Xbox Series X|S Review Key Provided By Remedy Entertainment
Since the year 2010, if ever asked what my favorite game of all time was, I’d immediately say that Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake would be my choice. Between its twisty-turny narrative, dark setting, and innovative gameplay, it was so perfect.
That game was a true turning point for me as a young teen because it opened my eyes up to more narrative-driven games. I’d like to give it all of the credit for the taste and standards that I have for games as well as my love for writing.
You’d imagine my utter joy when I had heard that Remedy and Epic Games Publishing had come together in order to bring Alan Wake Remastered to players. All of the fantastic gameplay, story, and characters were preserved through the new 4K visuals it offered thus letting it live on even longer.
So, is Alan Wake Remastered enough to warrant a new playthrough for old fans or even a first playthrough for new ones? In short, yes, but be realistic in what you’re getting.
Gameplay
Returning to Bright Falls and taking control of Alan once more was such a fun and nostalgic time for me. We all have that game in the back of our minds that doesn’t seem to age poorly, keeping its fun gameplay and great graphics intact through the ages. For me, that was always Alan Wake and now it’s actually a reality.
Even over ten years since its release, this title’s gameplay has yet to be redone in any capacity. It’s still so innovative and fun to play. Aiming at the Taken enemies and draining their shields is just as heart-pounding as when I was 14 years old. Managing the flashlight’s battery level while dodging enemies is a multi-tasking nightmare but in a good way.
I also really love the fact that the game is pretty simple in its design and yet it never gets old. There aren’t unfitting skill trees, cosmetics, or upgradeable weapons. It’s all done with simplicity and grace, making the actual gameplay the star of the show. The game exudes confidence because of it. A lot of devs these days seem to focus too heavily on the erroneous aspects that make games have a sort of shallow variety. Sure, skill trees are good, but does the game really benefit from it?
Level design also holds up extremely well. I forgot just how long each of the game’s levels really are. Most feel like two or even three perfectly connected together. The non-linear aspects in the woods on foot or while driving around in vehicles are also something that I often forget when thinking of this game. There’s just so much to do!
One really cool aspect about Alan Wake, in general, is the fact that it was pretty ahead of its time. Using the episodic way of telling its story, it’s something we all see in the various series’ we binge on a weekly basis. It’s pretty interesting to think that you could binge-play Alan Wake in a day just like any other show.
Visuals
Visually, AWR does a fantastic job at bringing the game up to current-gen hardware. I wouldn’t go into this expecting to see something like The Last of Us: Part II or anything, but it does justify rebuying it if you already own the original or haven’t ever even played the game. Let’s be honest though, the original still holds up pretty well anyway.
Most noticeably, character models have been revamped with Alan’s face especially looking more like his model and less like a Halloween mask. I will say that sometimes emotions don’t come through very well and faces still tend to have a certain amount of derpiness to them every so often. At least they look cleaner and fresher though.
Environments and lighting are exactly what I had hoped to see. These two aspects are really what put that cherry on top of the sundae that is Alan Wake and I’m so happy to see them do it justice. These and the gameplay work together in order to make the experience seamless.
Replayability
Alan Wake Remastered offers players a lot of replayability. For one, there are a few new easter eggs thrown into some of the game’s levels aside from the manuscript pages and coffee thermoses already strewn about. There are also the two includes DLC chapters, The Signal, and The Writer which continue the story a bit and add more detail.
The game also features commentary which can be added as an overlay as you play the game. Not only is there an AWR commentary overlay but there’s also one that Xbox players may remember from the Alan Wake Limited Edition box set. Having two different commentary options is insanely cool as it’ll give you insight on how the devs felt then and how they feel now about this magnificent game they’ve made.
What It Could Have Done Better
This remaster suffers from a couple of small cinematic issues; during cinematics, the camera will jitter sometimes and you’ll often find that the audio and characters’ lips aren’t synced up.
Verdict
Alan Wake Remastered is a win not only for Remedy but for the long-time fans who’ve waited eagerly for something new for Alan. Between its pretty, new visuals, pitch-perfect gameplay, and fantastic additional benefits, this is a must-play for any gamers that love a good narrative and gameplay experience. This gives me high hopes for us to see more of Mr. Wake in the future.
