⭐⭐⭐½
I recently embarked on a journey into the mysterious world of “Alan Wake (Remastered)”, eager to unravel the narrative that set the stage for the highly recommended sequel, Alan Wake 2. While the game offered a mix of enjoyment and frustration, it left me with mixed feelings as I ventured through the enigmatic landscape.
However, my enjoyment was occasionally hindered by the game’s subpar sound mixing and frustrating moments that I felt I couldn’t hear or understand without the need to turn on subtitles. At times, the dialogue struggled to rise above the background noise and music, leading to moments of missed details crucial to the narrative. This auditory imbalance detracted from the immersive experience the game could and should have delivered.
The narrative, although intriguing, suffered from confusing story pacing. The task of locating manuscript pages introduced an element of unpredictability, with pages sometimes discovered out of order. This unintentional non-linearity occasionally caused confusion or, on the contrary, provided glimpses into future plot points, acting as both a spoiler and a foreshadowing tool – so not all bad.
Inconsistencies in controls added another layer of complexity to the gameplay, especially during combat scenarios. The delayed trigger or inability to dodge, for example, occasionally overshadowed the otherwise manageable combat challenges. While the combat itself was repetitive, it didn’t pose a significant hurdle, allowing for a reasonable progression through the game.
The writing, however, left much to be desired. What could have been an extraordinary story was marred by subpar execution, leaving me yearning for a more polished narrative. The potential for greatness was right there within their reach, but the final product fell short of expectations.
I feel I have to mention that locating the DLC levels proved to be a puzzle in itself. Hidden within the depths of the “episodes” sub-menu, the additional content wasn’t obvious and I only found them by searching on Google. Hopefully, this helps you not have to do the same search. For what it’s worth, I found the DLC levels to be just as good if not better than the base game.
Despite its flaws, “Alan Wake (Remastered)” succeeded in hyping me up to play Alan Wake 2. The potential for improvement and the promise of a captivating continuation of the story has left me eager to see how the franchise evolves.
“Alan Wake (Remastered)” is a rollercoaster of light and shadows, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by technical hiccups and narrative shortcomings. It sets the stage for what I hear is a remarkable sequel, making it a worthwhile journey for fans of atmospheric storytelling and psychological thrills.
