GOTY 2023 NOMINATION - Alan Wake 2

Jump goes the scare.

By Jonathan Garrett
02/01/24

Alan Wake 2 is an impossible dream somehow conjured into existence. This most unlikely of sequels, and the latest logic melting effort from the wizards at Remedy, has secured a promising legacy that charts an exciting course forward. Sam Lake’s connected universe, building on the brilliance of Control, continued to be every bit as unhinged and complex as you’d expect, and yet there were still surprises galore.

Over use of jump scares not withstanding (even though I secretly loved them), we’ve all seen the performance at The Game Awards 2023; those Finnish legends Poets of the Fall, appearing once again as in universe rock band The Old Gods of Asgard, outdid themselves in Alan Wake 2. “Herald of Darkness” is an instant classic, and just one moment of many that had me hooked from start to finish.

It’s a special game that doesn’t outstay its welcome. The melding of live action and intricate motion capture is striking and ambitious. Graphically, it’s a sumptuous and immersing experience that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. It has secured Remedy as one of the finest independent developers working today.

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TARPS?

At the bottom of some of our articles, you’ll see a series of absurd looking images (with equally stupid, in joke laden names). These are the TARP badges, which represent our ‘Totally Accurate Rating Platform’. They allow us to identify specific things, recognise positive or negative aspects of a games design, and generally indulge our consistent silliness with some visual tomfoolery.