Alan Wake's American Nightmare

Overall, American Nightmare is a great follow-up to Alan Wake. While the script lacks real depth and tension, the gameplay makes up for it and there is enjoyment to be taken fcrom it. If you're an Alan Wake fan, this will certainly tickle your fancy until a full sequel releases.

This is a solid entry in the expanding repertoire of Alan Wake and keeps players interested in what lies ahead.

The story is very shallow but even more disappointing is the fact that the Arcade Action mode is single player only while it seems perfect for co-op. [April 2012, p.58]

A very good brand-expansion that relies heavily on its combat. However, it ignores the main virtues of the brand itself such as: atmosphere, suspense, fear and a classic horror story. It's working, it's entertaining, true, but one can't help thinking the game has been rushed out.

There is not enough games that tend to smuggle some deeper content under the guise of entertainment. Alan Wake is one of the few. Alan Wake's American Nightmare isn't even trying to be in the same league. It's just a fun little game that allows you to shoot monsters.

This is a game for the fans, featuring an appreciative amount of exposition even if it's fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

While it doesn't achieve much with the plot or its core concept, Alan Wake's American Nightmare offers an interesting-enough time-loop scenario with satisfying combat, and it knows when to end before it wears out its welcome. I definitely enjoyed my time with the game in a tactile sense, but I could never get over the nagging feeling that the series still has quite a way to go before reaching its full potential.

Alan Wake's American Nightmare attempts to be a good downloadable game that is near the production values of the original retail game. Remedy has made a great effort to compose a good production, able to shine. However, it loses much of the exploration and terror of the original and focuses on action, which may dissapoint the followers of the first game, although as an action game it achieves to deliver.

Elements of the Wake story from the unresolved ending of the first game are touched on throughout the story. You'll leave this more knowledgeable, but not doubting that there will be more Alan Wake to come.

The story mode is slightly worse than expected, but Arcade Action alone makes this a worthy purchase.

Strange in that it straddles the line between traditional DLC and a stand-alone game. While it's not a direct continuation of the original's story, fans of the first game may find some value in reading through as many manuscript pages as possible, though the lack of any real answers may also be frustrating. On the flip side, those new to the franchise might feel lost, thanks to the surprising absence of any backstory or exposition.

Alan Wake's American Nightmare shows that there is still much to tell about Alan Wake, the character. It's a good glimpse of what may come in the future, and I hope that goes beyond Night Springs episodes for XBLA.

The character himself simply feels more at home in this shorter, punchier, less laboured and self-regarding form. Freed from the weight of expectation that accompanies a full retail release in this genre, the experience - while lacking the set-piece spectacle and spookiness of the original - is less forced and more comfortably pitched.

Rich in visual atmosphere but sabotaged by dry writing and yawn-stifling fetch quests. [Apr 2012, p.83]

It's sadly spoilt by a lack of content and too much repetition. [Issue#83, p.98]

Despite the interesting arcade twist, four hours of gameplay and the inevitable Horde Mode are not enough for 1200 Microsoft Points.

Fumbles by stretching what little story it does have much too far.

It's a pity that Remedy seems intent on making you eat your soggy story vegetables before tucking into American Nightmare's only real confection.

Feels like a deconstruction of the first game. The atmospheric plot and tense action segments have each been given their own separate treatments through the story and arcade modes. When at their best, both modes surpass the original in their respective areas, but as a whole their separation doesn't work in American Nightmare's favor.

The elementary combat system is entertaining, but ultimately overshadowed by a hopelessly contrived plot. Mr Scratch's presence could have been something special, and it's regrettable that his performance is throwaway. As with the rest of the game, a lack of cohesion and clear thought from Remedy ensures American Nightmare feels like a missed opportunity.

Judged as an Xbox Live Arcade game, American Nightmare has the production values but the novelty soon quickly wears off. [Issue#120, p.105]

Alan Wake is at its best when it is tense yet manageable. Those moments when you know you have little ammo but can strategically take out a group of baddies with the right timing are absolutely incredible. Sadly those moments don't pop up often in American Nightmare and the story dies out pretty quickly which was the original game's saving grace. I can't speak for every fan of Alan Wake but it was the story and atmosphere that pulled me in like darkness did to Wake, without those being exciting the gun-play does little to hold my interest.