In our Alan Wake 2 review content, we look at a sequel that was released 13 years after the original game, where the generation of players changed, the previous production was forgotten.
Remedy is not a company very far from us. We also know him well from the games Quantum Break and Control. Let’s see how well the company, which decided to release Alan Wake 2 after two successful productions, succeeded in doing so. Alan Wake 2 review We take a closer look at the game in our content.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Alan Wake 2 is a production that will leave a lasting impression on players, cause divisive reactions, and is sure to be talked about a lot. It met with players on PC (only on Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms on October 27, 2023. We had the opportunity to experience the game on PC.
Alan Wake is an action-adventure production with a psychological thriller theme. Known for its atmospheric and cinematic narrative, this game with horror/thriller elements aims to offer players a realistic story. It should be noted how intensely and impressively Alan Wake 2 dives into the horror-thriller genre. It’s brimming with chilling sound effects and implied frightening elements. This work, which gives its players a constant feeling of tension and pressure, drags you into a deeply affecting experience.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Most of the game gives the player no choice but to watch the events on the screen and connect with the fluctuations in the main character’s inner world. It is full of deeply narrative scenes where the player will simply follow the emotional and psychological transitions of the protagonist.
Story
The story follows the exchanges of characters Saga Anderson and Alan Wake, who are seemingly at opposite ends of the spectrum and live in different places, but somehow find themselves sharing something far beyond human imagination.
While Saga investigates a strange ritual murder case, it couldn’t be any other way as Alan is lost, lost, perhaps trapped in a dimension that cannot be defined as earthly.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Alan Wake 2 opens with a completely unexpected prologue that we won’t reveal to you; This incident begins the investigation stages of the FBI agent, who is known for solving impossible cases. In the first part, discovery, research and investigation sections are dominant. It suggests that the development of the adventure can maintain this tone for a long time. However, Alan Wake 2 is not a game that follows the rules. It is not possible to predict what may happen in the future.
Struggling with a strange cult and paranormal events, Saga’s story begins when the writer dives into the surreal changes of the author who is imprisoned in a placeless place. Moreover, our author is someone who has the power to change reality, where real, imaginary or events reflected by his mind branch out.
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While it may seem complex to grasp, the skill and care in the writing ensures that every surreal, fantastical and horrifying element is made plausible and clear, displaying an underlying consistency and commitment to literary suggestion that only Control has previously encountered. But Alan Wake 2 goes even further, because each episode represents a constant surprise.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Mechanics
In some ways, Alan Wake 2 was the ideal meeting point of Remedy’s previous productions. The entire play is shot with real actors interrupting the action and forcing us to watch classic footage. On the other hand, the part of the game that really arouses admiration is the mechanics of overlap between live action and other in-game sequences, which Remedy tried with Control and which became the founding aesthetic and artistic note of the entire work in Alan Wake 2.
Fine details that suddenly appear and give you chills present a continuous transition at the intersection of different realities. This enriches your exploration experience with the intertwining of different environments, prevents distraction and creates an atmosphere of constant tension.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
You don’t need to be familiar with the first game to play AW2. There is no relationship between the two games that will directly affect your experience. But the fact that Sam Lake took over the directorship of Alan Wake 2 after contributing as a writer to Max Payne shows what a deep and impressive story you have before you. Even if you haven’t played the previous game, this narrative will grip you.
Game Design
With a conscious choice, Alan Wake 2 transforms its genre into a true survival horror experience. Reminiscent of a modern Resident Evil remake, this structure offers deliberate and thoughtful design. The game masterfully establishes the atmosphere of horror with the prior knowledge of an experienced player about the genre. The third-person perspective, limited resources and cleverly designed puzzles are presented naturally within a familiar gameplay structure, similar to Wake’s mastery of literature.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
The entire story of Saga involves several stages in the so-called Mind Palace, a fiction where deductions are necessary to advance the cause. In Alan Wake 2, this process is automatic, you will just have to proceed through trial and error to always have the missing piece without any problems. But you don’t have to rebuild a story from scratch or piece together clues to create a possible solution by arranging pieces that might mislead you. You can also improve your weapons and skills in this mind palace.
Another mechanic is the ability to radically change the properties of a particular section. However, to use this feature you need some special written clues found in Alan’s Mental Palace. These clues represent your physical location on a postcard in your hand and indicate alternative dimensions in which you need to move.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Inadequacies in Gameplay
After explaining the basic structure of Alan Wake 2, it is necessary to underline some of the limitations of the gameplay. First of all, it is necessary to draw attention to the imbalance between story and gameplay in modern video games in general. Many of the game’s interactions and mechanics feel like they’re there to fill the gap between two story chapters, rather than supporting the story. Unfortunately, these transitions are inadequate in terms of diversity.
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Not only is the enemy variety inadequate, but even the boss encounters, where the story progresses dramatically, do not provide a truly satisfying feeling of conflict due to the game dynamics generally focused on preventing the enemy from getting close throughout the journey presented to us. Trying to avoid close contact while avoiding limited projectile attacks from a distance becomes a dominant strategy.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Enemies usually run towards you and attack. The mechanics of weakening enemies’ armor using torches and firearms can become monotonous due to slow progress. However, despite all the negativities, the Metroidvania-style mechanics we are familiar with from Remedy’s Control game appear in Alan Wake 2. This strengthens the exploration element. You have to return frequently to open blocked doors and passages. You also need to focus on the many secondary objects that need to be collected to ensure 100% completion of the game.
There is a similar situation regarding weapons; Although there are clear differences between the two main characters, the shooting options we can use are limited and simple. More generally, the monotony of the conflicts, especially in the forest scenes, contrasts with the game’s gripping story.
Alan Wake 2 review / PC
Conclusion
Alan Wake 2 is a game that you may look at with a little skepticism at first, but as you get used to it, it will draw you in and slowly start to involve you even more. However, it is overshadowed by some of the graphical and technical issues (such as the game crashing when the screen changes) we encountered during our testing. Although we believe that especially technical problems can be resolved in a short time, we are not sure what can be done about the inadequacies as mentioned above.
Still, it is among the productions that horror game lovers should not miss, especially before Halloween. Yes, it will not be the game of the year, but it guarantees that you will have an enjoyable time.