Alan Wake's American Nightmare

First of all, you get what you pay for: it's $15, so it's not going to have as much content as a $40 game. That having been said, quality may trump quantity here. This sequel fixes a lot of issues people had with the first Alan Wake: there is a wider variety of much more interesting enemies, a great selection of weapons that you actually want to use, and unlockables adding more replay value. The main gripe you'll hear about the game is that it takes place in just three areas that repeat, but the repetition fits nicely into the story and the developers did a good job of making even returning to the same place feel interesting and fresh. There is more for live-action cutscenes, too. The main reason I want to review this game and give it a healthy four stars is because of the antagonist, Mr Scratch, who is possibly my favourite antagonist of any video game now. He's sarcastic, sadistic, charming, and absolutely despicable, and I love him.

You know the direct to video sequels to blockbuster movies, where they use the same plot, same sets, sometimes even the same actors, but it just FEELS cheap and unfulfilling? That's the best way to describe American Nightmare compared to the original. The graphics are decent, but nowhere close to the atmospheric shadows and fog of the original. The story is barely there and never compels you to keep going. Combat doesn't have the same heft to it and manages to make up 90% of the game yet still feel like filler. If you're up for an Alan Wake themed time-waster and aren't a stickler for substance, then you might like this. The same way some fans of The Scorpion King want to check out all the SyFy channel sequels.

If you like Alan Wake and wanted more - here it is. If you don't played Alan Wake - do it. If you didn't like Alan Wake - you won't after this either.

The game answers one of the first games questions posed by Alan in episode 6 near the end. Who or what is Mr. Scratch? The game is very repetitive with only three areas and not much to explore with a lot of inviable walls blocking true exploration of the first area, which at first glance looks more open world like than it is. That aside the repeating levels are fun enough for repeatability. Over all it feels like a mix of Alan Wake and Quantum Brake in a DLC that never was.

Feels somewhat like a spinoff but is still canon to the original Alan Wake in some ways like the antagonist being Mr. Scratch who was mentioned in the first game & many other easter eggs. Great game, can play once and be done.