Alan Wake 2 Going Full Survival Horror is a Double-Edged Sword

Alan Wake 2‘s release is edging ever closer, and from all the information shown about it to date, the most notable is that it will be going for a traditional survival horror experience. Developer Remedy Entertainment has been very open about its switch in design philosophy for the long-awaited sequel to 2010’s Alan Wake. It has stated that its vision for the sequel facilitated this move in order to advance the characters, story, and gameplay, and bring them up to speed for the current generation.

The theme of darker and grittier survival horror games has been on the rise in recent years, especially with the success of highly popular modern remakes of classics within the genre. 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remake kicked off a trend that saw other titles like Dead Space follow suit. Subsequent releases, RE4 in particular, have proven that old-school survival horror is indeed alive and well. However, given that Alan Wake 2 will be departing from its original tone and style to be more like those, it runs the risk of abandoning what fans felt made it unique among horror titles in the first place.

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Alan Wake 2’s Lean Into Full Survival Horror Runs a Big Risk

Remedy’s turn toward survival horror for Alan Wake doesn’t seem jarring at all in terms of gameplay and design but also extends to its characters and plot. On the gameplay side, players were already afforded ample resources and time for dealing with threats. Narratively, it gave both the story and its cast the space necessary to feel believable, and for players to settle into its quirky but well-realized world before being confronted with its darker parts.

The original title’s most obvious inspirations included Twin Peaks, Stephen King, and The Twilight Zone. Like in those, there was often a charming campiness to Alan Wake‘s aspects and characters. While it definitely had moments of intense fright, there was a softer underlying edge to everything; more dreamlike than oppressively dread-inducing. It was akin to B-movie territory in an overall tone more so than outright horror. These angles provided a refreshing break from what could otherwise have been a relentlessly dour and frustrating experience, making Alan Wake all the more memorable for them.

For the sequel, though, developers have cited Alan Wake 2‘s influences as more grounded and realistic. While this would ostensibly lend itself to a scarier experience, it might erode what set the original’s world and cast apart from being simply straightforward survival horror. Remedy has also always included elements of humor in its work, even in more serious games like Max Payne or Quantum Break. Alan Wake had numerous moments of levity, and downplaying or removing them entirely might make AW2 and its characters flatter and less likable compared to earlier incarnations.

There are a few other factors to consider regarding how Alan Wake 2 being full-on survival horror might alter its previous identity and overall experience. Firstly, the confirmed switch in camera perspective would theoretically increase tension but also make it appear very close to the aforementioned modern RE titles. This will inevitably invite direct comparisons, and possibly distract from the game’s own merits. Another is that Alan Wake 2 will be twice the length of the original. This could incur a risk of padding and pacing issues, and distance itself further from the feel of the first. Hopefully Alan Wake 2 ​​​​​​won’t sacrifice the major elements that made it stand out for the sake of chasing industry trends, and will fully embrace and evolve what fans enjoy about it.

Alan Wake 2 releases October 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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