Alan Wake 2 Review – A Detailed Analysis of Graphics, Sound and Gameplay
Thirteen years ago, the Alan Wake saga joined the survival horror genre, one of the oldest and most popular in video games. From the first Alone in the Dark, through the popular Resident Evil and Silent Hill sagas, the community appreciates and enjoys each installment. The recently released Alan Wake 2 faithfully continues the story of its first installment. Will it be enough to justify your nomination for GOTY 2023? now we will see it.
Table of Contents
Technical details
The game was programmed with Remedy Entertainment's exclusive graphics engine, Northlight Engine. It was used in the first part of the saga, as well as for the Max Payne, Control, Quantum Break and Crossfirex sagas.
One of the controversial details of the launch of Alan Wake 2 is Remedy's decision not to have physical versions for any platform. While this is common in the PC community, the console community did not like this decision.
The game is available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. On PC it is exclusive to the Epic Games Store.
Minimum requirements (1080p at 30fps and low graphics preset)
Operating system in Windows
Windows 10/11 64bit
CPU: Intel i5-7600K or Ryzen 5 1600x.
GPU: GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 6600, 6 GB VRAM
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 90GB SSD
DLSS/FSR2: Quality
Recommended requirements (1080p at 60 fps and medium graphics preset)
Operating system in Windows
Windows 10/11 64bit
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
GPU: GeForce RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6700 XT, 8 GB VRAM
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 90GB SSD
DLSS/FSR2: Performance
Ultra (4K and 60 fps at preset high graphics)
Operating system in Windows
Windows 10/11 64bit
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
GPU: GeForce RTX 4070 or Radeon RX 7800 XT, 12 GB VRAM
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 90GB SSD
DLSS/FSR2: Performance
High Ray Tracing (4K at 60 fps and maximum level Ray Tracing)
Windows 10/11 64bit
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080, 16GB VRAM
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 90GB SSD
DLSS/FSR2: Quality
GPU Configuration and Performance
The equipment used for the review has the following build and a 165hz monitor was used.
i5 12400F
ROG STRIX B660-A GAMING WI-FI D4
TEAMGROUP 32GB DDR4 RAM
GeForce RTX 3060
GIGABYTE GP-AG41TB 1000.2 GB
Alan Wake 2 has three elements that test any GPU: Low light, lots of shadows and fog. Having a good optimization of the graphic settings is quite tedious. Even reaching directly into the game files.
Ray Tracing, which could shine with this game, turns out to be its worst enemy. It reduces the amount of FPS by half. It is recommended to play it with the default configuration and with RT turned off if you have a series 30 or below.
DLSS Preset: Quality
Graphics and sound
Remedy was highly criticized in the first Alan Wake for the graphic difference between the cinematics and the ingame design. And they will say, this is normal in all games, but in Alan Wake 1, the cinematics have lower quality than the in-game graphics, breaking the player's immersion in the atmosphere of the game.
In Alan Wake 2 they managed to correct this detail, ensuring that the cinematics have the same quality as the in-game game. this allows the story to flow without interruptions.
The character designs are so well done that they blend perfectly with the live action scenes that the game has. And of these scenes, there are too many. The casting is good, highlighting Ilkka Villi, Melanie Liburd, David Harewood, among others.
The game's scenarios also stand out in their design. They have the ideal setting for the narrative and are full of many details. In all scenarios, darkness and fog are always present elements. The play of light and shadow plays an important role in the development of the game. Although they are free exploration scenarios, I couldn't say that they are open scenarios. Additionally, exploration depends on the level of story advancement.
On the other hand, and to accompany the development of the story, there are the sounds of the game.
Each stage has great ambient sound, which amplifies that atmosphere of terror within the game. Mandatory to play it with a headset.
And finally, we have the music. Of the 20 songs that the game has, the ones that stand out are those of Old Gods of Asgard. Fictional rock'n'roll group from the Alan Wake universe. The actual group is called Poets of the Fall. Among so many melancholic and sad songs, the power metal of Old Gods of Asgard is powerful.
Here is the complete list of the OST of the game.
'Follow You Into The Dark' – RAKEL
'Lost at sea' – Jean Castel
'Superhero' – Mougleta
'Dark, Twisted And Cruel' – Paleface
'No One Left To Live' – ROOS+BERG
'Wide Awake' – Jaimes
'Herald of Darkness' – Old Gods of Asgard
'Dark Ocean Summoning' – Old Gods of Asgard
'Anger's Remorse' – Old Gods of Asgard
'Heroes And Villains' – Poets of the Fall
'Take control' – Old Gods of Asgard
'Balance Slays The Demon' – Old Gods of Asgard
'Children of the Elder God' – Old Gods of Asgard
'The Poet and the Muse' – Old Gods of Asgard
'The Happy Song' – Poets of the Fall
'This Road (AW)' – Poe
'Yoton Yo (Nightless Night)' – Martti Suosalo
'Sankarin Tango (Hero's Tango)' – Martti Suosalo
'Prayer At The Gate' – P.J. Harvey
'Filth' – Sami “Haxx” Hakala
Unfortunately it does not have a vinyl release nor is it present on audio streaming platforms.
You can find the Old Gods of Asgard songs on their YouTube channel
Argument
FBI agent Saga Anderson and her partner Alex Casey are sent to the town of Bright Falls, Washington to investigate a series of ritual murders. The last victim found is a former FBI agent, Robert Nightingale. Anderson and Casey find themselves involved in an investigation that involves a cult called “The Tree Cult” and many paranormal elements, including the disappearance of the writer Alan Wake that also occurred 13 years ago.
Can Anderson and Casey uncover the truth hidden in all the mystery surrounding the Cauldron Lake region?
The beginning of this second installment is a direct continuation of the first game.
Genre and features of the game
Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror and investigation game. It is played in third person and you have to use both game characters. In the chapters playing as Alan Wake, the gameplay is very similar to the original game. but a mechanic was added that could be called light puzzles. Alan uses a lamp to unlock areas and paths.
When we use the Saga, this is where the elements of investigation are present: interrogating witnesses, looking for evidence, making conjectures. Saga has a Mental Place, a kind of scenario where only she is present and where she has all the tests and profiles that she performs. This helps you develop cases and solve them, also where you can see and listen to the audios and videos that you find in the game. Alan has a similar place, where he can modify the scenarios he finds, depending on the argument he uses. While Alan looks for a way out of the dark zone, Saga seeks to solve the cases she is assigned.
Both use flashlights and firearms to confront the enemies present in the game. Alan faces shadows, while Saga faces possessed people and animals. With the flashlight, their shield is removed so that they can be damaged by game weapons.
The mobility and speed of the characters is quite limited. They can't jump, they don't run, they just trot. Both have inventories similar to those found in the Resident Evil saga, limited by space and not by weight.
Weapon selection is simple: Alan uses a revolver, a shotgun, and a flare launcher. Saga can have up to 5 weapons: pistol, sawed-off shotgun, pump shotgun, hunting rifle and a crossbow. Other items present are flares, grenades and healing items.
The combat system has not changed since the first installment. The flashlight helps weaken enemies and with weapons you can eliminate them.
The game has a single quest line, you can switch between controlling Saga or Alan. Secondary missions are non-existent. There are collectible quests for both characters, but they are not necessary to finish the game. NPCs have almost no dialogue.
Final score - Alan Wake 2
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Visual aspect
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Operational
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Game mechanics
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Narrative
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Music
Overall
Summary
The game has great graphic quality and some great power metal songs, it has an attractive and well-told plot. The gameplay is decent, but nothing new. Unfortunately, in the horror part it leaves a lot to be desired. Not to mention that the end of the game is not the end of the story. I don't want to believe that the true ending will come in a separate DLC.
Pros
-Casting and Character Design.
-Old Gods of Asgard (yes, them).
-Puzzles with a good level of difficulty.
Cons
-The limited mobility of the characters
-Small scenarios
-There are no secondary missions
-The end?
