Sitting down to write down this evaluation makes us really feel a bit like Alan Wake himself, tapping away at his typewriter within the Author’s Room. We’re not fairly certain the place the web page will take us, although we’ve a lot swirling round in our thoughts. That’s the impact of Alan Wake 2; a rip-roaring horror expertise from Treatment Leisure that innovates in nearly each means doable. It is the sequel followers of the collection have been ready over a decade for — but it surely’s additionally a lot extra.
We’re reintroduced to Vivid Falls, the quaint lakeside city from the primary sport, in brutal, bloody vogue. A ritualistic homicide has introduced FBI Agent Saga Anderson and her associate to Vivid Falls to research. The opening hours really feel like a basic homicide thriller, hitting all of the hallmarks of the style with gorgeous finesse. Nevertheless it actually doesn’t take lengthy for Treatment to do what Treatment does greatest: get bizarre.
This may begin from the very get for some, as Saga’s associate Alex Casey doesn’t simply share the title of Alan Wake’s hottest detective character, but additionally the likeness of Inventive Director Sam Lake. It’s the primary strand in an internet of the meta-mystery that the developer is spinning, that solely will get weirder and extra spectacular the deeper you get into its 15-20 hour marketing campaign.
To say that we had been enthralled is placing it frivolously. Whereas the 2010 unique actually has a pseudo-cult following, reignited with the Management/Alan Wake DLC again in 2020, Alan Wake 2 is on one other degree. Hell, it’s on a unique planet. Gone is the stilted narration for intriguing and purposeful dialogue — the alternating digital camera perspective is now swapped out for a Resident Evil-like third-person one — and whereas the unique was by no means actually a looker, Alan Wake 2 graphically trumps most video games on PS5 with ease.
Certainly one of our favorite enhancements, although, lies within the twin protagonists. At a sure level within the sport you’ll be able to select between missions as Alan or Saga. You may rinse via the Alan story earlier than stepping into Saga’s, or vice versa. We personally opted to alternate between the 2 after every Chapter, which resulted in flawless pacing. Every protagonist has their very own mission model, with Saga happening the extra conventional horror route, and Alan choosing labyrinthine mazes of the thoughts. A lot to our shock, nonetheless, each linked campaigns keep the identical degree of leisure. There’s by no means a boring second or a “not one other one in all these” segments, which had been common occurrences within the unique sport.
But regardless of all of those adjustments, Alan Wake 2 stays true to the collection with a novelistic aptitude to its storytelling. There are twists and turns aplenty, amplified by the returning episodic construction, bizarre facet characters each new and previous, and creeping doubts that’ll go away you questioning what’s actual. And that’s all wrapped up in an palpable ambiance that’ll go away you virtually smelling the damp forest pine of its setting.
We could not get sufficient of the story, which turns into all of the extra bold the additional it goes on. And because the third entry within the Treatment linked universe, followers of Management in addition to Alan Wake might be thrilled to see the 2 interweave — and in additional significant methods than we ever anticipated. There are moments of this story that left us with fullbody chills, and a few significantly creepy ranges that we’ll not quickly overlook.
All of that is aided by a streamlined gameplay expertise. You’re nonetheless tasked with dousing an enemy in gentle earlier than blasting their brains out, but it surely’s now a lot snappier. Ditching the rechargeable batteries from the unique and giving every one a set variety of gentle costs means you are much more battery acutely aware as you delve deep into darkened areas. The brand new perspective actually makes you’re feeling such as you’re within the trenches, so to talk, however along with your increasing weaponry and a level of techniques, fight maintains that good weak badass steadiness. The one minor disappointment is that the enemy selection has remained fairly just like our first outing in Vivid Falls. There’s by no means that spine-tingling feeling like if you first encounter a Licker in Resident Evil 2, though we might argue that you simply’re evaluating two various kinds of horror at that time
If we actually needed to carry up some sort of criticism concerning the sport, it will be the puzzles. Very often you’ll be discovering keys and codes to unlock gates and stashes. On the floor they’re pretty inoffensive, however greater than as soon as we discovered ourselves traipsing via ranges confused as to the place to go and what to do. With none goal markers, a number of the necessary puzzles may be frustratingly tedious, though the minimal HUD additionally amplifies the immersion.
Talking of immersion, we’ve acquired to speak about visuals and the masterful presentation that Treatment has conjured up right here. Whether or not you’re exploring the dense forests surrounding Cauldron Lake, or the nightmarish rendition of New York in The Darkish Place, the element and visible flare that Treatment has achieved is nothing wanting astounding. The sport bounces backwards and forwards between in-game cinematics and gameplay, and even full reside motion materials — generally on the similar time. The lighting particularly will go away you begging for a photograph mode (one thing Treatment has confirmed is coming post-launch). It’s arduous to think about a sport with unwavering route fairly like this.
What impresses much more, although, is how a lot of a technical feat Alan Wake 2 is. Whereas graphics are good, the non-existent loading occasions will actually make you perk up. Whether or not it’s switching to Saga’s case-cracking Thoughts Place, or totally altering the look of a degree right away by rewriting its narrative, you’re always reminded why this launch ditched last-gen. Whereas it’s not as flashy as Spider-Man 2’s quick journey transition, the moment switching of ranges continues to impress all the way in which to the very finish.
DualSense haptics additionally does a very good job of highlighting these adjustments with thuds and rumbles tying into the sound results and degree switches. It is not the perfect haptic performance we’ve ever felt, but it surely weaves into the expertise in a means that amplifies it, relatively than pulling your consideration away from it.
Conclusion
Like a thriller as soon as thought solved, Alan Wake 2 reopens the case for what’s doable in its style. It’s a delight to relive basic horror titles via fashionable remakes, however what Treatment has cooked up right here is one thing particular — a gust of recent air aiming to revitalise online game horror. There’s expansive lore and a twisting story which may not be for everybody, however the developer packs so many thrilling and distinctive concepts into this bold sequel that you would be able to’t assist however play together with a nervous smile in your face. With gorgeous visuals, pitch-perfect tone and ambiance, good pacing, and a captivating thriller to sink your tooth into, there are not any twists or turns about it: Alan Wake 2 is an all-timer.
