Alan Wake 2: The Lake House Releases October 22 | Xbox Showcase
analog_future
Resident Crybaby
Fuck yeah. Perfect spookky game for mid October
Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Giallo Corsa
Gold Member
This
There's nothing quite like it on the market, I keep reading about it being "pretentious" and that Remedy likes to smell its own farts but, for me, it was the right length, had some brilliant atmosphere and the story was Remedy batshit crazy as usual...
If I could equate it to a film's/production house quality it'd be to A24 - their films hit all the right spots for me personally.
Can't wait to play the DLC on my PS5 Pro
IlGialloMondadori
Member
Yeah I don't see the pretentious or Remedy up their own ass. If anything, Remedy has a clear sense of humour about themselves throughout AW2.
AW2 has a few rough edges, but it's such a unique game with a unique vision that it's ended up pretty high in my list of last few years and horror games in general.
Giallo Corsa
Gold Member
"Unique" would be the right word to describe AW2.
I enjoyed Control way more (I was always into the whole X-Files stuff) but, AW2 was still a good time, shame that it sold poorly then...
FingerBang
Member
This.
To me, it's also a better game than the first Alan Wake: great story but underwhelming gameplay.
OmegaSupreme
advanced basic bitch
How about a steam release?
Kazdane
Member
I wanted to love AW2, but I just couldn't, the constant jumpscares (which don't scare me, just anger me) took me out of the game constantly and I eventually stopped playing at some chase. It was just unbearable. I love psychological horror, but if a movie/game is loaded with jumpscares, I'm out (among other reasons, because I've always felt jumpscares for the sake of it are meaningless anyways). I still hope the DLC does good, the idea they had is great and the mix of live show + gameplay is cool.
FinalBossWithTheMostPower
Member
metareferential
Member
They don't want this to sell.
Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
xrnzaaas
Member
What's disappointing is that they must've seen the reactions from the people who played the base game and still decided to stick with that jumpscares idea and introduce more of them in the DLC (or at least that's what the trailer is suggesting).
Even if you're not scared by that stuff it's still annoying just like you said.
Kazdane
Member
Yeah, in my case, jumpscares rarely startle me (in fact, I remember playing Alien Isolation and never getting jumpscared by the Xenomorph, because I knew he could pop up at any point. What actually startled me was a pipe breaking up!! (and didn't mind it, of course), I mostly get angry because you usually see them coming from a mile away and they don't contribute anything to the story or ambience (again, Alien: Isolation does that great without having to jumpscare you).
It was also a shocking departure (for me) from AW1. I loved the story in that one, and sure, it wasn't scary, but the atmosphere was *so good*. If they're sticking with the jumpscares, I can only conclude is because most people enjoy them, so more power to them I guess!
Dr.Morris79
Member
It's no loss, honestly.
Dazraell
Member
I wouldn't count for it in a near future. Epic was bankrolling the production of this game and has publishing duties for it. This isn't a timed exclusive situation
IlGialloMondadori
Member
As someone who just wrapped it, what did you hate about it?
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Mostly the gameplay. Im a huge AW1 fan and replayed it right before AW2. AW2 has a way smaller enviroments and less frantic combat with alot less enemies attacking you at once in comparison with 1 and inferior controls to bute. The story boring me and not really progressing the series at all was another negative.
Last edited:
ElCasual
Member
I really love the 1, want buy the 2 but all the noise of woke and other stuff I don't buy it. But with this quick review maybe in a sale or the physical in a good discount. Thanks
nordique
Member
This is pretty awesome
DavidGzz
Gold Member
Must have played on casual. I faced many enemies at once and wolves too. I mean it even has a dodge unlike the first game that I needed to use constantly so idk what you're talking about. Inferior controls? Not seeing that either but opinions.
awwr999999
Member
More AW1 would've been better.
awwr999999
Member
It abandons the core gameplay mechanics of AW1.
LastBattle
Member
I hate woke shit in games, but I didn't think it was really woke at all. Love Remedy games and AW2 was no exception. Top shelf survival horror game. Can't wait to get my hands on Lake House.
The timing window on the dodge seems to be less forgiving in the sequel and enemies are more lethal at close range. As a consequence the game generally chooses not to immediately surround you with enemies, otherwise it would be too unfair. To me the end result is something that feels more like the RE4 remake than the action/horror experience of AW1/AN.
DavidGzz
Gold Member
Ah, so for me, as someone who doesn't think the first game is that great gameplay wise, I see why I like it more. The REmakes play better than AW1 imo.
II_JumPeR_I
Member
Most annoying thing for me about AlanWake 2 is that he isnt even the focus. Hell is he even playable in any DLC?
Should have given another Name.
Really worried about the Maxpayne Remakes.
Should have given another Name.
Really worried about the Maxpayne Remakes.
Gonzito
Member
I've been living in Finland since many years now and I am a big fan of Remedy and Alan Wake, i have even visited their offices and chat with people there. That being said AW2 didnt do much for me unfortunately, I feel like its a good game but could've been better. Part of the issue for me was the fact the I had to play with a random female cop for many hours and I just wanted to play as Alan, I didnt care for her and her playtime is half of the game basically. But the game has very good parts and enjoyed it some of them but I think the first one is a much better game
I might try the expansion but it will probably be very short and more related to Control than Alan Wake but of reviews are good I might give it a try
I might try the expansion but it will probably be very short and more related to Control than Alan Wake but of reviews are good I might give it a try
TheDarkPhantom
Member
I got the AW2 plat trophy, loved it, will pick up the DLC once I have my Pro
IlGialloMondadori
Member
As someone who thinks people who are scared of the woke demon in the basement are silly, the game is actually not woke in the way you think at all. There was some quote pulled out of context, when the reality of it was it was being spoken by one of the leads alter-egos in the dark place, when they're consumed by fear, self-doubt, and their worst qualities.
I love Alan wake 1, but the core gameplay was not great and super repetitive.
Nope. You did not face 5 plus at once like the OG. And I dont know what your talking about when you suggest you fought groups of men and a wolf at the same time? Also the controls especialy the mechanics around healing where slow as fuck.
Last edited:
DavidGzz
Gold Member
The amount of enemies doesn't make it better. AW1 was just jankier and being able to face more enemis is just more and more unrealistic. More enemies doesn't equal better combat or else Dynasty Warriors would be the best game ever.
Revolutionary
Member
Ugh, we have to play as Janina's character in this DLC. Barf.
Best part of the Borderlands movie was when she got vaporized.
Best part of the Borderlands movie was when she got vaporized.
Rocinante618
Member
Most likely not happening as it's published (and funded?) by Epic, there's no timed exclusivity, it's fully exclusive to Epic platform (like Fortnite, Fall Guys or Rocket League)
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Starting this today. Really amped cause of its direct connections to Control.
Love both AW2 and Control.
Love both AW2 and Control.
Skifi28
Member
Spoiler alert! There's a chance I could watch the movie in the next 30 years.
Doom85
Member
Even if one were somehow able to mathematically determine which is longer, the Alan or Saga sections (which seems unlikely, depending on the player one might be able to play more efficiently through certain sections faster than others), the game's story is indisputably still focused very much on Alan. Yes, Saga has her character arc and such, but even then a good chunk of her screentime is focused on finding Alan/finding out more about Alan/etc. Meanwhile, Alan's sections are entirely focused on himself and Saga is barely an entity in those sections. Alan Wake 2 is at its core still very focused on Alan Wake.
The "but Alan isn't the only playable character!" complaint never made sense to me as a title for a fictional story (and hey, Alan Wake is obviously very focused on the nature of stories) has never necessarily dictated that that's who the main character is or even has to continue being (Mad Max is only the central focus in the first movie; Lord of the Rings refers to Sauron or a potential person who takes the One Ring to rule everything, not Frodo; The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has Kyon as the focal point character not Haruhi; Zelda is not playable in virtually all the Legend of Zelda games; until it was changed later to avoid confusion with the Marvel character also called Captain Marvel, Shazam was the name of the wizard while Captain Marvel was the main hero; Scooby-Doo is often not the main focus in certain Scooby series and films; Coco is the name of the protagonist's grandmother; etc.).
I see no issue with Saga as the story is still clearly focused on Alan. Heck, she makes more sense to enter the story and become playable due to her connection with Alan and the Anderson brothers than say Leon in the original Resident Evil 2 as Leon actually IS a random new cop who just walks into the situation whereas Jill and Chris had connections with Wesker, and Claire is connected to Chris. Yes, Leon becomes important due to his adventures throughout the whole series, but he starts off as a complete nobody at the start compared to everyone else. So I feel there have been game sequels that have thrown in new playable leads out of nowhere far more than how Alan Wake 2 handled it.
Zacfoldor
Member
I came here to ask how the DLC was, but wanted to comment on this. The only issue I had with AW2 is the first section of the game all the way up until basically the little amusement park(most of the Watery section) is just like one of the best horror games I've played, then it takes a nosedive for the rest of the game and becomes a slog. Lots of potential with the game but just felt like that horse meme where the first half is super well done and the second half is like a stick drawing. It had a ton of potential but the latter half of the game really wasn't my cup of tea. Edit: That beginning section with Saga is chef's kiss, but by the end it felt like they ran out of time to make the game honestly. That section in the mind palace towards the end....yeah....they were rushed.
That said, DLC, how is it? Worth booting it back up?
Last edited: