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Alan WakeShould i buy this?(35 posts)(35 posts)
(35 posts)
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Posted March 14, 2013
Hey!

I know this question gets asked a lot but there's no demo and i keep reading it gets a bit boring and monotonous and can be clunky plus it's a big download so i don't want to waste my bandwidth! Looking at the pick 5 to get American Nightmare as well so i'm trying to do some research before buying. :)

I'm a big fan of the horror/thriller genre (not the gory stuff!) and Stephen King books but i'm a bit confused by these mixed reviews it gets elsewhere so i've erred on the side of caution. I understand not everyone likes the same games and it looks pretty good from the videos but that's no substitute for actually playing the game.

I'm 99% sure i'll get it, suppose i can try it and if i don't like it trade American Nightmare i'm just looking for any reasons not to buy it as i have quite enough games already lol.

Thanks!
Posted March 14, 2013
Hello,

Back when there was a Blockbuster store near me, I rented it for xbox. I passed on buying it then because I couldn't turn off the hud.

When I saw it on GOG, I did some research and found that this version has an option to turn off the hud, so you can play it without anything on the screen except when absolutely necessary, which improves immersion.

There is a demo on xbox for American Nightmare though. I tried it, but it just didn't interest me as much as Alan Wake, even though it's similar.

Anyway, I have the GOG version of Alan Wake. I'm a fan of shooters, but Alan Wake isn't very fast paced and feels more like an interactive movie with action sequences. I've never been a fan of horror movies (they never seem scary or tense to me), but despite that I still found that this game got my heart pumping when a group of shadowy enemies would start rushing me, the battery on my flashlight would die, and I'd need to reload my gun.

I find the game entertaining, and that's coming from someone who prefers fast action games and finds most horror games and movies boring.

Remember, hit the enemies with the light boost until the shadows are cast off, THEN shoot.
Posted March 15, 2013
Get it. Don't doubt your self just get it. The controls are a little odd but that is part of the genre. All the classic horror games like Alone in the Dark, Silent Hill and Resident Evil, have controls that don't allow for precision. You are not some one-man-army jacked up space marine with years of combat experience and cybernetic enhancements, you are just a writer. This is basically "Stephen King: The Video Game." Anyone complaining about the control scheme, combat mechanics, weapon reload time an cut scenes has completely missed the point. I have played through Alan Wake several time because I enjoy the story. Even my wife stops what she is doing to watch me play because she finds the story line interesting, and she hate video games. Another point that players miss is that this is not a horror game, although the gameplay mechanics would be almost perfect if it were. Alan Wake is a story driven psychological thriller. If it makes you stop and think while being just a little creeped out, then you are playing it right. American Nightmare feels like it was made to appeal more to the action shooter crowd so it is much less suspenseful. I have only played through that one twice, so far.
Posted March 15, 2013
Thanks for the replies, appreciate the insight.

I think i'll get then both cause fight till dawn looks good. If i like Alan Wake i'll try AN, i was under the impression it was better but it gets pretty mixed reviews too.

My taste is pretty diverse but when it comes to games i like them to be immersive with a good story. Poorly done controls or mechanics can break a good game though which is why i was asking. :)

Also it's spent mostly in the dark running through the woods which looks like it could get a bit monotonous eventually! Anyway good that you can trade the games from the bundle, definitely makes the decision easier.

Cheers!
Posted March 15, 2013
That said the PC ports are REALLY good ports
Posted March 16, 2013
I was on the fence, the base game is awesome, i skipped American Nightmare... its one of the very few games i was compelled to play from start to finish... its rare a new game draws me in... i personally loved it.

worth it, actually now that im thinking about it i want to play it again ^_^
Posted March 16, 2013
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BananaJane: That said the PC ports are REALLY good ports
Yeah i read that. :)
Posted March 16, 2013
Im also thinking a lot bout getting the game, but I guess its too horrorish/scary and difficult for me...
Posted March 16, 2013
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Starkrun: I was on the fence, the base game is awesome, i skipped American Nightmare... its one of the very few games i was compelled to play from start to finish... its rare a new game draws me in... i personally loved it.

worth it, actually now that im thinking about it i want to play it again ^_^
Nice to hear. I can't decide whether i need 5 games right now, trying to work out what i could trade for. :)
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merow: Im also thinking a lot bout getting the game, but I guess its too horrorish/scary and difficult for me...
I read it's not really horror like dead space, more psychological thriller. It doesn't look scary from the gameplay videos, just tense. I've read it requires some dexterity though.
Post edited March 16, 2013 by electroflux
Posted March 17, 2013
It's not that difficult either, but it is a damn good game. I don't think I've played something with such a big smile on my face since Max Payne (the original before anyone asks/criticises)
Posted March 17, 2013
I've bought it for a full price and for the second time when it was released on GOG with 50% discount.
Not buying a game of this quality if you like atmospheric and thrilling games for such a low price wouldn't be very smart imo :) You should get it.
Posted March 17, 2013
So, I'm here to give some contra and say: No.

The story is very predictable, which destroys any kind of thrill there might be. Bonus points if you watched many horror movies. Even worse, the manuscript pages you can find are very spoiler-happy.
They easily tell you what happens during the next few hours in the game, like the death of supporting characters. Sometimes a few chapters before the actual death. Also, the villain of this story could have only been more obvious, if she'd carry a shield with her saying "I'm pure evil" or has it written on her forehead.
Easy way to avoid it: Don't read the manuscript pages untill you've finished the game.
And the main character? Easily one of the most unsympathic characters I had ever to endure. His only redeeming quality is his love for his wife. He treats everyone else like dirt, unless you're an authority figure like Sheriff Breaker.
A nice example, during one point he gets seperated from his sidekick Barry and has to wander through a wood, infected by the taken. Alan sees a car driving in his direction, he assumes it's Barry and then says something about the line that "Whatever Barry does, it's wrong and would hurt him in one way or another."
Let's check this, your in the woods, alone and the Taken are everywhere. Sure, getting a car to drive away is obviously a BAD thing and worse, your so called "best friend" comes to help you. How dares Barry to help you!
(It turns out, that wasn't Barry, only some poor guy who passed by.)
And that's only the tip of the iceberg. What Alan did to Rose is even worse. But this information is very spoiler heavy, so i won't tell you. Rose is an anoying fangirl, but she didn't deserve what happened to her. And I'm not talking about how Alan insults Rose behind her back.

Gameplay... eh... it works. The enemies are very smart and while you fight the taken in fronmt of you, two or more are sneaking up on you. But those fights turn out to be very boring.
i mean, there are two gameplay-sections. Day and Night.
During the day, you're talking for a short time to some characters.and maybe explore a little. Those segments are very short.
And then there are the Night Sequences, where you do nothing else but wander through different forest areas (some of them do look nice), while fighting an army of Taken. And that's basical all you do. Kill taken, walk to the next check point, kill more taken, survive a poltergeist, burn crows, kill more taken. Those segments are long, very long, and only few of them felt like they advanced the story.
Some events would have been much more enjoyable, if they werent so battle heavy or long. Each chapter is about one or two hours long, the majority made of Night sequences. And no riddles to be solved.
Posted March 17, 2013
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Externica: So, I'm here to give some contra and say: No.

The story is very predictable, which destroys any kind of thrill there might be. Bonus points if you watched many horror movies. Even worse, the manuscript pages you can find are very spoiler-happy.
They easily tell you what happens during the next few hours in the game, like the death of supporting characters. Sometimes a few chapters before the actual death. Also, the villain of this story could have only been more obvious, if she'd carry a shield with her saying "I'm pure evil" or has it written on her forehead.
Easy way to avoid it: Don't read the manuscript pages untill you've finished the game.
And the main character? Easily one of the most unsympathic characters I had ever to endure. His only redeeming quality is his love for his wife. He treats everyone else like dirt, unless you're an authority figure like Sheriff Breaker.
A nice example, during one point he gets seperated from his sidekick Barry and has to wander through a wood, infected by the taken. Alan sees a car driving in his direction, he assumes it's Barry and then says something about the line that "Whatever Barry does, it's wrong and would hurt him in one way or another."
Let's check this, your in the woods, alone and the Taken are everywhere. Sure, getting a car to drive away is obviously a BAD thing and worse, your so called "best friend" comes to help you. How dares Barry to help you!
(It turns out, that wasn't Barry, only some poor guy who passed by.)
And that's only the tip of the iceberg. What Alan did to Rose is even worse. But this information is very spoiler heavy, so i won't tell you. Rose is an anoying fangirl, but she didn't deserve what happened to her. And I'm not talking about how Alan insults Rose behind her back.

Gameplay... eh... it works. The enemies are very smart and while you fight the taken in fronmt of you, two or more are sneaking up on you. But those fights turn out to be very boring.
i mean, there are two gameplay-sections. Day and Night.
During the day, you're talking for a short time to some characters.and maybe explore a little. Those segments are very short.
And then there are the Night Sequences, where you do nothing else but wander through different forest areas (some of them do look nice), while fighting an army of Taken. And that's basical all you do. Kill taken, walk to the next check point, kill more taken, survive a poltergeist, burn crows, kill more taken. Those segments are long, very long, and only few of them felt like they advanced the story.
Some events would have been much more enjoyable, if they werent so battle heavy or long. Each chapter is about one or two hours long, the majority made of Night sequences. And no riddles to be solved.
You say that like it's a bad thing :)
Posted March 18, 2013
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Stevedog13: [ You say that like it's a bad thing :)
There are so many things I could say now... what should I take? Ah yes.
What part are you exactly refering to?
Posted March 19, 2013
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Stevedog13: [ You say that like it's a bad thing :)
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Externica: There are so many things I could say now... what should I take? Ah yes.
What part are you exactly refering to?
I didn't mind the story being as predictable as it was. I actually had a lot of fun playing the game again and picking up some of the more subtle clues about what what happening. I think that if the story relied on some surprise twist ending it would have little to no replay value. For me playing Alan Wake again and again is like rereading some of my favorite books. It's not about knowing what happens but about enjoying the journey through that story and world.

I like that Alan is not the typical videogame protagonist. He has his flaws and his insecurities. He is not someone that you would choose if you had the option. He is not a hero, but he's the best we got. I'm not sure what you are referring to with Rose. Alan was clearly annoyed by her but I don't think he actually caused her any specific harm. The end of the game doesn't turn out well for her, or for a lot of other people, but I don't put the blame on Alan. If anyone I blame Alice. :)

You say that the gameplay consists of running from checkpoint to checkpoint while killing things along the way. I agree, in fact just about every game I play is the same way. This game stands out in that you get much more exposition and character development than, say Doom. In fact I'd call it Interactive Exposition because you aren't just sitting there watching cut scenes. You have an active role to play in moving the story elements along. My biggest gripes were that the game was a bit on the easy side. I would rather have the health mechanics from American Nightmare, no bottomless ammo crates and flashlight batteries that don't magically recharge themselves.

I apologize if my quip came off as rude or smarmy. It's just that you found fault with the game with what I considered it's strengths.
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Alan WakeShould i buy this?(35 posts)(35 posts)
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