Re: Alan Wake
 

Last night I played through Episode 1 of Alan Wake, the opening of RDR (up to the first opportunity to save), and the first episode of Split/Second. Too many awesome games to play!

I will probably play an episode of Alan Wake every night, if time allows. For me, it's a game that has to be played late at night with the sound way up.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I'm waiting on my copy to show up sometime today.

The first DLC is supposed to be free for people who buy new. Was there a DLC card included in people's cases?

Re: Alan Wake
 

Yep, mine came with a card in the case.

Re: Alan Wake
 

How is it overall as a game? The reason I ask is because while I love first-person immersion-type games, I didn't really like Condemned and just don't get all the creeped out by games (or horror movies, etc.). I'm willing to throw myself into a game, so any input on overall gameplay (if that makes any sense), not just the "scare" factor. Thanks~

Picked up RDR and am LOVING it, so no hurry...

Re: Alan Wake
 

Ep. 3 is a long one...expect 2-3 hours.

Re: Alan Wake
 

check the link in my sig

Re: Alan Wake
 

I managed to pull myself from RDR yesterday long enough to play through the first episode of Alan Wake around 3:00 last night (Perfect time to play too. Dark room, brightness turned down, volume turned up). I might be the only person in the world to say this, but I might prefer AW to RDR. Then again, horror is my favorite genre of anything (books, movies, etc).
I also like the Twin Peaks-esque feeling I get from the game, which is only made stronger by the game being divided up into episodes like a TV show (Complete with previously on recaps at the begining of each!). I am just blown away by this game, but that may be in part from me avoiding much of the hype it had for a while...

The game can be considered 'scary', but I am like you (rarely scared by games/movies) and I would just say it's definitely creepy.
The game of course is a 3rd person action game. Alan is armed with a flashlight in one hand and a firearm of some sort in the other. The enemies are stunned by the flashlight, and pushing one of the left shoulder buttons concentrates the beam on the enemies, and after you weaken them with that, you can shoot them.
Aside from that it's like a survival horror game. Exploring and collecting manuscript pages while trying to just survive and piece together the mystery. The story and atmosphere is where this game really truely shines.

Re: Alan Wake
 

FYI, the last two episodes of Bright Falls hit the marketplace yesterday. I've only scratched the surface on the game, but I'd say that Bright Falls did a pretty good job of reflecting the tone and feel of it. It was pretty cool walking into the diner last night and seeing it (and the waitress) were the same as in the short film.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Ok, wow. This is Twin Peaks. Crazy lady carrying the Coffee looks just like the Log Lady. Even the recep at the Sherrif's office has the same voice. Wowzers!

Re: Alan Wake
 

Just got a email from amazon with a refund for the price drop nice!

Re: Alan Wake
 

Me too. Amazon kicks ass.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Every time someone mentions "Twin Peaks" in this thread a Deadly Premonition fan sheds a tear. Just wanted you all to be aware of your power. :lol:

Re: Alan Wake
 

Nope, Alan Wake is much better so far. RDR 7/10, AW 9/10. I didn't expect much from RDR though, since it's exactly GTA IV, and that game was uber boring. THQ should have made it, then it would have been FUN like Saints Row :)

Re: Alan Wake
 

I just finished playing through episode one. Amazing. Put me in the camp that prefers AW to RDR (not that I'm not totally digging RDR). This is like if David Lynch adapted a Stephen King novel, only you're not just watching it -- you get to live it (virtually speaking), which makes it all the more intense.

If I didn't know how long it took to make a video game, let alone how long this particular game has been in development, I'd think that this game was a response to Roger Ebert's "video games can't be art" nonsense.

Also, after listening to the first few songs on the soundtrack, I really wish I had sprung for the collector's edition.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Played through episode one last night. I really wish they would have gone the extra step at the end there and made it like an episode of TV where credits rolled over the Orbison song.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Not me, got the LE. Sigh. Should have just gotten the regular edition and saved $40.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I'm playing both...I get it.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I received mine yesterday and I loved it too. I read the preface of the book and was really into it. I will read the book when I finish the game.

Yeah, I saw you last night. I checked my FL and there were like 20 people playing RDR and you playing AW. LOL!
And yeah, I saw the end of episode one and was waiting for the credits to roll.

Now, about the game, since I first read about this game I fell in love with it. The initial concept may have been a little different from the actual game that was released but the essence was the same. And that's what made me look for this game.

So I thought there was no way to get disappointed by this game, but at the beginning I really was!!!
Some little complains:
- Graphics are good but they are not great, not for this generation. When the game was announced the graphics were so advanced! :lol:
- NPCs, that's one of the most distracting things of the game, they are really bad. Even The Saboteur has better NPCs. I was specially hard in Episode One seeing Alice, you are suppose to care a lot about her and she was just like a robot. The voice acting is really great though.
- Graphics glitchs. I'm having the same issues that L&O mentioned before (screen tearing). And I'm the kind that is never bothered by them, or I'm never able to see them, but for some reason I'm seeing them this time. They don't happen so often but when they happen they are distracting.

But they are just little, for me, after finishing Episode One I can say I love this game. And if it continues at this quality level it's my first candidate to GOTY!

Re: Alan Wake
 

I've yet to see any screen tearing.

Everyone in this world is a mouth-breather. No one seems able to completely close their mouth.

There's a lot more graphics pop-in than I'd like to see in a 2010 release. And there's a strange disconnect between the gameplay graphics and the cut scenes. Sure the cut scenes look better, but there's just something off between the two. Like a different filter being used or a different contrast setting. It's rather jarring when the game switches back and forth, IMO.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Screen tearing is bad in lit areas. Luckily most of the game is in the dark so its easy to blend in and not be too noticeable. I'm also seeing some crazy ass shaking thing going on when it goes to cut scenes sometimes. Like the entire letterboxed scene is jittering up and down. Is it just me?

Re: Alan Wake
 

TMI!

;)

Yeah, the facial animations during the cutscenes are pretty terrible. Fortunately, that's the only real complaint I have so far.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I just finished it. Yea I kinda rushed but i've been waiting for this game for quite some time and with Red Dead waiting next I couldn't put it down.

What a ride! I can't wait till the rest of you catch up so we can start discussing the ending.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Surprised I haven't seen any commercials for this game yet, you would think they would advertise it a bit.

Re: Alan Wake
 

ending discussion.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Finished Episode 2 last night. I have a feeling this is going to be my GOTY. They just nailed the atmosphere. Moving through the woods at night, I'm constantly hearing sounds that have me jumping in all directions, shining my flashlight all over the place. The game is about as engaging and immersive as I've seen. It's one of the better narratives I've seen in a game and so far it's worlds above this year's big story game, Heavy Rain. I also love the Night Falls episodes. I've only come across two so far, but they're great little 5-minute Twilight Zone-ish shorts.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Just got an email from Amazon for a free Male Avatar Shirt, Female Avatar Shirt and Brightfalls Theme Pack. I had no idea this was part of the pre-order deal.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Me too, and me either. I was surprised but I'll take it.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Got it too. Neat.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Yep, so far those little, horrible Twilight Zone episodes have been my favorite part of the game.

Re: Alan Wake
 

This game makes me want to buy a nice jacket or blazer with elbow patches on it.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I'm in Episode 4 and all I can think about is how bad that thing has to smell.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I bet it smells like a mix of pine and crazy.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I really like the change of scenery you get as you progress through the game. I ran across a small clearing in Episode 3 last night that had 4 boulders surrounded by rocky forest instead of 3.

Re: Alan Wake
 

:lol:

I love the game so far. Just started Episode 3 last night. I play at night with the sound way up, and there were many "jump scare" moments throughout Episode 2 that really got me. The way they condition you to seek out light is really effective, especially when they play with that element by shattering light bulbs or having a generator fail just as you approach what you think is a safe haven.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I can't wait for tonight. I live in the West Coast and work in East Coast hours, so I have to go to bed at 10 pm during the week. And I usually only play in my bedroom.

But in the weekends I can play late at night, and in the home theater room, projector, 100'' screen, surround sound. I already took a nap to be ready. I'm so excited! :D

Re: Alan Wake
 

Damn...I was trying to cut back on my game purchases but all the good things I've been hearing about this are pushing me toward picking it up.

Re: Alan Wake
 

Finally threw this in. Seems cool so far, pretty creepy. But man, the screen tearing is bad. Really noticeable.

Edit: Alan's kind of a dick, isn't he?

Re: Alan Wake
 

I didn't see an instance of screen tearing until Chapter Four, where it was all over the place.

And yes, that exact phrase is something I jotted down for my review. I'm having a little bit of trouble getting fully into the story because he is not entirely compelling.

Re: Alan Wake
 

The nightmare at the beginning had a ton of screen tearing. It's lessened since then, but it still pops up from time to time.

Re: Alan Wake
 

I agree.



That's a really minor quibble though. All in all, I stand by my previous statement that this is the game to beat for GOTY as far as I'm concerned. The gameplay was extremely tight. It had a fantastic mix of jump scares and establishing incredibly creepy atmospheres. I'm having a tough time thinking of another game that even comes close to matching the writing/pacing/plot. I still think it blows Heavy Rain out of the water in terms of a narrative experience. I rarely play through games a second time anymore, but once I get caught up on some other releases, I'll be making an attempt on nightmare difficulty to get all the manuscript pages. Just a great game.