Digital Foundry : Alan Wake Tech Analysis

[averyblund]

Ok so I played it, beat it, and was amazed. (Can't wait for my pre-order) Sure the cutscenes look like they were pulled from the dead PC build, but this game shows me a lot more potential than I though my 5 year old white box could do. Sure the animations and a few of the textures are trash, but the lighting, the story, and the amazing zoom ability more than make up for it. Oh and the soundtrack is sublime. Be ready for a real treat at the end credits! Overall a thrilling game that seemed half SIlent Hill: Shattered Memories and half Deadly Premonition (literally a perfect mixture is nearly every way) . To me that adds up to be 100% kick ass. This is a must have 360 title, and a showcase of it's (somewhat) antiquated hardware. And no I don't think this could have been done better on the PS3 (as good? perhaps). Remedy really showed their PC roots in this title. Sad that we will likely never see the real Alan Wake on PC, the one that likely created the way more detailed, crisp, high-res cutscenes.

Still-

Despite the amazing visuals the sub-HD look really makes it jaggy and at some times visually underperforming (the jump animation looks like the one in Max Payne 2). But then suddenly the engine shows one of it's incredible effects and you forget all about the 360 are are blown away-just glad to be playing it. No offense, but any title that can make you forget how weak current HD hardware is especially at sub HD an amazing experience. Play Alan Wake, you will LOVE IT.

I for one can't wait to get my disc, booklet, and an excuse to play through again. What a gem!