Alan Wake 2 at Gamescom was an outstanding demo.
Alan Wake 2 at Gamescom was an outstanding demo.
Alan Wake 2: A Dark and Hilarious Escape
Do you ever sit through a game demo and just want to scream and shout? Well, that’s exactly how I felt during the Alan Wake 2 demo at Gamescom. It wasn’t because Remedy Entertainment had comfortably ventured into survival horror territory, although the Dark Place prison was undeniably eerie. No, I wanted to make myself heard because the person playing the demo just wouldn’t slow down! There was so much to see and explore in this twisted version of New York City, I could have gotten lost for hours! The atmosphere was suffocatingly immersive, with impossibly deep shadows and flickering lights.
Let’s talk about the visuals first. The visual fidelity in Alan Wake 2 is absolutely astounding. I wanted to breathe in the atmosphere to the point of suffocation. The Northlight Engine delivered stunning scale and detail, showcasing neon hues shimmering delicately in rain-soaked streets. Soft light from street lamps struggled to cut through thick plumes of fog, while the flashlight pierced through enemies with explosive volatility. As Alan ventured below ground into the subway system’s claustrophobic tunnels, I was astonished to see traces of Control graffiti all over the walls.
Alan Wake isn’t afraid of rewriting reality. After 13 years trapped beneath Cauldron Lake, he’s willing to do anything to escape – even if it means sacrificing his sanity and battling fracturing reality. The narrative takes a page out of True Detective and Twin Peaks, with arthouse horror vibes akin to Hereditary and Midsommar. The Dark Place is filled with shadowy outlines and unpredictable enemies. Characters you encounter are off-balance, leaving you unsure of their true motives. Light and weather play crucial roles, creating an unsettling atmosphere in every scene. What you see may not be real, but it certainly affects reality. Alan Wake 2 is a densely metacontextual experience.
In the game, Alan is trapped in a writer’s room, where his creative works hold unknowable power. Tormented by a dark doppelganger, he astrally projects into a twisted construct of New York formed by his subconscious mind. This place offers him the inspiration and clarity he needs to finish his next novel, ‘Return.’ Interestingly, echoes of Alan’s efforts seem to seep into Bright Falls, the town where Saga Anderson investigates a cult of ritualistic killers. The lines between reality and fiction blur once again.
What’s truly impressive about this ‘Rewrite Reality’ mechanic is the agency it offers. While there’s a correct series of scenes and plot points that must be connected, Alan has the ability to experiment. He can return to his Writer’s Room prison at any time to watch found footage or assess the structure of his novel. The Plot Board allows him to rewrite the story in real-time, shifting plot points and scenes to unlock new lore, environments, and paths of progression. The world is constantly reforming around you, ensuring a unique and engaging experience.
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Let’s delve into the wider Remedy Connected Universe because, spoilers, I absolutely geeked out about it! In the Alan Wake 2 demo, there were several hints connecting the game to other Remedy titles. One of the biggest surprises was the appearance of Mr. Door, a character first referenced in Control. He’s an interdimensional late-night talk show host who even hired the Old Gods of Asgard as his in-house band. He mentions a novel titled ‘Initiation,’ which Alan has no recollection of writing. This concept of initiation ties the entire mission together, just like in Control, where Ritual Initiations play a significant role.
The Oceanview Motel, known for its connection to the Dark Place, also comes into play. Graffiti reading ‘AWE’ covers the walls, with arrows pointing to a Spiral insGameTopicia painting atop an easel. We know that Alan has found a way to communicate with the Federal Bureau of Control from Control: AWE, so it’s exciting to speculate on the stronger ties between Alan Wake 2 and Control.
Another intriguing character in the demo was Tim Breaker, played by Shawn Ashmore (who Remedy fans will remember as Jack Joyce from Quantum Break). Tim supposedly helps Alan track the dream-logic neural networks of the Dark Place, but his surname caught my attention. In the first game, Sarah Breaker was a local sheriff and an ally to Alan as he fought against the Taken in Bright Falls. Could there be a familial connection or is it just a little joke for the Quantum Break fans? Only time will tell!
Gamescom 2023 is where I played this exciting demo and had the time of my life. If you’re as eager as I am to get your hands on the most anticipated upcoming horror games, make sure to visit the Gamescom 2023 coverage hub for all the thrilling previews and exclusive interviews.
Alan Wake 2 is everything Remedy refined, distilled into a single game. It pushes the boundaries of ambition and attention to detail, delivering slick third-person combat and an immersive narrative structure. The blurring of lines between rendered action and live action storytelling is audacious, making it stand out among games outside of first-party development. Whether Remedy can pull it all off remains to be seen, but I’m eagerly waiting to see them try and experience the collision of two worlds on October 27. It’s a terrifyingly good time!
Alan Wake 2, one of the most anticipated horror games of 2023, is set to launch on October 27 for PC (via the Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X.
