Alan Wake 2: A Comprehensive Guide for Newcomers

Article Key Points

Utilize Saga's Mind Room to place clues and advance objectives. It doesn't pause gameplay, so choose the right moment to visit.

Access the Mind Room's filing cabinet system to effortlessly manage various case files, ensuring efficient tracking of ongoing investigations and enabling the initiation of new cases.

Immerse yourself in the environment, meticulously scouring for covert clues, valuable collectibles, and insightful maps to enhance weapon capabilities. Regularly consult the map to unveil intriguing points of interest and maximize exploration.

Alan Wake 2 offers a thrilling survival horror adventure, incorporating innovative systems and mechanics that players will need to familiarize themselves with as they delve into a string of murders in Bright Falls and its surrounding areas. As players embark on their journey, Alan Wake 2 gradually introduces its fundamental gameplay elements, but there are also certain aspects that it may not explicitly clarify. To aid beginners in navigating the game's numerous surprises, we have compiled a selection of valuable tips and tricks specifically tailored to the initial hours of gameplay, where horror and mystery seamlessly intertwine.

1. Use Saga's Mind Room Often

One of the first mechanics introduced in Alan Wake 2 is Saga Anderson's interactive Case Board located in the Mind Room. To progress in the game and the story, players are required to regularly visit the Case Board and correctly place discovered clues. If players find themselves unsure of what to do next while playing as Saga, the Case Board is the ideal place to seek guidance.

The Case Board menus provide helpful cues with yellow dots, indicating actions that players need to take. Additionally, yellow post-its act as guides, changing to green once the corresponding line of investigation is complete. However, it's important to note that using the Mind Room does not pause gameplay, so players should carefully choose the right moment to visit it.

2. Check Other Case Files On The Case Board

Players should not only profile characters and navigate the Case Board but also regularly check and access various case files in the Mind Room to stay updated on all ongoing investigations. This feature proves particularly valuable as players advance through The Heart, the second chapter of Alan Wake 2.

Within the Case Board, players can utilize a filing cabinet system to switch between different case files. This becomes essential when players successfully conclude a case and require access to a new one. Additionally, case files are marked with yellow dots to indicate specific tasks or actions that players need to address.

3. Explore The Environment For Clues, Maps, And Collectibles

In Alan Wake 2, while it's not completely open-world, there is a notable abundance of paths and locations to explore while investigating an area, creating an immersive open-world experience. As players take on the role of Saga and navigate to specific map locations, deviating from the main route can uncover additional clues or collectibles like lunchbox locations containing manuscripts, crucial for upgrading weapons in the game. Furthermore, thorough exploration allows players to come across more useful maps, like when initially entering the Bright Falls diner.

4. Check And Quick-Access Maps Often

Regularly checking the map not only helps newcomers stay aware of their location, but also allows them to uncover additional points of interest, denoted by question marks. When tackling puzzles like the Witch's Hut fuse in Alan Wake 2, potential solutions are often found nearby, making it worthwhile to consult the map and landmark signs around the area in order to stay informed of important locations.

Nevertheless, players are not required to visit the Mind Place to access the map. In Alan Wake 2, utilizing an Xbox controller, simply holding down the select button grants quick access to the map, enabling players to swiftly retrieve the necessary information.

5. Quick-Slot Weapons And Items Pre-Combat

During intense combat in Alan Wake 2, it is crucial to map health recovery items and weapons to a convenient quick-slot location on the D-pad if playing with an Xbox controller. With no time to spare, players should prioritize quick-slotting everything they need for quick access during crucial moments like boss battles or breakpoints.

In combat, tapping the designated slot on the D-pad allows players to swiftly heal or access essential equipment such as batteries, which can be incredibly valuable when facing challenging situations.

6. Shoot Enemy Weak Spots

To effectively combat enemies, it is essential to initially weaken them using the torch's light. Not only does this illuminate their weak spots, which are indicated in red, but it also enables players to strategically target these areas to inflict more damage. By doing so, players can conserve ammo, which proves invaluable when facing formidable adversaries like Nightingale in Alan Wake 2. It is important to note that identifying and striking enemy weak spots is a crucial skill for surviving intense combat situations; however, it is important to remember that weak spots do not necessarily refer to aiming for the head.

7. Dodging Enemy Attacks Is Crucial

Dodging in Alan Wake 2 is crucial for surviving enemy attacks, whether they are close-quarters axe swipes or projectiles thrown from a distance. It is common for enemies to approach and strike swiftly, requiring players to execute well-timed dodges in order to evade their attacks and preserve their health.

Thankfully, the game grants players the ability to dodge while remaining on the ground, enabling them to swiftly retreat before being overwhelmed by powerful adversaries such as Nightingale wielding a massive tree branch.

8. Save Often

In order to prevent repeating parts if they die in combat, it is advisable for players to frequently save their progress in Alan Wake 2. It is particularly important to do so when initially starting the game and becoming familiar with its combat mechanics. By playing as Saga, players are introduced to break-out rooms where they can quickly save their game or choose to manually save. Moreover, prior to reaching the first break room, beginner players can rely on the game's auto-save feature at significant checkpoints, allowing them to take breaks between chapters without the pressure of completing them in a single session.

9. Look Out For Emergency Boxes To Re-supply Ammo And Health

The red emergency supply boxes from the previous installments of Alan Wake, both the original game and the remastered version, are making a comeback in Alan Wake 2. These boxes hold essential items such as health and ammunition, making them a valuable element to keep an eye out for, particularly during boss battles and similar intense situations.

However, opening the boxes and gathering all the contents inside may require some time, so players must carefully choose the right moment to replenish their equipment using these boxes. Since resources are scarce, it is wise for players to use their equipment sparingly.

10. Use Light For Safe Zones

In Alan Wake 2, light serves as both a weapon and a defensive mechanic. Players can use specific well-lit areas as safe zones to protect themselves from certain enemies, like when hiding from Nightingale in the Morgue.

Entering these healing Save Haven areas can render the player's character invisible to certain enemies, providing a moment of respite to restore health or plan an escape route. Additionally, players can seek out other sources of light in the surroundings to discover the path they need to take to evade an enemy, such as locating a lit exit sign above a door.

Alan Wake 2

Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XReleased October 27, 2023Developer(s) Remedy EntertainmentGenre(s) Survival Horror

Editor's P/S

Alan Wake 2 is a highly anticipated sequel to the 2010 psychological thriller video game. The game is set in the fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington, and follows the story of Alan Wake, a writer who is investigating the disappearance of his wife, Alice. The game features an open-world environment, and players can explore the town and its surrounding areas. The game also features a number of side quests, which can be completed to earn rewards.

I am a huge fan of the Alan Wake series, and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Alan Wake 2. I am excited to explore the new open-world environment and to learn more about the story of Alan Wake. I am also looking forward to playing the side quests and earning rewards. I believe that Alan Wake 2 will be a great game, and I can't wait to play it.