Alan Wake: The Signal (Xbox 360)

Lots of new questions, not a lot of answers. The psychological thriller Alan Wake gets its first batch of downloadable content in the form of “The Signal”. Picking up immediately...

The Signal is the first downloadable addition to the story of Alan Wake. If you bought the game brand new, this doesn't cost you a thing, which is always a plus, and it certainly doesn't feel like a free add-on. The story continues exactly where the...

"This is not a gun. It is a tool in a logical process of elimination." Thomas Zane speaks these words to Alan Wake, but he might as well be saying them to the person behind the controller, as this first of what is expected to be many DLC episodes...

For the most part, [Alan's] still just stepping out of the way of roadworkers, woodcutters and other assorted Village People, while that mysterious diving suit guy still doesn't make his identity known. Oh well, at least the DLC's free if you bought...

The DLC lasts around two hours, but with ten alarm clocks to find along the way, as well as cardboard standees of certain characters to find - you could probably extend that to three or four. The fact that it's free makes it well worth a play, just...

Expect to get through [The Signal] in as much time as it took you to play through a chapter of the original game. You might get the impression that Remedy is stringing you along what feels like a never-ending nightmare, but in this case, it's a trip...

The Signal is] one of [Alan Wake's] less satisfying episodes; aside from a couple of tweaks and some new plot details, all of the aspects which make it worth buying were present and correct in the main game.

Although the story in The Signal isn't nearly as impactful nor as focused as what was found in the original game, the rest of this episode lives up to what came before it. The directionless story keeps The Signal from being a must-play for Alan Wake...

Amid its shortcomings, The Signal still has the formidable assets of its parent game: adult themes and a gorgeous visual style. So I'd rather play an erratic instalment of Alan Wake than a highly polished cover-shooter clone, because even when it...

As a free download, The Signal is certainly a treat. The story is as warped as ever with taught writing and a style that never becomes too self-serious. Even if Alan Wake didn't thrill you on your first playthrough I still recommend giving this add-on...