I've just finished Alan Wake, a psychological thriller game, on my PC. And I must say, it was a rather interesting game! Sure, it was not as scary as Silent Hill or F.E.A.R., but it had its moments. The game, I feel, is more played for it's storyline rather than for the action. I find the plot quite impressive, reminding me of the plots in movies like Shutter Island.
The story begins with you, Alan Wake, going on a vacation with your wife to a place called Bright Falls. There, you wind up in a cabin where your wife disappears and you wake up 7 days later, trying to piece together what was going on and finding your wife. Through the game you'll interact with people, learn about the history of Bright Falls, and face the dangers of the Dark Presence in the night.
The gameplay is not too difficult. You're equipped with a torchlight and a pistol to fight the Taken, who are actually people taken over by the Dark Presence to stop you. Your arsenal would soon expand to include things like flare guns and flash grenades, in your battle of light versus dark. In the day, things are pretty standard; you go around talking to people. It is the night time that I dread. Because that is when the Dark Presence comes out to disturb you.
You'll spend time running around forested areas, encountering shadowy figures holding sickles and axes that look like they just stepped out of a horror movie. You need to either kill them or escape in order to progress through the story. Trust me, in this game, you'd be very thankful to find a huge light source such as a street lamp in the middle of the night.
Characters in the game are well-developed, so to speak. Their different personalities in the game make them feel unique and real. I'm always glad to see Barry, as he made a good partner and helped liven things up in the dark, sad world.
This game is not scary in the sense of ghosts and stuff, but more of the dark atmosphere and a bit of paranormal stuff(like flying objects that attempt to bludgeon you to death). The sudden appearance of the Taken, especially when you're in the forest, does not help sooth your soul at all. I always felt a sense of dread whenever the forest turns very foggy, as I took that as a sign that danger was looming.
Everything about this game was impressive. The graphics was good, the plot really reeled me in, and the action ensured that the game was not dull. If there is one thing I would complain about, it would be the "final boss fight". I expected a big, tough battle at the end of the whole game, but in the end, the "fight" was rather simple. I'm not saying that it sucked; I just don't want people to play this game expecting the amount of action to be on par with its focus on storyline. This game is really fun to play, and I'd recommend it to people who enjoys such games!
