One would assume that video games which fall into the ‘thriller’ genre could potentially lack a capacity to thrill you. Alan Wake steps in as the latest psychological action thriller made especially for the Xbox 360, but will it manage to provide us with all the intentions that it’s promised? Continue reading and you’ll find out.
The story revolves around a character by the name of Alan Wake (duh!) who is a world renowned writer of thriller novels. After suffering from severe writers block, Alan and his other half set out on a getaway to Bright Falls, a town in the middle of nowhere in order for Alan to leave the chaos of New York City behind him. However his little retreat is not as pleasant as he thought it would be as Bright Falls is no ordinary town. Filled with mystery and unusual events, Alan’s task is to conquer the darkness and unravel the truth. This is hands-down a brilliantly told, intricate and thrilling story which will keep you wanting more. It unfolds in episodes which are done similarly to a TV series with the well known “last time on…” This adds to the great cinematic experience the game has to offer. The voice acting is top notch and enhances the experience as the events are made more believable through the characters.
Alan Wake is not your conventional third person title. Its gameplay is not only incredibly unique but also makes for an interesting play. The light is your best bud in the game as you will have to use it in order to defeat your dark enemies. By flashing light on an enemy, you’ll break down their dark aura and allow for bullets to hit them. Light can be found from flairs, torches and other items in your arsenal. Collecting ammo will not be your only concern as you’ll also find yourself searching for batteries to power up your torch. This adds to the tension as you’ll have to ensure and maintain your stock on ammo and batteries. When it’s not melting faces, the torch can also be used to discover hidden treasures around the environments. For the slow-mo fans, there are also some slow-mo bits which occur as you dodge enemy attacks. In order to add variation there are also a few daytime sequences as well as some driving sequences. The gameplay makes for an immersive experience as you’ll find yourself in some action packed yet scary sequences which will give you goosebumps as you flee from your enemies.
The visuals in Alan Wake are truly impressive. The first aspect which will be noticed immediately is the great dynamic lighting that the game has to offer. The light in the game changes based on the source which is emitting the light, and so the light from flares will offer a glaring light as opposed to street lamps which offer a brilliant white light. The appearance of the light also varies from your positioning in relation to it. In short – it’s nothing but incredible. The environments are put together really well and enhance the creepy atmosphere which the game has to offer. To add to the experience the game also benefits from great sound effects as well as a solid soundtrack.
Overall Alan Wake is a truly unique and incredible game. It boasts a thrilling and compelling story, as well entertaining and unique gameplay. Its incredible lighting, solid visuals and great sound create a beautiful and intense atmosphere which will keep you glued to your screen right until the end. So pick up your flare gun, charge your torch and get ready for this top notch psychological thriller.
