it was very okay. exciting at the time, but after you finish and really sit on the plot-points, you quickly realize this game embodies "the path of least resistance".

the gameplay offers some slight improvements, but not really anything too big to warrant it standing out as much as the first one did, especially when you consider this game took 5 years.

5 years for a mid story with the same length, and not worthwhile balance changes? i dunno man.

Alan Wake 2 is genuinely a compelling experience, with super tight writing, and a plot that really snares you. The runtime is fair and not too long, but not too short, I believe the game is paced extremely well.

AW2 is an incredible story experience that I really couldn't ask for more from.. in the storytelling aspect. The gameplay however kinda has to be brought up, because funnily enough, I felt as thought the title character's gameplay left a bit to be desired? He felt very stiff, and his loadout especially compared to Saga's. The enemy design as well honestly hasn't changed much considering the 13-year gap in between this and the first game. I just feel like given that this game took a full tilt towards survival horror, that the sandbox didn't have enough enemy types that really asked the player to utilize different strategies. So the "survival" part becomes a little monotonous, because for Alan's campaign you find yourself having to do the same thing for every enemy encounter.

The game looks INCREDIBLE though, and the Writer's Room and Detective Board mechanics are incredibly genius ideas that allow you to comprehend the story and even character motivations extremely well. Definitely one of the best stories in modern gaming, and worth multiple playthroughs for those facets alone.