Alan Wake (Xbox 360)

Alan Wake may not appeal to everyone, it is the price of living in this proverbial “golden age” of gaming. I believe that there will definitely be a strong (or at least a cult) following for this survival horror title. I already count myself as part of...

A solid and fun experience that's could use a little more gameplay diversity.

In short, Alan Wake is exactly what ii says on the box, a “Psychological Action Thriller.” You’ll be grasping at straws for most of the game, trying to figure out what exactly is happening in this quaint little town. The action may be somewhat...

Alan Wake takes some risks, and each one helps to make the game feel fresh and rewarding. However, those areas where it doesn't take risks can introduce some tedium into an otherwise engrossing experience.

It was 2005 when Remedy, developers of the Max Payne series, announced Alan Wake, a game about a writer stuck in a strange, mysterious town. Beyond that, not much was divulged, and the game underwent a fairly quiet development for the past five years....

Amazing atmosphere; solid writing and gripping story; excellent controls and truly compelling gameplay; fake TV and radio shows are entertaining; plenty of collectibles to find

Lack of enemy variety

Features a fantastic narrative that is genuinely creepy

The game can pull you out of the experience by sometimes feeling a bit too gamey and with its overuse of in-game advertising

As Alan attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding his missing wife and the darkness that seems hell bent on killing him, the game will play out in two very different styles meshed together near perfectly. On one hand, the game is very heavy on story...

One of the best looking Xbox 360 games ; Incredible lighting and ambiance effects ; Creepy combat ; An unfolding sci-fi story ; Great voice work ; Great for 5.1 sound setups

Needs more enemy variation ; Not enough real-time weather/time of day use ; Couple instances of screen tearing ; Ending is not conclusive

Alan Wake also warrants additional episodes as Remedy plays their 'Lost' card by offering more questions in the game's conclusion than answers. The story is far from complete, more the end of a first season than a greater story. Some will be discontent...

Remedy set out to create one of the most intense and gripping story experiences of the year and they delivered on their goals with sublime ease. An utterly compelling cast of characters and the most engaging story we’ve experienced in years means that...