It has been 13 years since the release of Alan Wake but Remedy Entertainment is experimenting with thriller-psychological horror again so it’s time for an Alan Wake 2 review. The original Alan Wake depicted our feelings about writer’s block very violently with its slightly crazy storyline and gameplay and the latest game is just as dark and dreary. The Alan Wake 2 release date was set for 27 October after the initial announcement was made at The Game Awards, all the way back in 2021. The Alan Wake 2 story is just as fascinating as its predecessor and we cannot wait to tell you all about it.
(Image credit – Remedy Entertainment)
Alan Wake 2 Review: It’s Tough Being a Writer
The original mastermind of all things horror, Stephen King, has allowed his works to fuel the horror industry with a generosity that cannot be duplicated and Alan Wake is one character that has greatly benefitted from this. Alan Wake is a troubled protagonist who struggles with psychological battles that are greatly reminiscent of King’s many works, and the atmosphere of the game is just as inspired. With the Alan Wake 2 release date now upon up, it’s time for us to dive in a little deeper.
“Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear.”
—Stephen King for Entertainment Weekly, Why Hollywood Can’t Do Horror
Alan Wake: What We Know So Far
The original Alan Wake story centers around the titular character and his burnt-out state after he kills off his book’s main character and then struggles to find something new to focus his energy on. It’s never easy starting back up from scratch and he does what any other writer would—leaves to find inspiration. Instead of the idyllic vacation he envisioned, Wake is left with a missing wife, a horror story treasure hunt, and voices that seem to keep coming back to haunt him. Spoiler alert, Alan saves his wife and ensures her escape but is left trapped in the darkness himself.
The Signal and The Writer were additional downloadable content (DLCs) that was released that continued Alan Wake’s journey in the Dark Place as he struggled with the madness and the relentless Taken who continued to attack unrelentingly.
Alan Wake 2 Story: Tragedy Ensues
The story of Alan Wake 2 is quite different from its prequel and so is the gameplay. We begin with a string of murders that take place in Bright Falls. With the unsettling, ritualistic deaths drawing attention, FBI agent Saga Anderson is assigned to get to the bottom of the story. A large part of the game follows her perspective as she tries to follow the death trail and piece together the mystery behind the deaths and why everyone seems to know her here. Her search runs parallel to the world of our main man Alan Wake, who has only a hazy recollection of how he’s spent the last 13 years.
The Alan Wake 2 story threads reality into its storyline a little more than the first game as you work with clues and red string to try and map out the deaths that have taken place. The first half of the game plays out more like a detective story than a horror one. This changes pretty quickly as the mortuary witnesses the return of the dead and Alan Wake reappears in the game.
Alan Wake 2 Review: Graphics and Design
The original Alan Wake game took 5 years to make and it was a work of art on release. Alan Wake 2 reviews echo the sentiment for the new games as well. The animation style is very effective for the storytelling here and the character designs are very well done. If the first game didn’t remind you of John Wick and his love for his wife, Alan Wake’s design is definitely reminiscent of Keanu Reeves this time, but there’s no downside to that.
Our Alan Wake 2 review also has to applaud the game’s location and setting. With some beautiful sceneries crafted into the narrative, Alan Wake 2 is visually appealing, more so than the first one, which spent a large majority of the game in different shades of darkness.
Is an Alan Wake 2 Steam Release Happening?
An Alan Wake 2 Steam is not on the cards if you were looking forward to seeing the game on the platform. According to GameSpot, Epic Games had a decent role in the funding for Alan Wake 2, and the deal likely involved exclusive rights to stream the game on the Epic Games Store on launch. There is the possibility of a 1-year deal that would allow an Alan Wake 2 Steam presence this time next year, but no details are officially out.
While we wait for more news on the Alan Wake 2 Steam story, here is what you need to know about Alan Wake 2.
Alan Wake 2 Release Date: 27 October 2023
Compatible Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Game Developer: Remedy Entertainment
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Genres: Survival horror, Third-person shooter
IGN Ratings: 9/10
GameSpot Rating: 10/10
Game Rant Rating: 5/10
Metacritic Rating: 88
Publisher: Epic Games
Alan Wake 2 Specs: Can Your Gaming Laptops Hold Up?
Many fans are worried about the PC system requirement for the game as they are considerable and will restrict access to many gamers waiting to get their hands on the game. The minimum specs for the 1080p 30FPS gameplay might be manageable but a majority of players will likely miss out on the full game experience, considering the recommended, ultra, and ray tracing requirements.
Windows OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
Processor: Intel i5-7600K or AMD equivalent
Memory: 16 GB
Storage: SSD with 90 GB free space
Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060/Radeon RX 6600
Alan Wake 2 Gameplay Review
The third-person shooter game has familiar in-game mechanics that should make it easy for those familiar with such a playstyle to quickly get a hang of the game. With the two different perspectives in this game, switching between characters is also an interesting addition to the game experience. Alan Wake 2 weaponises light again, and paired with the fast-draining ammo supply, provides some exciting combat opportunities for players.
The Alan Wake 2 story is set to be the game’s biggest strength with the multiple plot lines and the criminal investigation for those who love a good detective story. Alan’s combat prowess offers a more enjoyable combat experience than Saga’s does but they are both characters that can be fun to fight as. With calculated jumpscares and a reasonable variety of monsters to defeat, the game should keep you on your toes.
For those unfamiliar with the game, we recommend starting with the first Alan Wake game. Additionally, Slender: The 9 Pages game also comes to mind, with more horror and less story than this one if you just want to walk around in fear, holding up a torch in the dark.
If you’ve been patiently waiting for the Alan Wake 2 release date, it is now here and the experience appears to be worth the wait. According to IGN, the game is also scheduled to receive two expansions in 2024, Night Springs and The Lakehouse, the first one due late spring next year. While the Steam release for Alan Wake 2 might not happen anytime soon, you should still be able to purchase the game from the Epic Games Store and get to exploring the off-key, upbeat corners of Bright Falls.