The Ultimate Thriller: Alan Wake 2 Takes Survival Horror to New Heights

Highlights

Alan Wake 2 is shifting towards a traditional survival horror experience to advance its characters, story, and gameplay for the current generation.

The sequel's deviation from its original tone and style poses a risk of diminishing the unique attributes that set it apart among horror titles, potentially diminishing its distinctive charm and quirkiness. Additionally, the shift towards a more frightening and realistic atmosphere, the reduction or absence of humor, the alteration in camera perspective, and the elongation of the game's duration could significantly impact its identity and overall enjoyment, leading to comparisons and potential problems with pacing.

Alan Wake 2 is nearing its release, and it is evident from the information released so far that it will offer a traditional survival horror experience. Remedy Entertainment, the developer, has openly discussed the change in design philosophy for this highly anticipated sequel to the 2010 game, Alan Wake. The objective behind this shift is to progress the characters, story, and gameplay in line with the current generation.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of darker and grittier survival horror games, with the success of modern remakes of classic titles. The release of Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019 set off this trend, followed by other games like Dead Space. Subsequent releases, particularly Resident Evil 4, have shown that the old-school survival horror genre is still thriving. However, by altering its original tone and style to align more with these games, Alan Wake 2 risks losing what made it unique among horror titles, as perceived by its fans.

Alan Wake 2’s Lean Into Full Survival Horror Runs a Big Risk

The transition of Alan Wake into the survival horror genre seamlessly incorporates elements of gameplay, design, characters, and plot. The game grants players sufficient resources and time to confront threats effectively. Furthermore, the narrative creates a believable and immersive world where players can immerse themselves before delving into the darker aspects of the story.

Drawing inspiration from Twin Peaks, Stephen King, and The Twilight Zone, the original title of Alan Wake encompasses a delightful quirkiness in its characters and overall tone. Although there are moments of intense fright, there is an underlying sense of subtle allure, as if in a dream. Rather than being solely focused on horror, the game carries a B-movie atmosphere, providing a welcome respite from a relentlessly grim and exasperating experience. These unique angles contribute to the lasting impression of Alan Wake.

Developers have mentioned that for the sequel, they want to make Alan Wake 2 more realistic and grounded. While this approach could make the game scarier, it might also take away from what made the original unique in terms of its world and characters. Remedy has a history of incorporating humor into their games, even in serious ones like Max Payne and Quantum Break. Alan Wake had its fair share of lighthearted moments, and toning them down or removing them completely in the sequel might make it feel less engaging and likable compared to previous versions.

There are a few other factors to consider when it comes to Alan Wake 2 fully embracing survival horror. Firstly, the switch in camera perspective, although likely to increase tension, could make the game seem similar to other modern survival horror titles like Resident Evil. This could lead to direct comparisons and potentially detract from the unique qualities of Alan Wake 2. Additionally, the sequel will be twice as long as the original, which raises concerns about pacing and the possibility of padding. It's important that Alan Wake 2 doesn't sacrifice the elements that made it stand out just to follow industry trends. Instead, it should build upon and evolve what fans already enjoy about the franchise.

Alan Wake 2 releases October 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.