Does this game get better? No spoilers please.

[(DS) Toren Elzal]

I'm in Chapter 2 at the moment I believe, where I am heading into the mines. And I have to say... what happenetd? The start of the game was good. Not so much the dream, but when you are heading through the first real area. And then it went downhill fast. To me, it lost the sense of 'on edge' with the constant deranged voices coming from all around, and the suspenseful feeling that the confrontation was right around the corner.

And then it just... I don't even know. I stopped playing for a bit and then got back into it a few days ago, and maybe its just that time gap of having not played it drawing me out, but I really feel like the game isn't very scary, or even immersive at the point I am at. The combat has steadily gotten more and more annoying. And when I get annoyed at a game, its a lot harder for it to scare me.

I really do want to finish the game. I am interested in seeing the story to its conclusion. But at the same time, it just hasn't been fun. I'm really hoping it picks up and gets better. Because if it doesn't...

On a side note. Did anyone else feel that the manuscript was actually ruining any sense of suspense? I wouldn't mind it if I were reading about things that I had already seen happen, or wouldn't likely see at all. But it keeps 'warning' me. Its like playing a jump scare horror game and someone saying 'hey when you turn that corner there its gonna scream at you'.

[Archnyxif]

The combat never really improves and I do not believe this game is actually "horror". The atmosphere is certainly creepy but never once was I truly scared. The thing that pulled me in is the story and characters. I would say keep going but I am a huge fan of the game so my opinion is a bit biased. Maybe try another episode or two.

[Santos Grillos]

I already finished episode 4, and the truth that the story takes a turn amazing, what keeps me playing is the story altogether

[[1-AUS]CyclonOne]

great game......

[Viralyte]

I felt that the manuscripts kind of ruined the experience. I didn't pay them much mind while reading, just so I wouldn't remember the things that were going to happen. The story is amazing, the combat is bearable for me at least.

[JAIR BOLSONARO]

the second chapter, after you beat stucky, the dark presence kill the hotel owner, it becomes a little boring. it gets a lot better from the half end.

[John of the North]

I guess it depends what you are expecting. I enjoyed the game as a whole, and definitley feel it is worth seeing it through to the end.

[LeXX]

Mechanically it never improves.

The story is painfully mediocre. I eventually stopped reading the manuscript pages because knowing what's going to happen 10 minutes in advance made the cliched mundanities thrown at you even more boring than they already were.
It probably sounded like a good idea on paper but they never go anywhere with it. You'd think there would be some attempt by Wake to explore how much free will he has, if he can change any of the events written down there or maybe at least think about whether he should try or not. Instead he just goes through the motions and the manuscript is an interchangeable macguffin.
It's not until the two DLC episodes that they put some psychological horror in their psychological horror game. They still miss every opportunity to make it effective so it instead ends up feeling rather tame but the environments look a lot more interesting by comparison.

[(DS) Toren Elzal]

Thanks for all the input. I finally managed to get through the game on normal. Which is apparently the new Hard. I'm a bit confused on the that, since the achievements says normal, hard, and Nightmare, but the game gives you Easy, Normal, and Nightmare. And I actually really liked the ending. But everything leading up to that was disappointing and frustrating to say the least. But I did start on the bonus chapters, and so far from it I actually really like that. Combat still stucks but oh well.

Anyone else here find it funny that some of the Taken randomly say 'It's Rabbit Season'? I found it hilarious, as I kept saying 'It's Duck Season! FIRE!' after hearing it.

[Archnyxif]

Well it is cool you finished it. Sorry you didn't like it much but at least you got through it. And the Taken say some pretty random things.

[LeXX]

Opprinnelig skrevet av FrightGuy:

And the Taken say some pretty random things.

Assuming I remember the developer commentary right they didn't intend to have them say any of it initially. Only after they had one of the voice actors for one of the characters you might be able to identify by name do that did it occur to them to have all of them talk like this. Started with the Ranger I think.

Having voiced enemies say things that don't go anywhere plotwise and are just there to enhance the atmosphere is something I mostly remember from System Shock 2.

Obviously Bioshock had the splicers do similar things but I remember it being more banal and silly than threatening in any way. It was more among the lines of "I just pooped my pants and didn't to my taxes!". Like the developers vaguely remembered that the one type of enemy they put in the game to annoy the player with for hours should say scary things but then couldn't come up with anything beyond first world problems.
Tough Bioshock had other problems, mostly Rapture being Galt's Gulch and making no sense as a result.

Either way, Alan Wake is more effective with regard to that than Bioshock was and hits the mark quite well by showing how being taken over by the dark presence results in that person to be a hollowed out husk of its former self with memories echoing on and sort of leaking out at random.

Like many things in this game it was the result of an accident rather than deliberate direction or artistic vision. Listening to the commentary will provide a couple more examples of how somewhat effective things in the game just kind of happened instead of having been thought up by anyone on purpose.

[SlowNinja]

I am having the same problem. I'm just going to power through the second chapter and hope it gets better. I love how the first chapter played out, though.

[Ubiquitar]

I kind of have the same problem with this game. I can only play it for an hour at a time, unlike a game like Skyrim where I could play for hours on end. I really enjoyed it at first. The graphics are beautiful and it does a great job of putting you in the world. I just get sick of the Darkness and the Taken. The story is the only thing I like (aside from the amazing atmosphere/graphics).

[LeftPaw]

You have to dodge ghosts, dodge ghosts. I mean you have to dodge ghosts. I nearly gave up at that point.

[watchburner]

okay... good to hear the views. I dont think i will be finishing then... using such a large portion of your time on that fighting system... no.. sad tho; i actually started out liking the game as well.. storywise and such.

[[JC]Westenra]

The game is fine, you are welcome to make your own. Meanwhile I will take the cumulative positive Steam user rating over some kid with a chip on his shoulder.