Alan Wake 2, a sequel that is both strange and full of imaginative ambition, consistently defies expectations. While Remedy Entertainment's grander ideas may lack polish, the occasional imperfections do not diminish the overall confidence and striking originality of this unique adventure. There's nothing else quite like Alan Wake 2 in this generation.
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00:00Alan Wake 2 is a strange, imaginative, and truly ambitious sequel that never fails to
00:05upend your expectations. While some of the bigger concepts presented by Remedy Entertainment
00:16lack refinement, a few rough edges don't detract from a consistently confident and
00:21original adventure. You won't find anything else quite like Alan Wake 2 this generation.
00:27It's been 13 years since Alan Wake left us stranded in the Pacific Northwest with more
00:31questions than answers, and Remedy returns with enough changes to accommodate the wait.
00:37It's got an ambitious creative concept, beautiful visual fidelity, and imaginative mission design.
00:42Some of the combat does lack variation, and there are inconsistent performance issues.
00:47But whenever I thought I had a handle on where Alan Wake 2 was leading me, it upended my
00:51expectations. It's an intelligent sequel to a cult classic, driven to new heights by
00:55the darker impulses necessitated by the horror story. It's also wonderfully silly and at
01:00times brilliantly imaginative. Remedy works well to seamlessly fold in the wider connected
01:05universe that Control ushered into reality, and the studio's use of blended cinematics,
01:10live-action film, and original music throughout is inspired.
01:14But what has struck me since the screen fade to black to note the conclusion of my 30-hour
01:18journey is just how wonderfully Remedy has pushed its narrative-driven adventure template
01:22forward. The pacing won't be for everyone, with narration and exploration weighted equally
01:27against action and story, but if you are willing to embrace the weird rhythms and idiosyncratic
01:32tendencies that underpin the entire experience, what you'll find in Alan Wake 2 is an adventure
01:37unlike any other. We give it 5 stars out of 5.