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My name is Alan Wake. I'm a writer. |OT|
- Thread starter BruceLeeRoy
- Start date
Lostconfused
Member
Maybe I'll revise my opinion after playing on nightmare but for now this game isn't scary because it doesn't build tension. Partly because yes the enemies almost never jump out at you and even if they suddenly appear behind Alan the camera jumps further out to show that they are coming and also yes because its rather easy on normal.derFeef said:
I guess its kind of similar to how people don't think that Dead Space or Resident Evil 4 are really that scary. To be honest Dead Space freaked me out more than Alan Wake does right now.
Which leads me to agreeing with the above quote. I put of playing DS for months because I found that the game made me to tense/scared. While I expect to make it through Alan Wake in a day and a half maybe. Just finished chapters 1 and 2 without any trouble.itsinmyveins said:
SlasherJPC
Banned
Lostconfused said:
Well and that makes sense if something jumping out at you is the one of the sole things that scares you. For me scares come from sudden moments, tension, and atmosphere. Which the game has in spades. I get freaked out just when the forest starts getting dark and the wind starts roaring! *shudders*
LabouredSubterfuge
Member
slasher_thrasher21 said:
I agree that it raises tension because you know they're coming but the problem lies in the taken's routine appearance. The game has a lot of opportunities to fuck with you and it barely takes any of them. I'm enjoying the game. It's well paced and pretty polished. However, I feel like they could've done more to increase the scares.
Shake Appeal
Member
The main issue is introducing 90% of enemies with a 'dramatic' slow-motion camera pull. It's rare that you get to anticipate enemies (e.g. in Condemned, where you see a shelf get knocked over and footsteps moving overhead), and even rarer that they catch you off-guard.
Lostconfused
Member
Even then the enemies almost never shut up. So if you don't see them you still know exactly where they are and that they are seconds away from getting shot in the face.Cant0na said:
BruceLeeRoy
Banned
Alright so I got the game late last night and played up to when
and good lord I haven't felt this unnerved and genuinely creeped out since the first SH. When your walking through the cabin with the power off and the boards are creaking and you can hear wind rustling the trees outside its sets me completely on edge. Anyways I am not far but I am so into this game. Its everything I was hoping for. Also the graphics outside of the characters faces are incredible.
Alice gets kidnapped
Shake Appeal
Member
The tensest moments are when the shadows and mist descend and enemies will respawn constantly until you push through to the next area.
But then I'm of the opinion that respawning enemies are essential to truly putting fear the player.
But then I'm of the opinion that respawning enemies are essential to truly putting fear the player.
I do not get the no tension comments. My hearts starts pounding when (slight gameplay spoiler)
you remove the dark presence from a big guy and he starts to rage and then storms into your direction. Or the ultra fast guys, especially when there are two of them and one sneaks up to you.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Lostconfused said:
Well at this point it just seems some of us gaffers find it scarier (or more intense I should say) then others. I don't think thats hard to wrap your head around. Personally the taken scare me more with just their presence and the fact they attack in packs. Other scares alone come from small subtly sounds, and movments in the backgrounds, etc. Though I'm playing on hard and definetly have to use the dodge move ALOT.
i think remedy were trying more to creep you out and unnerve you with the setting more than give you jump scares like dead spaceLostconfused said:
if you were expecting doom3/dead space style constant pops i can see where you dont see the scare. imo its more tension than scare (especially on the harder settings)
lowrider007
Licorice-flavoured booze?
Played a couple of hours last night, lights off, surround on, like others say the atmosphere is fantastic, overall graphically it's not amazing but the lighting effects are something to behold, also great audio engineering, story thus far is also quite interesting, glad I picked this up.
Lostconfused
Member
Fine I'll reserve my opinion until I play nightmare. Because they clearly made normal the default easy mode so that you could get through it with minimum amount of effort.slasher_thrasher21 said:Well at this point it just seems some of us gaffers find it scarier (or more intense I should say) then others. I don't think thats hard to wrap your head around. Personally the taken scare me more with just their presence and the fact they attack in packs. Other scares alone come from small subtly sounds, and movments in the backgrounds, etc. Though I'm playing on hard and definetly have to use the dodge move ALOT.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Lostconfused said:
Oh your on normal? Yeah should have at least started on hard. Seems most people think hard feels like normal, and normal feels easy. I'm looking forward to nightmare mode myself. Maybe the tension of the enemies will rack up for you on harder difficulties. I know on hard mode, a regular taken can take on upward to 4-5 shots after burning away the darkness. Add in a group of three of them at once and you got your work cut out for you.
Shake Appeal
Member
I thought Hard was a little too easy (except for one bizarre difficulty spike in Episode 5, when you
, but that was probably just me), so I'm looking forward to the Nightmare playthrough.
While I have a list of complaints (the main ones would be the lack of difficulty, the sheer amount of cutscenes or close-to-uninteractive sequences, and the goddamned giant help/waypoint thing in the upper left), there are far too many great things about this game for me not to love it. For something I've looked forward to for five or six years and been on a rollercoaster of anticipation and disappointment about, that's a significant achievement.
And the story is really, really smart, at least for a genre mystery-thriller piece.
fight in a small warehouse while Poets of the Fall play on the radio
While I have a list of complaints (the main ones would be the lack of difficulty, the sheer amount of cutscenes or close-to-uninteractive sequences, and the goddamned giant help/waypoint thing in the upper left), there are far too many great things about this game for me not to love it. For something I've looked forward to for five or six years and been on a rollercoaster of anticipation and disappointment about, that's a significant achievement.
And the story is really, really smart, at least for a genre mystery-thriller piece.
Still gotta go pick up this beaut - I know a store that is selling the LE for 60 and regular for 50-55, so that ain't shabby at all...
Haven't read or looked at any reviews or videos at all aside from the trailers from a few months back so I'll be going in cold turkey.
Can these 6 episode videos you guys are talking about be watched before playing the game, or better yet, should they be watched before playing the game?
Haven't read or looked at any reviews or videos at all aside from the trailers from a few months back so I'll be going in cold turkey.
Can these 6 episode videos you guys are talking about be watched before playing the game, or better yet, should they be watched before playing the game?
SlasherJPC
Banned
Skilotonn said:
Def check them out before the game. It is a prequel series after all! You will get some apprecation for things in the game because of this.
Shake Appeal
Member
A 'regular' Taken takes three revolver rounds on Hard, and four on Nightmare. I presume they take two on Normal. Some of the quicker, smaller guys only take two bullets on Hard, while the heavier dudes take a full barrel.slasher_thrasher21 said:
Look forward to seeing how many rounds you have to put into
a chainsaw dude
Not really finding it scary, but the tension is growing as the game progresses and I am absorbed into the narrative. Anytime the darkness comes and messes with the environment always has me on the edge of my gaming chair.
They did go a bit overboard with collectables though. Having that usual problem of missing certain 'what waz dat??' events because I am constantly panning around the environment for coffee mugs or whatever instead of focusing purely on the objective.
REALLY can't wait to replay the game with commentary turned on though after its all over.
They did go a bit overboard with collectables though. Having that usual problem of missing certain 'what waz dat??' events because I am constantly panning around the environment for coffee mugs or whatever instead of focusing purely on the objective.
REALLY can't wait to replay the game with commentary turned on though after its all over.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Shake Appeal said:A 'regular' Taken takes three revolver rounds on Hard, and four on Nightmare. I presume they take two on Normal. Some of the quicker, smaller guys only take two bullets on Hard, while the heavier dudes take a full barrel.
Look forward to seeing how many rounds you have to put intoon Nightmare.a chainsaw dude
I swear I put four or five in one of them and he still lived. Though maybe I just missed when I think about it. :lol I had one rushing me, and the other two throwing hatchets at me! I was quite tense lol.
BruceLeeRoy
Banned
Oh one thing I hate. The run mechanic. I know its probably supposed to make you feel tense but it just makes me realize that apparently I shouldn't feel panicked that there is a big ass tornado chasing me because the developers are only letting me walk like I am taking a stroll around a pond after a sunday picnic.
Lostconfused said:
Well that's your problem right there, unfortunately.
Sounds like you're still early in. Maybe you should consider restarting and playing it on Hard. Game's meant to be played that way; running low on ammo is what creates the tension.
Shake Appeal said:A 'regular' Taken takes three revolver rounds on Hard, and four on Nightmare. I presume they take two on Normal. Some of the quicker, smaller guys only take two bullets on Hard, while the heavier dudes take a full barrel.
Look forward to seeing how many rounds you have to put intoon Nightmare.a chainsaw dude
On Hard it took a flash bang right on top of him plus three hunting rifle shots to the face to take one down. Only thing that survives a flash bang. :lol
slasher_thrasher21 said:
Those counts of how many bullets it takes are for when you've burned the darkness away entirely, I think.
just cant keep himself out of his games
"And when he swore to bring back his love
By the stories hed create
Nightmares shifted endlessly
In the darkness of the lake"
"And when he swore to bring back his love
By the stories hed create
Nightmares shifted endlessly
In the darkness of the lake"
SlasherJPC
Banned
stupei said:
Ahh maybe that was it. Sometimes its so nerve wracking, its like "did I burn the darkness away on that enemy completely?, or wait was it that enemy... ohh shittt there's another one.. FUCKKKKKKKKKK"
And that why for me the game battles and the taken are intense! :lol That shit is a perfect example of what is running through my head most the time fighting these guys.
Lostconfused said:
What difficulty are you playing at?
Lostconfused said:
Not at all, it takes a few moments to drain them with my torch. Unless im stocked up with flash grenades or flare gun ammo.
AW builds tension by throwing you in locations where their MIGHT be something about to kick off. If it does or doesn't, the fear of that potential is the mind trip. I feel this is how it builds tension.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Prine said:
He is on normal. As he stated above. BTW, is there anywhere that tells your game time, or has everyone just been tracking it themselves when posting their times. I couldnt find a time anywhere in the menus.
Shake Appeal
Member
There's no time counter, sadly, but I think I put about 14 hours into it on my first playthrough.
But I do tend to play games like this very slowly, soaking in the atmosphere.
But I do tend to play games like this very slowly, soaking in the atmosphere.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Shake Appeal said:
Would most say that the first episode is the shortest? It took me about 2 hours and 15 minuntes on hard. Just trying to figure out how long the other episodes will take me roughly.
I'm afraid I might becoming fatigued with the night environment. I'm only in chapter 3, but I have this feeling of familiarity with some of the dark blueish, foggy forests. I hear episode 4 spices it up a bit, though...looking forward to trying that later today.
Also, I really wish I watched Twin Peaks. I'm obviously missing so much.
Also, I really wish I watched Twin Peaks. I'm obviously missing so much.
Shake Appeal
Member
Yeah, I think so. Or at least, I was surprised by how long Episode 2 and 3 were in comparison, and 4-6 seemed about the same.slasher_thrasher21 said:
I don't think anyone can really complain about the length of this, though obviously there's no multiplayer or much else that extends the life of it past Nightmare difficulty and the collectibles.
SlasherJPC
Banned
Shake Appeal said:
Well from the sounds of it, it sound like a perfect length. Games like Alan Wake I replay countless times over for the story and setting. No multiplayer required on replays for me!
Does anyone know what happens if you run out of ammo? I am playing on Hard.
I ran out of ammo at one point and literally used my last 2 bullets to kill the last two enemies I was fighting. I was then out of ammo and worried what I would do if I ran into any more. Thankfully I made it to a cut-scene without running into anyone.
So what would happen? Are you just screwed and have to die and re-play hopefully using less ammo? Is there any way to defeat enemies without bullets? Or do you just run for it and hope you make it to the next chapter :lol
edit: assume you have no other gear (no flares etc..)
I ran out of ammo at one point and literally used my last 2 bullets to kill the last two enemies I was fighting. I was then out of ammo and worried what I would do if I ran into any more. Thankfully I made it to a cut-scene without running into anyone.
So what would happen? Are you just screwed and have to die and re-play hopefully using less ammo? Is there any way to defeat enemies without bullets? Or do you just run for it and hope you make it to the next chapter :lol
edit: assume you have no other gear (no flares etc..)
SlasherJPC
Banned
Prine said:
Yeah I'm sure alot of people are bound to play on normal. Hard truly is the way to go first time. Makes the combat fun, tense, and exciting! :lol OHH SHIT... here they come again! :lol
Shake Appeal
Member
I don't think I ran out of ammo once. I'm not even sure how you would go about doing that, unless you sat in one of the respawning areas for a while.
itsinmyveins
Gets to pilot the crappy patrol labors
Lostconfused said:
I thought both Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 were scarier too. In the case of RE4 it's not the zombies per se, but the damn enemies that are nearly undefeatable (dude with chainsaw for example) in combination with the cat in the closet type of scares that stress me out, something that isn't frequent at all in Alan Wake, I think.
Don't get me wrong, Alan Wake is spooky at times (slowly walking through tht lumber yard early in the game comes to my mind) but I'm not constantly expecting an enemy to jump out right in front of me and scream or anything. It's the right amount of scary and I can deal with playing it alone in the middle of the night -- something which I found more difficult with Dead Space.
The fighting is also well adjusted for me. It's tense and occasionally I died while playing through Alan Wake. There's always that nagging feeling of "there's one of those bastards right behind me now, isn't there?" but it didn't get to the point where it felt like a cheap scare but rather a pattern for the enemy to attack -- from several sides at once. Never knowing if one of them was right there and then turning around swiftly and seeing your flashlight illuminating nothing but some grass and trees, when you almost expected a shadow, does a lot for the atmosphere in the game, I'd say.
Vustadumas
Banned
Played through mid Episode 2 last night. Really digging the atmosphere, and the way the story is presented. The TV spots are pretty cool. Graphics are hit and miss, but generally do a decent enough job. Lip sync is laughable, and Bright Falls should be renamed to Uncanny Valley
i'm not sure if they're in optional off-the-path areas, but i've had enemies jump out at me. there's one specific place that comes to mind in episode 2.
.
i've also had plenty of times where enemies appear behind you and you have no idea they're there until you get an axe in your back. this has happened several times when the enemies come in groups. on hard mode at least, the AI is pretty good at getting the enemies to run around objects and come at you from all sides if you're not careful with the flashlight. sometimes, depending upon the location, they'll run behind rocks and trees where you can't hit them and come up really quick on your side.
if you walk into the men's bathrooms before getting into the truck, an enemy will jump out of the stall as you try to leave.
i've also had plenty of times where enemies appear behind you and you have no idea they're there until you get an axe in your back. this has happened several times when the enemies come in groups. on hard mode at least, the AI is pretty good at getting the enemies to run around objects and come at you from all sides if you're not careful with the flashlight. sometimes, depending upon the location, they'll run behind rocks and trees where you can't hit them and come up really quick on your side.