GAME REVIEW – Alan Wake 2 (PlayStation 5)

By Marty Mulrooney

Alan Wake 2 (stylised as Alan Wake II) is a third-person survival horror game developed by Remedy Entertainment (Quantum Break, Control, Alan Wake Remastered) and published by Epic Games Publishing. A sequel to the original Alan Wake 13 years in the making, this digital-only release set high expectations when it was finally announced at The Game Awards in 2021. On 27th October 2023, gamers around the world were finally able to continue their fight against the Dark Presence… and the end result was unexpected, to say the least.

For a long time, it seemed like Alan Wake 2 would never happen, despite Alan Wake selling over three million copies. A video shared online in 2015 – of a working prototype created five years earlier – showed a sequel remarkably similar to its predecessor. Thank goodness that sequel never happened, as 2023’s Alan Wake 2 undoubtedly benefited from the long gap between instalments and major advancements in game-making technology.

It helps that Remedy has grown exponentially as a studio, with Alan Wake 2 incorporating some of the best bits from Quantum Break and Control while slowing down the frantic action of the original Alan Wake to dive headfirst into the survival horror genre. What at first looks like a fine take on the gameplay loop perfected by the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes soon becomes wholly unique and unlike anything else out there.

Players eager to step back into Alan Wake’s shoes in the Dark Place – where he has been trapped since 2010 – will need to wait a little bit longer. After a visceral opening sequence that sets the tone and won’t be spoiled here, players take control of a new character: FBI agent Saga Anderson. She arrives with her partner in the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls to investigate a string of ritualistic murders, committed by faceless killers wearing dear masks – and what’s more, she seems excited by the prospect.

Walking through the woods surrounding Cauldron Lake to access the opening crime scene is unnerving, even in daylight. Alan Wake 2 might be running at a sub-4K resolution that is then boosted using a temporal upscaling solution, but even when playing in performance mode on PlayStation 5 – which targets 60fps and mostly hits that target – it looks truly incredible. The level of detail shown on screen approaches photorealism, fully transporting the player into a dark and dangerous world that is part True Detective, part X-Files – and 100% Alan Wake.

Well, 50% Alan Wake (technically). The story is split between Saga and Alan, and it really does feel like two whole campaigns have been included here. Furthermore, while both storylines feature intense combat and extensive inventory/resource management, they feel very different tonally. Saga faces off against human enemies (mostly cult members) that have been taken over by the Dark Presence (with the occasional wolf thrown in for good measure), whereas Wake tends to face shadow enemies that will only become solid once he’s caught their attention.

Both characters will need to use their flashlight to remove the darkness from enemies before traditional weapons will hurt them, making batteries as much of a vital resource as bullets. There is also a dodge mechanic that is essential to avoid taking damage. Combat is sporadic, yet the threat of danger is always present; it’s the right approach, as when combat does happen it requires quick thinking and the ability to stay calm under pressure. The boss fights up the ante by requiring brains as well as brawn, with Remedy taking the time to build anticipation and genuine fear beforehand.

The combat hits hard then, but most of the game is actually spent piecing together the narrative and exploring the various real-world and Dark Place environments. Highlights include the abandoned Coffee World theme park and a deserted New York cinema, with both characters able to instantly jump to a mental area where they can collect their thoughts. For Saga this is the Mind Place, where she can use an investigation board to keep track of clues and make deductions, while for Alan it’s the Writer’s Room, where he can use plot threads to rewrite reality.

It’s a testament to its engaging narrative and satisfying gameplay loop that Alan Wake 2 is chock-full of collectables but never feels bogged down by them. Exploration is half the fun, and finding the various secrets spread throughout the game world(s) always rewards the player in the form of additional lore, new abilities and valuable resources. I have never been particularly bothered about collecting PlayStation trophies, but I was delighted when the end credits rolled – after roughly 32 hours – and I unlocked the Platinum trophy. At last, a game where doing everything possible is its own reward.

The term ‘interactive film’ comes with certain negative connotations, but Alan Wake 2 comes closer to blurring the line between films and video games than any other release before it – and it manages to do so without reducing player agency. Live-action cutscenes feature prominently throughout, matching up perfectly with the in-game graphics, but recorded footage is also spliced into the gameplay itself. This isn’t new per se, but seldom has it been done with such style or confidence.

The use of live action and state-of-the-art graphics isn’t just window dressing either: it bolsters the central performances. British actress Melanie Liburd is compelling as Saga, fighting to protect the people she loves while trying to uncover the truth and keep a firm grip on reality. Meanwhile, Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta return as the appearance and voice of Alan Wake, respectively. Their brilliant combined performance is familiar yet evolved, presenting an older version of Alan that is decidedly less cool and far more desperate.

All of the supporting cast are excellent, but special mention must go to David Harewood as the enigmatic Warlin Door – host of the talk show In Between With Mr. Door – who appears at the beginning of each ‘loop’ Alan makes in the Dark Place. Whether he is friend or foe remains unclear, but his show is a definite highlight – especially when he decides to turn it into a musical.

That’s the wonderful thing about Alan Wake 2: it does so many different things but somehow manages to always remain internally consistent. One moment you’ll be laughing to yourself while watching a humorous Koskela brothers television commercial, and the next you’ll be horrified as you head deeper into the Valhalla Nursing Home and a vision of a screaming Taken patient flashes on the screen.

There is also a rich thread of meta-commentary woven into the fabric of the game, with the perfect example being the inclusion of Remedy’s creative director Sam Lake. His likeness is used (just like it was way back in 2001 for the face of Max Payne) to portray Saga’s partner Alex Casey (voiced by James McCaffrey, the voice of Max Payne), who shares a name with the fictional detective who stars in Alan Wake’s books…

It somehow manages to not feel overindulgent, giving staunch fans plenty to think about and enjoy without alienating newcomers. Mr Lake has proven himself to be an auteur capable of getting the very best out of his collaborators, and he deserves all the praise he has received for his boundless creativity and dedicated work ethic. In a game starring a struggling writer, he makes his own writing appear effortless.

Fans of the original Alan Wake will no doubt remember the excellent licenced music used to great effect at key moments in the story. Alan Wake 2 goes one step further, with a selection of its extensive library of licensed tracks specially crafted for the game by several of Finland’s most popular artists, composers and producers. ‘Follow You Into The Dark’ (featuring RAKEL) and ‘This Road (AW)’ by Poe are just some of the soundtrack’s highlights, with Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall also returning as Old Gods of Asgard to provide killer tunes and accompany two of the game’s most memorable sequences.

The few bugs I came across during my first playthrough were few and far between – and none of them were game-breaking. Some collectables still showed on the map after I’d collected them, and at one point Saga got stuck behind a fence, requiring a quick reload. Thankfully, Remedy seems to be monitoring player feedback, with regular patches being rolled out to squash any minor annoyances. Alan Wake 2 launched in an incredibly polished state, and it has only improved in the weeks since its release. Even better, the developer has just added a ‘New Game Plus’ mode, with additional content and lore, a ‘Nightmare’ difficulty level and a brand new ending!

Two years after it was first announced at The Game Awards, Alan Wake 2 returned to the annual ceremony in 2023 to win ‘Best Art Direction’, ‘Best Game Direction’ and ‘Best Narrative’. It may have narrowly missed out on being named Game of the Year, but for many players – including this reviewer – it undoubtedly is.

With its incredible visuals and sound (including music from returning composer Petri Alanko), stellar acting, emotional story, gut-wrenching twists and turns and satisfying gameplay, Alan Wake 2 is an uncanny masterpiece that will be talked about in reverent tones for years to come. Being lost in a never-ending night has never been so much fun.

10 OUT OF 10