in tact and let you roam around freely after you beat the game.

    All that set aside, the games pacing, characters and location are more than enough to draw you in. Like a good book, you wont want to put this one down once you've started.
    Expand
  6. Nov 25, 2013
    8
    I've played this game when it came on PC and have decided to try it out again a couple of days ago. I must say this game is very enjoyable to play, while it's known as a horror adventure it's not scary (most of the time). The story is enjoyable, but the combat can be a pain in the ass untill you get used to it (and even then it can be frustrating). Despite this, it's a great game and youI've played this game when it came on PC and have decided to try it out again a couple of days ago. I must say this game is very enjoyable to play, while it's known as a horror adventure it's not scary (most of the time). The story is enjoyable, but the combat can be a pain in the ass untill you get used to it (and even then it can be frustrating). Despite this, it's a great game and you should try it if you haven't already. Expand
  7. Jan 3, 2013
    8
    All in all a pretty fun game. The plot is intriguing, the atmosphere, sound and visuals are great. The gameplay for the most part is solid. I think the controls could have used a bit of tightening up, the dodge mechanic felt a bit wonky at times. Also..... it ruins it's own atmosphere in the intro with the stupid tutorial popups "Push shift to run!" way to completely take me out of theAll in all a pretty fun game. The plot is intriguing, the atmosphere, sound and visuals are great. The gameplay for the most part is solid. I think the controls could have used a bit of tightening up, the dodge mechanic felt a bit wonky at times. Also..... it ruins it's own atmosphere in the intro with the stupid tutorial popups "Push shift to run!" way to completely take me out of the game.... I also felt the collectibles were stupid and should have been left out. This guys wife is missing, he's being chased by evil shadow zombies with axes and he's worried about looting coffee thermoses? Stupid..... Otherwise, I have no complaints. There are 2 additional missions in the PC version which are really damn cool, Remedy is great at doing dream sequences as we say in Max Payne 1&2 and Alan Wake is no exception. Expand
  8. Jan 28, 2013
    8
    Alan Wake is a very good TPS,although I don't like TPSs .The story is awesome!As for the gameplay it's nice.It is known as a horror game but I don't think it's scary.The voice acting is almost perfect and the characters look awesome!The only negative is the bad but playable FPS of the PC version of the game.
  9. Feb 19, 2013
    8
    If you liked the weird and crazy story telling of the first two Max Payne games, Alan Wake is worth checking out. While Max Payne 1 and 2 had a Noire comic-book style story, Alan Wake does the same thing but with a Steven King mystery-horror style. The game has a lot of good atmosphere too, a solid feeling of the weirdness this world is trying to present to you. The gameplay is also veryIf you liked the weird and crazy story telling of the first two Max Payne games, Alan Wake is worth checking out. While Max Payne 1 and 2 had a Noire comic-book style story, Alan Wake does the same thing but with a Steven King mystery-horror style. The game has a lot of good atmosphere too, a solid feeling of the weirdness this world is trying to present to you. The gameplay is also very solid. This game is more survival horror than Max Payne, but by the end of the game, you have so much ammo that it feels like an action game. Not a bad thing though. Check it out if this sounds interesting. Expand
  10. Apr 24, 2014
    8
    Pros
    - Good main character, great narration, level design, graphics (PC),
    Cons - Repetitive enemy attacks, poltergeists are really annoying, character animation is bad but good in a creepy way. Conclusion - This is a unique game with great level design even though there are constantly moments involving stuff blocking your path and making you find another way around. I liked the small
    Pros
    - Good main character, great narration, level design, graphics (PC),
    Cons
    - Repetitive enemy attacks, poltergeists are really annoying, character animation is bad but good in a creepy way.
    Conclusion
    - This is a unique game with great level design even though there are constantly moments involving stuff blocking your path and making you find another way around. I liked the small town Steven King feel. The game is 6 hours, but I wouldn't want it to be any longer. This is a story driven game. And its an interesting one with a good ending.
    Expand
  11. Jun 25, 2013
    8
    Alan Wake is a solid game featuring some innovative gaming elements and gorgeous graphics. It's very atmospheric even scary at times and there are some good moments in it. Character design is also superb.

    The main issue I have with this game is the plot which is too far "out there" for me. Thus the experience wasn't as immersive it could have been with a plot that can be taken
    Alan Wake is a solid game featuring some innovative gaming elements and gorgeous graphics. It's very atmospheric even scary at times and there are some good moments in it. Character design is also superb.

    The main issue I have with this game is the plot which is too far "out there" for me. Thus the experience wasn't as immersive it could have been with a plot that can be taken seriously. The story has obvious similarities with Stephen King books so if you like King (I don't), you probably don't have this problem.

    Alan Wake features around 15 hours of playtime. Since it's very story driven game, it has little replay value. Thus I wouldn't pay too much for this game.
    Expand
  12. Jul 5, 2013
    8
    Alan wake is a survival horror game, where story and setting take precedence to jump scares and gore. Although there are jump scares, thankfully they are few and far between. Alan wake by far has one of the most interesting stories in a video game, and often times I felt as though I was reading a really good book. I just couldn’t put alan wake down, even when I was fairly scared by priorAlan wake is a survival horror game, where story and setting take precedence to jump scares and gore. Although there are jump scares, thankfully they are few and far between. Alan wake by far has one of the most interesting stories in a video game, and often times I felt as though I was reading a really good book. I just couldn’t put alan wake down, even when I was fairly scared by prior experiences.

    The setting fits entirely with the story, the graphics are crisp, and the art style fits with the setting. By far one of the most immersive games I’ve played. The characters within the story are also very fitting. The world of Bright falls really comes together in coherent manner.

    Not new to the genre, but certainly interesting is the twist to the concept of light vs darkness. In fact, darkness is the omnipresent force against you throughout the entire game, and it only becomes more deadly as the game progresses. To combat the darkness, you’ll have several variations of hand held flashlights, stationary flood lights and overhead lamps. Light is your biggest friend, even so much as being objectively better than a gun by far.

    Some nice touches from the game are the many references to pop culture, lord of the rings being the most noticeable to me. There is also a live action television series you can watch within Alan wake titled Night springs, which seems to be a fairly humorous take on the Twilight zone.

    Alan wake does break down half way through the game. The game becomes incredibly repetitive, and the only reason to keep going is to find out the next portion of the story. Often times you’ll be defending waves upon waves of enemies, and this just feels boring. I ended up deciding to just run away from my enemies and not use my weapons. This was by far more heart pumping as I would stop the darkness momentarily as I shine my light at them, then try to run a few metres through the thick foliage and forest. I wish there was less ammo in the later portions of the game.

    Another annoying aspect of the game, is you’ll often lose all your gear that you accumulated. This is something remedy software could taken advantage of to increase the tension of the game.They instead opt out to do it 5 or more times through the entire experience. While this doesn’t seem like a large amount, it happens often enough to really notice it. What’s even more confusing is sometimes I would just find all my gear within a minute of looking through the environment. What was the point of me losing my gear in the first place?

    Overall, the gameplay is fun for the first half of the game, but really becomes repetitive later on. The story is the number one thing that will keep you playing to the very end. The world and the characters help make this game one my favourite horror games to date. There also doesn’t seem to be much replayability, unless you want to experience this amazing story again. Maybe I will, but it won’t be soon.
    Expand
  13. Aug 31, 2013
    8
    Really well done survival horror game. Top notch production values, including level design, writing and voice acting. The action isn't to quite the same standard, but it's still solid and provides some good challenge, variety and tension.
  14. Sep 10, 2013
    8
    This game is a must-have for people that love mystery-supernatural kind of stories, but for those that aren't a fan of such things,this game could do either 2 things to you. Either it will make you looove the genre or you would just hate it and just force your way through to get the end.But overall it is a fantastically made game,graphics is state-of-the art ,especially the motion of Alan Wake.
  15. Dec 17, 2015
    8
    Gameplay : 8
    Graphics : 8
    Story : 8
    Sound : 8
    **********************************************************************************
    Overall : 8
  16. Oct 7, 2014
    8
    Very interesting and memorable piece. I love the setting, Bright Falls is truly one of the most beautiful locations I have visited in a video game, seriously, I want to live there! I enjoyed the mystery, the overall book/writer concept, finding manuscript pages and reading your own story, music was fantastic, not just the instrumentals, but also used songs in radio broadcasts as they addedVery interesting and memorable piece. I love the setting, Bright Falls is truly one of the most beautiful locations I have visited in a video game, seriously, I want to live there! I enjoyed the mystery, the overall book/writer concept, finding manuscript pages and reading your own story, music was fantastic, not just the instrumentals, but also used songs in radio broadcasts as they added additional flavour and ended each episode perfectly. I can feel the Twin Peaks influence and that's always a good thing as that is by far my favourite series of all time. Overall I can say I loved this game in it's concept, but unfortunately, I had one huge problem with it. The core mechanic of the gameplay is basically a regular third person shooter. Yes, it's at least interesting that it's not normal shooting, but rather illuminating darkness with light, but it's still basically shooting all over, and as there is no save/load you often repeat sections shooting and shooting and shooting all those enemies again and again, it's so boring, so repetitive, so annoying. It's a pity that all the beauty this game has to offer is being held back by all this tedious shooting. I still loved it, because I simply focused on the story and the atmosphere and overlooked the boring combat, but it was annoying nevertheless, I hope that if there is ever a sequel, or whatever Remedy creates as their next game, that they will use their indisputable talent in better ways, less shooting and more of the good stuff, atmosphere, exploration, writing, adventure. I know Remedy comes from Max Payne and that was the alpha & omega of shooting, but that was cool 15 years ago, shooting is boring, it's time to move on, Remedy. 8/10 Expand
  17. Jan 4, 2014
    8
    I highly enjoyed this remedy game. Making notably only Max Payne, Alan wake is a highly refreshing game. I enjoyed the story, the characters and overall the game is polished and a blast to play.
  18. Mar 3, 2014
    8
    This game just a great change of pace. Those complaining about how "linear" it is need to understand that the point of the game is the story, not the game play. I must say that for an old game, having purchased this game on sale for $3 on steam, this game is incredible graphics. The atmosphere in the game is very realistic and spooky at night times. The sound is fantastic as well. ReallyThis game just a great change of pace. Those complaining about how "linear" it is need to understand that the point of the game is the story, not the game play. I must say that for an old game, having purchased this game on sale for $3 on steam, this game is incredible graphics. The atmosphere in the game is very realistic and spooky at night times. The sound is fantastic as well. Really makes you feel like you're in the game. I have to agree, that it really is like playing through a movie in a sense, but this is why i liked it. It was a nice change of pace and something unique so far in my gaming experience. Expand
  19. Mar 26, 2014
    8
    Once you finish this game your life splits into two parts. You feel like you've missed something so much outstanding and you really want to replay the game again, but than appears the problem. The game itself is above the average on the very first look. The graphics, the atmosphere, the story. Everything works flawlessly. But there is one thing which makes the game a game and that is theOnce you finish this game your life splits into two parts. You feel like you've missed something so much outstanding and you really want to replay the game again, but than appears the problem. The game itself is above the average on the very first look. The graphics, the atmosphere, the story. Everything works flawlessly. But there is one thing which makes the game a game and that is the overall gameplay. The concept itself isn't the worst ideas of all, it actually is pretty interesting. But the repeating of the same mechanics with no apparent change from the very start to the grand finale really wasn't the brightest idea. But luckily for Alan Wake, the game never gets boring thanks to the intense atmosphere. For players who like to look around them, admire the beauty of their surroundings is this a great game. People who prefer faster progress through the game might a be a bit disappointed, because they are missing a huge part of the game. Story & Atmosphere would be an easy 10/10, but the not as perfect gameplay mechanics decrease the rating by a few points. But still, this is an outstanding game, which really deserves your attention, if you haven't played it yet. Expand
  20. Nov 28, 2022
    8
    Alan Wake knew when to tell its captivating narrative for maximum suspense.
  21. Jun 24, 2015
    8
    A FANTASTIC STORYTELLING THRILLER/HORROR GAME!

    It is truly a fantastic game, kinda reminds me of Stephen King's books about Thriller genre. But I was put of to the end of the game!

    But on the whole it is a good game, fantastic music, and very good environmental quality!
  22. May 15, 2021
    8
    Alan Wake
    The wort advertisement for energizer of all time
    Alan wake is a 3d person action horror game where you play as Alan wake, an author who goe on a little vacation with his wife, only for the pages of his manuscrips to start becoming reality in this cabin town.. The story here is the absolute best part of this grown up version of luigis mansion.. told cross 7 hours and 6
    Alan Wake
    The wort advertisement for energizer of all time
    Alan wake is a 3d person action horror game where you play as Alan wake, an author who goe on a little vacation with his wife, only for the pages of his manuscrips to start becoming reality in this cabin town..
    The story here is the absolute best part of this grown up version of luigis mansion.. told cross 7 hours and 6 episodes.. eveyr character in this wold has you intrigued, wanting to solve their mysteries… alan wake does suffer from pacing problems, but only slightly.. for the most part the pacing is great as youll get a nice calm beginning at the beginning of each new episode, until eventually its night time.. youll be taking on these dark ghost like ratures that like in luigis mansion, you have to shine your flash light on them to make them vulnerable, but instead of sucking them up, you blast them away.. going from lamp post to lmap post, healing yourself and getting to a checkpoint.. and levels here are super linear, but in a great way.. the game gets to the point in delivering you its experience, youre not running around not knowing what to do.. you know what to do.. where it is you have to go to do it.. and I love it.. especially with how games are now, obsessed with wasting your time just to say their game is 100 hours long.. its nice to play through a game with no filler… most of the game does take place in the foret, which brings me to the pacing problems… I do love that despit taking place in the same setting for most of the game, they manage to make the forest feel different enough each time youre in it… but I felt like youre thrown into combat way too frequentloy, and the combat is just so unfun how how often it happens.. again you have to flash enemies with yur flashlight before you can shoot them.. so youll be running around collectin nergizer batteries to try and blast their faces, but the batteries last like 3 seconds before they need recharged.. why would energizer want their named attachd to rechargeable batteries that die in 3 sconds… combat is just annoying and frustrating.. I also would run into issues after id collect the shotgun where the game would stop shooting, but I did play on pc.. cant confirm if this is a known issue on xbox.. but another annoyance I have with this game is how often alan loses all of your guns and ammo you spend time collecting… im the type of person to save my good stuff when when I need it.. in alan wake, if you have it, use it because for all you know youre about to get in a car crash for the 27th time and lose verything you have… youre constantly having to recollect your gear as the story plays out.. its annoying for again how ffrequent combat is..
    Ovrall though Alan Wake is a really special game with an amazing story.. it isn’t necessarily scary, but its erie and creepy, and definitely worth going back and playing.
    I give Alan Wake
    an 8.5/10
    Expand
  23. Jan 1, 2019
    8
    Если отбросить в сторону однообзразную боевку, нас ждет отличный сюжет где не понятно, что будет дальше и жутко интересно
  24. Nov 25, 2015
    8
    I’ve got to respect Remedy’s willingness to break the mold with Alan Wake, an original and compelling action-thriller. Everything about the game is fresh and innovative, from the gameplay, which revolves around using light to fight off the creatures of the dark that stalk the creepy town of Bright Falls, to the episodic presentation that pays homage to classic TV shows. The story andI’ve got to respect Remedy’s willingness to break the mold with Alan Wake, an original and compelling action-thriller. Everything about the game is fresh and innovative, from the gameplay, which revolves around using light to fight off the creatures of the dark that stalk the creepy town of Bright Falls, to the episodic presentation that pays homage to classic TV shows. The story and writing really shine here, and the mystery and intrigue of the plot is mirrored in the spooky environments and enemies. You are quickly introduced to the concept of using light to soften up enemies before taking them out with firearms, and the gameplay gets progressively deeper as these mechanics are explored more fully. The light-based gameplay is complemented by some great lighting effects which add to an already richly detailed environment. The game does drag somewhat at times, and there are driving segments toward the end which I never cared for much, but Alan Wake remains an original game with a great atmosphere. Expand
  25. Jan 1, 2016
    8
    Overall I really did enjoy the game and honestly I believe it is worth picking up.

    The story of the game is something you would expect from King or Coontz. You are a writer. A writer with a writers block - sounds familiar? You go on holiday with your wife and something starts happening. Strange darkness attacks you and you start living out a story written by you that you don't remember
    Overall I really did enjoy the game and honestly I believe it is worth picking up.

    The story of the game is something you would expect from King or Coontz. You are a writer. A writer with a writers block - sounds familiar? You go on holiday with your wife and something starts happening. Strange darkness attacks you and you start living out a story written by you that you don't remember writing. Oh - and there is some lake that the native americans living in the area called gate to hell or something like that. At this point I really thought I'm going to despise the story. But oddly enough after a rough start I really did like it and felt it wasn't all that bad.

    The strong part for the game are the visuals which are very nicely done. The scenery is pretty nice, and the lighting effects which are pretty important part of the story are very well made as well. Locations at the beginning tend to be bland - forest, forest and nothing interesting. But later on they do change and are quite nicely designed.

    The main part of the game is trying to find your wife and beat the darkness. You do this by following the story and fighting people possessed by the darkness. You kill them by shining your flash light on them long enough so they become vulnerable at which point you can safely unload your gun and finally kill them. And you pretty much do that all through the game with just a couple of guns - revolver, shotgun, hunting rifle and assorted helpers like flares or flash grenades. It does get repetitive after a while but not to a point that you hate the whole fighting. And I must admit that I did got scared once or twice - though mostly the game is not really that scary. But has a very consistent atmosphere and you generally feel quite nice when the sun rises.

    There are also a couple of elements involving driving a car - but these could have been surely skipped as they're pretty dreadful.

    Voice acting and animation is of very nice quality so watching cut scenes is quite pleasant.

    Overall after a week beginning the game provides good fun up till the very last part which seems a bit dull and you have to push through it. Luckily it's not long enough too leave a bad impression on the game. I had fun. I really enjoyed it. If you like story driven action games along the lines of resident evil or alone in the dark there is little fear you will not like this game.
    Expand
  26. Dec 27, 2015
    8
    I do have a few gripes though... One being the character models and stiff animations. The character models look a little dated. I guess from a distance they don't look to bad but once you see them up close you can really notice the lack of detail. The characters seem to move around in the most simplistic ways possible. Also, the lip syncing is some of the worst I have seen in years. It'sI do have a few gripes though... One being the character models and stiff animations. The character models look a little dated. I guess from a distance they don't look to bad but once you see them up close you can really notice the lack of detail. The characters seem to move around in the most simplistic ways possible. Also, the lip syncing is some of the worst I have seen in years. It's like watching a poorly dubbed kung fu movie. The driving mechanics, although short, are poorly done. You never feel like you have full control over the vehicle. Too far to the left or right and you swerve out of control and into a ditch. Expand
  27. May 20, 2017
    8
    It's a shame Alan Wake is longer available for retail or online purchase, due to "expiring music licenses" (Thanks capitalism!) It's easily in the same class as any other Remedy title, and honestly, it's probably in a class above. What would be an inferior third-person shooter to their previous series, the Max Payne games, is instead a thrilling tale of cinematic suspense and characterIt's a shame Alan Wake is longer available for retail or online purchase, due to "expiring music licenses" (Thanks capitalism!) It's easily in the same class as any other Remedy title, and honestly, it's probably in a class above. What would be an inferior third-person shooter to their previous series, the Max Payne games, is instead a thrilling tale of cinematic suspense and character development. I am sorry I never looked into the series before now. It features great pacing, quality voice acting, passably good driving sections, and if nothing else, really satisfyingly loud gun sounds.The facial animations haven't aged well these past years, but that's hardly a major shortcoming.

    You take the role of the titular character, a crime fiction writer from NYC with possibly the worst case of writer's block on record. Wake has come to Bright Falls, Washington with his photographer wife Alice on vacation, in an attempt to clear his head, but within hours finds his wife missing, his car wrecked, the cabin he was to stay in vanished without a trace and a week's time gone by with no memory of such to speak of. What's worse, a malign force now stalks him through the night, wielding the shadows themselves as its weapon.

    The light is your friend in Alan Wake, and there is precious little of it to go around. As in Left 4 Dead and many other games, light sources often mark your path, and many of them not only function as checkpoints but quickly replenish your otherwise painfully slow to regenerate health. Your enemies are shielded by darkness itself, and only your trusty flashlight can strip their defense before you go for the kill, using the sorts of guns you'd find lying around a rural community: police revolvers, hunting shotguns and rifles. Also at your disposal are two kinds of flares and flashbangs, with one kind of flare being fired from a flare gun and acting in essence as a grenade launcher.

    Mechanically, the game is fairly formulaic: You move from checkpoint to checkpoint, blasting bad guys and pushing the occasional switch or button to open a door or something that might as well be a door. But your enemies are dangerous enough, and the characters believable enough, that you forget you are going through the motions of an oughts-era console shooter- and yes, I know it orignally released in 2010. The episodic format of the game greatly helps with the pacing, and it has some really great twists, especially in the bonus episodes: however you think the plot might turn out when you begin, it will likely defy your expectations. It also ends up being a lot harder then it initially feels, even on the easiest difficulty you will have a lot of near misses and scrapes, and this I recommend for a first play through- Alan Wake actually suffers from some balancing problems and it's a little to easy to get completely overwhelmed in the blink of an eye and ruthlessly beat to death. The dodge move is essentially broken, largely working only when it wants to, and your sprint duration is extremely limited, ensuring that you will rarely have the opportunity to avoid a fight. On the other hand, you are often given more supplies then you think you need- this is because you actually need all of it, so don't be afraid to use a flashbang or flare whenever you are cornered, as you are likely to find more.

    If you did not have the good fortune to get this game before it was pulled from the Steam store, I highly encourage you to dig up a used Xbox 360 copy or secondhand key if you can find one, as it is definitely worth your time.
    Expand
  28. Oct 29, 2016
    8
    Pretty great psychological thriller with suprbly done atmosphere. Runs decently on PC aswell, but not without problems. Like you cant disable AA from in game, if you force it off then grass starts looking weird and overall for me it was pretty hard getting even over 40 fps on not the highest settings. Visualy game can look stunning, which is being helped by impressive lighting and fogPretty great psychological thriller with suprbly done atmosphere. Runs decently on PC aswell, but not without problems. Like you cant disable AA from in game, if you force it off then grass starts looking weird and overall for me it was pretty hard getting even over 40 fps on not the highest settings. Visualy game can look stunning, which is being helped by impressive lighting and fog effects, still havent seen a game that does it better to create an eerie atmoshpere. Textures tho look pretty weak, like out from a game that was a Xbox 360 launch title not a 2010 game, which goes to say Remedy nor the porting developer didnt do their best when it comes to PC version. Character models however look nice and much better in game than in the cut scenes which also lack lip syncing finesse. Alan's animations are very wonky and floaty which i didnt like. Gameplay where you must use a flashlight in combo with a gun works really well and feels precise.

    Story wise game does great screwing around with your and Alan's mind trying to understand what the hell is going and whats what. Where it got disappointing was the ending and the DLC's that were released to fix it didnt do that great of a job.

    If youre looking for a horror agme Alan Wake will disappoint you. I say that becuz i mostly see people calling it a horror game. ITS NOT ! This game is all about the atmosphere and psychological aspects of the story. If you like that sorta stuff youll enjoy it, I certainly did.
    Expand
  29. Jul 7, 2019
    8
    Alan Wake a great unfinished construction from Remedy. Though a game also came out in 2010, it already seems outdated. What Remedy conceived in 2005-2008 by 2010 already was in other games. It is the main problem of a game. Concerning a plot, as well as usually here everything is good. The only thing but, a plot without 2 subject DLC seems steep and not complete. I recommend, one of notAlan Wake a great unfinished construction from Remedy. Though a game also came out in 2010, it already seems outdated. What Remedy conceived in 2005-2008 by 2010 already was in other games. It is the main problem of a game. Concerning a plot, as well as usually here everything is good. The only thing but, a plot without 2 subject DLC seems steep and not complete. I recommend, one of not many exclusives of Xbox 360 which was ported on PC. Expand
  30. Nov 7, 2019
    8
    Alan Wake is one of those games that I would consider a flawed masterpiece ie: it could have been a masterpiece, but it had a few too many flaws. The concept here is great, the gameplay unique, and the story is absolutely gripping with great characters, mystery, and a great sense of urgency. I really did love this one. For the most part it played very well and did a good job of keepingAlan Wake is one of those games that I would consider a flawed masterpiece ie: it could have been a masterpiece, but it had a few too many flaws. The concept here is great, the gameplay unique, and the story is absolutely gripping with great characters, mystery, and a great sense of urgency. I really did love this one. For the most part it played very well and did a good job of keeping things relatively simple so that it felt polished and solid: the gun play feels great, the levels are linear and mostly well-designed, and you always feel the need to conserve, but you never run out of anything for so long that it's frustrating.

    With that said, I certainly have my issues. For one, the story ends on a satisfying note, but with so many loose ends it's really hard to understand exactly what happened; this is expected for such an odd story, but I can't help feeling a bit short changed. While I'm on the story, the world seems so steeped in Murphy's Law that it's almost comical, except its frustrating because you're the one playing; just about any time you feel you're making good progress, or there is going to be a big reveal, the 'plot' steps in to mess it all up and that gets really annoying. The gameplay is cool and unique, but gets pretty old about half way in; having groups of enemies suddenly appear and force the player to deal with it over and over gets to a pretty aggravating point, I personally would have liked to see some more puzzle elements and cool down. The game really loses the horror atmosphere because in just about every room there is a handful of samey dudes to shoot at. There are also some areas, as I hinted at before, in the levels where it's just a bit too cramped or a bit too crowded with enemies and I would find myself dying over and over in the same tiny spot, while most of the game remained pretty damn easy. The game tries to change it up here and there with driving sections, but those are short and the cars handle like garbage so they aren't too much fun to play. To end, about 90% of the game involves wandering in dark forest, which gets old. fast.

    Overall I think it's a great game, but not without its problems. I really don't think these problems detract too much from the game itself, and I still look at it positively.
    Expand
  31. Jun 17, 2018
    8
    Игру вывозит классный саундртек, который задает тон повествования и на котором держится большая часть атмосферы. Сама игра чем-то особенным не блещет, но в памяти остаётся надолго.
  32. Nov 18, 2019
    8
    While some parts can be annoyingly frustrating (especially when you CAN'T SEE ANYTHING GAAAAH LIGHTING), it really is a nice little game that's an obvious homage to Stephen King and David Lynch's bodies of work. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing as well! More of a psychological thriller than a straight up horror game, but it does use it's horror elements well. Fans of Silent Hill shouldWhile some parts can be annoyingly frustrating (especially when you CAN'T SEE ANYTHING GAAAAH LIGHTING), it really is a nice little game that's an obvious homage to Stephen King and David Lynch's bodies of work. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing as well! More of a psychological thriller than a straight up horror game, but it does use it's horror elements well. Fans of Silent Hill should enjoy this more than the more recent games in that sadly buried franchise. Give it a shot, hopefully you won't be too disappointed! Expand
  33. Nov 8, 2017
    8
    Alan Wake might not be a good shooter but it is a good game. The story is interesting and always keeps you motivated to push though game levels. Gameplay is a bit boring, but the atmosphere makes up for it.
  34. Feb 12, 2018
    8
    This game, is interesting. But the game-play, is generic.
    You only have a flashlight and shotgun, pistol, flare. The part of the flashlight are wasted, you only use the flashlight only for to kill the enemies and the shadows. This mechanic, is interesting but in the game-play is wasted.
    The history is like a Stephen King book.
    My only problem is the game-play.
  35. Feb 23, 2022
    8
    История интересная, но гемплей хромает - игровой процесс попросту скучен и надоедлив... и да затянут вообще.
    Итог: 8.222/10 за историю.
  36. May 11, 2018
    8
    Достаточно атмосферный продукт, который долго ждал на ПК. Оказалось, что реклама преувеличивала потенциал сего продукта временно эксклюзивного..
    Сюжет выдержан в стилистике Твин Пикс, отсылки к Хичкоку оцениваю на пять с плюсом. Единственное, что не понравилось так это поведение камеры, что привычно и некритично
    Достаточно атмосферный продукт, который долго ждал на ПК. Оказалось, что реклама преувеличивала потенциал сего продукта временно эксклюзивного..
    Сюжет выдержан в стилистике Твин Пикс, отсылки к Хичкоку оцениваю на пять с плюсом. Единственное, что не понравилось так это поведение камеры, что привычно и некритично
  37. May 20, 2018
    8
    Probablemente, si hubiera jugado este Alan Wake en 2012, mi valoración del juego sería distinta. Al jugarlo en 2016, no me impactó tanto como debió hacerlo a quienes lo jugaron en su primer año. Una historia muy particular, y un juego interesante, aunque algo irregular por momentos. Se merece algo más que ese 8, pero no llegué a disfrutarlo tanto como para darle un 9.
  38. Nov 16, 2020
    8
    Главный герой игры — писатель Алан Уэйк, признанный мастер триллеров, переживает творческий кризис. В поисках вдохновения он отправляется вместе с невестой в тихий городок Брайт Фоллз. Однако там возлюбленная Алана таинственным образом исчезает, и начинается череда леденящих кровь кошмаров. Реальность и фантазии перемешались, и чтобы выжить, Алану придется использовать все доступныеГлавный герой игры — писатель Алан Уэйк, признанный мастер триллеров, переживает творческий кризис. В поисках вдохновения он отправляется вместе с невестой в тихий городок Брайт Фоллз. Однако там возлюбленная Алана таинственным образом исчезает, и начинается череда леденящих кровь кошмаров. Реальность и фантазии перемешались, и чтобы выжить, Алану придется использовать все доступные средства. А самым могущественным его союзником в борьбе с тьмой становится свет. Expand
  39. Nov 11, 2018
    8
    Объективно, геймплей очень скучен и однообразен. Но сюжет, не считая за бесконечную тавтологию в сюжете, вполне прекрасен.
    Игра стоит своих денег. Но она очень скучна. 4 раза бросал на третьей главе, еле еле прошёл до конца.
    Объективно, геймплей очень скучен и однообразен. Но сюжет, не считая за бесконечную тавтологию в сюжете, вполне прекрасен.
    Игра стоит своих денег. Но она очень скучна. 4 раза бросал на третьей главе, еле еле прошёл до конца.
  40. Jan 13, 2021
    8
    A game with the theme of light and dark, with the layers of fear after the coincidence of reality and dream in the development of this strange story, the game is also quite interesting, it is a great action game.

    Review of ‘ Alan Wake ’

    Graphic: 8

    Music: 8

    Narrative:8

    Gameplay: 8

    Score: 8.3
  41. Aug 5, 2019
    8
    É um bom jogo, mas peca em alguns aspectos, como a gameplay, variedade e a propria camera, que apesar de acostumar com o tempo, é bem estranha ao todo
  42. Jun 24, 2020
    8
    Старенькая игра выделяющаяся крутой атмосферой, качественным "сериальным" повествованием, неплохим звуковым сопровождением и все это в обертке интересного геймплея.
    Геймплей: 5
    Сюжет: 2
    Звук: 5
    Графика: 5
    Итог: 8.5/10
  43. Nov 26, 2019
    8
    Great story bolstered by an A-Tier soundtrack. The gameplay can be a bit repetitive, but it never bothered me. The game is dripping with atmosphere and the shadows can become quite unsettling. Definitely worth a buy.
  44. Apr 4, 2021
    8
    Graphics = 2 of 3
    Story = 3 of 3
    Gameplay = 1 of 3
    Music and Sound = 3 of 3
    Wow factor = 3 of 3
    Total = 12 of 15 or 8 of 10
  45. Dec 9, 2019
    8
    Интересная история. Не самый веселый геймплейб местами скучноват даже, но задумка с тьмой на врагах мне понравилась.
  46. Aug 26, 2021
    8
    8,5/10
    Невероятно интересный и затягивающий сюжет переносит тебя в глубину написанных самим Аланом событий, не дающих тебе сосредоточиться на чём-то конкретном, а сразу выдающих тебе новую нить сюжета для размышления. Итак, сюжет начинается с приезда главного героя в отпуск и там же похищения его жены. Путь Алана очень тяжёл,так как состоит из постоянных врагов и ловушек, но писатель
    8,5/10
    Невероятно интересный и затягивающий сюжет переносит тебя в глубину написанных самим Аланом событий, не дающих тебе сосредоточиться на чём-то конкретном, а сразу выдающих тебе новую нить сюжета для размышления. Итак, сюжет начинается с приезда главного героя в отпуск и там же похищения его жены. Путь Алана очень тяжёл,так как состоит из постоянных врагов и ловушек, но писатель готов на всё ради своей жены, которую просто обязан спасти. Помощником Алана является только СВЕТ.
    Expand
  47. Apr 17, 2020
    8
    Настоящая книга среди игр. Отличная история в стиле Стивена Кинга. Очень атмосферно.
  48. Feb 11, 2020
    8
    Great mysterious horror story with not that good gameplay and repetitive combat but thanks to this game I love Remedy.
  49. May 23, 2020
    8
    gran juego, de los mejores juegos de suspenso que he jugado, fue divertido hace 8 años y lo seguira siendo por mucho mas tiempo, una trama entretenida, puzzles creativos, gran cantidad de coleccionables, exploracion entretenida, mecanicas balanceadas, escenas de accion buenas, atmosfera increible, graficas bastante buenas (para lo viejo que esta el juego las graficas son muy buenas) engran juego, de los mejores juegos de suspenso que he jugado, fue divertido hace 8 años y lo seguira siendo por mucho mas tiempo, una trama entretenida, puzzles creativos, gran cantidad de coleccionables, exploracion entretenida, mecanicas balanceadas, escenas de accion buenas, atmosfera increible, graficas bastante buenas (para lo viejo que esta el juego las graficas son muy buenas) en fin, un juego hecho y derecho, si no lo jugaste cuando salio para xbox 360 hace 8 años y tienes un buen pc, juegalo, lo pusieron recientemente en game pass y tambien esta a un excelente precio en el epic games store, es un gran juego que paso muy desapercibido Expand
  50. Mar 22, 2022
    8
    Alan Wake is an action-adventure game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios. The story follows best-selling thriller novelist Alan Wake as he tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife's disappearance during a vacation in the small fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington, all while experiencing events from the plot in his latest novel, which he cannotAlan Wake is an action-adventure game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios. The story follows best-selling thriller novelist Alan Wake as he tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife's disappearance during a vacation in the small fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington, all while experiencing events from the plot in his latest novel, which he cannot remember writing, coming to life. Expand
  51. Jun 24, 2020
    8
    Overall - 8/10

    It had some really unique and interesting game mechanics that i would love to implement more. Really great sound tracks and amazing cinematography, but the gameplay felt repetitive some times while the story had me gripping

    Enjoyment - 8.5/10
  52. Jul 14, 2020
    8
    It's a good game for horror-game beginners. The focus is on the story. It is very well presented in different ways (talking, film-sequences, manuscripts etc.). The gameplay / the fights are sometimes a bit repetitive.
  53. Jun 21, 2020
    8
    Чуть ли не уникальный в своей атмосфере экшен-триллер с интригующей мистической историей, отличным саундтреком и приятными пейзажами, который огорчает лишь устаревшей боевой системой и недосказанностью в финале.
  54. Jul 24, 2020
    8
    a very good game. cant wait for the sequel. I love the mood in this game, and the gameplay is fun too. The story is interesting.
  55. Oct 30, 2021
    8
    Excelente juego de ficcion

    La jugabilidad es lo que mas me gusto, a pesar de ser algo secundario en este juego donde lo que mas importa es la narrativa, el combate con enemigos me gusto mucho, no hay que ir mejorando habilidades ni armas, solo investigar bien el entorno en busca de suministros y luchar; super simple. Graficamente es muy muy bueno para la epoca en que salio, ya
    Excelente juego de ficcion

    La jugabilidad es lo que mas me gusto, a pesar de ser algo secundario en este juego donde lo que mas importa es la narrativa, el combate con enemigos me gusto mucho, no hay que ir mejorando habilidades ni armas, solo investigar bien el entorno en busca de suministros y luchar; super simple.

    Graficamente es muy muy bueno para la epoca en que salio, ya actualmente se queda un poco corto pero sigue dando pelea, lamentablemente me encontre con muchas cosas repetidas, es decir, texturas, y ciertos objetos en el escenario.

    La historia es muy buena, no me encanto, siento que el juego es demasiado largo para la poca historia que tiene, siento que podria haber durado 7 u 8 horas de las 13 horas que me tomo jugarlo. No es muy atrapante.
    Expand
  56. Oct 20, 2021
    8
    Хорошая игра, эдакий мистический триллер. Графика на максималках до сих пор недурно выглядит, особенно, поражает освещение, тени падают практически от всех предметов, что даже сейчас редкость. Геймплей не поражает воображение: бежишь вперед, освещаешь врагов (их несколько видов, но подход абсолютно идентичен) фонариком и уничтожаешь с помощью огнестрела и всяких зажигательный штук, попутноХорошая игра, эдакий мистический триллер. Графика на максималках до сих пор недурно выглядит, особенно, поражает освещение, тени падают практически от всех предметов, что даже сейчас редкость. Геймплей не поражает воображение: бежишь вперед, освещаешь врагов (их несколько видов, но подход абсолютно идентичен) фонариком и уничтожаешь с помощью огнестрела и всяких зажигательный штук, попутно включаешь всякие рубильники и читаешь раскиданные странички. И как по мне, игре не хватает простеньких загадок, чтобы хоть как-то разбавить монотонный геймплей. Сюжет здесь во главе угла, он очень атмосферный, интересный, интригующий, прям как в лучших киношных триллерах, да еще подан оригинально (те самые странички). Собственно, сюжет здесь вытягивает многое, а два дополнения расширяют его. Игрой доволен, рекомендую. Expand
  57. Aug 31, 2020
    8
    The story, setting and gameplay are quite unusal. Despite beeing a "normal" third person action adventure, the play with light gives it a special twist. It's definitely one of those games you should have in your vita that i enjoyed for it's storytelling an setting! For me it overstayed it's welcome a bit and in the end felt too lengthy, some parts even felt like they wanted to make aThe story, setting and gameplay are quite unusal. Despite beeing a "normal" third person action adventure, the play with light gives it a special twist. It's definitely one of those games you should have in your vita that i enjoyed for it's storytelling an setting! For me it overstayed it's welcome a bit and in the end felt too lengthy, some parts even felt like they wanted to make a different game. Some cutting would've done great, for the story didn't really have anything more to tell after a few hours. Expand
  58. Feb 23, 2021
    8
    Пугающая, мрачная и загадочная история, экшен - интересный, персонажи со своими тайнами тоже напрягают. Если рассматривать концовку - вообще все запутается в голове. Жаль продолжения нет , хорошая игра, уникальная.
  59. Jun 14, 2021
    8
    Если вы хотите узнать, как зарождались игры, где сюжет выходит на первый план, а кинематографичность заставок приоритет над игровым процессом, то вам сюда)
  60. Mar 25, 2021
    8
    Отличная игра особенно уровни в лесу иногда даже было страшно потому что ты не знал откуда на тебя выскочат враги жаль что мало видов оружия и врагов боевая система это что то новое и интересное.
  61. Aug 3, 2021
    8
    Какой великолепный сюжет! Один из самых лучших для меня. Геймплейно игра хромает, поэтому ставлю 8 баллов. Получил массу удовольствия во время прохождения.
  62. May 21, 2021
    8
    Standard third person shooter but storytelling is like a nice tv show and atmosphere is immersive.

    There are some driving sections but car handling is really bad. Checkpoint system is mostly fine but sometimes they are far away from each other. You fight darkness itself with lights. Finding a lightened area is relaxing...until that light break down and you are vulnerable again. Then
    Standard third person shooter but storytelling is like a nice tv show and atmosphere is immersive.

    There are some driving sections but car handling is really bad. Checkpoint system is mostly fine but sometimes they are far away from each other.

    You fight darkness itself with lights. Finding a lightened area is relaxing...until that light break down and you are vulnerable again. Then you find flare gun and they are basically fu**ed. It is so tense.
    Expand
  63. Jun 6, 2021
    8
    Graphics - 8.5/10

    Sound / Music - 7.5/10

    Story - 7/10

    How likable is main character / characters - 7.5/10

    World design - 7/10

    Conclusion - 8/10
  64. Aug 1, 2021
    8
    Great history. The history is the best of the game. The audio gives a great atmosphere too
  65. Jun 15, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Alan wake feels like a relic from a different era, but does so in a way that feels charming and endearing. The story is engaging, although perhaps feels more like a B-movie horror movie from the early-mid 2000s than a masterful Stephen King novel. The combat is solid and holds up in large part by its great sound design, and I was hooked on the live action Night Springs show scattered throughout the six chapters. Some minor gripes that I have is that there isn’t nearly enough weapon variety, and that your weapons and batteries are taken from you far too often. Another annoying thing is how the player can learn a lot of foreshadowing from the manuscript pages, a specific example is a page called ‘Alan’s Plan’ that reveals to you that Alan needs to go back to the cabin to finish the story, but because Alan isn’t there yet he pushes on till he learns the revelation first hand. Surely he would be reading these manuscripts that inform him of future events? It’s somewhat of a nitpick but can cause the player to feel completely disconnected to the protagonist they’re supposed to be invested in. Despite these gripes I’m looking forward to a sequel to this, with some tweaking to the resource economy this has huge potential as a survival horror franchise. Expand
  66. Jan 27, 2022
    8
    Story: 75/100
    Gameplay: 75/100
    Graphics: 80/100
    Music/Soundtrack: 70/100
    Main Character(s): 75/100
    Side Characters: 65/100
    Regular Enemies: 60/100
    Bosses/Boss fights: 70/100
    World/Level Design: 75/100
    Playability (Bugs and optimization after patches): 100/100
    Would I Play It Again?: Sometimes
    Where Does It Rank In My Top 500 Video Games of All Time List?: 50

    Rating: 80/100
  67. Aug 24, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Although I passed this game in 2022. Of course the graphics are outdated. But the plot is very cool Expand
  68. Jan 26, 2023
    8
    A survival horror with an entertaining storyline and a well-done gameplay accompanied by an atmosphere reminiscent of Stephen King books.
  69. Aug 25, 2012
    7
    Un juego que te atrapa desde el principio por su narrativa y división de episodios como si de una serie de televisión se tratara. Al mismo tiempo una puesta en escena, gracias al sistema de iluminación y luces, que te sumergen dentro la atmosfera que va creando la historia.

    Tal vez sus dos puntos más débiles sean el abuso de escenas en las que te has
    Un juego que te atrapa desde el principio por su narrativa y división de episodios como si de una serie de televisión se tratara. Al mismo tiempo una puesta en escena, gracias al sistema de iluminación y luces, que te sumergen dentro la atmosfera que va creando la historia.

    Tal vez sus dos puntos más débiles sean el abuso de escenas en las que te has de enfrentar con "sombras" y un final que deja una sensación rara, que puede no ser del gusto de todo el mundo.
    Expand
  70. Apr 2, 2014
    7
    With a setting seemingly taken out of a book from Stephen King, this game is full of scary stuff.
    ... Nah, really. I couldn't count the amount of times that I physically JUMPED out of my chair. This one has more frights than the latest Resident Evil game.
    Released originally for the Xbox360 (2010), and ported to the PC (2012). Yeah a port. Taking the role of Alan Wake, a writer
    With a setting seemingly taken out of a book from Stephen King, this game is full of scary stuff.
    ... Nah, really. I couldn't count the amount of times that I physically JUMPED out of my chair. This one has more frights than the latest Resident Evil game.
    Released originally for the Xbox360 (2010), and ported to the PC (2012). Yeah a port.

    Taking the role of Alan Wake, a writer stuck on vacation. Your wife goes missing, and its your mission to find out what happened to her after your concussion.
    Dark forces are at work, and light is your only escape, and method into beating them. Using a torch, you wear away their "shield", and once you've done that, you can shoot them with any regular means (guns...). There is no knife, or melee weapon to fall back on.

    Story is the real strongpoint to this whole game. The player wants to learn what happened to the wife, and is sucked into the world with its great writing. Writing? Oh, and you find white paper on the way actually telling you what will happen next. Confused? Yeah, its a bit strange like that.
    There are six episodes in the package. Each a chapter to the story.
    A few of the characters, Alan, Barry (comic relief), the police lady, Odin and Tor, that doctor guy, the freaky guy. There are many in this story, but you'll only remember a handful. Everyone else just gets the nickname "that xxxx guy".

    Gameplay is pretty good. Whilst I'd have liked to see slightly tighter controls, it plays very well. Battles are quite exciting and you get a slight choice in weapons (there aren't many). It plays similar to a crossbreed of Resident Evil 4 & Indigo Prophecy. The battles, however are a bit hit and miss, as they seem to be a bit on the "lite" side. Serious gamers will probably be bored with the same enemies by the second or third episode.

    Graphics are very good. Whilst textures at times are a little less than desirable (eg, Episode six, when you watch your TV), they help bring the player into the story. I'd say comparable to the first Batman : Arkham game.
    Sound? Great. No complaints at all. Soundtrack fits. Swizzle.

    As this was first released on the Xbox360, it may have been released in parts. But towards the middle of the game, there is a feeling of it being slightly rushed. You will keep encountering the same enemies, yet the battles play out no different. You defeat them in the same way.
    The surroundings also feel like you're still in chapter one. Night setting, full of trees... Wood cutting tools... For the length (six chapters, maybe 10-11 hours standard playtime), it feels like you are going around in circles just to watch the story continue.

    Pros
    +Great story
    +Good graphics and sound, helps portray the story well
    +EEP! Jumped out of seat a few times
    +Good controls

    -Many characters I don't care about
    -Copy and paste enemies and environment models.
    -On, and on, and on (too long in comparison to substance)

    Overall rating; 7/10

    Last thought: Feels like a spiritual sequel to Resident Evil 4. I wouldn't re-play this title, but if you are a gamer that likes a strong "horror" type story- this game is worth a shot. Might feel a little uh, "cheap" half way through though! ;-)
    Expand
  71. Mar 5, 2012
    7
    I originally gave this a 4, because the controls were hard to get used to and the game had severe ammo/weapon limitations. However, as the plot developed and the game spanned across some beautiful scenery, I became somewhat addicted to this game and I was able to use most of the controls. Perhaps, I just haven't been exposed to a game where you have to rely so much on a flashlight.
  72. Aug 11, 2012
    7
    Alan Wake is like playing a Stephen King novel, interspersed with (for the most part) bland shooting segments that I wished would be over so I could move on to the next exposition. Overall enjoyed Alan Wake, but the repetitive nature of the combat, and constant 'run through a forest with a flashlight' segments got boring fast. The controls and camera angle are a little awkward as well.Alan Wake is like playing a Stephen King novel, interspersed with (for the most part) bland shooting segments that I wished would be over so I could move on to the next exposition. Overall enjoyed Alan Wake, but the repetitive nature of the combat, and constant 'run through a forest with a flashlight' segments got boring fast. The controls and camera angle are a little awkward as well. The atmosphere is great though, and I enjoyed seeing the story unravel. Expand
  73. Oct 31, 2013
    7
    7.5 Actually.
    I enjoy this game for the story and the graphics. Gameplay is pretty lame, and as others said the off-center-semi-shoulder camera angle can become really noxious, tedious, and frustrating. Besides, it is never constant, and keeps shifting depending on what needs to be shown in the specific place in the game. Trying to complete a jump puzzle with such camera view becomes
    7.5 Actually.
    I enjoy this game for the story and the graphics. Gameplay is pretty lame, and as others said the off-center-semi-shoulder camera angle can become really noxious, tedious, and frustrating. Besides, it is never constant, and keeps shifting depending on what needs to be shown in the specific place in the game. Trying to complete a jump puzzle with such camera view becomes ridiculous.
    The game-play itself is this: you point your flashlight and shoot. That's it. Some path-finding bugs (which a not many, but present) take away from enjoyment.
    Nonetheless, as i said before, i enjoy this game for the story and graphics (even though buggy in-game auto-tune up optimizer told me my system req's are below minimum requirement, i am running smooth on all maxed up without a hick-up), and it is a good experience which is a blend of cinematic feeling and a quest with shooting elements. Good game.
    Expand
  74. Feb 19, 2014
    7
    Alan Wake is certainly an enjoyable game and a good horror story, the way the narrative zigzags between normalcy and madness is particularly impressive. The gameplay could stand to be deeper and Alan could learn to hang onto his equipment better between chapters, but these are small niggles overall. Collectibles in this game actually enhance the experience rather than detracting from it,Alan Wake is certainly an enjoyable game and a good horror story, the way the narrative zigzags between normalcy and madness is particularly impressive. The gameplay could stand to be deeper and Alan could learn to hang onto his equipment better between chapters, but these are small niggles overall. Collectibles in this game actually enhance the experience rather than detracting from it, unlike most games, which is a pleasant surprise; but on the other hand product placement and advertisement can get obnoxious. Graphically the game is quite pretty, the lighting effects being particularly well-executed. Unfortunately, the PC port is subpar and can occasionally have problems even on top-tier hardware, so be careful about buying this game if your PC has modest specs. The PC port does boast several useful improvements such as adjustable FOV, however, which is commendable. Expand
  75. Mar 24, 2020
    7
    this is good, unique game.It does look good considering that it was released almost a decade ago. the game has interesting good story, nice graphics and good atmosphere. If you like shows such as Twin Peaks or Stranger Things then you will enjoy this game. The game gets a little bit repetitive over time because there is little variety of enemies and not many real boss fights but all in allthis is good, unique game.It does look good considering that it was released almost a decade ago. the game has interesting good story, nice graphics and good atmosphere. If you like shows such as Twin Peaks or Stranger Things then you will enjoy this game. The game gets a little bit repetitive over time because there is little variety of enemies and not many real boss fights but all in all it is good , unique game. Included DLCs are pretty good too. You can access them once you finish main campaign. I would like to see Alan Wake 2 in the future. Expand
  76. Jul 24, 2012
    7
    Before I start this review, I should point out that Alan Wake is actually quite a good console port. For once, a made-for-console game actually feels playable with a PC and seems well-optimised, so bravo Remedy. Anyway, Alan Wake is survival horror game set almost exclusively in a spooky forest. I bought this on a whim during the Steam sale and I can safely say that I liked this game a lotBefore I start this review, I should point out that Alan Wake is actually quite a good console port. For once, a made-for-console game actually feels playable with a PC and seems well-optimised, so bravo Remedy. Anyway, Alan Wake is survival horror game set almost exclusively in a spooky forest. I bought this on a whim during the Steam sale and I can safely say that I liked this game a lot more than I thought I would: the atmosphere is suitably spooky & unnerving, the story is interesting & will keep you engaged up until the end and the game looks fabulous. Now, negatives. The game has a good atmosphere, but does its best to sabotage it; practically broadcasting enemy locations to you and padding out the levels to stretch its length. Also, while the story is mostly good, the execution is uneven; with some weak characters and weird lip-syncing. I know graphics aren't important, but in a cutscene heavy game like this, it does become quite immersion breaking. So to sum up Alan Wake, it's a competently put-together enjoyable nine hours that, despite it's flaws, did enough to keep me interested. Wait for a sale though. Expand
  77. Jul 16, 2012
    7
    The vast and beautiful scenery in Alan Wake often gives the impression that the game is bigger than it is. I was, therefore, unsurprised to learn that the game was originally envisioned as being more of a free-roaming RPG before the limitations of the Xbox turned it into a a more liner 'on-rails' effort. And it shows. The landscape begs to be explored, but as soon as you travel anyThe vast and beautiful scenery in Alan Wake often gives the impression that the game is bigger than it is. I was, therefore, unsurprised to learn that the game was originally envisioned as being more of a free-roaming RPG before the limitations of the Xbox turned it into a a more liner 'on-rails' effort. And it shows. The landscape begs to be explored, but as soon as you travel any distance off the predetermined track you come to a cliff face or edge, and you start to feel a bit penned-in.
    The driving sections offer more of a sense of freedom, but even then you've got to stick to the road if you want to advance the plot.
    The story itself is interesting, and wears its Twilight Zone/Stephen King inspirations on its sleeve, but it has trouble captivating because from the very start you don't know what's real and what's a dream, which makes the threat feel too ethereal rather than something solid that can hurt you (even though it obviously can). You find yourself constantly wondering, 'is this bit a dream or real?', 'am I alive or dead?', 'do I really care?'.
    The atmosphere is the game's strongest point, and makes you wonder why more horror/suspense games don't do it better (I'm looking at you, Resident Evil series). The use of the flashlight is original, and the combat well executed, although it does suffer from being a tad repetitive by the game's end.
    It's a shame so much of the game is set at night (something necessary to the plot), because the graphics are showcased much better in the daylight scenes, and I'd have quite happily spent hours roaming around the hills and valleys of Bright Falls if given the opportunity.
    Expand
  78. May 27, 2012
    7
    I was quite impressed with the story and the graphics but the game is quite linear and can get repetitive quite quickly. There is also an immense amount of cut scenes which add to the story but it takes a lot of the gametime away.
  79. Mar 2, 2012
    7
    *Cracks knuckles*................First off the detractor statements- the dodge mechanic implemented is flawed and WILL get you killed for relying on it. The manuscript pages are literally text on a screen (Remember Lost Odyssey?) and after the first page, I disregarded each thereafter. The vehicles handle akin to an elderly person in a wheelchair running over an oil slick and the camera*Cracks knuckles*................First off the detractor statements- the dodge mechanic implemented is flawed and WILL get you killed for relying on it. The manuscript pages are literally text on a screen (Remember Lost Odyssey?) and after the first page, I disregarded each thereafter. The vehicles handle akin to an elderly person in a wheelchair running over an oil slick and the camera while driving will urge you to find the nearest barf bag. Why am I constantly losing and regaining pickup items? You spend far too much time grabbing sh*t off of tables, etc only to do it again, and again and again....with the horror vibe, I was hoping Remedy would adopt an RE4 model with continuous inventory. (Oh well.) Also, not to nitpick, but the cutscenes are a joke. Dead Rising characters emoted more than this game. IMO they should have stuck with keeping you as far away from the hideous uncanny valley faces as possible. Lest I forget yo mention it, but Alan Wake is full of MONSTER CLOSETS! Oh, the humanity...here's the entire strategy in this game: Step 1, run through gated spawn point. Step 2, trigger enemy spawns via slow motion scene. Step 3, run back the way you came and funnel them down the narrowest possible stretch of surface area. Rinse, repeat. Starts to get just a wee bit old after 5 or so hours...................and now, the great things about Alan Wake and why it deserves a a 'good' score, but not 'great': The story, the writing, the characters are all memorable and occasionally legitimately humorous. I enjoy the base combat to an extent and the flashlight mechanic as a visual metaphor and tangible game-y device is tactile and interesting. The presentation after each episode ends is nicely done, with some great musical inclusions..............So, a bunch of gripes, yet the game IS worth a try, throw down some $ for a discounted steam copy in a few months I'd say.-------------------------(And to all the babies complaining about the controls: buck the f*ck up and grab a controller. The game is clearly intended first and foremost around a gamepad. This is not a 'twitch' game, people.)------------------------ Expand
  80. Feb 19, 2012
    7
    I'm making another review of Alan Wake, since I was able to tweak the settings and get half-decent performance at 1360x768 resolution.

    The game uses an original way to tell a story. The way the story is told is great - episodic format, TV and radio show sequences, manuscript fragments you find. All very original. The story itself is not bad too. There are bad things, like facial
    I'm making another review of Alan Wake, since I was able to tweak the settings and get half-decent performance at 1360x768 resolution.

    The game uses an original way to tell a story. The way the story is told is great - episodic format, TV and radio show sequences, manuscript fragments you find. All very original. The story itself is not bad too.

    There are bad things, like facial animations and lipsyncing, even in prerendered cut scenes and low level of detail in models and textures. There are good things like lighting effects on sparks when you shoot the "taken", their smoky shadows, disturbance effects just before the "taken" appear and volumetric light effects - all look amazing.

    Ultimately, though, the gameplay gradually becomes more and more boring. It's original in a way, because you have to use the flashlight on the "taken" before you are able to shoot them. But it's not that engaging to keep doing this over and over again for the length of the game. For me, the story wasn't interesting enough to endure the frustrating gameplay. For example Dreamfall had gameplay issues too, but it had a very compelling story that kept me playing even through the tedious parts till the very end of the game. With Alan Wake I gave up in the middle of the forth chapter.

    So, to wrap it up, the game is not that bad to stop playing after 30 minutes, but at the same time not that great to finish it and say "that was a wonderful experience".

    P.S.
    It looks like Metacritic is full of fanboys and any rating in the yellow or red automatically receives mostly downvotes. We are all sharing personal opinions here. Sorry, I didn't like your favorite game as much as you did.
    Expand
  81. Mar 6, 2012
    7
    Now this is a very interesting game. It has an interesting and unique storyline backed with an original concept. The graphics are solid and voice acting sounds natural and I enjoyed the plot immensely. The storyline is, very much, the strong point of this game. The plot feels very much like a Dean Koontz book; not highly complex, but dark, enjoyable and at points, unexpected. The firstNow this is a very interesting game. It has an interesting and unique storyline backed with an original concept. The graphics are solid and voice acting sounds natural and I enjoyed the plot immensely. The storyline is, very much, the strong point of this game. The plot feels very much like a Dean Koontz book; not highly complex, but dark, enjoyable and at points, unexpected. The first person narrating, however, becomes a bit intrusive at points. The game, however, is letdown by a very difficult and clumsy combat system. The player does not get any real crosshair to aid them in shooting; instead they get a beam of torchlight. This is all good and well, however the character lined up in a slightly askew manner such that â Expand
  82. Apr 11, 2012
    7
    I found the gameplay more tedious than fun. My only problem with this game was the repetitious levels. The art and detail of the levels were amazing, I had no performance issues running at highest setting, but you basically do the same thing over. A little bit of story; then the action, which has Alan making his way to a certain area while fighting the dark forces. Enemies are not thatI found the gameplay more tedious than fun. My only problem with this game was the repetitious levels. The art and detail of the levels were amazing, I had no performance issues running at highest setting, but you basically do the same thing over. A little bit of story; then the action, which has Alan making his way to a certain area while fighting the dark forces. Enemies are not that difficult (even on hardest setting) or varied enough to make this game interesting. Weapons are fun for the first 10 minutes. The main driving factor of this game is of course the story. You will want to finish the game to see how it ends. My only problem was that there were not really any character development between some of the main characters so you end up not really caring what happens. Expand
  83. Apr 2, 2012
    7
    Alan Wake has really nice story and dark atmosphere so play it only at night. The story is divided on few epizodes like some series. But there is only few type of enemies in this game. The optimization is very bad and after 2 episodes it will be very stereotype for you.
  84. Jul 4, 2012
    7
    This game looked and played great. The story is so-so, but the voice acting and characters are pretty good, keeping the gamer engaged. It's more of a casual/adventure game than an action game, so it's perfect for winding down the day.
  85. Jun 26, 2020
    7
    The controls are easy to get used to and the PC port is great, no performance issues whatsoever. However the game is a little predictable after a while and for the most part you will be trudging through the same thing over and over again only hoping that the next part of the story will unravel. Every time it does get to an important plot point however, it'll keep you on the edge of yourThe controls are easy to get used to and the PC port is great, no performance issues whatsoever. However the game is a little predictable after a while and for the most part you will be trudging through the same thing over and over again only hoping that the next part of the story will unravel. Every time it does get to an important plot point however, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat and you'll be itching to find out what happens next. Expand
  86. Jan 5, 2013
    7
    If the game had better shooting mechanics and better level design then Alan Wake could have been something amazing. The story sucks you right in from the start, you want to get to the bottom of all the mystery. The levels that take place at daytime are also great, while there isn't much action its somewhat fun just interacting with various characters. Alan Wake loses its charm when theIf the game had better shooting mechanics and better level design then Alan Wake could have been something amazing. The story sucks you right in from the start, you want to get to the bottom of all the mystery. The levels that take place at daytime are also great, while there isn't much action its somewhat fun just interacting with various characters. Alan Wake loses its charm when the shooting segments of the game become tedious. You would need to be very determined to uncover the truth if you want to get past the frustratingly unfair fights you encounter later in the story. Expand
  87. Jun 17, 2015
    7
    atmosphere, story telling, music, story, narrative; everything is really good about this game. except for, unfortunately, game play. it gets boring after some time and all the good aspects of this game cannot cover for a boring game play. and i think game play is what matters most in a PC game.
  88. Jul 4, 2013
    7
    It's an ok game, I loved the setting and story establishing strokes, however, it manages to spoil itself and my criticism of the game mainly concerns its length and how it affects the story. Basicly, it's too long and boring, the combat gets repetitive and the pop culture references are way too blatant. They should have delivered a tighter, more serious horror-oriented story that wouldIt's an ok game, I loved the setting and story establishing strokes, however, it manages to spoil itself and my criticism of the game mainly concerns its length and how it affects the story. Basicly, it's too long and boring, the combat gets repetitive and the pop culture references are way too blatant. They should have delivered a tighter, more serious horror-oriented story that would have been devoid of any comic relief moments. Expand
  89. NLS
    Jan 21, 2014
    7
    I like this game.
    I like the story telling, I like the genuine american horror story feeling.
    I would wish it was less linear.
    Definitely a good game though.
  90. Nov 24, 2013
    7
    Fortunately Remedy have not flopped when they released Max Payne 2. For them the flop (if one can call it a flop at all) was second series of games, Alan Wake. Let's just call it a decline. For me I expected higher level of character insight and relation to the protagonist I've enjoyed with Max Payne 1 & 2. Alan Wake did not intrigue me with the story line and the main protagonist did notFortunately Remedy have not flopped when they released Max Payne 2. For them the flop (if one can call it a flop at all) was second series of games, Alan Wake. Let's just call it a decline. For me I expected higher level of character insight and relation to the protagonist I've enjoyed with Max Payne 1 & 2. Alan Wake did not intrigue me with the story line and the main protagonist did not capture my attention. I understand Remedy spent more time on the gameplay mechanics/atmosphere and an attempt at TV series episodic release schedule (something nobody has still pulled off in video game industry). In my opinion they should have focused on storyline a little more. One of the good things I've discovered during this game is original The Twilight Zone series which inspired the ingame TV series Night Springs. Atmosphere in this game is omnipresent and deep, you will find yourself in an "ecosystem" of interleaved and interrelated themes that creates an ingame world that Remedy have mastered over the years.

    Lastly I'd like to thank Remedy for securing a PC release of this game. Would it not be for Xbox we would have seen a PC port much earlier. PC realm is where Remedy originally come from so I am glad to see they have delivered for their dedicated fan base.
    Expand
  91. Jan 1, 2014
    7
    I will be truthful and tell you that this game is good. However, it is grueling. The story takes a very long time to play out, and has a pretty boring archetype to it. The actual story however is awesome and will capture you immediately. The game just feels like there is too much repetitive fighting for how much story happens in between the fighting. About 3 hours in, I was ready forI will be truthful and tell you that this game is good. However, it is grueling. The story takes a very long time to play out, and has a pretty boring archetype to it. The actual story however is awesome and will capture you immediately. The game just feels like there is too much repetitive fighting for how much story happens in between the fighting. About 3 hours in, I was ready for the game to just be over already. The game is an extremely awesome concept, but it could have been executed much, much better Expand
  92. Nov 24, 2015
    7
    Bring Light Into The Story Of Bright Falls

    Overall: 70% (83.5/120)

    Atmosphere: 7.8/10
    Graphics: 6.5/10
    Level Design: 5.8/10
    Sound: 7.4/10

    Balance: 7.8/10
    Controls: 5.5/10
    Mysteries: 7.0/10

    Animations: 7.4/10
    Artificial Intelligence: 6.3/10

    Story: 8.6/10
    Tutorial: 4.5/5
    Variety in Items: 6.9/10

    Cost-Benefit Ratio: 1/4
    System Requirements: 1/1
  93. Jan 17, 2015
    7
    Darkness can be a frightening thing. It was certainly a factor for my childhood; anything beyond the crisp reaches of light was out of bounds, and I’d do everything in my power to stay in. Anything could be lurking in those shadows. What if there was only perpetual night, and there really were dark creatures out there? In the town of Bright Falls, that’s exactly what happens.

    Alan Wake
    Darkness can be a frightening thing. It was certainly a factor for my childhood; anything beyond the crisp reaches of light was out of bounds, and I’d do everything in my power to stay in. Anything could be lurking in those shadows. What if there was only perpetual night, and there really were dark creatures out there? In the town of Bright Falls, that’s exactly what happens.

    Alan Wake is a psychological thriller which draws the majority of its inspiration from darkness, and what happens when those with an active imagination are thrust into it.

    The titular character - a famous horror writer – escapes with his wife to Bright Falls for a holiday, and to help write his next novel. Things turn south when his wife goes missing, and he is haunted by an evil supernatural presence. It goes from bad to worse when he then realises that he is now the protagonist of a horror novel he cannot remember writing.

    My impressions after roughly halfway through the game were not positive. I had a massive break from the game, because when I left it, it just wasn’t engaging enough to return to. It felt like the creators got together in the back corner of a cinema lobby: “Hey, how many cliché horror references do you think we can get thrown into to one game?”

    The swarms of crows, the axe through the door (here’s Johnny!), and the plot twists (was it all his imagination?) were all just collected from other sources, mainly Stephen King. Which they certainly don’t deny; in the very first monologue, his name is mentioned, and it isn’t the only time.

    The gameplay mechanics, although initially fresh, began to feel repetitive as you run through the dark woods from generator to generator, hoping to step under that pool of light before the “Taken” reached you. Shining your torch on these Taken until they’re rendered vulnerable and shooting them is the only way to take them down. Flares and flashbangs were fun to get out of that sticky situation, too.

    Anyway, this was before I left the game for a year. My recent impulsion to finish all those incomplete games brought me back, and I’m glad it did. The plot, although a little complicated and brandished with a few pot holes, did turn in the right direction. The challenges in the game did gradually increase (dang haunted bulldozers), and the game wasn’t afraid to have a little fun on the way, most notably when defending a music stage on an old farm, blasting the Taken while the rock plays on.

    While the graphics weren’t pushing the boundaries when the game was released, the visual direction was excellent. Stalking through darkness only to have an old trawler boat land metres in front out of nowhere is hard to see coming.

    It wasn’t Game of the Year material, but it was fun to escape into the Darkness.
    Expand
  94. Jun 28, 2015
    7
    Good: Story, Setting, Atmosphere/Mood, Art Direction
    Mixed: Shooting
    Bad: Very monotonous after some time, Linear

    This game is a mixed bag. After some time becomes very boring and monotonous.
  95. Aug 16, 2017
    7
    The game is inspired by the books of Stephen King, from the legendary Remedy studio (who gave us max payn), Alan Wake will immerse you in a rather gloomy and interesting world filled with riddles, the answers to which generate even more mysteries. For all fans of Stephen King, it's necessary to get acquainted.
  96. Nov 9, 2015
    7
    Stylish and tries to be something different. Not the tightest action, but unique and interesting enough to stay compelling. It's definitely a labour of love on part of the developers and has a lot of great moments here and there. Fans of Max Payne 1 and 2 will enjoy some in-jokes and stylistic touches.

    It looks like a horror game, but it's much more of a shooter with a bit of extra
    Stylish and tries to be something different. Not the tightest action, but unique and interesting enough to stay compelling. It's definitely a labour of love on part of the developers and has a lot of great moments here and there. Fans of Max Payne 1 and 2 will enjoy some in-jokes and stylistic touches.

    It looks like a horror game, but it's much more of a shooter with a bit of extra atmosphere. If you're looking for scares, you'll be disappointed, but it does have a creepy feel to it that sets it apart.
    Expand
  97. Nov 13, 2020
    7
    Me ha sorprendido mucho, buen juego de terror y misterio con una historia bastante original. La jugabilidad es muy buena ya que a diferencia de otros juegos la luz es muy importante para derrotar a los enemigos. La historia es bastante larga y los dlc especiales 1 y 2 también son buenos.
  98. Jan 22, 2016
    7
    The psychological-Thriller proposal is accomplished with amazing ambiance, catchy and mysterious history line, and the really good play with the "dark-light" theme; The Concept art is really good, using very well the mystery that a lake provides.The soundtrack is AMAZING - also giving the right mood to the game when it is necessary. The characters are amazingly charismatics, funny andThe psychological-Thriller proposal is accomplished with amazing ambiance, catchy and mysterious history line, and the really good play with the "dark-light" theme; The Concept art is really good, using very well the mystery that a lake provides.The soundtrack is AMAZING - also giving the right mood to the game when it is necessary. The characters are amazingly charismatics, funny and characteristics (each one is a representation of a completely different personality). The dubbing voices are really good, though the sync is really lazy.

    Although the cinematographic technical features, the game lacks in gameplay - you can only change guns, shoot, focus the flashlight, run, dodge, pick items and jump. Another problem is the linearity of the game- you have basically no puzzles, and only one way to follow the path. The AI is almost null (kill kill mode) and the gameplay difficulty is easy to normal.

    The GAME itself in therms of gameplay is poor, but the good plot, cinematographic features, ambiance and the soundtrack makes this a game you must, at least, try.
    Expand
  99. May 29, 2016
    7
    Alan Wake is a linear third-person shooter whose atmosphere and story attempt to redeem the frankly clunky combat. The game proceeds in six episodes (with two additional DLC episodes that are now included for free). Worth a purchase on sale if you enjoy a combat-driven interactive movie, but there's not much replayability (unless you're a collectibles and achievements fanatic).

    Alan's
    Alan Wake is a linear third-person shooter whose atmosphere and story attempt to redeem the frankly clunky combat. The game proceeds in six episodes (with two additional DLC episodes that are now included for free). Worth a purchase on sale if you enjoy a combat-driven interactive movie, but there's not much replayability (unless you're a collectibles and achievements fanatic).

    Alan's wife, Alice, gets “taken” by a mysterious “dark presence.” The entire game is spent trying to release her from its power. Alan is frequently lost, operating on whim, and not really sure of how to proceed. A writer himself, he begins researching old legends of Cauldron Lake and the power that words written there seem to possess. This is really the best part of the game, as the labyrinth of creation and created and how to balance what is desired with what is needed leads Alan down an increasingly dark path (pun intended). As he discovers, he is not alone in his knowledge of the lake's mysterious power, nor the first to suffer from it. The supporting cast are varied and colorful characters, several of whom have their own history with Cauldron Lake.

    The atmosphere is suitably dark and fog-swept at times. Most of the game happens at night, so turn down your room lights and crank the audio to catch the ambiance (the sound design is superb). The setting is a unique one: the woods and small town atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. The ambiance is captured nicely, and the woods have thick foliage and dark shadows. Old logging and mining gear abounds, providing just the right touch of historical nostalgia and rusty menace. The buildings and architecture are a mix of rustic, country-style structures (built sturdy to withstand the harsh winters) other more attractive, modern structures designed to impress tourists (Cauldron Lake Lodge). The superb music score is the icing on the atmospheric cake: moody but melodic, it catches the feeling of solitude at night-time haunted by the supernatural.

    A supernatural that is made perhaps more terrifying by the clunky combat. Shine a light at enemies to burn away the darkness, then shoot them with whatever weapon you have to hand. It works well enough, but feels loose and sloppy. The weapons are few, but do feel different: revolver, shotgun (regular and pump-action), flare gun, hunting rifle, flares, and flash-bangs. That's it. They're not all available at the same time, and at the beginning of each episode, Alan only has a flashlight and a revolver. So, no matter how good you were with saving up your gear, thinking there might be a big battle coming up, once the episode ends, you'll lose it all anyway. The enemies offer little variety. You've got the standard hatchet-throwing “taken”, the big “taken”, the fast “taken”, and random flocks of crows that fly out of the sky and attack Alan. Sometimes random objects (like cars, tires, dumpsters) will become possessed and attack Alan. With so many creatures that dwell in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, I expected there might be a boss fight with a bear or a pack of coyotes, but no.

    None of these drawbacks would matter if the total experience offered by Alan Wake were more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, it isn't. I enjoy it because when I first played it years ago I had no idea that video games could handle narrative in this fashion. I'll always have a nostalgic appreciation for it and it just kills me to provide a mixed recommendation. But if you want more than story and atmosphere, look elsewhere, because you'll be sorely disappointed by everything else. If story and atmosphere suffice, though, get Alan Wake right away.
    Expand
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. May 5, 2012
    70
    Alan Wake is a decent port with a few console-characteristics that cause a few annoyances. But PC-gamers finally have the option to enjoy Alan Wake's unique and gripping story.
  2. 82
    Yet as a finished result and, finally, as a product with an interactive purpose, Alan Wake suffers enough from trying to mix so many influences, ending very close to the "you love it or hate it" model. Eventually, maybe these are just the "pains of childbirth" for something more complex or for something else as deserving as interactivity, a new „species" that needs to be judged less for its interactive aspects and more for the ones that regard its style.
  3. Apr 5, 2012
    80
    "A gripping rollercoaster ride." - Stephen King. [Apr 2012, p.52]