Review: Alan Wake

Alan Wake is a game that has had a long development cycle since it was announced back in 2005 at E3 and had been in the planning stages as early as 2001. Many wondered if this game was ever going to be released. Well, the wait is over and does the Xbox 360 exclusive deliver on the promises and hype?

The answer is yes it delivers in every way. Alan Wake is a survival horror third-person shooter psychological thriller. The story follows suspense-thriller writer Alan Wake in uncovering the mystery behind the disappearance of his wife while on vacation in idyllic small-town Bright Falls, and having to deal with blackouts and visions of characters and ideas from his latest novel which he hasn't written yet, coming to life. The story plays in an episodic format, with a television show-style presentation where each episode/chapter brings another piece to the puzzle of the main plot amongst the mystery. The game is paced very well and delivers a complete experience with a chilling storyline.

The gameplay is an action game with light playing a significant role in gameplay. The enemies called "the Taken" are sensitive to light that encourage the player to take advantage of environmental light sources and place significant emphasis on the flashlight as a primary weapon. You will use you flashlight as your main weapon to defeat the darkness that surrounds "the Taken" along with standard weapons such as shotguns, flare guns, and rifles.

The graphics are simply amazing from the very detailed environment of Bright Falls to the weather, architecture, vegetation, and lighting effects are used very properly to create a stunning atmosphere. This game needs to be played in HD to see the true look of the visuals. The sound is just as impressive and if played in surround sound the effects will really engage you in story and environment around you.

Pros:

-Graphics look amazing, very detailed
-Great story, characters
-Impressive soundtrack sets perfect mood
-Combat mechanics always made you feel a threat coming

Cons:

-Slightly repetitive
-Very little replay (8-10 hrs.) game length
-Facial Animations

Overall, Alan Wake is an incredible game with a great cast of characters, story, and a fulfilling and satisfying game experience. The scary atmosphere and story kept me on the edge the whole time. Also, with new episodes coming soon as downloadable content you will keep coming back for more. If you are looking for a survival horror action game this is the game to play. I would recommend a buy especially if you own an Xbox 360. Remedy Entertainment has really outdone themselves and Alan Wake has become one of the most impressive games of 2010.

9/10