Alan Wake review

Here's my Alan Wake review from Friday's Irish Times...

Stephen King once wrote that nightmares exist outside of logic. Alan Wake would agree. Initially relaxing in the scenic and remote Bright Falls, he soon finds himself confronting demons (both internal and external) in a horrific, dizzying search for the truth. Before he’s even put down his bags in a lakeside cabin, his wife has mysteriously disappeared. Soon afterwards, he’s recovering from a car wreck with no recollection of recent events. What’s happening?

The oddball locals range from aging rock musicians, to a cordial radio host to a creepy psychiatrist, but they’re the least of his worries. As Alan wanders through the forests and old buildings of Bright Falls, he’s regularly set upon by shadowy figures, ghostly manifestations of people possessed by a mysterious darkness.


Although this third-person survival horror has elements of games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, most of its influences are from popular culture. Like Stephen King, Wake is a famous author, and King’s work is suggested in much of Wake’s journey: the possessed vehicles from Christine and Maximum Overdrive, the hedge maze from the Shining and even the Maine-like setting of Bright Falls. Horror fans might also have fun spotting the tributes to The Birds and two Tobe Hooper classics, Poltergeist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

It’s a game that invites the player to engage with it on a number of levels. For those who just like to run around and shoot, the use of light to combat assailants is inventive and fun: You shine torches in their shadowy faces or blind them with flares and flash bombs, before unloading a revolver or rifle in their direction.

However, those seeking a compelling story will also be satisfied: It’s a lovingly crafted game, with a plenty of context and information for those willing to seek it. The manuscript pages found throughout give depth to forthcoming and past scenes, as do the radio shows and episodes of the creepy Twilight Zone-style TV show, Night Springs. The playful and funny episode recaps (“previously on Alan Wake”) are also a nice touch.

Complimenting the action and narrative are a great music score and wonderfully creepy sound design (all howling winds and distorted voices). It also looks great, with an imaginative use of light and shade, making the darkness practically a character in itself.

For such an accomplished game it feels churlish to complain about its flaws, but it should be mentioned that the combat is slightly repetitive, and the characters’ faces could be more expressive.

Still, minor reservations aside, Alan Wake is a tremendous achievement: a great central plot, plenty of atmosphere and inventive game-play. One of the best games I’ve played so far this year.