The Strange Case of Alan Wake

“Before, I was ready to curl up and die, let myself slip away. But here I was, the yet unwritten future waiting to unfold before me.” – Alan Wake



This quote best describes Alan Wake as a whole.

My name is Marc (Alan) Augustyniak. I’m an amateur writer.

Competing with Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption on release day, (May 18, 2010) Alan Wake did not have great start when it was first released. It had more success in used sales and even more when it hit Steam. The game had gained a cult following shortly after, but sadly, that wasn’t enough to spawn a sequel. I know it doesn’t mean that a sequel will never happen. Only that it’s gonna take quite some time now. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get cancelled.

For those who don’t know, Alan Wake is a 3rd Person psychological horror game by Remedy Entertainment. The company that gave birth to the Max Payne franchise. This game is best described by Remedy as “the mind of a psychological thriller” and “the body of a cinematic action game” put together. The game is heavily inspired by Stephen King, the show Twin Peaks as well as many other films and shows. As pointed out by the title, you take the role of Alan Wake, a writer who has decided to go on vacation with his wife, Alice, to a small town known as Bright Falls. Alan has been suffering from writer’s block for two consecutive years and was hoping some quiet time in the woods would be just what he needed. Not everything is as it seems in this small quiet mountain town. His wife disappears and the citizens have been taken over by the darkness. Alan starts finding manuscript pages to his latest novel-Departure. The twist is that he doesn’t remember writing this novel and the pages are found out order which describe the events of the game. Giving a slight chance to figure things out and possibly prevent some dire situations. You combat enemies with various sources of light and firearms. The game was divided into an episodic format. Feeling like you’re taking part in a series.

What I love about this game is how it can suck you in to it’s world. I started to feel like I was living in Bright Falls. The small details are what kept me in. The landscapes, the paintings on the walls, even the stars in the sky which accurately represent our constellations. Every time I passed by a radio, I stopped what I was doing until all the songs were done playing. Listening to the radio station’s DJ as he humbly talks to his listeners. Even listening to the callers phoning in to share their thoughts. Watching every live action clip of the game’s version of The Twilight Zone known as, Night Springs. These episodes would pop up on random televisions throughout the game. Even a mini-web series, Bright Falls was created to help set up the theme for Alan Wake before the game’s release. A live action series that was an exclusive to Xbox 360 and later released online. Each episode was only a few minutes, taking place before the game. Another small detail I enjoyed was a music video for the game. The song, War by Poets of the Fall featured a live action Alan Wake walking through the woods with a flare. It’s not much but even that music video took place in Bright Falls in a sense. Remedy customized their own game engine based on the Havok engine specifically for this game. They didn’t want to use something preexisting and make something cookie cutter-like. They wanted to do this right and take their time doing so. It’s details like these that make me appreciate a game. Adding so much lore and expanding the game beyond the game. To me, I love how much effort and passion was put into this game. It is perfectly clear that Remedy took it’s time with this and it has developed into something grand. Unfortunately, it was a late bloomer.

Maybe I’m a bit biased about this game. Every game has their flaws, but there’s just something about this one that keeps me wanting more. I’m a fan of many things about this game. The action, the horror, the setting, the psychological and even the music.I completed everything in this game. The DLC and even the stand alone game, American Nightmare, which takes place in an episode of Night Springs that Alan Wake wrote for the show.

Currently, they are working on a new IP called, Quantum Break. Of course with Remedy thinking of creative ways to expand their games, they’re going to be trying something that I have yet to see happen with any game. Not only are they releasing a television series based on this game, but the show coincides with the game. Meaning that watching it will help you progress in the game. The show will be based around the villains of the game. Letting you in on their secrets and tricks. Then you play the game to out smart them and thus defeating them. Hopefully, it’s an idea that will catch on and not another day one flop. Just imagine, if they’re doing something like this where a TV show is important to the game instead of being a poor game adaptation solely made for the money alone, I can’t help but wonder what ideas Remedy is thinking up for the inevitable Alan Wake 2. I’m excited already just thinking about it.

Thanks to the cult following behind this title, I believe Remedy Entertainment will have financial success this time around on day one. Alan Wake is a game that will not curl up and die nor slip away. However, it’s unwritten future may be waiting a few years before it can being to unfold.

Until then, I’ll be waiting for Alan Wake’s Return.