Re: Alan Wake
 

I fucking told you!

Re: Alan Wake
 

I didn't doubt you, I just couldn't listen until I played the game!

Re: Alan Wake
 

Which is perfect for the game - it's a Stephen King story brought to videogames. Normal people put in fucked up circumstances. They get tired after sprinting, they aren't top marksmen - and sometimes they need to run while shitting their pants to make it to safety. If Oy had made an appearance, I would've been in heaven.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Quick (legit) question - since I'm still on the fence on buying this one.....I just downloaded all 6 webisodes from xboxlive - will watching them spoil anything from the game?

Re: Alan Wake
 

I watched them long before I played the game and I don't think so. It's a prequel, but it does a cool thing of introducing real-world actors as certain in-game characters.

I need to go back and watch them now that I'm finished.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Cool - thanks.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Alan Wake is barely in any of the episodes so nothing is spoiled. It's basically just introducing you to the town.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I just got this today at Kmart. I played the first episode tonight after Mad Men. Pretty fucking cool game. Can someone tell me why I'm collecting thermoses? Are they just the COG tags of this game to unlock Achievements, or do they serve any other purpose (like health)?

Re: Alan Wake
 

just finished the game, going to start the DLC soon. had fun but can't see myself playing through the story again on nightmare. the combat was annoying at times and there was a lot of filler running through the woods. thermoses are collectibles for an achievement.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Achievements... and I read that it's a nod to Twin Peaks and the dev teams obsession with coffee.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I'm amazed they didn't find a corporate sponsor for the thermos.

Re: Alan Wake
 

So, does the gameplay change at all after the 1st two epsidoes? I got sick of "Shine a Light, Shoot (Run)"

Re: Alan Wake
 

:lol:

Re: Alan Wake
 

Sorry, no, the game doesn't change. Outside of a few scripted sequences you can just focus on the "run" aspect.

Re: Alan Wake
 

It's way different. Later on you get a bigger flashlight. :eek:

Re: Alan Wake
 

Hey, didn't I make it clear I just started this game?
USE SPOILERS!!!!


;)

Re: Alan Wake
 

And a bigger shotgun!

Re: Alan Wake
 

Ok, I watched all 6 webisodes and completed episodes one and two last night.

The webisodes were very well done for what they were - I enjoyed them.

The game. Well it's a mixed bag. First, you can notice why this game took forever to come out. Not by just detail alone but this game has the biggest mix of up to date and out of date graphics ever, voice synch is a little off...etc. They basically started developing this thing too early, found out they could do things a little better then went back to the drawing board - they really should have done what Rockstar did with GTA IV....just wait a while before even starting - I by no means loved GTA IV (I love the episodes from liberty city) but it's just an example that waiting it out is a better option.

Story wise it's top notch, I love Stephen King anyway so this game was very easy to get into.

So here's the problem and prob the reason I won't be coming back to finish it.....the gameplay. It's pretty boring. I mean yeah, the taken are cool and everything and they always keep me on edge but running out of ammo (even when being conservative with ammo...so conservative to the point that I pulled of a double kill and got the achievement for it during the first episode) and the same old point your light and shoot just got so tired after a while and what they make you do at the end of episode 2 is ridiculous.

I love the tv shows (can't remember the name of the show) and the environments are very well done.

Also, I do love the realism in the game as far as how often you have to reload, change batteries, how your guy stumbles, how out of shape he is after running.....it all makes sense and works but it doesn't balance out with the underwhelming combat.

It's a mixed bag for me...I do like it and the game doesn't suck by any means but like one person said earlier; I don't know if I have it in me to finish.

Re: Alan Wake
 

It's a little more ironic that the first (of MANY) product placements you see is for Sync by Ford.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Ok, This game stuck with me for the entire day I stopped playing.....So I re-rented it and got through Episode 3 and I'm almost done with 4.

Episode 3 was excellent as it wasn't the same old combat back to back. Yeah it was a long one but well worth it. Episode 4 is really great as well and again, since I love Stephen King....well, 4 is basically ALL Stephen King so far. I can definitely see how some people would roll their eyes at all the homages but for all fellow King geeks out there.....I'm guessing they're all like me and can't get enough.

Oh, and the graphics when you reach the outside of the lodge (looking down) are prob the best I've ever seen in a game.....I just stood there for a good while checking it out - pretty incredible shit.

Glad I decided to go back to this game....Episodes 1 & 2 weren't bad, I just thought that's all the game would have in store......I was definitely wrong.

I'm definitely going to be buying this one as well (can't believe it's $39.99 already and you get a $20.00 coupon for gaming at some retailers if you buy it) so I can play the DLC's. I hope there will be more than 2 of them.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Interesting. I did Episode 2 tonight. I love the game's presentation and the graphics (especially lighting, which is maybe the best I've ever seen in a game). Not all that much fun to play so far.
First of all I have problems with any game that encourages you to keep moving and running away that at the same time wants you to explore for collectibles. Hell, I even had a problem with it in last year's masterpiece Uncharted 2. For me, at least, it takes you out of the protagonist's view to say to yourself "I have to hurry and save him... just as soon as I check what's behind this rock over here in case there's a thermos". In both those games, the searching for collectibles takes you out of what is otherwise a very organic and cinematic experience and makes it feel much more game-like.
My other "problem" is that I don't really see much incentive to stand there and "kill" all the Taken if there's no benefit to it over just running past them and sprinting to the next streetlight. The main reason I'm fighting them at all is because, so far, if I didn't there wouldn't be much game to play.

I'm not meaning to bash this high quality game, but I'd be lying to say I was over the moon for it so far.

Re: Alan Wake
 

You hit on a lot of how I felt when first playing but hang in there....once you get to E.3 things change. Nothing drastic but it just gets more involving.

And yes you are correct...there is no reason to fight all the taken other than to unlock specific achievements based on how you take them out.

Oh, and I beat the game last night.....that last 'fight' rivals the ending fight in dead space - I really dug that - and the story makes sooooooome sense to me but I guess I kinda like that I don't understand every little thing.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I guess it made sense to me too. I just took it as ... but that would be kinda lame. Since I just finished the main campaign today I d/l The Signal and hope that sheds some light too. I really, really enjoyed the game after the 3rd chapter... especially with Barry wearing the Xmas lights on his coat :)

Re: Alan Wake
 

:lol:

It's one hell of a ride

Re: Alan Wake
 

Need to do my Nightmare run so I can get to The Signal.

Re: Alan Wake
 

The Signal felt like it was set on Nightmare setting be default. I found it harder than the regular game.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I'm looking forward to it. This game definitely didn't get enough props from the gaming world. My only gripe is that the chapters seemed too long. I could have picked 2-3 ending points in each chapter only to find the level to keep going.

I also never understood the complainers of too little ammo. I never seemed to run out of ammo. Maybe this was one of those games that I was actually good at :)

Re: Alan Wake
 

The Signal is much harder than the actual game. I've already died 5 or 6 times and I just got to the basement.

Re: Alan Wake
 

they expect you to already have an idea of how the game plays, so they do make it harder right away....

Re: Alan Wake
 

Rob, have you played through on Nightmare?

Re: Alan Wake
 

No, I don't have that kind of ambition :shrug: and I literally have a backlog of 12-13 games that I want to get to. I plan to get thru all the DLC for Alan Wake though as I doubt there will be a sequel.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I just started Nightmare yesterday and I've only got the final episode left. It hasn't been that tough if you just run, run, run.

Does the same strategy work in The Signal or do you have to fight more?

Re: Alan Wake
 

Not sure... running, to me, is probably the most frustrating part. I want to run away at times, but I find myself getting slammed by a thrown axe or an equally fast Taken. Wake has a huge stamina issue IMO.

I find myself fighting every last Taken in The Signal. It's got a unique twist to it on how you can defeat them and how you acquire weapons and batteries... you'll see. Very, very cool.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I get that Al isn't in great shape, but at some point "fight or flight" adrenaline has to kick in. Unless he's morbidly obese, has emphysema or some undiagnosed cardiac condition, it seems unlikely that when faced with certain death he would slow to a leisurely saunter after just a few dozen yards sprinting away from an angry Taken.

Re: Alan Wake
 

^^ Exactly. I'm thinking that if my ass is on the line, I'm booking for at least a mile or so. He needs to take off his jacket too -- that can't be helping his sprinters form.

Re: Alan Wake
 

The same strategy works for the most part. There may be a few more tight spots in The Signal where you're almost forced to fight, but you can run through the most difficult (i.e., Taken Swarm) sections.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I played through it last night and had 0 issues. I would have got all the achievements in one go if I knew what to expect from the ending sequence. Died a few times and had 0 flare gun shots. I plan to fix that up this morning and lend out the game this weekend.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I finished The Singal today and honestly I feel a bit ripped off. I kinda feel like it's just this loooong journey or madness and Remedy will release DLC after DLC to pillage of us $10 or so just to find the true ending. This game should have probably been an 8 chapter game that actually FINISHES the story and doesn't force us to fork over $80 (or what have you) to do it. Still a great game but Remedy seems to be taking a page from EA in the "screw the customer" book.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I disagree with that. I think the 6 episodes included on the disc told a complete story. The little shot of really brought closure to it.

I didn't really consider The Signal as a continuation of that story but rather a new story that Alan is encountering in his new home. We already know there's a 2nd DLC coming called "The Writer" but I'm not really sure what that's about yet. But if it has even half the production quality of The Signal, I won't complain.

Oh, and plus the 7th episode was really free anyway for original purchasers so it's hard to feel ripped off ;)

Re: Alan Wake
 

You obviously caught more of the story than I did... when

I don't feel ripped off because I love the game. I guess I just hope the entire saga is wrapped up with the next DLC and not a continuation of Wake