Mind games

What struck out as really original was the way the game is slotted into six episodes with each edition ending at a cliffhanger that fades into the title screen. The blending of the six parts touches all aspects of the game.
An interesting aspect about the main antagonists in the game,also known as ‘The Taken’,is the fact that they are sensitive to light. As a result,light is used as a primary weapon to disable them. Another major element of game play is the discovery and collection of manuscripts,which describe scenes that are yet to occur. They act as a warning while at the same time providing instructions to proceed through the episodes. The twist is that the pages were written by Wake himself,something he can’t recall now. Make sure you explore and collect as many as possible to fully develop the story,as well as build tension as the game blurs truth and fiction.

The scenery and the crisp artwork wherein Bright Falls and its forested mountainous surroundings are masterfully realised and resonate with realism are also praiseworthy. Wake is a famous figure,all the townsfolk know each other,but they seems more concerned and excited over an upcoming town festival than they are with the dangers encroaching from all sides.
Locations are packed with detail and feel rusted and worn. Weeds choke the back of the police station,surrounding the carcass of a long forgotten vehicle. A recliner ringed with beer cans sits atop a construction container overlooking a brilliantly light-up power plant,reinforcing the idea that there isn’t a whole lot to do for fun around these parts. It gives the game a sense of place and purpose and makes sure it doesn’t appear like a copy-paste environment.

Wake’s arsenal isn’t gigantic,but everything’s useful. The first order of business in stopping anything taken by darkness is to hit it with light. Wake’s flashlight is the most direct method. Follow it up with a shot from a pistol,shotgun or hunting rifle and you’ve got a kill. Running away is frequently an option in the game,though limited in a few ways. Enemies are fast and often attack by swinging shovels and knives or by tossing axes. One needs to move quick to dodge the blows,but it also requires precise timing.

Combat progression culminates in a handful of thrilling sequences that I can’t really describe in detail here for fear of spoiling things. In open spaces enemies can attack from all angles,meaning you need to be constantly on guard and must shift the angle of the camera to get a good view. This also leads to one of the game’s issues,where it is easy to end up with the camera behind a tree or some other obstacle,obscuring the action.

There is a huge collection of product placements in the game which I found to be a little weird. I mean why would anyone advertise branded batteries and car radios,and in one particular television broadcast a number of roadside billboards are obvious eyesores. I suppose these were necessary to get the game out the door,but it’s still an unfortunate commercial blight on an otherwise excellent game.
Oh,and another factor was the really long storyline,but then the ending credits also give out a message stating that “Alan Wake’s Journey through the night will continue”.

The game might not be the next revolution,but it is pretty good. In fact,while I will still maintain that God of War 3 was my first choice,Alan Wake is not a bad option either. The fantasy world has a mystic charm associated with its twisting shadows and realities,and is solidly anchored in authenticity. Outstanding environmental design and some brilliant visuals and sound make Bright Falls and its mountainous surroundings look and feel alive. On the whole I’d give it a 4.5 on 5.