I won't say much, since most people know this is one of my favorite games of all time, but I've noticed one thing in common with everyone that didn't like Alan Wake. The people that didn't like it went in with pretty big expectations. I didn't read any reviews, only skimmed and looked at the scores so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.
While I will admit the combat isn't anything too special, it was a breath of fresh air. Not being able to shoot everything spot on, I enjoyed having to dodge them while the light took down their defenses. As for the ending, I thought it stood pretty well on it's own. I was satisfied enough to walk on, with them saying a season two would come out. I see the DLC just filling the gaps, just like Lair of the Shadowbroker and more supposed DLC that will fill the gap to ME3.
I can see why people didn't enjoy Alan Wake, but I do not believe it is a bad game at all.
While I will admit the combat isn't anything too special, it was a breath of fresh air. Not being able to shoot everything spot on, I enjoyed having to dodge them while the light took down their defenses. As for the ending, I thought it stood pretty well on it's own. I was satisfied enough to walk on, with them saying a season two would come out. I see the DLC just filling the gaps, just like Lair of the Shadowbroker and more supposed DLC that will fill the gap to ME3.
I can see why people didn't enjoy Alan Wake, but I do not believe it is a bad game at all.
My brief spectator experience with Alan Wake left me wholely underwhelmed by the game's atmosphere (which seemed to me was one of its more acclaimed traits). The whole monologue shtick struck me as preposterous - not only does Wake adore describing the obvious but he does so with such bland language for somebody rumoured to be a writer. If this is a jab at Stephen King, I can accept it. Given how wooden and sincere the characters felt, though, somehow I doubt it.
Now, there are just as many times when his monologue tells of off-screen events, adding significantly to in-game immediacy. This would be perfect if it weren't for the subsequent immersion-breaking fanfic-quality narrative.
Now, there are just as many times when his monologue tells of off-screen events, adding significantly to in-game immediacy. This would be perfect if it weren't for the subsequent immersion-breaking fanfic-quality narrative.
Also, good blog. The telling of your player-experience makes for a commentary I can relate to with so many games.
I'm playing throught the game now. It definitely feels like a chore, and the narration is horrible. Good blog.
Gotta agree with this one. As cool as all the stuff around the actual gameplay was, I just didn't want to play far into/past Chapter 3.
Spot on blog!
Spot on blog!
Ohh, spicy post! I agree with you that It was a waste of potential and that the repeated set-pieces got boring after a while. It seems that when it got close to the end the game caught the stereotypical-American-action movie flu. And itīs a shame because I hoped that the game would prove my prejudice wrong.My x-box died before i could finish it but I still get urges to fix my failbox just to finish it thanks to Stevilīs words about the game. Talking of Stevil I would like to see what he could conjure up to defend his dear friend Allan ;D
I gave you a fap Foxy, are you happy now?!
Yeah, I've defended this so many times, I can't be bothered any more. So, in instead I'll pick out the stuff I agree with here.
The fact is Remedy cut out tons of backstory for the characters because they wanted to plan this as a series. Unless you knew about that, it's really hard to forgive them for what seem to be odd lapses of non-information and "making shit up as they go along".
Now say you didn't know about that or you didn't collect the Nightmare manuscript pages, then as a player completely new to the experience, it's genuinely jarring to not know what everyone's motives. There's a whole backstory to Nightingale that never gets explored, which was very annoying when you couldn't figure out if he was someone Wake made up for Departure's theme or if he was a real alcoholic. Wake is alcoholic too, but even I don't understand why Remedy has two extremes in the story.
It's a little disheartening to know that Remedy really had this planned out over several games. You can have something in a TV style, but since it's from this forced perspective of one character, it's somewhat schizophrenic in it's approach. On one hand, you have the cliffhangers and revelations...on the other, you're only seeing it from Wake's view and you're in constant control. So now it's still a game, but one that's trying hard to convince you otherwise and it's obvious to see how that doesn't work.
I won't defend the narration though. It's either something you got a kick out of or it was jarring as hell.
Gameplay-wise, it's utterly repetitive. You get the same enemies because of the surroundings (no mutated bug monsters here) and while that's more realistic, it's hard to carry that approach all the way through. I think Episodes 3 & 4 are pretty damn weak and show up how this reliance of "real world" enemies and the contant woodland is detrimental. They should have introduced the words aspect earlier. It's fluid combat, but not exciting unfortunately.
No sandbox was a big disappointment for me. Deadly Premonition achieved it, so I'm not sure why Remedy couldn't have their daytime sequences do the same. We get one hint of what could have been in Episode 6 and then it's back to business and that grated on me.
So yeah, it's not a perfect game (what is?) and some of the narrative choices didn't work, but I think Wake's flawed characteristics and the theme of how writing can give you power (be it metaphorical or physical) were genuinely good ideas that didn't insult your intelligence. Just a shame they're hidden away under all those gameplay negatives.
As you would put it on the forums: Cool story, bro. ;)
Yeah, I've defended this so many times, I can't be bothered any more. So, in instead I'll pick out the stuff I agree with here.
The fact is Remedy cut out tons of backstory for the characters because they wanted to plan this as a series. Unless you knew about that, it's really hard to forgive them for what seem to be odd lapses of non-information and "making shit up as they go along".
Now say you didn't know about that or you didn't collect the Nightmare manuscript pages, then as a player completely new to the experience, it's genuinely jarring to not know what everyone's motives. There's a whole backstory to Nightingale that never gets explored, which was very annoying when you couldn't figure out if he was someone Wake made up for Departure's theme or if he was a real alcoholic. Wake is alcoholic too, but even I don't understand why Remedy has two extremes in the story.
It's a little disheartening to know that Remedy really had this planned out over several games. You can have something in a TV style, but since it's from this forced perspective of one character, it's somewhat schizophrenic in it's approach. On one hand, you have the cliffhangers and revelations...on the other, you're only seeing it from Wake's view and you're in constant control. So now it's still a game, but one that's trying hard to convince you otherwise and it's obvious to see how that doesn't work.
I won't defend the narration though. It's either something you got a kick out of or it was jarring as hell.
Gameplay-wise, it's utterly repetitive. You get the same enemies because of the surroundings (no mutated bug monsters here) and while that's more realistic, it's hard to carry that approach all the way through. I think Episodes 3 & 4 are pretty damn weak and show up how this reliance of "real world" enemies and the contant woodland is detrimental. They should have introduced the words aspect earlier. It's fluid combat, but not exciting unfortunately.
No sandbox was a big disappointment for me. Deadly Premonition achieved it, so I'm not sure why Remedy couldn't have their daytime sequences do the same. We get one hint of what could have been in Episode 6 and then it's back to business and that grated on me.
So yeah, it's not a perfect game (what is?) and some of the narrative choices didn't work, but I think Wake's flawed characteristics and the theme of how writing can give you power (be it metaphorical or physical) were genuinely good ideas that didn't insult your intelligence. Just a shame they're hidden away under all those gameplay negatives.
As you would put it on the forums: Cool story, bro. ;)
Like SuperMonk4Ever, I went into the game with few expectations. That seems to have been a good thing, since I enjoyed the game. Still, I would have prefered that Rememdy not go the DLC route. I got The Signal for free with my new copy, and I'm debating buying the other DLC because I do enjoy the game, but...
It really is underwhelming.
It really is underwhelming.
I did enjoy Alan Wake but I got to right near the end, took a break an never went back to it. The combat got really tiresome towards the end, but I did enjoy the story. What's probably more annoying was that I pre-ordered and got the first DLC episode with the game, but still felt no compulsion to play it.
@Necro: well, the topic of this month is basically Bitch about 2010. I actually found a lot to love in 2010, like Mass Effect 2.
I enjoyed Alan Wake, I thought personally that it's atmosphere and intense combat system pretty much made the game. The fact that it was pretty easy to die and that it wasn't always the best solution to stay and fight.
I will say Alan Wake's story is kind of a muddled mess at times. It wasn't until jumping back into the game via DLC and reading the Wikipedia page that I better understood some of the more underrepped characters motivations were. I just felt they tried to hard to stick to that King mantra Wake talks about at the beginning of the game that not everything needs an explination.
Plus I have to echo the sentiment that Alan Wake over stays it's welcome. This could be just another personal preference but I just don't think that what they had there while really good was enough to drag out the game for as long as they did.
That said though I really liked Alan Wake. I think it took purchasing it and playing the DLC 6 months later to appreciate fully what a good game it was. The DLC was superb too MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD: because it took place in Wakes mind and thus allowed them to play with the landscape as well as the situations in which Wake deals with the Taken.
I will say Alan Wake's story is kind of a muddled mess at times. It wasn't until jumping back into the game via DLC and reading the Wikipedia page that I better understood some of the more underrepped characters motivations were. I just felt they tried to hard to stick to that King mantra Wake talks about at the beginning of the game that not everything needs an explination.
Plus I have to echo the sentiment that Alan Wake over stays it's welcome. This could be just another personal preference but I just don't think that what they had there while really good was enough to drag out the game for as long as they did.
That said though I really liked Alan Wake. I think it took purchasing it and playing the DLC 6 months later to appreciate fully what a good game it was. The DLC was superb too MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD: because it took place in Wakes mind and thus allowed them to play with the landscape as well as the situations in which Wake deals with the Taken.
I'm trying not to read your entire review to avoid spoilers (I'm on CH3), but yeah, this game is insanely boring so far. I didn't even have any expectations about it. It just plain sucks. I might have to just stop and play Amnesia instead.
I liked Alan Wake because it was something new and it drew you in with atmosphere that was thick as honey and sucked you in...something most games forget to include (well, except Dead Space).
I went into Alan Wake with no expectations and came out really impressed. It really almost seems like the naysayers expected it to be the second coming of christ and when it wasn't "Game of the Decade" began to despise it.
I went into Alan Wake with no expectations and came out really impressed. It really almost seems like the naysayers expected it to be the second coming of christ and when it wasn't "Game of the Decade" began to despise it.
I really enjoyed my short time with Alan Wake, but after so many years in development it should have been more.
Say what you want about having great expectations, but after so many years of hearing how it was going to be the best thing since sliced bread, it should have better. I'd really like to know what the fuck the guys at Remedy were doing all that fucking time.
But again, I enjoyed it enough. Just wish it was better than what we got in the end.
Say what you want about having great expectations, but after so many years of hearing how it was going to be the best thing since sliced bread, it should have better. I'd really like to know what the fuck the guys at Remedy were doing all that fucking time.
But again, I enjoyed it enough. Just wish it was better than what we got in the end.
@ Jayson619: I can't wait until people spend 60 dollars on Twisted Metal for the PS3 and say the same shit when they realize it's the same game from the PS1 days and isn't even better looking than any AAA 360 games. Oh wait, nobody is going to say that because most of aren't morons or assholes.
What, you think every PS3 exclusive is really that awesome? Then you're fucking blind. Same goes for 360 exclusives. Want to know how to know for sure which ones suck and which don't? Buy both consoles. Stop pledging loyalty to a fucking plastic box filled with computer components. No matter how awesome those components may be on paper, they're only as good as the games people make on them.
And you'll notice that most games are on both consoles. Get a life, please.
What, you think every PS3 exclusive is really that awesome? Then you're fucking blind. Same goes for 360 exclusives. Want to know how to know for sure which ones suck and which don't? Buy both consoles. Stop pledging loyalty to a fucking plastic box filled with computer components. No matter how awesome those components may be on paper, they're only as good as the games people make on them.
And you'll notice that most games are on both consoles. Get a life, please.

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