When attempting to describe what precisely is happening in Alan Wake 2, I find myself reaching for technical terms. Nearly all people on the internet also do. This massively expensive follow-up to Survival Horror (2010) employs a shock-and-awe tactic directly targeted at your awareness. The game seduces and hopelessly confounds you while deftly manipulating your thoughts. At first, it makes you angry, but when everything finally fall into place, your anger transforms into a profound sense of gratitude. This is, by far, the riskiest and priciest venture that Remedy Entertainment has ever undertaken. The (formerly) modest Finnish studio's masterpiece, Alan Wake 2, incorporates key elements from their earlier works into a single, very ambitious meta offering.

Releasing the Black Lodge

Thirteen years have passed since the well-known author Alan Wake mysteriously disappeared from the quiet village of Bright Falls. Of course, we are aware of his confrontation with the Dark Presence and his valiant choice to take up residence inside of it in order to save everyone—including his spouse. That dude, real agent Cooper. Now the darkness is seething once again under the volcanic caldera lake. The slow-moving mountain hamlet is shaken by the cult-like killings, which spark an FBI inquiry that will reveal much more than anybody could have imagined.

The central theme of Alan Wake 2 is duality, beginning with FBI agent Saga Anderson, the second main character. Alan's writing, which is driven by his desire to free himself from the confines of his sinister, otherworldly prison, shapes Saga's reality. Alan is creating the story that seems to be true in an effort to break through the curtain and get away from the evil force. The narrative is brought to life in the most gory manner imaginable, unleashing dark horrors masterminded by the evil force bent on changing the course of history.

The dichotomy between Alan and Saga brings the paradox to life. Following a short introduction that sets the scene, you will be able to take control of both characters in their different settings. Saga's universe steadily deviates from objective reality, but it never really does. Instead, it becomes dangerously distorted. Alan does not have the luxury since he is trapped within the Black Lodge and must make his way through a noir version of neon-lit, rain-slicked fake New York. While Alan creates the narrative in real time, influencing Saga's and Alan's destiny, Saga attempts to piece together precisely what is happening.

A pen's power surpasses that of a sword

This explanation certainly makes the whole situation seem unclear. That state of affairs will persist for a few hours even if you see it directly. Being an ardent watcher of Twin Peaks' first two seasons, I had my suspicions at first that Remedy had gone full David Lynch. Naturally, I'm referring to the controversial third season, which debuted 25 years after the second. For a time, Alan Wake 2 definitely evokes feelings of late-stage lunacy, but at the halfway mark, it becomes quite focused. I can't emphasize this enough because I'm so tired of mindf*ck material that never gets any attention. For a time, Alan Wake 2 will entertain you, but it won't make you seem like a WTF. It will come to a very pleasant conclusion.

Saga and Alan are both, in the widest sense, survival horror heroes who work in hazardous, resource-starved circumstances. But there are several significant systems where they diverge. As a detective, Saga will mostly look for hints and details, tying everything together in her "Mind Place," where she will make connections, describe the suspects, and go over Alan's manuscript pages to advance the story. She will also converse extensively with the ensemble of wildly diverse people, which includes her companion Alex, who has Sam Lake's likeness from Remedy. The one with Max Payne, you know? The Federal Bureau of Control's look connects the Control and Alan Wake franchises, adding to the meta-content. It everything becomes clear eventually.

Transdimensional navigation

The transition between the main characters is the most brilliant aspect of Alan Wake 2's structure. You may switch between the Saga and Alan worlds, and vice versa, at the majority of break rooms, which are also locations where you can save your game. Our author lives in The Dark Place, which has much laxer laws about what is real. Alan wants to get away, but in order to do so, he must confront his creation and make a quick plan to go around the Dark Presence. His levels are often quite puzzling and mechanically more challenging. In order to get the section of the novel closer to its climax, he will need to change the zones and scenes. In order to unblock previously blocked passageways, Alan will also need to solve special challenges involving the transmission of light across scenes. It takes a lot of trial and error to determine what the final aim is in this procedure.

They share the action of combat with Taken. Saga and Alan utilize the combination flashlight and gun to dispel the Taken's darkness barrier before injecting them with hot lead. The Taken now appear in a wider variety, although the mechanism is essentially the same as it was in the first game. Ammo and healing/utility supplies are scarce, much as in any other typical Resident Evil game. Even if you are a reckless player who enjoys wasting resources, the game will always ensure that you have plenty of everything. Save for the boss battles and set pieces that you need to finish in order for the plot to progress, you can usually avoid fighting.

Very strong candidate for GOTY

Alan Wake 2 is yet another excellent game that deserves to be Game of the Year in a year full of incredible releases. Remedy has developed throughout the years as a developer, but this time it seems like they've reached a simultaneous crescendo of boundless funding and boundless imagination. This game, which we have unhappily seen far too often, is a reminder that sustained success does not always equate to stagnation. It is by far their greatest work to date. An excellent example of someone establishing and exceeding their own objectives is Alan Wake 2.