Another Review (Someone else needs to write the next one):
Alan Wake
Story:
Well, it's not Bioshock, but it certainly has an awesome story. Bonus points for all the Lovecraft references. 9/10
Graphics: Quite impressive. I expected less.
8/10
Music: Music is very subtle in general (though you can rely on the soundtrack to alert you when a Taken is sneaking up behind you), and subtle music is fitting for a horror game. I'll give it a 7/10.
Gameplay: The camera takes some getting used to. (Tip: Alan is NOT the focus of the camera. Do not try to center the camera. Use the flashlight to guide you, NOT Alan). Taken battles are a bit too hectic, even in easy mode, and it's frighteningly easy to run out of ammo. And the platforming..well, expect to fail. A lot. 7/10.
Performance: No lag whatsoever!
Other: I love all the background stuff. You can turn on the TV and watch episodes of the Twilight Zo-er, I mean, "Night Falls", or turn on the radio and hear what's going on around the town. Really makes the place feel real.
Also, Barry is just plain awesome. Comic relief characters can be annoying, but in this case, it's done very well.
DLC: ...and the goodness couldn't last. The DLC is hard to trigger (you can't access it from the main game, you have to search the Chapters menu), the difficulty is much higher, with LOTS of frustrating flashlight themed battles and awkward platforming, and the story isn't as good. Still, it's extra stuff, and the Collectors Edition Extras are quite cheap. 6.5/10.
Overall rating: Is it a good game? Absolutely. Is it worth the price ($30 plus the DLC price, I think)? I can't be sure. I'll give this a 7/10.
