Alan Wake has been eagerly awaited by many since the game's announcement. And it's no surprise - the developer is the renowned Finnish studio Remedy, famous for the Max Payne duology, one of the most iconic shooters of that time (and indeed one of the best games in the TPS genre). The release of Alan Wake occurred much later than the publisher's scheduled date, but additionally, PC fans had to wait another two years after the release of Alan Wake on Xbox 360 in 2010. However, now the game is available both on Steam and on the shelves of Russian stores in Russian language.
The game's plot revolves around the well-known writer Alan Wake, who decides to take a creative sabbatical and travel to a charming provincial town by the lake - Bright Falls. The town's scenery is, by the way, simply mesmerizing - stunning landscapes, welcoming houses, crystal clear water... But this is only for the first while. Soon after arriving, a series of strange events occur with Alan and his wife Alice - Alice goes missing, and Alan finds himself in a blackout, regaining consciousness a week later. He discovers fragments of a novel signed with his name, but he did not write this book. Ominous scenes from the book begin to take shape in the most literal sense. And strange dark-possessed creatures start to pursue Alan...
The gameplay, despite the current trend of making dynamic, action-packed shooters, is not based on banal "shootouts," but on the game’s scenario, which is superior to many contemporary detective novels. You follow the game's plot, glued to the screen and completely forgetting everything else. Alan's story is presented in episodes, each of which ends at the most interesting moment. However, at the expense of the storyline, the gameplay is quite monotonous and linear. Alan, controlled by the player, destroys the next group of monsters using a flashlight and a revolver, then searches for something (fragments of the story can simply be scattered across locations; there are also many collectible items and Easter eggs left by the developers) in dark passages, watches a new dramatic plot scene - and it starts all over again. Nevertheless, thanks to the wonderful plot, the entire game can be completed in almost one breath.
Alan Wake is not without its flaws, but if you disregard the small details, it presents one of the best third-person shooters in recent years. So if you love good thrillers that keep you on edge until the very end, like Stephen King's novels - then Alan Wake is undoubtedly your choice.