Review: Alan Wake – 'Cos This is Thriller

Dark shadows have a way of hiding the truth. For a game as moody and dark as Remedy’s Alan Wake, this could be more the case about the game rather than its proposed story. Alan Wake was announced over two years ago and has been long rumored as Microsoft’s big psychological thriller. Many considered the game’s rich vistas and non-linear plot style a direct competitor to Sony’s thriller Heavy Rain. However Alan Wake doesn’t quite break through to the other side. It plays fine and in many ways is quite competent but it will never escape the shadows of its hype, which is unfortunate because if you take away all preconceived notions, the game is very good. It’s funny how the mind can play tricks on you.

Let’s get this out of the way right now - Alan Wake plays out like a Stephen King novel from start to finish. Although it’s not as long, you will recognize the north-woods setting and paranormal antagonists right away. Wake’s tangled memoir will keep you on your toes and it should get points for being ambitious in its storyline.

The core mechanics are well thought out and fun. Using your flashlight to dispel the dark shields of the supernatural, then of course blasting them with any number of firearms, the combat feels satisfying. It has the ability to build tense moments, trying to see in the dark and using the dynamic lighting effects to suss out your foes. Ammo rationing also plays an important role in the game. There is a good deal of survival horror in Alan Wake, which counts as another strength.

Where the game falls short is in the dialog. Sometimes cringe worthy and always cheesy, Alan Wake’s writers just don’t know how to make the characters convincing. What’s more irksome is that the facial animations are a little stiff. I will admit some of the outdoor environments are good looking enough to satisfy but it’s a clash to me when the characters don’t feel so lifelike. At times Alan Wake feels like a first gen Xbox 360 game and at other times it boasts its 2010 birthright. There are also camera issues and for a game that takes place in the dark, I cannot forgive so easily when it’s hard to frame the action.

I like Alan Wake, but I wish it had more of an edge. It may surprise those who’ve been living under a rock for the last few years but it won’t change the industry as many had hoped. It just goes to show, inventive marketing and long development rumors can cast shadows on good games.