Alan Wake: The Signal – MMOMFG DLC Review
I’d love to go ahead and give a synopsis of the game, but for the few who haven’t beat it yet, I’ll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum. Let’s just say that Alan isn’t exactly enjoying his planned vacation and is still in a bit of trouble with the Darkness. For those who did finish it, the game ended in a cliffhanger and if you were like me, you clamored for the next bit of DLC to continue Alan’s strife. Enter The Signal, the first part of Remedy’s DLC that places you moments after the game’s ending. We’ve had our share of some DLC this year, some good, some bad. Where does AW rate in all of this? Let’s find out.
What’s Good
It’s free! - It goes without saying, but I’m never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. As long as you bought this game new, you’ll be downloading it in just a couple of days. Even though the second DLC won’t be free, this little present from Remedy is a nice way of enticing Alan Wake fans to procure the second (and third) installments when they’re released.
Insane in the Membrane - Without spoiling to much for those who haven’t finished the game, Alan has gone…a bit mad. He’s trapped, he’s losing his mind, and his writing has become unstable. A person’s imagination is a dangerous weapon and that point hits home with The Signal. Alan is fighting for his life and this time it’s not the Darkness he has to worry about. Remedy comes up with some interesting tricks that manages to keep the gameplay fresh.
The Darkness of his mind - Even though the Signal might last you around 90 minutes, it definitely amped up the suspense. Not saying that Alan Wake wasn’t creepy to begin with, but this DLC will put you in tiny corridors, claustrophobic settings, and send a relentless amount of Taken your way. The step up in difficulty was at first frustrating, but then appreciated.
What’s Bad
Cliffhanger - No I’m not referring to the Sly Stallone flick, but rather the ending of the DLC. I have nothing against ending the DLC with a cliffhanger, as we already knew a second DLC was on the way, but I feel as if this portion of Alan’s journey really didn’t further the overall storyline. This seemed more like an internal struggle with himself and had little to do with the after effects of the original game’s ending.
The good thing about this review is that the majority of you reading it, and who own a copy of Alan Wake, don’t have a tough decision to make. In a few days, go download the DLC and give it a spin. Hopefully you’ll agree that it’s a nice addition to the title that provides a little dose of intrigue and suspense. For me, I hadn’t touched the game in a few months and as soon as booted up, I was sucked in once more. I can only hope the second DLC sheds a bit more light on Wake’s fate. For those who bought a used version and are undecided about spending the $7 for it, think no further. The DLC might not be extremely lengthy, but it offers up a good challenge, an inviting narrative, and a continuation to Alan’s plight.
Finally, for those still on the fence about this game, do yourself a favor and go buy it. I still think it’s one of the better games of the year and definitely deserves a lot more attention.
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Nice one.
