We saw a chunk of Alan Wake 2 gameplay at Summer Game Fest, and it’s looking quite a bit like Resident Evil.
Since its release in 2010, Alan Wake has been synonymous with Twin Peaks. Remedy Interactive and director Sam Lake have never been shy about how David Lynch’s classic TV show shaped the horror game. Alan Wake wears that inspiration on its sleeve, with its midwestern setting and eccentric cast of characters that feel like they could be regulars at the Double R Diner.
So, it comes as no surprise that its sequel, the upcoming Alan Wake 2, continues that trend. In a hands-off demo at this year’s Summer Game Fest, I was welcomed back to the eerie town of Bright Falls which is just as atmospheric and unsettling as ever. Though while that David Lynch influence is still present, the sequel seems to be going in a totally new direction, one that draws from a broader spectrum of influences.
If you’re expecting the same oddball, camp-horror vibe that made Alan Wake a cult hit, you might be surprised by what Alan Wake 2 has in store. From what I’ve seen so far, the sequel seems to be more True Detective than Twin Peaks, looking at the weird world of Bright Falls through the lens of a dramatic procedural this time. And it does that while modernizing the original’s horror formula, making it feel more in line with Capcom’s current wave of Resident Evil remakes. Though that’s not to say the sequel has lost any of its weirdness.A change of pace
The gameplay segment I saw at Summer Game Fest was based entirely around Saga, a new character in the sequel. She’s an FBI agent who gets sent to Bright Falls to investigate a cult, sending her deep into the woods with her partner. Alan Wake himself will be playable in the game as well, but Remedy is currently staying mum about what his gameplay looks like in the Dark Place. Instead, I’d get to see 30 minutes of Saga’s investigation, which has an entirely distinct tone from the original game.
