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[Gamer79]

I have never heard they remastered this until yesterday. To make a long story short, I am buying the latest graphic showcases to put my new gaming PC through the ringer plus looking for games that are globally liked. Alan Wake 2 is one of the most demanding modern graphic showcases and saw it was on sale at the epic store for $25. I figured what the hell and made the plunge. What I didn't know it it was the edition that included some extras including Alan Wake remastered. My goal was to play Alan Wake Remaster a bit and then play part 2 to see the comparison. What I did not expect to happen is that I got hooked on Alan Wake remastered and also how impressive the visuals look on this older title.

I remember playing through Alan Wake on the 360 many moons ago but to be honest I did not remember much about it. It was a 360 exclusive at the time and it was a looker in it''s day but did not age well when going back to it today. I remember the game and remember I did like it but I guess through time I kinda forgot about it. So the remaster adds HD textures, remakes the lighting, improved framerate and it all comes together to make a very impressive package. The Atmosphere of Bright Falls is very much like Alaska and it is Awesome. Stumbling through the woods at night with only your flashlight and a revolver while creepies pop out of nowhere is fun. The game has a great narrative and does a good job with some scares along with the sense of urgency of being chased. The games atmosphere and lighting makes this game a real looker even for today.

This does not do a great job due to youtube's compression but shows some of the change. IT is like going from sd to HD along with a much smoother gameplay experience. If you like creepy and scary games this should be on your list!

 

[Skifi28]

Visuals aside, it's also the better game unfortunately. I've finished Alan Wake three times, one of them recently, while I don't think I'll be returning to the sequel, one time was more than enough.

 

[Mr Hyde]

I thought Alan Wake was a big disappointment. Heard so much good about it through the years but none of it lived up to the accolades when I actually played the game. Story was the most interesting part but everything else was so plain and boring.

 

[Salmon Snake]

One of my favorite autumn games!

Still the atmosphere is top tier.

 

[LectureMaster]

I have never heard of this until yesterday

 

[Gamer79]

I never heard of the remaster

 

[bundylove]

Both were shit. One more so than the other.
I forced myself to finish 2 and dropped 1 midway once i got tired of the random or mandatory respawns. The game mechanics suck ass in both. The story of 2 was a mess.
The cherry on top was when at the end saga makes a comment about alan, saying another white asshole fucked her life up by taking her daughter....after 40 hours i had to listen to that felt just great. White asshole huh? Imagine i call her a black something.

Honestly an average game at best . One and 2.

 

[bundylove]

I never heard of the remaster

Its just out on ps5 and xbox for years lol

 

[BennyBlanco]

Alan Wake 1 is a much, much better game. Alan Wake 2 graphics are crazy though on a good PC.

 

[rofif]

It's a good game. better than sequel.
The remaster characters can look weird but in general, it's an OK remaster.
Really missed the mark by not adding HDR though

 

[Vick]

Used to love Alan Wake when it released, due to setting, atmosphere and story. Also have fond memories of American Nightmare.

Tracked down a physical copy of this Remaster because it became a sort of collector's item, could barely finish the walkthrough. Had to really force myself going through, multiple times. Game looks good, great even aside for some open, daylight chapters reminiscent of OG Xbox era. But it's just really not a good game imo.

Shooting mechanics are solid though, too bad for the extremely repetitive structure and non-existent enemy variety.

 

[Gamer79]

For those who say the game is shit, you are in the minority

Alan Wake Reviews

Alan Wake is a psychological action thriller, a unique new take in the world of gaming. The game is set in an idyllic all-American small town and its surroundings in the state of Washington. Alan Wake, the game's protagonist, is a bestselling horror writer, who writes a novel about his darkest...

www.metacritic.com

 

[rofif]

Used to love Alan Wake when it released, due to setting, atmosphere and story. Also have fond memories of American Nightmare.

Tracked down a physical copy of this Remaster because it became a sort of collector's item, could barely finish the walkthrough. Had to really force myself going through, multiple times. Game looks good, great even aside for some open, daylight chapters reminiscent of OG Xbox era. But it's just really not a good game imo.

Shooting mechanics are solid though, too bad for the extremely repetitive structure and non-existent enemy variety.

That's what I noticed in recent years.... that going back to some old games I loved ruins them.
Same happened to half life 2 somehow. For first time ever, replay last year kinda dragged on by the end for me.
Same with lost Planet. I finally replayed it for first time ever last year and Hated it by the end lol.
Some old games better remain old games

 

[bundylove]

Used to love Alan Wake when it released, due to setting, atmosphere and story. Also have fond memories of American Nightmare.

Tracked down a physical copy of this Remaster because it became a sort of collector's item, could barely finish the walkthrough. Had to really force myself going through, multiple times. Game looks good, great even aside for some open, daylight chapters reminiscent of OG Xbox era. But it's just really not a good game imo.

Shooting mechanics are solid though, too bad for the extremely repetitive structure and non-existent enemy variety.

Both are a chore.

Combat in this game is shit at best. The story is a fucking mess. There is a reason this ip went silent for more than a decade.
Originaly it was to be an open world game in this small town , giving me stephen king vibes and then it turned into this go done this path do these missiins first where you cant barelly survive and random shit just keeps coming at you and wont ler you progress if you dont defete them first.

Alan wake 2 is just ten times worse.
And believe me. I platinumed it.

 

[bundylove]

For those who say the game is shit, you are in the minority

Alan Wake Reviews

Alan Wake is a psychological action thriller, a unique new take in the world of gaming. The game is set in an idyllic all-American small town and its surroundings in the state of Washington. Alan Wake, the game's protagonist, is a bestselling horror writer, who writes a novel about his darkest...

www.metacritic.com

Its shit. Call me the minority

 

[Grildon Tundy]

I dipped into the Alan Wake 1 Remaster but dropped it. Alan Wake 1 is too goofy to ever take seriously, and is not scary in the slightest, but has the signifiers of horror, so it's this weird experience where I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be getting from it.

If Alan Wake 2 didn't have some of the most impressive graphics I'd ever seen, I don't know if I would've finished it. But it did, so I did. Graphics go a long way in "horror" games. AW2 at least had one of the best openings in a horror game I've ever played.

 

[VulcanRaven]

Alan's face looks odd in the remaster. I did like the the game but I wish it was open-world like it was originally supposed to be. There is open-world around you almost all times. The free camera mode is fun.

 

[Vick]

That's what I noticed in recent years.... that going back to some old games I loved ruins them.
Same happened to half life 2 somehow. For first time ever, replay last year kinda dragged on by the end for me.
Same with lost Planet. I finally replayed it for first time ever last year and Hated it by the end lol.
Some old games better remain old games

I would certainly agree in some cases, but I also had a complete and utter blast just last week replaying Jak and Daxter in its entirety, 100% and Platinum. Like, literal BLAST every second of play.

After Astro Bot this year went back and replayed the entire OG Uncharted trilogy, and while at first I was "Oh man, controls sucks compared to Uncharted 4" quickly ended up realizing why Drake's Fortune and Among Thieves are both Top 5 best games of all time for me. Couldn't put the pad down, smiling through the entire things in amusement and admiration.

After the trilogy went to Uncharted 4, and dropped it mid-playthrough. Realized a DF remake with Uncharted 4 mechanics and controls and tasteful/faithful aesthetic would be a truly definitive videogame for me, an arcade I could play and replay all day long till the day I die.

Also replayed the OG Gears of War last year and loved my time with it.

 

[TGO]

I enjoyed the original, there's just something about it that liked
Also a excellent use of Roy Orbison's In Dreams.
Something the AW2 lacked

 

[Senua]

I prefer the original PC version to the remastered. I hate the faces

 

[rofif]

I would certainly agree in some cases, but I also had a complete and utter blast just last week replaying Jak and Daxter in its entirety, 100% and Platinum. Like, literal BLAST every second of play.

After Astro Bot this year went back and replayed the entire OG Uncharted trilogy, and while at first I was "Oh man, controls sucks compared to Uncharted 4" quickly ended up realizing why Drake's Fortune and Among Thieves are both Top 5 best games of all time for me. Couldn't put the pad down, smiling through the entire things in amusement and admiration.

After the trilogy went to Uncharted 4, and dropped it mid-playthrough. Realized a DF remake with Uncharted 4 mechanics and controls and tasteful/faithful aesthetic would be a truly definitive videogame for me, an arcade I could play and replay all day long till the day I die.

Also replayed the OG Gears of War last year and loved my time with it.

yeah uncharted games are great. the first one is kinda so so near the end but 2 and 3 are great.
I replayed all 2-3 years ago.
I still prefer uncharted 4 myself though
Gears trilogy is god tier. I will wait for remasters. I still have my 360 here

 

[diffusionx]

I tried this a few weeks ago and was blown away by what an amazingly shitty, unfun, horrible playing game this is. Like what the FUCK were they thinking with this garbage.

 

[VulcanRaven]

I was so hyped before it was released. It was one of the reasons why I bought Xbox 360.

 

[Killer8]

The remaster is disgusting. One of the worst efforts i've ever seen and i'm shocked it got a pass.

This is one of the most comprehensive comparisons i've seen:



While things like textures were improved, and subjectively speaking the Alan Wake model himself is now more consistent with the real actor (and the sequel), the developer butchered the game's lighting and atmosphere.

Shadow casting is reduced, the nightmare world distortion effect is stripped back, and the game lacks much of the wind effects on foliage found in the original.

 

[Corporal.Hicks]

I loved the original Alan Wake 1 and I dont remember how many times I have replayed it. The story was very unique. The atmosphere and graphics on the PC were just amazing and the combat was fun too (especially on the gamepad).

I also enjoyed Alan Wake 2, but it was a totally different experience. Alan Wake 1 feels more like an arcade shooter compared to sequel. Alan Wake 2 is more mature and offers a horror-like experience. It's also a masterfully presented work of art (musical segment).

 

[Danjin44]

Both Alan Wake 1&2 suffer same issue of BORING enemy design.

They don’t look visuals interesting and not all that fun to fight with.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Great game with a great sequel.

 

[bundylove]

Great game with a great sequel.

No

 

[OmegaSupreme]

No

 

[xrnzaaas]

I LOVE the first game, but the remaster doesn't really improve much besides the graphics. There are still the same issues, like for instance Alan can sometimes glitch in the environment, jumping platforms can be hit-or-miss, the game can still crash when several enemies suddenly spawn (like in the first dlc) and you still can't lock the camera behind the left or right shoulder. It constantly switches between shoulders and it can be infuriating.

I also wish they included American Nightmare, but that probably wasn't possible due to licensing reasons. The dlcs for the first game are quite bad, especially the second one with the huge hamster wheel-like structure. I replay Alan once every few years, but I usually end with the base game.

 

[Hugare]

The remaster is disgusting. One of the worst efforts i've ever seen and i'm shocked it got a pass.

This is one of the most comprehensive comparisons i've seen:



While things like textures were improved, and subjectively speaking the Alan Wake model himself is now more consistent with the real actor (and the sequel), the developer butchered the game's lighting and atmosphere.

Shadow casting is reduced, the nightmare world distortion effect is stripped back, and the game lacks much of the wind effects on foliage found in the original.

Thank you

If you can, OP, do yourself a favor and play the PC version. The remaster is terrible and ruins the game's atmosphere.

 

[Puscifer]

Visuals aside, it's also the better game unfortunately. I've finished Alan Wake three times, one of them recently, while I don't think I'll be returning to the sequel, one time was more than enough.

Survival Horror doesn't need to be 30 hours long, SH 2 remake was losing me by the 20 hour mark. AW 2 is great but it's for sure a one time only title IMO

 

[FireFly]

The cherry on top was when at the end saga makes a comment about alan, saying another white asshole fucked her life up by taking her daughter....after 40 hours i had to listen to that felt just great. White asshole huh? Imagine i call her a black something.

That's not Saga, but the altered version of her. I mean the alter-ego of Wake literally tortures people to death.

 

[Garibaldi]

I had loads of bother with the remaster on pc. It seemed to have a load of rendering errors like stretched polys and such. Thought my card was on the way out but it never happened before and never happened since and I've thrown vastly more intense games at it. Had to refund it in the end.

 

[Moses85]

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

Op explain Alan wake to me. I played the intro level on the cliff and uninstalled. What am I missing? Game seemed like PS2 lvl gameplay.

 

[BigLee74]

Alan Wake shits all over Alan Wake 2 from a great height.

 

[Spukc]

Alan Wake shits all over Alan Wake 2 from a great height.

you didnt play the musical level.
Or the game at all.

Alan wake was the shit.

But fuck me boy… alan wake 2 did some crazy ass shit.

But hey.. HURR DURR STARWARS HURR DURR METAPHOR SHIT BITCH ASS SHEIT STORY TROPES

 

[mdkirby]

Both great games. Control is better tho, and part of their connected universe. Can’t wait for control 2…tho I hope it goes to multiple locations around the US, kinda like the xfiles.

 

[BigLee74]

you didnt play the musical level.
Or the game at all.

Alan wake was the shit.

But fuck me boy… alan wake 2 did some crazy ass shit.

But hey.. HURR DURR STARWARS HURR DURR METAPHOR SHIT BITCH ASS SHEIT STORY TROPES

Oh I played it.

The musical level was tip top gaming - loved it As was coffee world for sheer atmosphere and dread.

Alas, the combat was awful, Saga’s board bored, and it just went on way too long.

Alan Wake was much smaller in scope, but was better for it.

 

[rofif]

you didnt play the musical level.
Or the game at all.

Alan wake was the shit.

But fuck me boy… alan wake 2 did some crazy ass shit.

But hey.. HURR DURR STARWARS HURR DURR METAPHOR SHIT BITCH ASS SHEIT STORY TROPES

Man.... if only Alan Wake 2 had alan wake 1 controls and less talking heads in sagas mind... if only.
I just don't like the controls. Deadzones are fucked and it's so laggy

 

[analog_future]

Alan Wake 2 absolutely blows AW1 out of the water.

 

[Spukc]

Man.... if only Alan Wake 2 had alan wake 1 controls and less talking heads in sagas mind... if only.
I just don't like the controls. Deadzones are fucked and it's so laggy

To the idiot below me.
Alan wake 1 is dope

The deadzone shit rofif naaaaah

 

[adamsapple]

Both AW1 and 2 are fantastic games. They play so differently from each other that I don't even know if a direct comparison between the two should be made.

 

[bender]

Max Payne 2 is an all-time favorite of mine. To say Alan Wake was a disappointment would be an understatement. The game play loop wears out its' welcome in the opening hours and the horror elements did nothing for me. I felt that way when upon release and during a recent play through. I still love Barry adorned in Christmas lights and I do think the game has some of the better AI co-op partners as they feel believable where most other games would have partners that are useless or terminators. And while I haven't played Alan Wake 2 outside of the opening hours, I still think the disappointing Alan Wake is the best thing Remedy has done since Max Payne 2 which makes me feel both old and sad.

 

[amigastar]

Both AW1 and 2 are fantastic games. They play so differently from each other that I don't even know if a direct comparison between the two should be made.

AW ---> Horror Adventure game
AW2 ---> Classic Horror game

 

[Shaki12345]

Typical NeoGaf to bash a popular and highly rated game.

A lot of weird comments in this thread.

 

[DavidGzz]

Visuals aside, it's also the better game unfortunately. I've finished Alan Wake three times, one of them recently, while I don't think I'll be returning to the sequel, one time was more than enough.

You probably "had to be there" at the time cause I played 1 after 2 and couldn't finish it. Just watched a synopsis instead. It's jank.

 

[bundylove]

Both AW1 and 2 are fantastic games. They play so differently from each other that I don't even know if a direct comparison between the two should be made.

You just dropped 50 points on my list.

Do better

 

[bundylove]

Typical NeoGaf to bash a popular and highly rated game.

A lot of weird comments in this thread.

I Platinumed AW2.
I think i have the right to comment on it in a very negative way