Alan Wake 2 Overview (PS5)

Sitting down to put in writing this overview makes us really feel a bit like Alan Wake himself, tapping away at his typewriter within the Author’s Room. We’re not fairly certain the place the web page will take us, although we now have a lot swirling round in our thoughts. That’s the impact of Alan Wake 2; a rip-roaring horror expertise from Treatment Leisure that innovates in nearly each method potential. It is the sequel followers of the collection have been ready over a decade for — however it’s additionally a lot extra.

We’re reintroduced to Vibrant Falls, the quaint lakeside city from the primary recreation, in brutal, bloody vogue. A ritualistic homicide has introduced FBI Agent Saga Anderson and her companion to Vibrant Falls to research. The opening hours really feel like a basic homicide thriller, hitting all of the hallmarks of the style with gorgeous finesse. But it surely actually doesn’t take lengthy for Treatment to do what Treatment does greatest: get bizarre.

It will begin from the very get for some, as Saga’s companion Alex Casey doesn’t simply share the title of Alan Wake’s hottest detective character, but additionally the likeness of Artistic Director Sam Lake. It’s the primary strand in an online of the meta-mystery that the developer is spinning, that solely will get weirder and extra spectacular the deeper you get into its 15-20 hour marketing campaign.

To say that we have been enthralled is placing it frivolously. Whereas the 2010 authentic actually has a pseudo-cult following, reignited with the Management/Alan Wake DLC again in 2020, Alan Wake 2 is on one other stage. Hell, it’s on a unique planet. Gone is the stilted narration for intriguing and purposeful dialogue — the alternating digital camera perspective is now swapped out for a Resident Evil-like third-person one — and whereas the unique was by no means actually a looker, Alan Wake 2 graphically trumps most video games on PS5 with ease.

One in every of our favorite enhancements, although, lies within the twin protagonists. At a sure level within the recreation you’ll be able to select between missions as Alan or Saga. You’ll be able to rinse by the Alan story earlier than moving into Saga’s, or vice versa. We personally opted to alternate between the 2 after every Chapter, which resulted in flawless pacing. Every protagonist has their very own mission type, with Saga happening the extra conventional horror route, and Alan choosing labyrinthine mazes of the thoughts. A lot to our shock, nonetheless, each related campaigns preserve the identical stage of leisure. There’s by no means a uninteresting second or a “not one other one in all these” segments, which have been common occurrences within the authentic recreation.

But regardless of all of those adjustments, Alan Wake 2 stays true to the collection with a novelistic aptitude to its storytelling. There are twists and turns aplenty, amplified by the returning episodic construction, bizarre facet characters each new and outdated, and creeping doubts that’ll depart you questioning what’s actual. And that’s all wrapped up in an palpable environment that’ll depart you virtually smelling the damp forest pine of its setting.

We could not get sufficient of the story, which turns into all of the extra formidable the additional it goes on. And because the third entry within the Treatment related universe, followers of Management in addition to Alan Wake might be thrilled to see the 2 interweave — and in additional significant methods than we ever anticipated. There are moments of this story that left us with fullbody chills, and a few notably creepy ranges that we’ll not quickly neglect.

All of that is aided by a streamlined gameplay expertise. You’re nonetheless tasked with dousing an enemy in gentle earlier than blasting their brains out, however it’s now a lot snappier. Ditching the rechargeable batteries from the unique and giving every one a set variety of gentle prices means you are much more battery aware as you delve deep into darkened areas. The brand new perspective actually makes you’re feeling such as you’re within the trenches, so to talk, however along with your increasing weaponry and a level of ways, fight maintains that excellent weak badass stability. The one minor disappointment is that the enemy selection has remained fairly just like our first outing in Vibrant Falls. There’s by no means that spine-tingling feeling like once you first encounter a Licker in Resident Evil 2, though we might argue that you just’re evaluating two various kinds of horror at that time

If we actually needed to convey up some form of criticism concerning the recreation, it will be the puzzles. Very often you’ll be discovering keys and codes to unlock gates and stashes. On the floor they’re pretty inoffensive, however greater than as soon as we discovered ourselves traipsing by ranges confused as to the place to go and what to do. With none goal markers, among the necessary puzzles might be frustratingly tedious, though the minimal HUD additionally amplifies the immersion.

Talking of immersion, we’ve bought to speak about visuals and the masterful presentation that Treatment has conjured up right here. Whether or not you’re exploring the dense forests surrounding Cauldron Lake, or the nightmarish rendition of New York in The Darkish Place, the element and visible flare that Treatment has achieved is nothing in need of astounding. The sport bounces forwards and backwards between in-game cinematics and gameplay, and even full stay motion materials — generally on the identical time. The lighting particularly will depart you begging for a photograph mode (one thing Treatment has confirmed is coming post-launch). It’s onerous to think about a recreation with unwavering route fairly like this.

What impresses much more, although, is how a lot of a technical feat Alan Wake 2 is. Whereas graphics are good, the non-existent loading occasions will actually make you perk up. Whether or not it’s switching to Saga’s case-cracking Thoughts Place, or fully altering the look of a stage straight away by rewriting its narrative, you’re consistently reminded why this launch ditched last-gen. Whereas it’s not as flashy as Spider-Man 2’s quick journey transition, the moment switching of ranges continues to impress all the best way to the very finish.

DualSense haptics additionally does a very good job of highlighting these adjustments with thuds and rumbles tying into the sound results and stage switches. It isn’t the perfect haptic performance we’ve ever felt, however it weaves into the expertise in a method that amplifies it, moderately than pulling your consideration away from it.

Conclusion

Like a thriller as soon as thought solved, Alan Wake 2 reopens the case for what’s potential in its style. It’s a delight to relive basic horror titles by fashionable remakes, however what Treatment has cooked up right here is one thing particular — a gust of contemporary air aiming to revitalise online game horror. There’s expansive lore and a twisting story that may not be for everybody, however the developer packs so many thrilling and distinctive concepts into this formidable sequel that you may’t assist however play together with a nervous smile in your face. With gorgeous visuals, pitch-perfect tone and environment, sensible pacing, and an interesting thriller to sink your tooth into, there are not any twists or turns about it: Alan Wake 2 is an all-timer.