This had big shoes to fill, not only as a prequel, but also as a follow up to what some may argue to be the best in this series. Not having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill was certainly a strange choice, but in the end it wasn't a descision that broke the game by any means. As far as story goes, it's as compelling as the Rocksteady titles and fits perfectly into the universe established with the prior two games. However it's once we get to the combat that this game feels somewhat lacking. See, this game borrows very heavily from Arkham City, something many would see as a good thing, yet it feels hollow in its attempts to capture that magic again. Nothing feels terribly new, rather it just feels a bit too familiar. Overall it's a very enjoyable expierence, but it does feel less polished than City and a bit slower by comparison.
Alan Wake's American Nightmare does exactly what a DLC shouldn't, it gives us a sub-par story that manages to be engaging but nowhere near the perfection that was the originals story. The gameplay is kind of hard to complain about as it is practically the same, althogh I did notice that is was signifigantly easier to pull off a dodge, I don't know whether I just got better at the game or if they just lowered the difficuly. While I think the general setup for the game is just "ok", I do like the inclusion of new enemys, althougth these to do not feal the same due to the fact that they simply lack the human look that the original ones had which I found to be the main reason as to why they were at least a little scary. I did also find the ending satifying and left wanting more which has yet to be delivered. Overall the game just feals exaclty like what it is, DLC even it's main gimic feals like a gimic and nothing more, overall that is kind of how the whole game is, it just is kinda there. I believe it's only redeaming qualeties are it's ending, gameplay (sort of), and its phenomenal voice acting from the protagonist and antagonist (who are voiced by the same actor).
Alan Wake delivers on not just an interesting and engaging story but also gameplay that,while slitley repetative, still manages to feal fun and engaging through the entirety of the game. On the story front the game is very interesting (although not very scary) and you will be very satisfied with it by the time you are done, the only chritisisms that I have about it, is that it will leave you wanted much more that was sadly not delivered in it's expansion. Other than that however it sill manages to be very engaging with fun and interesting characters that are very believable. Gameplay however manages to be just as great as the story, and while it may not be the same as bullet time I would be willing to argue that it's just as good if not better in some cases. Overall if your looking for a great "horror" game with a heavy enphesis on combat and story than look no futhur.
