This is the game that everyone heard about, but somewhat only few actually played it. It's a gem. The game has great atmosphere created by both the graphics and music/sounds. A small town in the mountains and its surprisingly large outskirts look fantastic. The main point however, is how effectively the game uses lightning - the shadows truly terrify while any source of light provides an unprecedented feeling of warmth and safety. Alan Wake features plenty of shooting, but it comes with a twist - the foes you are up against are engulfed in darkness and before you can harm them with conventional weapons, you have to dispel the darkness first with (flash)light. It's a clever mechanic that adds tactical depth to combat, as enemies vary (from quick and agile to heavy and hard-hitting) and require different approaches. The story (immersive!) is served in episodes, each in reasonable length. The pacing flows wonderfully and helps create some tense and scary moments, especially in the beginning. Unfortunately, the game casualizes encounters with the dark forces towards the end, the scares wear off. The writing does a superb job. Alan Wake has its flaws though - running around is a bit wonky and inaccurate at times (well, it's pretty much the same as in Max Payne). Moreover, the story may get convoluted at some points and unfortunately, the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, a fantastic experience. Highly recommended. 4,5 stars.
