Alan Wake 2 - Review

 Holy shit. 

I know that's a very inelequent way to start a review, but this game was a mind-fuck and I loved it for it. 

The original Alan Wake spun the tale of darkness through light. Fighting with a flashlight and a handgun felt new and exciting even though the combat was pretty clunky. I did recently complete a playthrough of the original Alan Wake before tackling the sequel. (Even if I didn't finish the remastered version, which I will at some point.) 

You're a writer with writers block (which I can totally relate to) and you decide to get away and spend some time with your wife. But things in Bright Falls aren't what they seem. Your story comes true and in order to stop it, in order to save your wife, you jump into the lake and descend into the dark place. 

The sequel picks up 13 years later. 

I don't want to tell too much of the story here for those still wanting to play it, but you don't start out as Wake first. 

You're Saga Anderson, an FBI agent headed to Bright Falls during Deer Fest (it's always during Deer Fest) where you're investigating what appears to be a ritual murder and you get dragged into the plot of your own story seemingly written about you. 

From start to finish if you're trying to look around for clues it'll take you a good 26 or so hours. (Or if you get lost a bit like me, maybe closer to 30) but the story is engaging so it'll suck you in. 

Bright Falls is a fantastic setting to return to and with the updated graphics, Mirror Peak over Caldron Lake looks beautiful. 

Among the positives, there are a few negatives, though. 

I don't like the fact that the Mind Place (Saga's case-solving technique) and the Writers Room (Alan's plot-working device) don't pause the game while you're in them. 

It's also so easy to get lost. I found myself wandering quite a bit trying to figure out where I was supposed to go -- especially in the Dark Place. After a certain point there should be a light or the characters should give you a hint. I'm not sure if it happened during my playthrough and I just missed it or what but it was a bit annoying. 

But overall, the story was fantastic and I did not see a lot of twists coming. 

Such a great game.