Alan Wake

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2165 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,547 out of 2165
  2. Mixed: 460 out of 2165
  3. Negative: 158 out of 2165
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  1. lynxx
    Jun 25, 2013
    10
    A huge game. One of the bests I've ever played. A very-well written storyline, the really frightening and unique (light is everything) gameplay makes Alan Wake a must play for everyone who loves horror,action and game with good-stories.

    Story: 10
    Gameplay:10
    Graphics: 9
    Sound: 10
  2. overfiend87
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    I admit back when this first came out I was sucked in. Being a writer the idea of a world where a writer's own work appears to take on a life of it's own, however the story is far more complex than that.

    Also, I am not one for horror games as usually they have terrible combat and at times aren't that creepy, however this is a game with a good combat system and able to be creepy without    I admit back when this first came out I was sucked in. Being a writer the idea of a world where a writer's own work appears to take on a life of it's own, however the story is far more complex than that.

    Also, I am not one for horror games as usually they have terrible combat and at times aren't that creepy, however this is a game with a good combat system and able to be creepy without using gore. Afterall, darkness is one of the most primal of fears. It's well worth it's price for anyone looking for a deeply involving story and/or want to play a creepy game.    … Expand
  3. tanim
    Sep 4, 2013
    10
    Excellent story, gameplay and environment. You need to play this game at least for the story. Soundtrack is top class as well. One of the best games of modern times
  4. bonaros75
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    I have found the story to be the most amazing aspect of the game. At some points you will even feel like you are part of a movie. Surprisingly the driving scenes work really well and it almost feels like what you would expect from GTA 5. Fighting scenes can get very repetitive and once you are out of ammo it becomes almost impossible to continue. Overall I think it's a well rounded gameI have found the story to be the most amazing aspect of the game. At some points you will even feel like you are part of a movie. Surprisingly the driving scenes work really well and it almost feels like what you would expect from GTA 5. Fighting scenes can get very repetitive and once you are out of ammo it becomes almost impossible to continue. Overall I think it's a well rounded game with some great story telling aspects.… Expand
  5. AlexWizz
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    Alan Wake is a really enjoyable game. It's long, about 16 hours, the porting from the 360 version is really good. Remedy patched the game several fimes following the community tips to make it better and better. Graphic is good, but the soundtrack is wonderful, thanks to Poet of the Fall themes. It's not a survival, it's like a thrilled Max Payne, there are many collectibles and 3 differentAlan Wake is a really enjoyable game. It's long, about 16 hours, the porting from the 360 version is really good. Remedy patched the game several fimes following the community tips to make it better and better. Graphic is good, but the soundtrack is wonderful, thanks to Poet of the Fall themes. It's not a survival, it's like a thrilled Max Payne, there are many collectibles and 3 different difficulty settings. The Pc edition containt the two DLC for free! Buy it, it's really worth it every single cent you spend on it.… Expand
  6. NotBrutalMoose
    Oct 11, 2013
    3
    I am writing for BrutalMoose. To quote him from his stream as of 10/11/13 "The game looks good, and could be scary, but isn't. Maybe it's just because I'm drunk, I don't know... alcohol might be affecting this game for me..."
  7. J583
    Feb 9, 2014
    6
    Its a good game.

    First of all, the good bits: The voice acting is overall excellent. The characters are compelling. The graphics/environment is very nice. The story keeps you in doubt all the time. I like the torch mechanic, you actually need to use it as a torch sometimes. The bad: The talking animations are really bad...Fortunately they seem to get better as you progress. The    Its a good game.

    First of all, the good bits: The voice acting is overall excellent.
    The characters are compelling.
    The graphics/environment is very nice.
    The story keeps you in doubt all the time.
    I like the torch mechanic, you actually need to use it as a torch sometimes.

    The bad: The talking animations are really bad...Fortunately they seem to get better as you progress.
    The game forces you to go out of your way to collect "the story", its annoying and boring. It shouldnt be so time consuming.
    Gameplay is just ok.
    The story never ultimately explains itself and some people seem to like this, but not me. I hate it, this really is the downfall of the game.

    Well worth the    … Expand
  8. 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.
  9. crimsondoor
    Aug 6, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To be honest I don't know why people rate this game so high. I felt like I've wasted a week on it. I played this game expecting a good Stephen King-like story but is in fact cliched as hell from the beginning and in the end I have more questions than answers (like WHAT is the dark presence and HOW does an artist work make it comes to life???)... about controls, well as others have mentioned it is just really clunky, especially the camera - it is one of the few third person games which made me really dizzy playing it. The camera control is really strange as well. I pressed R3 to switch it to the right shoulder side but it keeps snapping back (why!?). And the driving camera...my god it's the worst thing ever... Why on earth does the camera snaps to right/left side of the car when I just tilted the right analog stick for a little bit?

    The gameplay itself has no variety at all. Just point flashlight at monsters, shoot/dodge. By chapter 2 the game has become more like a mechanical process than a game.

    Bad story, bad control, bad gameplay. Don't waste your time.    … Expand
  10. leviathan34
    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
  11. root_
    Dec 25, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For a psychological action thriller in a game, the story and direction has something great in it
    10 because the games atmosphere is logical. The very same experience I had was while playing Batman:Arkham City.

    From the makers of Max Payne series(2) Remedy Entertainment, there's alot of pressure to put up a great story line but they manage to convince os well. But the game was not at all scary ,easy to finish,repetitive,only some scores of the episode very genuinely interesting.

    When we talk about logic-sense in a game we keep in mind games like Indigo Prophecy where everything we do has a good reasoning to it . The game was easily driven on a same concept where the user know whats coming on next.

    YOU NEED DLC's to get the best of the game!    … Expand
  12. hobertg
    Jan 4, 2015
    10
    Never even heard of this game until a review of my new video card (EVGA GTX980...which is amazing btw). It was on sale in the steam store over the holidays for $3. I have to say this is a very impressive and entertaining game and worth the regular cost even if not on sale. I purchased it for my son and a friend while it was on sale. Graphics amazing - Gameplay is very user friendly butNever even heard of this game until a review of my new video card (EVGA GTX980...which is amazing btw). It was on sale in the steam store over the holidays for $3. I have to say this is a very impressive and entertaining game and worth the regular cost even if not on sale. I purchased it for my son and a friend while it was on sale. Graphics amazing - Gameplay is very user friendly but makes you think a little - Creepy Intense when you really follow the story and immerse yourself in the game. During surround gaming on triple monitors it was flawless and beautiful. I would recommend this game for anyone looking for an unusually different type gameplay and plot. Personally I really enjoyed how the episodes were like a TV series...clever!… Expand
  13. leSange
    Jan 1, 2019
    8
    Если отбросить в сторону однообзразную боевку, нас ждет отличный сюжет где не понятно, что будет дальше и жутко интересно
  14. renogza
    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
  15. aythamipt
    Dec 13, 2018
    7
    Simplemente escribo esto para que me conste como un análisis y que la nota del juego me salga en mi apartado de votaciones y tener un historial. Saludos
  16. Darkyrien
    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.
  17. spielratz
    Aug 25, 2019
    2
    Terrible Game.
    Bad gameplay. You fight the same two guys over and over. The shooting action is bad. Makes me wish i would play Resident Evil 4 or Last of Us which had great combat.
    The only good thing about it are the town environments which look nice. Rest of the game is a real disaster.
  18. buzzyman
    Jul 22, 2020
    10
    Amazing game! I went through it 5 times. Gorgeous plot, great in-game night springs series and amazing music.
  19. kezzyhko
    Jul 26, 2020
    6
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  20. Yustan
    Jan 1, 2022
    10
    Одно слово - Remedy
    Remedy - это залог качества (american nightmare не в счёт). Alan Wake не стал исключением
  21. SebaRand
    Jan 15, 2021
    10
    A unique story and looking forward to an Alan Wake 2 in the future (I hope it is not too far)
  22. ModernandCool
    Oct 29, 2022
    10
    Alan Wake is underrated masterpiece, that never got love that it deserved. Sure, some dialogues and animations are outdated, but people need to understand that this is 2010 video game, that tried to do something different. For it's time, it's very well made game and most of the story and dialogues actually holds up well enough. Can't wait for Part 2!
  23. JonesR
    Nov 17, 2013
    8
    I don't scare easily and while Alan Wake didn't scare me outright, it provided a constant state of creepiness that was continuously chilling. The characters and story along with the storytelling are awesome. The graphics, photography, and camera work are stunning. The one major blemish is the gameplay which isn't all that bad, it just isn't all that good either. However using a flashlightI don't scare easily and while Alan Wake didn't scare me outright, it provided a constant state of creepiness that was continuously chilling. The characters and story along with the storytelling are awesome. The graphics, photography, and camera work are stunning. The one major blemish is the gameplay which isn't all that bad, it just isn't all that good either. However using a flashlight to fight off the darkness is a pretty cool concept and the execution comes off pretty nicely. Although I have to admit the game didn't draw me in to play non-stop from start to finish--ultimately starting the game in September and not actually finishing it until November.

    So what is it about Alan Wake that makes it so standoffish? Well for starters, the gameplay starts to get repetitiously dull. Some of the forest paths are really long laying ground for more hordes of Taken than one person can deal with before it just becomes mundane. It is kind of broken up with some areas to explore in between, but it wasn't enough. The other aspect which may sound weird is that I never really felt like I took the role as Alan Wake. Instead it felt more like I was just moving the story forward and watching Alan unfold as opposed to being a part of critical decisions. Fortunately the chapters are broken up very nicely into roughly two hour segments with good musical intermissions allowing players whatever amount of time they need before jumping into the next chapter.

    Overall, a fantastic game and a must play in my book.    … Expand
  24. Dubroc
    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
  25. ave
    Dec 24, 2015
    8
    Alan Wake is one of these games that takes you by surprise. I really enjoyed playing it.

    The main character is a writer à la Stephen King, going on vacation to solve a writer's block issue, and immediately confronting his inner demons in the most terrifying way, along with the disappearing of its wife. The story is delivered mostly during cinematics (and this time, it's not a problem    Alan Wake is one of these games that takes you by surprise. I really enjoyed playing it.

    The main character is a writer à la Stephen King, going on vacation to solve a writer's block issue, and immediately confronting his inner demons in the most terrifying way, along with the disappearing of its wife.

    The story is delivered mostly during cinematics (and this time, it's not a problem since the story is solid and the character is a writer). Then the player goes from safe place A to safe place B wandering into darkness and escaping light-sensitive foes.

    The game succeeds in capturing the powerlessness of the character, with a constant balance between fight of flight. And rewards exploration in a good way (weapons, ammunition, novel pages, tv serials, etc.)

    But what is really good about the game, is that the gameplay and the world makes sense regarding the main character. Burning foes with your light before shooting or evading them is a very nice game mechanic. Setting the horror in a otherwise peaceful environment is very powerful.

    Alan Wake is a very good example of an action / adventure game made right, along with a solid character and story. Play it !    … Expand
  26. EmuChicken
    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
  27. directx11frank
    Jan 1, 2013
    6
    This is 8/10, but because of this problem with the camera problem not centered, I have to give only 6/10, sorry, the developer of "Remedy Entertainment", yes you the guys have create this feature of bad implemented camera not centered, 8/10 - 2 = 6/10. I never see that kind of camera implementation, I don't understand when you testing the game, Is it not disturb you, please centered theThis is 8/10, but because of this problem with the camera problem not centered, I have to give only 6/10, sorry, the developer of "Remedy Entertainment", yes you the guys have create this feature of bad implemented camera not centered, 8/10 - 2 = 6/10. I never see that kind of camera implementation, I don't understand when you testing the game, Is it not disturb you, please centered the camera, like ALL other games...… Expand
  28. GolovA
    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
  29. kotekzot
    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
  30. Bitek
    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
  31. FFStudios
    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
  32. cunningmunki
    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
  33. RECON-UK
    Jan 8, 2014
    8
    A game i bought in 2011, and never got into it, until a couple of days a go.
    OK, story is absolutely fantastic, and thoroughly enjoyable, even if a little Americanized.
    Graphics and presentation is second to none, it has a brilliant art style that flows extremely well with game play and story. Now, my only reason for not scoring this a 10, is purely the repetition throughout the game,    A game i bought in 2011, and never got into it, until a couple of days a go.
    OK, story is absolutely fantastic, and thoroughly enjoyable, even if a little Americanized.
    Graphics and presentation is second to none, it has a brilliant art style that flows extremely well with game play and story.
    Now, my only reason for not scoring this a 10, is purely the repetition throughout the game, combat is cool, but get's a little dull and becoming a chore towards the end of the game, however it is only a small niggle.
    The game has room for further game play even after completion along the lines of achievements if that is your thing, you may go back and try to bust those final achievements.
    My final words, great game and definitely worthy of it's price.    … Expand
  34. Sevvy88
    Jun 7, 2013
    9
    Fantastic game. Great narrative, creepy setting, and Alan Wake is such a helpless, lovable nerd. It has a strong identity. It knows the kind of game that it wants to be and is and it sticks with it. The music selections and episodic nature of the game ads a lot to the experience as well. The ending will have you wondering and scratching your head, and the main theme of the game, performedFantastic game. Great narrative, creepy setting, and Alan Wake is such a helpless, lovable nerd. It has a strong identity. It knows the kind of game that it wants to be and is and it sticks with it. The music selections and episodic nature of the game ads a lot to the experience as well. The ending will have you wondering and scratching your head, and the main theme of the game, performed by the band Poets of the Fall, will find its way on to every nerd's iPod. My one complaint is the wonky controls on the mouse/keys. Probably much better with a controller. Definitely experience this game though.… Expand
  35. Zudeare
    Nov 23, 2012
    6
    It's okay, but very short and it's not hard at all, the game play it pretty shallow at times, but luckily the story is decent, which is to be expected from a remedy game.
  36. sobaka770
    Jul 2, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am very late to review this but the game holds up well in 2020, graphics look fine, gameplay is simple but solid.

    The story is fun however I am not a big fan of mystery without resolution that Remedy keeps pushing. It's fine to have cosmic horror, but if the whole thing is just "darkness" it doesn't really come off scary. I hope we get some form of sequel to flesh out the universe.    … Expand
  37. lucidanarchy
    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.
  38. jZero
    Aug 23, 2013
    8
    Alan Wake has great atmosphere, an interesting story, good sound work (including some interesting licensed music) and fun game play. Felt there was a decent mix of weapons and uses to really vary up the combat. Light as a mechanic worked well whether keeping the enemies at a distance with the flares, killing them with flash bangs/ flare gun, disorienting them with the flashlight or takingAlan Wake has great atmosphere, an interesting story, good sound work (including some interesting licensed music) and fun game play. Felt there was a decent mix of weapons and uses to really vary up the combat. Light as a mechanic worked well whether keeping the enemies at a distance with the flares, killing them with flash bangs/ flare gun, disorienting them with the flashlight or taking off their "immunity armor." There are a few downfalls. Driving cars with a keyboard and mouse was pretty awful. Also occasionally enemies would spawn behind you or move quickly behind you and it was difficult fighting enemies in all direction. Overall: Loved the game, kept coming back to play more until I finished it.… Expand
  39. DonnyT
    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
  40. ShinsFortress
    Sep 13, 2015
    5
    Concept and story were fine. Console roots, accepted. Graphics just about okay.

    But in this day and age I expect visuals that work. Alan has inertia like from some games over ten years old. Character models too wooden for a current/recent title (Bioshock Infinite had this problem too). And most annoyingly lyp sync seems to be something the developers decided was not even a "nice to have".
  41. Budget_Security
    Jul 7, 2013
    8
    Over 5 years in the making, the spiritual successor to Max Payne 1 is a very cinematic game with good narrative and atmosphere. The tutorial may seem lame, but it gets better. The combat mechanics combining firearms and light work well. The graphics are excellent, if not technically, then certainly artistically. This is an xbox port done right, with minimal consolitis after using theOver 5 years in the making, the spiritual successor to Max Payne 1 is a very cinematic game with good narrative and atmosphere. The tutorial may seem lame, but it gets better. The combat mechanics combining firearms and light work well. The graphics are excellent, if not technically, then certainly artistically. This is an xbox port done right, with minimal consolitis after using the following tweaks:
    add “-rigidcamera” (no mouse accel) and “-noblur” to the executable's launch commands, and max the FOV and “direct aiming” in the settings)    … Expand
  42. theGrey
    Mar 31, 2014
    9
    It's Q2 2014, and there's almost nothing good out at the moment that I haven't played. So I looked through my steam library and noticed that I had Alan Wake that I purchased a long time ago from one of the Steam specials but never got around to playing it. I would just like to say that I am pleasantly surprised at how absorbed I became. I was honestly struggling to get hooked on any gameIt's Q2 2014, and there's almost nothing good out at the moment that I haven't played. So I looked through my steam library and noticed that I had Alan Wake that I purchased a long time ago from one of the Steam specials but never got around to playing it. I would just like to say that I am pleasantly surprised at how absorbed I became. I was honestly struggling to get hooked on any game until I started Alan Wake. I really wanted to find out how the story played out and that's what kept me going strong throughout. I absolutely loved the deliciously dark setting in the mountains and the unique torch-as-a-weapon/shield kit out. I can't say enough good things about this- a truly refreshing experience compared to all the stuff I've been playing lately! I highly recommend this title if you're looking for something different and yet undeniably absorbing. I also thought the visuals and audio were superb for a 2012 title and did their job very well in transporting me deep into the heart of the story.… Expand
  43. ghostrider90
    May 26, 2012
    6
    PS: I gave the game a wrong mark on my previous review. This is the real mark. Hope i made myself understood. There are games a lot better than this. Half-losing time, half-good.
  44. brndnrsl
    May 9, 2012
    5
    This isn't really a game, closer to a movie. It has a linear plot which is OK. If you want a game, look somewhere else, if you want a scary movie, here you go. I gotta say it does look pretty nice though. I wouldn't get it for full price, maybe grab it when it's on sale on steam.
  45. PTFox
    May 15, 2012
    6
    Alan Wake is a decent game.The gameplay is fun, the presentation is excellent and the game isn't over before you even realize it. Unfortunately, the game is also very, very repetitive; you've seen and done all there is to do and see within the first hour of playing, and the rest of the approximately 10 hour long experience is a long, drawn-out and uninteresting experience. It's a shame,Alan Wake is a decent game.The gameplay is fun, the presentation is excellent and the game isn't over before you even realize it. Unfortunately, the game is also very, very repetitive; you've seen and done all there is to do and see within the first hour of playing, and the rest of the approximately 10 hour long experience is a long, drawn-out and uninteresting experience. It's a shame, because technically, the game delivers on nearly all fronts; the graphics are excellent, the sound is great and the presentation in general is convincing and stylistic. There's just not enough to the gameplay to make it anything worthwhile.

    With a better story and more focus on varied gameplay, Alan Wake could've been a great game, but as it stands now, it's an overly long exercise in tedium. Pick it up if it drops below 10$, but don't expect anything fantastic.    … Expand
  46. tdebug
    Jun 19, 2023
    2
    Main difficulties in this game are controls and camera angle. If you are playing using controller, then also add poor aiming. Otherwise, the gameplay itself is just idea free.
  47. hwanin
    Sep 17, 2021
    8
    I actually finished this game this year while I bought the boxed collector's edition many years ago.

    Contras: - the plot ending was confusing to me - the respawning hordes of the demon-controlled enemies are very frustrating (if they are your mind's tricks and always respawn, then why your ammo never gets respawned, right?) - invisible walls Pros: - though confusing ending of the    I actually finished this game this year while I bought the boxed collector's edition many years ago.

    Contras:
    - the plot ending was confusing to me
    - the respawning hordes of the demon-controlled enemies are very frustrating (if they are your mind's tricks and always respawn, then why your ammo never gets respawned, right?)
    - invisible walls

    Pros:
    - though confusing ending of the story, it was interesting nonetheless!
    - visual
    - animation
    - entertaining mechanics of the weapons
    - the atmosphere is awesome and it includes driving the cars, oh yeah! :) and the scenes were scary few times
    - I usually play without music, but here the music suits the game well

    I will not play this game again, but I prefer single player games and this one was a remarkable one.
    I can honestly recommend it to everyone, who likes 3rd person games.    … Expand
  48. Foilface
    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.
  49. nms1215
    Feb 11, 2014
    9
    This psychological horror-mystery begins with famous writer Alan Wake as he vacations with his wife to a small town in an attempt to escape his writer's block. Everything goes to hell when his wife Alice is kidnapped by a strange darkness that is taking over the area and bringing horror and destruction with it. I will not spoil anything, but this game's strength is certainly in its story.This psychological horror-mystery begins with famous writer Alan Wake as he vacations with his wife to a small town in an attempt to escape his writer's block. Everything goes to hell when his wife Alice is kidnapped by a strange darkness that is taking over the area and bringing horror and destruction with it. I will not spoil anything, but this game's strength is certainly in its story. Wake, as a writer, provides an interesting narration that brings the environment to life, while also voicing Wake's thoughts and providing information for the story. The way game connects collectibles (in the form of pages to Alan's memoirs) to the story is great and interesting. Characters are brought to life with new depth as you read their stories in the memoirs. But the horror is also a big factor in this game.

    When the darkness attacks, light is the only salvation. Your inventory consists of guns and light-based weapons, such as flares, flashbangs, and a flashlight. Ammunition can be scarce, so hold on to the light and savor it while you have it. It all fits well with the horror of the game--as the darkness becomes stronger, you only feel safe in the light of day (and not always then!). When lost, following the light is also a safe bet, but this feels natural. You are running, being chased by those Taken by the darkness, and naturally you run toward the light because it is the only place you feel is safe.

    This is a game I know I will certainly replay, with more focus on the story and collectibles. The gameplay is unique and interesting, the horror keeps you on edge, and the story is fantastic and full of depth.    … Expand
  50. SilentHightimes
    Jun 20, 2015
    8
    A awesome interesting suck you in story, with gorgeous darkness. Alan Wakes gameplay is so smooth and addicting and one the best well written story's I have ever played, its beautiful landscapes and art keep you looking and wanting more and they deliver pretty well. I love this game!

    Alan wake is a Unique Story game not a RPG, If you want a great story this is a great game.
  51. ReubenIsAGod
    Oct 11, 2021
    10
    I've been going through quite a lot of stress in my personal life recently, playing through older games has been a really nice way to just relax and catch my breath. Alan Wake is an incredibly tight third-person atmospheric thriller video game. They recently remastered this, but I've had the original on my Hard-drive for quite some time and decided to finally re-visit it.
    It holds up    I've been going through quite a lot of stress in my personal life recently, playing through older games has been a really nice way to just relax and catch my breath. Alan Wake is an incredibly tight third-person atmospheric thriller video game. They recently remastered this, but I've had the original on my Hard-drive for quite some time and decided to finally re-visit it.
    It holds up really well, a very well-thought-out and captivating narrative with some fun, unique, slow-burn shooter gameplay. I dug it.

    I kinda wish the FOV was a bit higher, also the performance is a little choppy. I dug this! I really am excited for the sequel that apparently remedies have been working on. Fingers crossed that it's sensational.    … Expand
  52. Garian
    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
  53. fhouse
    Nov 30, 2012
    8
    Despite the plotholes in the story, and some cheesy dialogues, this is still one of the best PC releases in 2012. Gameplay is a bit repetitive, but still enjoyable. The game is well ported to the PC.
  54. Nataraja
    Jun 29, 2014
    9
    General Overview: This is a well done narrative driven game with some unique game play that reminds me of Dead Space, although the combat is a bit less intense. Great mixture of action and story with excellent pasting. Its occasional weak voice acting and outdated character models can be off-putting at times but in general the well written narrative makes those small this irrelevant.General Overview: This is a well done narrative driven game with some unique game play that reminds me of Dead Space, although the combat is a bit less intense. Great mixture of action and story with excellent pasting. Its occasional weak voice acting and outdated character models can be off-putting at times but in general the well written narrative makes those small this irrelevant. Great Twin Peaks/David Lynch atmosphere with psychological horror that literally chilled my spine. As a writer this game is ultimately appealing and greatly appreciated. While there is little reason to replay other than to relive the story (which I for one will do in about a year or so) there are collectibles and achievements galore here. Remedy did a great job with the game but a sequel would be difficult though not implausible I would love for this to have a real follow up (American Nightmare is more like a DLC) but only if the quality of the narrative can be maintained.

    TL;DNR: 9: A great psychological horror/survival game with a very strong narrative and unique game play. For those who enjoy and value strong stories within their games and enjoy things by David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet...) then this is a must play.

    Technology/engine: 8: Runs very smoothly and is well optimized for PC.

    AI: 7: The AI is well developed but a bit predictable.

    Graphics: 7: The graphics a decent although texture qualities are mix and the character models are dated. The set pieces, however, are great - heavily detailed, great art style, and creates a depth of immersion and atmosphere that many games seem to ignore.

    Sound: 10: The sound in this game is very well developed with lots of depth and variability in ambient sound and combat sounds are spot on.

    Soundtrack: 9: Great soundtrack with well chosen episodic theme songs at the end of each of its 6 episodes and great music throughout that fits the action and the intensity of the moment and really adds to the games pacing as well as atmosphere.

    Voice acting: 8: Most of the voice acting is well done and convincing although there are moments where it fades into the acceptable range. Never the less, its minor acting issues do not really detract from its story nor its immersion.

    Crafting: N/A

    Customization: N/A

    Game play systems: 9: The game play in Alan Wake is well developed and fun with a good mix of occasional splashes of reward exploration (at times the exploration for hidden caches of resources may not be a good choice and the intensity of that decision comes through very well), game relevant puzzles of sorts (more like just dangerous tasks really), wonderful use of light as a weapon, and all around just a fun game.

    Controls: 10: This is a PC port done right. The controls are excellent and can be rebound to any key. The controls are simple and clean and are quickly picked up.

    Story: 10: Very well written and very well executed. A David Lynch style story that really pulls you in and makes you care about Bright Falls and its inhabitants as well as the Alan and his buddy Barry. If you like David Lynch's work you owe it to yourself to play this game.

    Multiplayer: N/A    … Expand
  55. Thoompie7
    Jul 16, 2013
    9
    When I started playing this game, I didn't like it at all. Very well the gameplay was fun, the game mechanics were very well thought up, but the game didn't catch me. It didn't make me think about it all day, and it didn't make me eager to play more (like, for example, Bioshock Infinite did). However, after sadly playing the first three episodes, things quickly became much much better. TheWhen I started playing this game, I didn't like it at all. Very well the gameplay was fun, the game mechanics were very well thought up, but the game didn't catch me. It didn't make me think about it all day, and it didn't make me eager to play more (like, for example, Bioshock Infinite did). However, after sadly playing the first three episodes, things quickly became much much better. The story finally became a bit clearer, and I got the idea I was actually chasing a goal now, instead of just shooting Taken and walking through levels in an ever darker night. After the game became interesting like that, I soon finished it. The ending was quite vague, but it did give a very good feeling (also because some parts of the game were exceptionally hard compared to the rest). And it appears that American Nightmare (which I bought it in a bundle with) explains the ending further and provides more backstory. The reason I give this a 9, is because of the really short game time. I finished the game on normal in 16 hours according to Steam, and to think that about a quarter of that is cutscenes, it doesn't really satisfy in that way. But when I look at the achievements for this game, I see reasons enough to do another, more exploring playthrough.… Expand
  56. kanpot2002
    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
  57. Klewer
    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.
  58. ausgebombt85
    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
  59. Buhadog
    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
  60. Spiralyguy
    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
  61. Ravenblood
    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.
  62. GBowles
    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
  63. frankielee
    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.
  64. jangers
    Jul 1, 2013
    9
    Great storyline is the main advantage of the game. Graphics and audio are standing at a high level and cut-scenes, dialogue, characters, and the scenery doing really good experience.
  65. deekybill
    Jan 5, 2014
    9
    First of all, Alan Wake really is worth the money. While it plays very much like a standard Third person Shooter, the concept behind the combat is brilliant and flawlessly executed, using light to destroy the 'dark armor' then use firearms to eliminate your enemies, the 'Taken', human entities coming to life from a novel Wake can't remember writing. If I were to explain the story, I wouldFirst of all, Alan Wake really is worth the money. While it plays very much like a standard Third person Shooter, the concept behind the combat is brilliant and flawlessly executed, using light to destroy the 'dark armor' then use firearms to eliminate your enemies, the 'Taken', human entities coming to life from a novel Wake can't remember writing. If I were to explain the story, I would be he all day, but one thing I can say is that Alan Wake is filled with convoluted plot twists. However, 2 complaints I have about the game are the awkward camera angles (because shrubbery can easily block your view during combat in the forest), and the steep difficulty curve in the first couple of chapters.… Expand
  66. SergeantSoz
    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
  67. AWG
    Jul 26, 2013
    9
    A great story, a set of interesting characters, great graphics, handy controls, Rose, lots of compelling challenges and fair rewards, well-balanced cut-scenes... Alan Wake is a complete and unregrettable gaming experience you'll start missing as soon as the credits fade out. 9/10 need moar Rose.
  68. noisyvagabond
    Jun 24, 2013
    9
    I really enjoyed my play through Alan Wake. While it certainly wasn't a perfect experience, it was certainly a unique one and a memorable one at that. As an avid reader of King (having read every book he's ever written) I definitely felt the homage paid to him was well done. For instance, Barry Wheeler is one of the best King characters he's never written. On the other hand, the mainI really enjoyed my play through Alan Wake. While it certainly wasn't a perfect experience, it was certainly a unique one and a memorable one at that. As an avid reader of King (having read every book he's ever written) I definitely felt the homage paid to him was well done. For instance, Barry Wheeler is one of the best King characters he's never written. On the other hand, the main character Alan Wake and his wife didn't really do anything for me (Alan seems like a whiny little crap, and his wife is more of the same which lead me to have no real feeling of motivation to save her, etc.) This however didn't spoil my enjoyment of the game. Amazing atmosphere, story, pacing, the gameplay elements while relatively simple kept me engaged enough to enjoy playing it, but the main reason I kept coming back day after day was the to progress the story. All in all, I say well done and look forward to playing through American Nightmare in hopes of more in this vein. While it was an intensely linear experience, games of this type will really only work that way IMHO and I feel had it been more open ended it would have damaged the story elements which required a more straight forward approach. So hats off to Remedy for keeping it original, very cool, thanks for the experience!… Expand
  69. braeden
    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
  70. elendiel7
    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
  71. parpabico
    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
  72. kixel
    Jul 13, 2013
    9
    I picked up this game on steam 90% off, thinking "even if it's bad, that's still a pretty damn good deal". And I was surprised how good this game is! I never played a ported game before, but I liked the controls, except the fact that you can't really walk straight (controller would solve this The graphics were just fine for a game from 2010, my PC handled it just great (HD 7870,I picked up this game on steam 90% off, thinking "even if it's bad, that's still a pretty damn good deal". And I was surprised how good this game is! I never played a ported game before, but I liked the controls, except the fact that you can't really walk straight (controller would solve this The graphics were just fine for a game from 2010, my PC handled it just great (HD 7870, eight-core, 12gigs RAM). The cinematics were catching, it was just like reading a good book or watching a good series, the playtime of 20 hours (the plain game, not the dlcs) made it worth the money. This game is worth the money and time. 9 outta 10!… Expand
  73. whitytity
    Jul 17, 2013
    9
    People get irritated with the smallest sorts of mechanics and believe that just that ruins the entire game. This game was positively new to me. Everything about it was new. I have never played such a game, and I have got to say that I loved Alan Wake the game. The fact that Alan talks during the game more exciting. I love when a character is fully animated to even speak during game play.
  74. lavalampjoe
    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.
  75. NecroMnemic
    Aug 26, 2013
    9
    A different experience that not everybody likes, but with manifold on games out there I'm glad that we still have... "different" games like Alan Wake. A truly enjoyable experience with an excellent story. Wish there would be more diverse enemies though.

    All in all I can just urge you to try it out.
  76. TheAtomicTofu
    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.
  77. Avalord
    Oct 23, 2017
    6
    It could have been great. Tense Atmosphere, great graphics. But they ruined it with two decisions:
    1. The game is way too difficult and 2. Those Savepoints are too far apart.
    If you want to experience a horror game and your following the story you just don't want to try the same segment again and again because you haven't got enough ammunition, or those safe lantern places keep    It could have been great. Tense Atmosphere, great graphics. But they ruined it with two decisions:
    1. The game is way too difficult and 2. Those Savepoints are too far apart.
    If you want to experience a horror game and your following the story you just don't want to try the same segment again and again because you haven't got enough ammunition, or those safe lantern places keep shattering their light bulbs in the last moment before you reach them, or yet another group of foes appear and so on.
    Just doesn't work: Tense storyline and dying over and over and having to repeat the same over and over!    … Expand
  78. Larmoth
    Oct 7, 2013
    9
    Awsome game. you have to dig through the first 15min but once you are in you cannot let it go anymore. I love it. Sometimes the camera is not my cup of tea but the overall experience is great.
  79. Mahdiar
    Dec 17, 2015
    8
    Gameplay : 8
    Graphics : 8
    Story : 8
    Sound : 8
    **********************************************************************************
    Overall : 8
  80. cheRRymonk
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    ...There's a long journey through the night back into the light...

    Pretty much this quote describes the story of Alan Wake as well as the main gameplay idea. Yes, the mystical storyline is what makes this game stand out from many others. Of course it's not the only advantage but is what makes you to lead through the repetitive gameplay to the end. No doubt, after finish of the story you    ...There's a long journey through the night back into the light...

    Pretty much this quote describes the story of Alan Wake as well as the main gameplay idea. Yes, the mystical storyline is what makes this game stand out from many others. Of course it's not the only advantage but is what makes you to lead through the repetitive gameplay to the end. No doubt, after finish of the story you will end up with a feeling of deja vu. The developers were definitely greatly inspired by mystical fictions and movies of past years, like Stephen King, Twin Peaks or even Twilight Zone. The result is a dramatic thriller flavored with mysticism.

    But as I said, the story is not the only good thing here. Remedy did a great job on recreating horror atmosphere. The major game time takes place in the night forest where your only weapon is a light and you have to keep off creatures of darkness. The creepy sounds in surrounding darkness and limited ammunition increases the level of suspense which makes you run to a savior town lights. You'll not want come back to the forest again...

    I highly recommend this game to those who like mystic and horror and as an example of a brilliant cinematographic game inspired by many aspects of horror literature.    … Expand
  81. DeusXCom
    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
  82. sengork
    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
  83. ThaKevMan
    Feb 10, 2014
    9
    This has to be one of the better games I've played in the past couple of years. The game mechanic of using light in various ways is quite unique, and works very well. The story isn't overly original, but the way in which it's told will draw you in and hold you `till the end. You can tell it is very inspired by Stephen King, and even mentions him once or twice in passing. The game feelsThis has to be one of the better games I've played in the past couple of years. The game mechanic of using light in various ways is quite unique, and works very well. The story isn't overly original, but the way in which it's told will draw you in and hold you `till the end. You can tell it is very inspired by Stephen King, and even mentions him once or twice in passing. The game feels like an interactive movie based on a Stephen King book, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Highly recommended for anyone who's a fan of the horror genre, whether it be games, books, or movies.… Expand
  84. RunicDragons
    Jan 31, 2014
    9
    At first I didn't know what to think about this game. The gameplay surprised me a bit, and to be honest, I thought to myself in the tutorials: "Is this it?"

    But I decided to keep on playing, and I'm glad I did. I got used to the gameplay and it became rather fun. But that's not where the strong point is in this game. What impressed me about Alan Wake is the story line and how the game    At first I didn't know what to think about this game. The gameplay surprised me a bit, and to be honest, I thought to myself in the tutorials: "Is this it?"

    But I decided to keep on playing, and I'm glad I did. I got used to the gameplay and it became rather fun. But that's not where the strong point is in this game.
    What impressed me about Alan Wake is the story line and how the game is set up. You're playing as a writer, and the game is played as if you were reading a book, or listening to an audio book. It has chapters, and even narration by Alan Wake so we can explore his thoughts and truly know how and what he feels.

    The ending didn't leave me wanting for more, but it sure was a confusing, yet climatic ending.
    All in all, Alan Wake has a great story line, and is in my opinion one of the best horror games I've played story wise.    … Expand
  85. Jamson
    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.
  86. Engineer1
    Sep 19, 2021
    10
    A very atmospheric and interesting game, I did not regret 50 hours to complete it, I recommend everyone to play this masterpiece at least once!
  87. krustbox
    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
  88. davskal
    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
  89. PublicNuisance
    May 19, 2021
    9
    Even after all these years Alan Wake holds up as an excellent game. It has a great formula to it where you have to break down an enemies shield with light before you can actually harm them as well as you being able to be healed by areas of bright light. It seems simple but it works well and there are a variety of weapons to use as well as different light sources to use. The game does aEven after all these years Alan Wake holds up as an excellent game. It has a great formula to it where you have to break down an enemies shield with light before you can actually harm them as well as you being able to be healed by areas of bright light. It seems simple but it works well and there are a variety of weapons to use as well as different light sources to use. The game does a great job of introducing various weapons and game play mechanics in a natural way. The story is top notch as is the voice acting and music. Remedy has always been fantastic at these elements and even if I didn’t know they made Alan Wake I would have guessed based on the music choices and voice acting talents used as they have Remedy’s finger prints all over them. The game has a great flow to it, trying to mimic a TV show with great success. The game also delivers side plot detail in creative ways such as TV shows being displayed on TV’s; finding pages of the manuscript you have written and listening to radio shows. There are driving segments and luckily they are pretty decent which, given that Remedy had never done any driving game play before, should be praised. The graphics are overall above average for it’s time but isn’t without fault. Object details in the world; water; lighting; trees and fog are all great. Clothing detail is a mixed bag. Face and car detail is decent. Ground detail is mediocre. Fire detail is poor. Remedy has always done little details well. In Max Payne they had footprints in the snow and shell casings on the ground where here in Alan Wake they have things such as used flares being on the ground after which is a nice little touch. There are a couple segments where you are alongside an AI companion while they fight off the “taken” coming after you and overall the segments aren’t bad but the aim of your companions sure are. One other bit I found odd was that when the dark presence controls somebody they speak in a very strange way almost as if they were in a drug induced haze but nobody in the game seems to notice this strange behaviour. There are some awesome moments of game play in Alan Wake that were very memorable. I’ll single one out: having to survive a swarm of taken on a music stage with rock music blaring as your buddy works the pyro effects and lights was simply awesome. The difficulty curve is handled well, often being challenging but never feeling sadistic.

    I played Alan Wake on Linux using Valve’s Proton. It crashed on me one time during game play. There are 3 AA settings; 4 AF settings; 2 SSAO settings; a v-sync toggle and 7 other graphics options. There is an FOV slider but there are no numbers on it. Performance was overall very good but there were a few dips below 60 at times. You can pause cut scenes but not skip them. Alt-Tab works. The game uses checkpoint saves. For the most part the spacing between them aren’t too bad but near the end some of them get annoying. Manual saves would have been my preference.

    Disk Space Used: 11.25 GB
    Game Version Played: 1.07.33.72514

    Settings Used: 8x AA; 16x AF; All High; max draw distance @ 1080P; v-sync on
    GPU Usage: 5-100 %
    VRAM Usage: 1127-1613 MB
    CPU Usage: 3-28 %
    RAM Usage: 2.9-3.7 GB
    Frame Rate: 47-144 FPS

    I thoroughly recommend Alan Wake. If you enjoyed the Max Payne games; Twin peaks; horror novels; or just enjoy a good mystery game then there is something here for you. I finished the game on normal difficulty in 11 hours and 19 minutes and the game doesn’t drag or rush. I paid $14.99 CAD for it years ago on GOG and paid $4.39 CAD for it on Steam. It is easily worth it’s current price tag of $17.49 CAD.

    My Score: 9/10
    My System:

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600X | 16GB DDR4-3000 CL15 | MSI RX 580 8GB Gaming X | Mesa 21.0.3 | Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500GB | Manjaro 21.0.3 | Mate 1.24.1 | Kernel 5.12.1-2-MANJARO | AOC G2460P 1920*1080 @ 144hz | Proton 6.3-4    … Expand
  90. gimus
    Dec 23, 2014
    9
    I enjoyed the game above all thanks to its story, horror atmosphere and very good playability, comfortable controls and pretty good graphics. Episodes could be shorter and there could be more of them. Saving of the game was not balanced, but it worked. The game is really treasure in thrilling story narration. I recommend to every person, who likes horrors and action.
  91. Tomle1202
    Nov 28, 2022
    8
    Alan Wake knew when to tell its captivating narrative for maximum suspense.
  92. ThePCGamer101
    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!
  93. InsaneCarduelis
    Sep 24, 2014
    9
    Story and climate is fantastic. No game was so interesting for me like this one. And the city ,,Bright Falls" is impressing. Beautifull place and it's have a good write history. And characters we meet aren't bored.
  94. jelikey
    Sep 10, 2015
    9
    I admit back when this first came out I was sucked in. Being a writer the idea of a world where a writer's own work appears to take on a life of it's own, however the story is far more complex than that.
  95. SuperkenGaming
    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
  96. Nerokin
    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
  97. DDilettante
    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
  98. VmsCritic
    May 24, 2020
    9
    Impressive atmosphere, storytelling. Feels like a book adaptated into a Movie you can actually play and sense everything thats happening, I can see now why Control is such an astonishing game, its basically a spiritual successor of Alan Wake but with steroids.
  99. Nuker
    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.
  100. karstenk
    Jul 23, 2023
    6
    A bit boring. The game repeats itself a lot, same enemies, same weapons, main story story starts great, but soon gets uninteresting, halfway through the game, I didn't really care how it would end, I just wished it would end soon.
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Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best PC Game of 2012
19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Gamer.nl
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Computer Games Online RO
    Apr 13, 2012
    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.
    Read full review
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Apr 5, 2012
    80
    "A gripping rollercoaster ride." - Stephen King. [Apr 2012, p.52]
    Read full review
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