Video Game Review: Alan Wake (2010)

Playing a game like Alan Wake is similar to watching your favorite TV drama series. It that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until the finish. It surprises, and rises above my expectations of the horror genre in gaming and stands as a big step forward from the generic 3rd person shooter. Alan Wake is a writer, and the entire game is narrated by Alan as he traverses dark forests and mountain vistas. The game is divided in an episodic format, always leaving you with a cliff hanger after the end of every chapter. The story is unique and  interesting, though it does give a few winks to classic movies like Nicholson's Shining or Hitchcock's birds (which is addressed up front.) The gameplay is exactly what I expected from a horror game, always making you feel desperate as you use a combination of your flashlight and firearms to dispatch enemies. This is a game that should not be missed by anyone who has a 360, and I can't wait to see how the franchise moves forward with this.

Score:

(4.5/5): Only an ambiguous ending and poor lip-syncing serve as minor blemishes to a game that delivers on detail, gameplay, and excellent writing (no pun intended.)