Alan Wake was initially launched in 2010 on the Xbox 360. It has since been ported round, given facet tales and even shared an interconnected universe however by no means a sequel. Lastly in 2021 on the Recreation Awards, Alan Wake II was introduced. Whereas it’s nonetheless a methods away, a remaster of the unique Alan Wake was made to appease the followers but in addition to replace character fashions and environments to make the most of the ability of at this time’s fashionable consoles. It’s an particularly thrilling time for Nintendo followers, as Alan Wake has beforehand by no means been on a Nintendo console earlier than till now. So how does it fare as a remastered basic on the Swap {hardware}? The reply is that it’s completely succesful however sadly loses a variety of what makes the sport a remaster within the first place.
Alan Wake begins with the titular protagonist and famed creator venturing to the sleepy city of Vibrant Falls together with his spouse, to beat a two 12 months author’s block. It’s right here that Wake experiences odd townsfolk, and residing nightmares of faceless demon individuals in a struggle of sunshine vs darkish that come immediately from his personal writing. Geared up with weapons and a flashlight, Wake intends to complete the story he doesn’t even keep in mind beginning. It’s a compelling plot that pushes the narrative alongside at a fairly brisk tempo. Every chapter of the sport strikes organically to the following, giving a real need to seek out out what occurs subsequent.
What was nice again in 2010 is simply pretty much as good now. Little or no has modified so far as the narrative, besides with some up to date graphics and character fashions. The face fashions have been up to date to extra carefully mirror these of the voice actors themselves. Should you had by no means performed the unique, you’d by no means have identified, so this replace is certainly for the hardcore followers and historians. In any other case, the voice appearing and fashions look tantamount to the unique in addition to this remaster on different platforms. Wake narrates the continuing occasions with crisp audio, and animations circulation effectively as you discover.
The place this remaster falters is within the particulars. When evaluating the PC/console variations of the unique and remaster, there are detailed enhancements from up to date textures to small however spectacular options akin to bushes swaying within the breeze and different environmental motion. Within the Swap model, these particulars are nearly totally misplaced. Textures look tremendous however usually seem extra on par with the 2010 model than the remaster on different platforms. Bushes are usually stagnant, in addition to a majority of the surroundings (exterior of interactables). Given the truth that the remaster actually solely brings FPS adjustments, redone cutscenes, visible results, new lighting, and environmental element, it does really feel just like the Swap mannequin is lacking a variety of what made the remaster totally different. Whereas we get the up to date fashions and cutscenes, the remaining is left on the reducing room ground. Swap homeowners get a variety of the blurry, muddy visuals of the 2010 unique however now with up to date facial fashions.
In order an nearly direct port of Alan Wake, I’m blissful to say that the sport itself runs nice. Controls have been straightforward to handle and efficiency remained regular. Utilizing a flashlight to stun demonic shadow enemies together along with your weapons to complete them off feels clean. Particularly within the chaotic moments, the motion sequences current a tense, frantic environment, whereas the thriller surrounding Vibrant Falls is genuinely intriguing. This can be a psychological thriller that feels simply pretty much as good now because it did again then.
When in comparison with the opposite, extra highly effective consoles, the Swap model of Alan Wake Remastered seems like a step down visually: by way of muddy graphics and visible element. The Nintendo Swap doesn’t battle in opposition to it, however concessions needed to be made. Fortuitously, there’s an added director’s commentary to assuage that blow. When in comparison with the unique Alan Wake, although, the Swap port is totally comparable. There’s comparable gameplay and visible therapy that we’d seen again in 2010, which isn’t a nasty factor, although you might not need to revisit it too usually. Porting an Xbox 360 sport to the Nintendo Swap isn’t essentially an enormous feat, however on the finish of the day, not less than we now have one other tremendous solution to play this incredible sport.