Does the combat eventually get fun?

[Eric The Funfetti]

I'm on Chapter 3. One enemy is fine but 3 or more and I'm toast. The trees and other objects always seem to be in the way. The enemies are so...fast. Like most games I sprint to try to gain some distance to regroup. Turn around and they are still on top of you. The shotgun is instant death because it is so tedious to reload. The dodge mechanic is so clunky. I can't fathom using a controller when even the mouse makes precision shots difficult.

[CorvusCorax]

Yes, it gets harder. The trick lies with learning how to properly dodge. After a successful dodge you do have the time to reload.

Don't you have flares or flashbang grenades in Chapter 3? I remember using one of these when encountering several villains.

[johnny]

TOO HARD even on normal, can't get past buldozer + 15 enemies. DOH

[Ritke]

I don't think it's too hard, though I did die sometimes on normal, especially I had trouble once when I had forgot to refill my revolver ammunition. I died less in my recond run on Nightmare.

People seem to find it hard to judge when to run away and when to kill the enemies. Don't try to run to a lightpole unless it's very close, they'll just hit you in your back and you'll be frustrated. Use flares in those situations. Don't save ammo, there's enough to kill every taken if you don't miss shots. Also, try to align your flashlight so that it's hitting two taken at once.

[MechWomanWarrior15]

The biggest help i can give is drain the light from the taken first, before using your weapon. After playing through on hard, the key to everything is LIGHT. Flashbangs are the most powerful and flares/flareguns are essential too. Use these items against the bosses (Bulldozer, Harvester, Tornado) or multiple enemies and you will have little trouble. Yes, the dodge mechanic is almost usless; you must learn to stay mobile instead, and group the taken behind you (using a flare) as best as you can. Remember: don't fire until you see the light drain from their eyes, and you will succeed.

[iStever]

Yea, the key is to keep bursting the light while moving backwards along the path and face the Taken. Don't run from them, instead move away from them by keeping your distance. Bursting the light will allow the batteries to re-charge. Keep doing this until the Taken "flame-out" and then a few shots with the revolver will quickly take it down.

Sometimes it's better to just run to the next checkpoint and get under the light instead of fighting through multiple hordes of Taken. You can toss a flare which will slow down the Taken and save you loads of ammo.

Also, make sure to search all around the map...esp off the beaten path. You'll find caches of hidden chests filled with flares, ammo, batteries, etc. I usually end up beating each stage with more than enough stuff left over on Normal mode. Which makes little sense lolz...why would Alan ditch this stuff?

[GordonFreeman]

Nah on normal, the fights are nice balanced, and about the bulldozer i just opened the gate dodgde the hell out of it and than run from the yard, didn't feel like fighting with it:P , the only had moment i got ( and seriously it was an easy part) it was when sara was guiding me with the chopper to the dam, threw all the game i died only there twice

[Vic 2.0]

I didn't think it was too hard, at least not on Normal. In fact, I've given up on many a frustrating adventure or shooter game. But I never even FELT like giving up on this one *shrugs*

Practice, practice, practice. Look EVERYWHERE for more ammo and weapons, and then save all the best weapons for those really difficult parts (like the bulldozer). Use flares not just to save yourself immediately, but to give yourself space and time to think. Hold it for a good second or two and then drop it between you and your enemies. If you back up while it's still burning, you can usually get a pretty good distance from them.

Know when to run. There are just a handful of parts in the game where you actually HAVE to fight. If you can't beat them, run away, dropping a few flares as you go to slow them down.

All in all, Alan Wake is only fun for those who understand and appreciate exactly what it is: a SURVIVAL game. You're SUPPOSED to feel like even running away is a challenge, nigh impossible. You're SUPPOSED to feel like you're at a disadvantage. Where's the horror in a game or a movie where the protagonist has it all figured out even half of the time?

[Greifer II]

I just finished it on difficult. There had been some situations, where I had to restart at a savepoint quite some times. But the game is beatable. There are two important things:
1. Use DODGE: After a while you should feel (hearing the sound and seeing the shadows) when an enemy is directly beside you. Dodge into your target direction. Often you could really dodge your way towards the next light.
2. Use your WEAPONS: Especially the flairs are very useful to get some distance between you and the enemies or to get some time in order to active a power.generator. I had often been at a first-aid box and was not able to get any ammunition because I am a notorious "ammo-saver".
But remember: The weapons are not to kill all the enemys. The weapons are to bring you to the next light-point (savepoint). That should be the only goal for the usage of them.

[mochidream]

it sounds like you're just bad. Stop complaining and just play.

[[19]Zaph]

You know, you don't have to kill every single thing you meet ;) If you ever play in Nightmare mod, you won't have enough bullet so.

[KaylaKaze]

My biggest advice is to skip playing and watch an LP. The "game" part of this game is atrocious.

Update: Actually, surprisingly, the combat does get better. Maybe not quite fun, though, but better.

[TomatoCultivator]

I didn't like the combat at first but after I got a handle on the controls it was fun

Also, does anyone else hear that bass gitar in the backround sometimes? It's pretty awsome.

[Captain Lasertron]

there are stronger enemies, not all human. vehicles and big weapons

[Terminus]

I actually found the combat to be the weakest part of the game. I didn't find it difficult, per se, just frustrating. The camera and the limited mobility made it really annoying. It sucks because everything else about the game is awesome. I get that it's survival horror and combat is supposed to be sort of a last resort, but, bottom line, I dreaded the combat sequences and just plowed through to get to the story/exploration parts as if they were long, interactive loading screens.

[Forever-Train Engineer]

Most of the problem with the combat is because Alan Wake smokes and can hardly run without getting tired: Cue the continuous dodging.
I actually got tired of the game, after beating it and getting the special episodes, it was only more of the same (literally, they also used the same maps and the story didn't make up for it). There are simply too few types of weapons in the game for the combat to remain interesting.