Alan Wake 2 is out, and it emulates plenty of its predecessor’s features. Once again, you’ll need a flashlight to weaken your foes before you can shoot them.
This time around, Remedy wanted to make a fully-fledged survival horror game, and they have succeeded. There are plenty of terrifying moments in the game, so don’t go in expecting just a bit of creepiness. If you are scared easily, be on the lookout for these moments in Alan Wake 2.
The woods
The woods makes a return from the first Alan Wake game, and it retains its characteristic creepiness. It doesn’t take long before you’re playing as Saga and exploring the woods. The area is dense and foggy, making it hard to see what’s ahead. It’s easy for things to jump out and scare you, which means you always have to be ready for danger.
It sets up the perfect atmosphere for a scary story, and it’s reminiscent of teen horror shows like Twin Peaks. Just the place to uncover a killer cult’s plot.
Shadows
When playing Alan’s sections in the Dark Place, you’ll occasionally encounter shadows, which are dark presences. Most of the time, they just stand there menacingly as they whisper horrid things to Alan. Other times, they will try to attack Alan and push him back.
To defeat them, shine some light on them, or just run if you’re out of batteries. When you’re trying to get to your objective and an alley of shadows is standing in your way, things do get quite scary.
Nightingale battle
Nightingale is one of the first boss battles you’ll have to deal with. It’s a bit of an absurd boss battle because Nightingale looks like a middle-aged overweight man. Nevertheless, he moves fast and strikes with deadly force, so you better not waste time laughing at him.
To take down this horror, you’ll have to move fast, utilize the power of light, and blast your gun at your foe. You’ll go against Nightingale twice, and it’s the second showdown that’ll test you the most.
Oceanview Hotel
Control features the Oceanview Motel, so it’s no surprise that Alan Wake 2 which is set in the same universe features the Oceanview Hotel. The hotel is a confusing maze filled with dangers. As Alan changes the story elements on his plot board, the hotel also changes.
The story Alan is telling is a horrifying one, so the hotel changes into a bloody building filled with gore. As you follow the blood trails and you approach the terrifying crescendo, the suspense rises until it’s almost unbearable.
Zane’s Film
Alan’s adventures in the Dark Place lead him to the Poet’s Theatre where Thomas Zane’s film is airing. Visit it, and you’ll find that it has been turned into an eerie place where shadows haunt you. Try to escape, and you’ll discover that more horrors await in the alleys outside.
In addition to being scary, this segment also has some cool interactions between the game world and Zane’s film. It comes toward the end of the game, and it promises to bring long-awaited answers.
New York Dark Place
Most of the time you’re in the Dark Place, you’ll be exploring the distorted streets of New York. It’s dark and rainy, and shadows are lurking everywhere. The place feels like a bad nightmare, the air is oppressive, and if you try to run away, you may find yourself swallowed by darkness.
New York is made scarier by the fact that there’s more to it than meets the eye. There are tunnels leading to abandoned subways, and with your Angel Torch, you can unlock new pathways to explore.
Coffee World
Coffee World is an old amusement park in Bright Falls, and as the name suggests, it’s themed around coffee. It’s typically a cheery place but when Saga visits it at night, it’s a creepy place where Taken are lurking.
You’ll take on some of the Taken while the rides are on, forcing you to deal with rotating coffee cups and cackling cretins at the same time. There’s also a puzzle to solve, so don’t let your nerves block your thinking.
Subway chase
One of the scariest parts of the game occurs when Alan is exploring the subway. He suddenly finds himself chased by the Dark Presence. It takes no form, so he’s being pursued by some invisible force promising to destroy him.
The chase feels like a bad nightmare, and Alan just can’t seem to move fast enough. Just when you think the horror is over, the chase picks up again, keeping your heart beating fast.
Defeat the deputies
In Return 3: Local Girl, Saga finds herself in a terrifying, bloody loop as she seeks the deputies. The loop has her climbing down a well, entering a cabin, and winding through the woods seemingly infinitely as Ahti’s whistling is heard in the background.
It has just the right amount of creepiness to have your hair standing on end. Things don’t get any less tense when the deputies finally show up. They don’t go down easily, and they keep respawning until you figure out how to stop the process.
Death screen
When you die in Alan Wake 2, you’ll be treated to a jumpscare featuring Alan bloodied up with black and white flashing lights. It never gets old, especially when you haven’t died in a long time and you forget the screen even exists. Sometimes, the game will slip it in during regular gameplay, giving you a little jolt to keep you awake.
Alan Wake 2 is far scarier than its predecessor, and it leans more heavily into the survival horror genre. Though it borrows heavily from Resident Evil, Remedy has managed to craft its own brand of horror that sticks in your mind long after you put the controller down.
