When you assume Treatment Video games is strange, wait until you get a load of its episodic Alan Wake 2 DLC, Evening Springs. After blowing us away with its horror sequel – one of many only a few 10/10 video games of 2023 for us – we’ve been dying for some extra Treatment goodness. Now that it’s right here although, is Evening Springs as sharp and meta as the primary recreation? In so some ways, it’s, however expectation will possible be the largest killer of this content material providing.
Evening Springs is unfold throughout three episodes, all of which span about 40 minutes in size. It’s a brutally brief growth that is solely actually a difficulty as a result of they’re so rattling good. With every episode centred round particular characters from the primary recreation (and the broader Treatment Related Universe), all of them have distinctive flavours, every being a enjoyable exploration of the bizarre huge world of Alan Wake.
Whether or not it is a whimsical rescue mission as Alan’s primary fan, Rose Marigold, or a genre-hopping multiversal escapade because the precise actor Shawn Ashmor (who performs Tim Breaker within the base recreation), there’s slightly one thing for everybody right here — however it all serves to spotlight that Treatment is on the peak of its recreation proper now.
You may inform the Finnish developer is having enjoyable with this DLC. Defined throughout the spiralling lore as one of many many realities Alan writes to attempt to escape the Darkish Place, these aren’t integral subsequent steps within the franchise’s narrative, however alternatives to experiment with the format. As an alternative of bullet counting, it’ll provide you with a full auto shotgun as whimsical music tinkles away within the background. As an alternative of simply switching up your environment within the Darkish Place, it would actually swap recreation genres, the place one second you’re inching throughout an oppressive and extremely detailed forest, and the subsequent you are blasting your approach by way of a 16-bit side-scroller.
Gameplay-wise, these are comparatively easy, often taking up foes from the sport, or fixing the odd puzzle. There’s nothing fairly as encapsulating as the primary recreation, however we’d say this DLC is extra concerning the vibe than the content material.
Definitely, you may really feel that by way of its script, which may truly be extremely humorous. Generally it’ll throw gags at you just like the happy-go-lucky Rose having a totally stocked arsenal of weapons within the Oh Deer Diner. Others will see Sam Lake exhibiting up as soon as extra, this time as a model of himself directing a FMV online game. There’s an infinite sense of creativity on show, the place even in such a brief period of time, Treatment’s identification permeates by way of each side of the DLC. We had a smile on our face throughout all three episodes, as Treatment provides layer upon layer to its ever-expanding meta commentary.
However in fact, all of those episodes are brief lived and we’d be mendacity if we mentioned we weren’t longing for a little bit extra. Whereas episodes one and three each really feel contained and nearly so long as they should be, the second episode, that includes Jesse from Management, wants slightly one thing extra to essentially hammer it dwelling. What’s extra, should you’re hoping to see extra of the Alan Wake world, then you must know that Evening Springs reuses areas from the bottom recreation, albeit with some multiversal twists to them.
Conclusion
All in all, Evening Springs is a brief excuse to revel within the oddities of Alan Wake 2 and Treatment. Whether or not it’s comedic, horror-tinged, or genre-hopping, the developer is simply having a great deal of enjoyable with this DLC. We’d adore it to be slightly longer, or maybe even embody one other episode or two, however what’s here’s a reminder that Treatment is likely one of the most unique and distinctive builders within the recreation proper now.
