We were on the fence about whether to pick up Alan Wake, which seemed to get delayed almost as much as Duke Nukem Forever. We were already inclined to like it: We love us some survival horror and believe that (with rare exception) story is vital to great games - as long as it's integrated with the gameplay instead of tacked on as cut scenes.
So when the buzz about Alan Wake peaked a few weeks ago, we snagged a preorder of the limited edition - which has some of the best packaging we've seen that didn't involve a cat helmet!
The reality is that the game bears more resemblance to Indigo Prophecy than Remedy's prior hit, Max Payne. It's broken into episodes so it's almost an interactive lost season of Twin Peaks (complete with lumber and falling water!) blended with copious Stephen King references.
Where it falls down (so far) is the combat. No major spoilers, but after Episode 1 your enemies tend to overwhelm you - unless you develop strategies that go beyond the "blind then shoot" skill you quickly develop at the start:
- Refine your technique. If you blast enemies before giving them a good dose of flashlight, you'll waste ammo. Be sure to completely "burn away the darkness" as they say in the tutorial. Also don't forget you can quickly tap the X button to reload faster!
- Scour the area for ammo, but don't go too far afield. If the swirling fog gets really thick, it may mean you're headed off the main path and into an endless enemy spawn zone. Backtracking can also be dangerous for the same reason. Take it slow and be prepared to turn tail!
- Follow the yellow dot. Not sure which direction to head? There's a little yellow indicator on your health bar (or what's left of it) to lead the way.
- Look for light sources. These can heal and guide you to your next stop or at least an ammo supply. Generators can provide life-giving light, but you do need enough space to start them without being attacked.
- Save running for when you need it. You're a writer, not an athlete - so save your dash for a desperate escape. Or you could be gasping for breathe as an axe takes you out instead of reaching the next checkpoint.
- If you run out of ammo, run for it. Use your flashlight to slow down any pursuers, jump, dodge, but keep moving. In one spot in Episode 2, I ran out of ammo and had to dash across a bridge to a light source that went out just after I stepped under it! I found ammo nearby and defeated my last pursuer, and then restored the light with a generator I had missed in my haste. The next section was even worse, but I was able to blind and dash enemies long enough to reach safety - which led me to a new section and my new best friend, flares!
- Use flares! Once they're available, dropping flares clears out enemies - though only for a few seconds. Use 'em to hold off an onslought of foes while you pick them off from a safer distance, or drop one behind you as you dart to safety. Note that the flare gun is different from the flares you drop on the ground. Don't waste your time blasting them into the air to bring help. Instead, use them to take out big groups of enemies.
That ought to get you started. Our biggest complaint? The lack of a real sandbox to explore. The game is beautiful to look at, so of course you'll spend much of it running and dodging and blasting enemies instead of enjoying the lush scenery. Some vacation this turned out to be...
