October is set to be a month stuffed with noteworthy releases, with Alan Wake 2 being one of them. The highly anticipated title will continue the story of Alan Wake the thriller novelist, and it will further expand the ever-growing Remedy Connected Universe.
Recently released gameplay footage from IGN gives us a glimpse into what we can expect from the upcoming game. We see a bit more of Bright Falls from the perspective of FBI agent Saga Anderson who is investigating the strange events occurring in the sleepy town.
As Remedy has warned us, the game ditches much of the dated gameplay from Alan Wake, and it fits perfectly in the modern survival horror landscape. A scene featuring Anderson shooting it out with enemies on a merry-go-round with destructible teacups shows what kind of dynamic and reactive environments players can expect.
NPCs also feel far more realistic, with dialogue options popping up when Anderson talks to the trailer park owner. The gameplay footage lets us see Saga’s Mind Place, a sort of safe space in her head where she can organize all her clues and start making connections.
Despite the changes, there is still something quite familiar about the game’s atmosphere. Bright Falls is still a foggy, grey town that feels like it’s sucking the life out of its inhabitants. Flashlights also make a return, though enemy AI has taken a quantum leap forward. The style of the cutscenes featuring Saga’s internal thoughts and imagery of her memories should also be familiar to anyone who’s had experience with Remedy titles like Control.
Alan Wake 2 wears its inspirations on its sleeve
When watching the gameplay, you may notice that the camera angles, claustrophobic spaces, and feeling of vulnerability are all reminiscent of Resident Evil. This is no mistake, as Remedy has stated that they took great inspiration from Capcom’s iconic franchise.
Like Resident Evil 2, Alan Wake 2 will feature two campaigns – one for Saga Anderson and one for Alan Wake – with some changes between them. According to the game’s co-director Kyle Rowley and senior narrative designer Molly Maloney, Wake’s campaign is so terrifying that Anderson’s feels like a breather in comparison.
Alan Wake 2 is set to release on October 27 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
