If you’ve played Alan Wake 2 (if you haven’t, don’t worry, this isn’t really a spoiler), chances are you’ve been startled by the flashing images that Remedy sneaks in from time to time showcasing the monsters that populate the game, and sometimes, even Wake himself. There’s also the death screen for when the player falls in-game, which takes some getting used to the first few times it happens.
While it’s OK to see those stingers occasionally and keeps us on our toes, it does get to be a bit much. Alan Wake 2 game director Kyle Rowley also agrees that it happens too often. In an interview, Rowley mentions how difficult it is for the dev team to balance these little stingers without feeling cheap, though he admits they might have overdone it.
Why Were the Alan Wake 2 Jump Scare Screens Implemented?
According to Rowley, “I feel like we kind of overdid it a little bit looking back. Whenever a new foe is on the prowl, you could be sure they’d pop up to say hello with a horror sting.”
But why do it in the first place? Was it for a simple jump scare? It seems it goes deeper than that, as Rowly explains, “Thematically, story-wise, they’re meant to be like a psychological attack on the character who’s receiving them. Especially in the base game, you know, where you’re getting introduced to Overlap Guardians, whether that’s Nightingale or Cynthia, they’re meant to be this kind of mental assault.”
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As someone who played and enjoyed the game, I admit that it felt like those jump scares were done a bit too much. Sure, it was frightening at first, but seeing it repeatedly? It loses its effect and becomes more than an annoyance. It doesn’t detract from the horror game’s overall experience since it’s just so good of a game that you can overlook these little niggles and other minor issues.
This sentiment is something our review of Alan Wake 2 shares as it heaps praise, stating, “Alan Wake 2 solidified for me that Remedy is a developer I can trust deeply to deliver a thoughtful, high-concept narrative that delves into dark and unsettling territory while balancing that with well-placed humor and levity.”
If you haven’t played the game yet and plan on picking up a PS5 Pro, you’ll be glad that Remedy has added PS5 Pro-specific features to Alan Wake 2. Not only that, but the game’s final DLC, The Lake House, is also now available. It was released earlier today alongside the Anniversary Update that housed new quality-of-life features and more for base game owners.
13 years after the mysterious incident at Cauldron Lake, Alan Wake returns, this time accompanied by FBI Agent Saga Anderson as a string of ritualistic murders leads them down a rabbit-hole of overlapping dimensions and danger.
- Released
- October 27, 2023
- Engine
- Northlight Engine