Alan Wake's American Nightmare Review (m1rrozZ)
When I expected the worst from the game, I got a pretty good game.
I had never heard of this game and didn't even want to look into it. But it just so happens that the game interested me in its atmosphere, which made me spend my money on the Alan Wake franchise.
What's the story?
In American Nightmare, Alan Wake finds himself trapped in a dystopian reality called Nightmare. He is haunted by the mysterious character Mr. Scratch, who is a sinister version of Alan himself. Mr. Scratch controls a television show and intends to use it to spread darkness around the world.
Alan has to fight the inanimate enemies known as "The Shadow" and find ways to defeat Mr. Scratch. He discovers that pages from his new novel, which he has no memory of writing, can alter the course of events. Alan uses this opportunity to change his destiny and find a way to free himself from The Nightmare.
As the game progresses, Alan travels through various locations in Bright Falls, including a city street, a mine, and a desolate resort area. He collects weapons, finds letters and notes that help him understand what's going on, and fights a host of enemies to survive and defeat Mr. Scratch.
Key to the plot is the constant confrontation between Alan and Mr. Scratch, where they each try to rewrite reality in their favor. It is up to Alan to make decisions and use his abilities to find a way to win and return to the real world.
The plot of American Nightmare revolves around the themes of time loops and alternate realities, and Alan has to explore various locations in Bright Falls to solve the mystery of his own existence and defeat Mr. Scratch, his evil double.
Gameplay.
Alan Wake gameplay is based on the use of light and darkness to fight enemies. The protagonist discovers that enemies, called Dark Beings, can only be damaged by light. Therefore, the player is provided with various light sources, such as lanterns, lamps, and spotlights, which must be used to weaken and destroy the enemies. At the same time, the player must tactically use the remaining light, as energy sources are limited and require recharging.
The game also features a "Paper Pages" system, which is a key element of the narrative. In various places in the game world, the player can find pages from Alan Wake's last book, which he never wrote. These pages predict events that will happen in the future and help solve the mystery of the story.
Summary
What does this game contribute?
A New Story: American Nightmare is a stand-alone sequel to Alan Wake's story that unfolds in the fictional town of Knight Springs, Arizona. The protagonist encounters Mr. Smile, the sinister incarnation of his arch-nemesis Mr. Beetle.
More Active Gameplay: American Nightmare offers more active and faster gameplay than the original. There is more emphasis on combat, including the use of various weapons and additional abilities.
Arcade Mode: The game introduces Arcade Mode, which offers fast and exciting battles against waves of Dark Creatures. Players can compete against other players, trying to score maximum points.
More focus on the combat system: American Nightmare introduces new weapons and combat abilities that allow Alan to deal with enemies more effectively. This adds more variety to the battles and strategies.
Less Story Focus: Unlike the original, American Nightmare places less emphasis on an in-depth research story. Here, the focus is more on action and quick play.