Looking back: Alan Wake - Part One

Alan Wake glanced at the review and scoffed, "pretentious critics"

It's Been over 5 years since Alan Wake was released and around 10 since it was announced. This shocks me, as Alan Wake hasn't been out shadowed since then, it's writing is still better than most and it's use of episodic narrative has been embraced by many others but still not been outdone. I recently went back to Bright Falls, fearing how the game has aged, but it hasn't. It's hyperbole I know, to say Alan Wake was ahead of its time seems crazy but if it was released now, I have no doubts it would of done better.


If there's one game I want above all else it's a sequel to my favourite game of the Xbox 360. Alan Wake was a game that was underrated by most, came out on a platform that was more used to seeing shooters, was badly marketed and was released on the same day as Red Dead Redemption in the U.S. It's a testament to the games quality then that the game has sold as well as it has over these years, in part due to the PC port. It banked more on its writing and characters, delegating a episodic structure narrative without the needless waiting, the ultimate DVD box set experience. It told the story of a character that was the opposite of Max Payne, who bares a striking resemblance to Wakes own creation, Alex Casey the protagonist of his own books (Remedy didn't unfortunately have the Max Payne licence anymore however the voice actor of Max Payne; James Mcaffery was used as the voice as Alex Casey.) Alan Wake can't live up to his own creation, he's never fired a gun in his life, he is suffering from writers block and above all his relationship with his wife is straining. Alan is a Everyman, a jerk, but that's wholly intentional. He brushes off people, speaks his true opinions based on judgements. In that way he's relatable, he's no hero, he's not helping the town out of the kindness of his heart. It's a nice outcome that the towns problems are resolved through Alan's actions but in the end he's only doing it to save Alice, though you can hardly call that selfish. He's willing to do anything to save his marriage, his last words to his wife are ones of anger, he storms out knowing she won't follow him in the dark.

Sun is a rarity in Alan wake, but beautiful while it lasts

Alice, his plucky wife promises a get out, a way to relax; a small time town in the middle of Washington state, plucked straight from Twin peaks. Alan wake wears it's inspirations as a badge of honour rather than shy away from its roots. So many devs and games would swear until their faces turned red that their game is completely original, afraid to admit that it was inspired by other outside games, TV shows or movies. One of the first things spoken in the game is "Stephen King once wrote". Though at times the Stephen King references get heavy handed - it's a source material rarely referenced in gaming. All forms of media are incorporated, there is a radio host who offers up lore on the town of bright falls If you do choose to tune in, TVs offer a fictional show that shares heavy similarities to the Twilight Zone as well as a live action version of Wake rambling to himself, written manuscripts narrated by Wake predict future events to a perfect degree where every corner could present the horror or twist you just read about. Music plays a huge role in the games structure - playing a licensed song that perfectly encapsulates the mood at the end of each episode along with the songs played on the radio. In addition the game has its very own fictional band (old gods of Asgard) portrayed by the real life Finnish music masterclass band Poets Of The Fall who's first ever song was originally launched on the credits of Max Payne 2. Two original songs were written and performed that directly tie into the games narrative and are both used as focal points in the games fourth episode. One adding to the clear standout set piece of the game - the music stage showdown. Quantum Break, Remedy's next game has taken this to an even further degree, dedicating a whole TV show to go side by side with the games chapters, it's a risky proposition but it wouldn't be a Remedy Game if it wasn't.