Alan Wake has had one hell of a long development, but the final game is now on store shelves and after years of waiting, we can finally get our hands on it. Is Remedy’s latest worth the wait? In a word: yes. Alan Wake is everything you could ask for in a game. It has a solid story, a great cast of characters, fluid play control and excellent overall gameplay mechanics. It also features plenty of collectibles, some amazing special effects and completely draws you into the experience.

The game takes place in a town called Bright Falls which is located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. The protagonist is famed writer Alan Wake. Wake and his wife, Alice, come to Bright Falls for a bit of R&R and to help Alan get out of a serious writing slump. To Alan, the trip is supposed to just be a nice vacation; a getaway for the two of them. However, after meeting a mysterious old woman in a local diner, they reach their lodging. The two are put up at a cabin on Cauldron Lake and it is here that Alice reveals a typewriter and tells Alan that she thinks he could get some writing done on this trip. This leads to an argument and Alan storms out of the cabin for some fresh air and this is when all hell breaks loose. Alice is terrified of the dark and when Alan goes outside the power goes out at the cabin. Alan can hear Alice screaming for help and rushes back inside, but he’s too late. He watches as Alice stumbles over the railing and into the water below where she is taken hostage by an ancient dark evil. It is then that Alan Wake begins to write a story that becomes reality.

Most of the game takes place after sunset. The dark presence turns the nights into horrifying escapades as it takes over the townsfolk and even possesses large machinery, vehicles and all sorts of inanimate objects. The game makes excellent use of the light versus dark mechanic. Light is literally your greatest weapon throughout the adventure. Sure you’ll have access to various firearms, but none of the enemies can be hurt until they have been sufficiently bombarded with photons. Thankfully, Wake is almost always equipped with a handy flashlight. By focusing the beam on an enemy, you bring them out of the shadows and into a physical form which can be destroyed with bullets. Other forms of light are available that help out immensely. You can seek safety under the yellow glow of a streetlight, keep foes at bay with flares and blast them into ash with flashbang grenades.

The flare may be the most valuable weapon in Wake’s arsenal.

Throughout the adventure, you’ll come across pages from Wake’s book that move the story along. Many times you’ll find pages that describe events that haven’t yet come to pass. This is an especially nice touch from the developers as it provides a sense of foreboding and suspense. Further helping to cement these feelings are the impressive visuals and superb audio. The game looks great and it runs incredibly smoothly. I did notice a few instances of screen tearing here and there, but nothing too major.

The sound is impressive all around. The game has a wonderful soundtrack, stellar voice overs and the sound effects are spot on. Rarely does a game come around that is as aurally perfect as Alan Wake.

As you play the game, you’ll notice that much of the time you are wandering around in dark, spooky environments. Whether you’re sneaking through the forest, running through a lumber yard or exploring a dilapidated ranch home you just never quite feel safe and this is one of the game’s crowning achievements. You are completely engrossed in the atmosphere. You’ll no doubt notice this; especially if you play the game alone and in the dark. I remember clearly one particular instance where I was running away from several shadowy figures, known as The Taken. I was running for the safety of a nearby streetlight and just as I was getting close, the light bulb shattered. An overwhelming feeling of dread engulfed me as the light flickered out of existence and left me alone in the dark with The Taken. It is the game’s ability to draw out real feelings of fright and despair that make it such an incredible experience.

The atmosphere of the game is unrivaled.

2010 has been a great year for games. We’ve had Bayonetta, Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain and God of War 3 to name just a few. I was relatively certain that Mass Effect 2 would be my favorite game this year, but now Alan Wake has usurped it at the top of my list. This is a fantastic experience that is not to be missed.