Alan Wake.

[Flash Facts]

I borrowed it from a friend and I thought it was great as well. I really liked the episodic presentation of the story. I wish I had the funds to actually buy it because I've been wanting to play it though again on nightmare mode all week.

What are your thoughts on the ending?

 

[KALEL114]

Just got the game today. Any spoiler free advice before I jump in?

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Just got the game today. Any spoiler free advice before I jump in?

Dont be afraid to use your weapons(flashbangs, flares etc). You don't need to save your equipment as it all disappears at the end of each episode.

 

[Flash Facts]

Also headshots and weapon caches of are your friends.

 

[KALEL114]

Dont be afraid to use your weapons(flashbangs, flares etc). You don't need to save your equipment as it all disappears at the end of each episode.

Also headshots and weapon caches of are your friends.

Thanks guys. That is great advice. I always seem to horde my ammo in games like this.

 

[Tron Bonne]

What are your thoughts on the ending?

Spoiler

I think Alan took in the darkness to ensure that it stayed down and let his wife go

 

[Flash Facts]

Spoiler

I think Alan took in the darkness to ensure that it stayed down and let his wife go

Spoiler

Well I think that much is apparent. I haven't heard any arguments opposing that(if you have heard others I'd be interested in hearing them), but why do you think he did it the way he did?

Besides the obvious answer that Remedy wanted to make a franchise I think Alan thought the only way to defeat the darkness is over a series of books. I think he alluded to this fact when he said Zane's mistake was trying to cut corners and make a quick fix.

Then there are the mysteries of Nightingale, Zane, Mr. Scratch, and so on.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Spoiler

Well I think that much is apparent. I haven't heard any arguments opposing that(if you have heard others I'd be interested in hearing them), but why do you think he did it the way he did?

Besides the obvious answer that Remedy wanted to make a franchise I think Alan thought the only way to defeat the darkness is over a series of books. I think he alluded to this fact when he said Zane's mistake was trying to cut corners and make a quick fix.

Then there are the mysteries of Nightingale, Zane, Mr. Scratch, and so on.

Spoiler

I was thinking the reason was that even though he could write that his wife was released the darkness would still be there and probably begin the process anew either with him or someone else. The only way for him to ensure his wife was let go, the darkness would leave her alone, and to keep others safe from it was to trap it in himself. I hadn't thought of the series of books though. I could see that becoming a way of furthering the story.

 

[Flash Facts]

Spoiler

I was thinking the reason was that even though he could write that his wife was released the darkness would still be there and probably begin the process anew either with him or someone else. The only way for him to ensure his wife was let go, the darkness would leave her alone, and to keep others safe from it was to trap it in himself. I hadn't thought of the series of books though. I could see that becoming a way of furthering the story.

Spoiler

So you think that the darkness was in possession of Wake at the end of the story? I was under the impression that he decided to turn the lake into an ocean under his own free will.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Spoiler

So you think that the darkness was in possession of Wake at the end of the story? I was under the impression that he decided to turn the lake into an ocean under his own free will.

Spoiler

No, I meant the other way around. I don't think he was possessed, but that he absorbed the darkness into himself. Everything that happened in the last moments of the game (Alice escaping, the lake into the ocean, etc.) where all part of his story.

 

[Flash Facts]

Spoiler

No, I meant the other way around. I don't think he was possessed, but that he absorbed the darkness into himself. Everything that happened in the last moments of the game (Alice escaping, the lake into the ocean, etc.) where all part of his story.

Spoiler

I'm not sure if I am understanding your interpretation of the story. What does having the darkness in Alan mean? Is he evil now?

If the darkness is in him then why did Nightingale look the way Jagger did? And why would Rose have to take on the role of lady of the light if the presence was tapped in Wake?

 

[Tron Bonne]

Spoiler

I'm not sure if I am understanding your interpretation of the story. What does having the darkness in Alan mean? Is he evil now?

If the darkness is in him then why did Nightingale look the way Jagger did? And why would Rose have to take on the role of lady of the light if the presence was tapped in Wake?

Spoiler

I don't really know what it would mean at this point. I don't think that he's evil, but at the end he's in the house with darkness swirling all around and his voice is altered similarly to the way the Lost sound when he says the bit about the ocean. I think that he's absorbing the darkness, or at the very least somehow chaining it down to him.

As far as Rose and Jagger, I can only assume it's part of the ongoing story as you said and we'll see what happens. The only other thing I could think it means is that Alan is simply restarting the story with the new characters and the last bit is him beginning the change that he thinks will stop the darkness.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Spoiler

The ending goes like this...
Remember in the end, when Alan Wake said that the mistake Zane made was that it all needed balance?
The balance is that Wake realised that, to save Alice he needed to take her place in the darkness, so, that´s what he does, he sacrifices himself so that the woman he loves could return.
The moment the darkness got Alice, there could be only one, that was Zane´s mistake, he wanted for him and Barbara to be together again.
Also, Alan Wake kills "Jagger presence", so, Nightingale is the new "Barbara Jagger".
Last but not least, the all "it´s not a lake, it´s an ocean"; that means that the dark presence reach is not just confined to Bright Falls."

All in all, the upcoming DLC will reveal more

 

[Tron Bonne]

Makes sense, I can see all that. Still iffy on the [blackout]ocean[/blackout] thing but I can see that context.

 

[Flash Facts]

@Heir

You say that pretty matter-of-factually considering the story is purposely left very open to interpretation. Especially considering [BLACKOUT]the last line implies that it was all a dream.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Tron Bonne]

Wait, you mean [blackout]the ocean line? How's that?[/blackout]

 

[Flash Facts]

Wait, you mean [blackout]the ocean line? How's that?[/blackout]

Spoiler

No, the last line of the game is Alice whispering "Alan wake up".

 

[Tron Bonne]

I had forgotten about that. I don't think that's it; that'd be a pretty big coup out I would think and since there's a lot of DLC coming it seems unlikely. I took the [blackout]ending as more of a cliffhanger, Twin Peaks style (though hopefully with more resolution in time with the DLC). Though, if you're right, and it was all just a dream or something, I'm not sure what route the DLC would take[/blackout]

 

[Flash Facts]

Oh I don't think that is the actual resolution. I was just pointing out that the ending, as well as a lot of the story is open to interpretation.

Which is one of the reasons I think it makes such a good discussion topic

 

[Tron Bonne]

Ah, gotcha.

 

[Master Chief]

Spoiler

The other time we hear Alice tell Alan to wake up is when they first arrive at Bright Falls. lol it really makes that Mr. Scratch = the player theory sound better.

Anyways I'm thinkin about hunting down a limited edition, I really wanna read the Alan Wake files. I heard it has info about things after the game, plus more story on Clay (the guy from the nightmare) and Nightingale. Apparently them and Wake are intertwined through disturbing dreams, I'm kickin myself now for settling on a regular copy.

Spoiler

As for the lake being an ocean, Wake's dream could have been more than a nightmare. There isn't a lighthouse around Bright Falls, it was like a warning that the darkness would spread. I love the theme of balance this story has, "Where the waves are both wilder and more serene." The darkness is a mystery I can't wait to figure out. I mean, the brothers used the water in the lake as an ingredient in their moonshine, which is what Alan was sleeping off when he found out what happened during the week he blacked out! Sooo cool.

Maaan Sam Lake rules, I wish he would write novels but I'm still happy as a clam if he sticks to videogames. Playing 1 chapter a night was like watching a really great miniseries, bring on the DLC and season 2.

 

[Flash Facts]

Did anyone watch those Bright Falls episodes?

I thought they were really well done. It was cool to see real life versions of so many of the in game characters. It makes the town and the people seem way more creepy than in the actual game though and brings even more mystery into the overarching story.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I've seen the first three episodes through Live. I have the other three downloaded, plan to watch them soon. I enjoyed them

 

[Tron Bonne]

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/17/alan-wake-dlc-episodes-priced-at-7-each/

Remedy's imperiled author sim, Alan Wake, will be extended in two downloadable episodes later this year, with the first set to launch on July 27th. Entitled "The Signal," the first add-on is available free to players who purchased the game new. We met up with Remedy's Head of Franchise Development, Oskari Hakkinen, and ascertained that the episode -- which should last around 90 minutes -- will cost 560 MS Points ($7) on the Xbox Live Marketplace to those who purchased the game sans shrinkwrap.

The second downloadable episode, "The Writer," will also cost 560 MS points ($7). According to Hakkinen, the $10 price seen within Alan Wake's DLC menu was meant to be a placeholder.

 

[Bruce Banner]

I had to play this on my uncles 360 since I am a PS3 guy.

Remedy made two videogames that are already in my top 10 favorites and they definately made me add this to my favorites list. After playing it made me go and dig out some of my old Stephen King books for nostalgia purposes.

I also had to download the soundtrack to this game. Its great for late night drives home after class.