Sitting down to jot down this assessment makes us really feel a little 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, regardless that now we have 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 manner attainable. It is the sequel followers of the sequence have been ready over a decade for — but it surely’s additionally a lot extra.
We’re reintroduced to Shiny 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 Shiny Falls to research. The opening hours really feel like a traditional homicide thriller, hitting all of the hallmarks of the style with beautiful finesse. However 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 have been enthralled is placing it calmly. Whereas the 2010 authentic definitely has a pseudo-cult following, reignited with the Management/Alan Wake DLC again in 2020, Alan Wake 2 is on one other stage. Hell, it’s on a unique planet. Gone is the stilted narration for intriguing and purposeful dialogue — the alternating digicam 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.
One in every 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 by means of the Alan story earlier than moving 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 type, with Saga taking place the extra conventional horror route, and Alan choosing labyrinthine mazes of the thoughts. A lot to our shock, nevertheless, each related campaigns keep the identical stage of leisure. There’s by no means a uninteresting second or a “not one other considered one of these” segments, which have been common occurrences within the authentic sport.
But regardless of all of those modifications, Alan Wake 2 stays true to the sequence 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 environment 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 related 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 notably 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 each a set variety of gentle fees means you are much more battery aware as you delve deep into darkened areas. The brand new perspective definitely 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 excellent susceptible badass stability. The one minor disappointment is that the enemy selection has remained fairly just like our first outing in Shiny 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 just’re evaluating two various kinds of horror at that time
If we actually needed to deliver up some type of grievance in regards to the sport, it could 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 by means of ranges confused as to the place to go and what to do. With none goal markers, a number of the obligatory puzzles will 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 in need of 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 specifically 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 instances will actually make you perk up. Whether or not it’s switching to Saga’s case-cracking Thoughts Place, or fully altering the look of a stage immediately by rewriting its narrative, you’re continually 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 great job of highlighting these modifications with thuds and rumbles tying into the sound results and stage switches. It is not the most effective haptic performance we’ve ever felt, but it surely weaves into the expertise in a manner that amplifies it, slightly 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 attainable in its style. It’s a delight to relive traditional horror titles by means of fashionable remakes, however what Treatment has cooked up right here is one thing particular — a gust of contemporary air aiming to revitalise online game horror. There’s expansive lore and a twisting story that may not be for everybody, however the developer packs so many thrilling and distinctive concepts into this bold sequel that you may’t assist however play together with a nervous smile in your face. With beautiful visuals, pitch-perfect tone and environment, good pacing, and an interesting thriller to sink your enamel into, there are not any twists or turns about it: Alan Wake 2 is an all-timer.