So where to even begin with this? if the tagline of 'From the guys who started it all', as if these people freaking invented the notion of horror, isen't enough to make you shake your head in disbelief, then playing this game surely will. Mind you, while I never bought into the whole Slender-hype, I could appreciate the effort put into the Eight Pages-game. If nothing else, it was free, which as you will note, this game isen't. In its essence, this game isen't much different from the first, graphics have been updated, the locations are decently executed but feels uninspired. A few new enemies have been added, which I suppose is a good thing, but at the same time testifies how making a full-length game (and mind, this one is but a few hours long) with only a single enemy, is difficult. I suppose lovers of Slenderman will find this enjoyable, but at a (GOG-standards taking into consideration) steep price of 7.50 USD, the average customer will find much, much more entertainment and satisfaction in... virtually any other title on GOG. This feels more like a decent Flash horror game, than something you should actually pay money for. Ah well, chances are retsupurae will have a look at it.
Back when it was released for the Xbox 360, was repeatedly compared to the Playstation 3 exclosive Heavy Rain, again and again. Judging them by their covers they may seem somewhat similar, but in truth they have little in common. Alan Wake is an enjoyable experience with an intersting plot and simple, but solid gameplay mechanics. You're Alan Wake, a succesful author currently suffering from writer's block. Using various sources of light, you must defeat the evil (and quite literal) darkness that has possessed the small town of town of Bright Falls. The game is surprisingly action-packed and while the game mechanics of banishing darkness with light become rather monotonous near the end of the game (somewhat similar to the limb-dismemberment of Dead Space, but much more tedious), they, along with the interesting (if somewhat convoluted) story make this game quite enjoyable. What is much more memorable and commendable than the gameplay and plot, is the atmosphere which throughout the entire game is absolutely astonishing; the juxtaposition between Alan's frustration and the evergrowing darkness around him is well pulled off. Note, however, that this game is labeled as a 'psychological action-thriller', meaning it is not so much a horror game (although it does have a few spooks and eeriee moments), but rather an action game with small puzzles, a good story and the occasional boogeyman.
