Alan Wake 2 Review: Thirteen Years of Darkness, Mystery, and Redemption

It’s Not a Lake… It’s an Ocean…

These chilling words, immortalized by the legendary Alan Wake, resonate even more today. Alan Wake, the renowned and award-winning author, mysteriously vanished in 2010 during a trip to Bright Falls with his wife. Thirteen years later, something unsettling is brewing in Bright Falls, something that feels undeniably horrific.

Thirteen years. That’s how long it’s been since the original Alan Wake was released. Fans speculated for years about a sequel, and in 2023, the wait finally ended with the digital release of Alan Wake 2. For those like me, who prefer physical copies, the announcement at the end of 2023 that the game would get a physical edition, along with DLC, was a beacon of hope. I resisted the temptation to go digital, holding out until I could once again shine a light in the darkness of Bright Falls.

Revisiting the Darkness

Looking back at the first Alan Wake, I’ll admit the gameplay wasn’t its strongest suit. What kept me invested was the narrative. As an author myself, I appreciated the gripping, immersive story it told. So, stepping into Alan Wake 2, I wasn’t just pleasantly surprised—I was blown away. Not only did the story captivate me, but the gameplay also exceeded my expectations. Gone was the clunky, stiff feel of the original. While character movement felt slow, it didn’t detract from the experience.

Two Stories, Two Perspectives

Set thirteen years after Wake’s disappearance, the game introduces us to Saga Anderson, an FBI agent portrayed by Melanie Liburd. Saga and her partner, Alex Casey, investigate a series of murders tied to a mysterious cult called the Cult of the Tree. Fun fact: Alex Casey’s voice is provided by James McCaffrey, the iconic voice of Max Payne, while his physical appearance is based on Sam Lake, the creative director of Alan Wake. This nod to the original Max Payne is a delightful touch, with Alex even donning a Max Payne-inspired outfit during Wake’s segments.

Saga and Alex uncover a strange manuscript page that eerily describes their actions and future events. Recognizing the connection to Alan Wake, they follow a trail of clues leading to his release from the Dark Place.

Meanwhile, the other half of the game lets you step into Alan Wake’s shoes. Played physically by Ilkka Villi and voiced by Matthew Porretta, Wake is trapped in the Dark Place, where he has been for thirteen years. His story revolves around his desperate attempt to escape while preventing his sinister doppelganger, Scratch, from bringing eternal darkness to the world and targeting Wake’s wife, Alice.

Gameplay Dynamics

The game allows players to switch between Saga and Wake’s narratives after a certain point. The gameplay mechanics differ for each. Saga’s sections have a more action-oriented, Resident Evil-style puzzle structure—find this item to progress to the next. Wake’s segments, on the other hand, lean heavily into solving murder scene puzzles to advance his journey. This duality keeps the experience fresh and engaging.

While the game didn’t terrify me as much as other horror titles, it delivered some genuinely tense moments, especially when I was deeply immersed in the story. The soundtrack deserves special mention, with each chapter closing on a powerful original song, making it feel like an episodic TV show.

Final Thoughts

As both an author and a horror fan, Alan Wake 2 was a thrilling, rewarding experience. The game masterfully combines storytelling, atmosphere, and gameplay in a way that’s rare in modern titles.

9/10 – A must-play for fans of narrative-driven horror.

“Show me the champion of liiiiiight… and I’ll show you the herald of darknesssss…”

RIP James McCaffrey – December 17, 2023.