hell yes.
I think this is Remedy's first game where the storytelling overwhelms the gameplay this intensely, and the results are absolutely glorious. Alan Wake 2 is completely streamlined to tell this one story and it doesn't really bother with extensive enemy encounters (which got really tedious really fast in the first game), instead it uses those moments more as a way to accentuate certain story moments and/or the general atmosphere. On that topic: I'm still absolutely in AWE (hehe) of Remedy's enviromental designers, the moodyness this game already has through its enviroments alone is really immense. The Dark Place is a game enviroment I'll talk about for years to come.
Alan Wake 2 also manages to turn the story of the first game into even more of a beautifully meta multimedia-mess. I can safely say that after playing I understand even less now, and I really love it. The entire story just clicked for me, weaving together the plot beats of the first game, CONTROL and its many new ideas quite seamlessly. And I love Saga as a protagonist.
I'm sure there've been many versions of what an Alan Wake 2 could've been. I'm very glad it's this.
(I only hope that Sam Lake has had his fair share of screen time now, because, at this point, his omnipresence in his own game felt quite self-indulgent.)
((ah yes and the chapter songs absolutely slap))
I think this is Remedy's first game where the storytelling overwhelms the gameplay this intensely, and the results are absolutely glorious. Alan Wake 2 is completely streamlined to tell this one story and it doesn't really bother with extensive enemy encounters (which got really tedious really fast in the first game), instead it uses those moments more as a way to accentuate certain story moments and/or the general atmosphere. On that topic: I'm still absolutely in AWE (hehe) of Remedy's enviromental designers, the moodyness this game already has through its enviroments alone is really immense. The Dark Place is a game enviroment I'll talk about for years to come.
Alan Wake 2 also manages to turn the story of the first game into even more of a beautifully meta multimedia-mess. I can safely say that after playing I understand even less now, and I really love it. The entire story just clicked for me, weaving together the plot beats of the first game, CONTROL and its many new ideas quite seamlessly. And I love Saga as a protagonist.
I'm sure there've been many versions of what an Alan Wake 2 could've been. I'm very glad it's this.
(I only hope that Sam Lake has had his fair share of screen time now, because, at this point, his omnipresence in his own game felt quite self-indulgent.)
((ah yes and the chapter songs absolutely slap))