Alan Wake 2 – Unique storytelling makes it a gem of gaming horror
If you haven't played it yet, we're telling you right away - you're missing out on one of the best horror experiences of recent years.
Alan Wake 2 is a gem. The game's storytelling reaches a level that just can't be beaten. The atmosphere? Thick as the fog at Cauldron Lake. You can cut through it with a motorbike. And you can often get to it. A huge part of that is the breathtaking graphics and absolutely luxurious sound - every creak in the distance, every shadow, every light has its own meaning.
But what really catapults this game to the top is the storytelling. The switching between two parallel worlds – Alan’s dark “Dark Place” and Agent Saga Anderson’s realistic investigation – works perfectly. Both heroes have their own “hub” – Alan rewrites reality through the storyboard, while Saga connects evidence and builds a case in her thinking room. It’s innovative, fun and most importantly: engaging.
The gameplay is fluid, the combat is exciting, and while it can be a bit of a pain, it's still fun. For players who want to focus more on the story than the challenge, there's a story mode - with a lower difficulty, but not zero. And since this is a proper survival horror, be prepared for limited inventory and careful planning of every bullet.
The only thing that slows down the pace here and there are the open passages. Sometimes I felt like the game was slipping into a "run here and there" simulator instead of an atmospheric horror. Collecting all the collectibles at once can also slow down the experience - and yet the biggest gems are hidden in those linear, intense passages where Alan Wake 2 really shines.
Bottom line: Alan Wake 2 is a masterpiece of game storytelling. You'll forgive it for a few minor structural lapses - because this game will play with you. And you'll play with it with gusto. An absolute must for horror fans.
