230°

Gamecritics: Quick note on Alan Wake review response

Gamecritics writes: "Alan Wake is certainly not a terrible title, but it is repetitive and fairly underwhelming—doubly so for a game that's been in development for more than five years. I give credit to the developers for some beautiful environments and a combat style that's sensible and engaging, but it's weak in most other areas. I also have to say that for a game that's been so heavily touted for its story, I found the plot to be poorly-structured and unsatisfying."

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gamecritics.com
Jack Klugman5129d ago ShowReplies(3)
kaveti66165129d ago (Edited 5129d ago )

Well, there's no reason to bash the reviewer. He made his points clear. The only thing I don't agree with about his response is that he factored in development time into his review. That's really irrelevant. Does he think gamers sat on their thumbs for five years waiting for Alan Wake?

If the game sucks then I'll be thankful that Gamecritics didn't give it an 8 or 9 just because everyone else was doing it. From the many vids I have seen of Alan Wake, the mechanics do look repetitive and the voice-over narration is cornier than Iowa. There are definitely negatives to this game, but I am hoping it ends up being a gem.

-MD-5129d ago

"he factored in development time into his review."

Now that's pathetic.

-EvoAnubis-5129d ago

Why should he not factor in development time? It's an important point.

aaronisbla5129d ago (Edited 5129d ago )

sorry but would you care to explain to me how the fvck dev time for the game should be factored in a review for this game? That makes no sense to me at all.

How would that work? for each month over 2 years we deduct a half a point? A good game is a good game regardless of the time it took to be made.

DigitalAnalog5129d ago

"Too Human" comes to mind.

-End statement

-EvoAnubis-5128d ago

Yes, a good game is a good game no mater how long it took to make, but if a game had a VERY long development cycle and still ended up being crap, then that's a noteworthy point.

Not saying that applies here because Alan Wake is looking to be a damn fine game, but to say that the dev cycle length isn't important is, well, stupid.

karlowma5129d ago

I was gonna say the same thing. Development time should have absolutely zero bearing on the review score. Was Avatar docked points because James Cameron has been working on it since Titanic? No, and why would it be?

I recently read an article, I think on Gamepro.com, talking about this exact issue with Metacritic. I still don't see it as an issue, since one review isn't going to greatly influence the game's metascore, but is this a clear example of the anti-establishment hit-grabbers trying to make a name for themselves that they were talking about?

We really should wait to play the game before we answer that question.

Biggest5128d ago

Avatar isn't a fair comparison here. Avatar is touted as one of if not the best looking CG/Animated movie of all time. Alan Wake, while good looking, is definitely a game that looks like it was started 5 or more years ago. It looks like the best looking game of 2005.

karlowma5128d ago

That noise is the point going over your head.

MNicholas5128d ago

It appears that Remedy was trying to go after the original Halo fanbase who would now be older and more willing to try a different genre than a run-of-the-mill twitch shooters.

Halo is repetitive by design but it pulls it off because those 30 seconds that are repeated over and over again are themselves addictive to many gamers.

Perhaps the problem with Alan Wake is that despite trying to replicate Halo's method in a different genre, they were unable to make it as addictive as Halo was.

kaveti66165128d ago

You could say the same exact thing about every game outside of the RPG genre. Uncharted 2, for example, one of the greatest games I've ever played, is also one of the most repetitive. So, to make the claim that Remedy was going after the Halo crowd because the game is repetitive is unfounded.

BattleAxe5128d ago

lol Not too sure where the Halo comparison comes from.

Christopher5128d ago (Edited 5128d ago )

I don't think he factored it into the score, but I think he made a point of it the same way people did with Haze and Too Human -- after such a long time they expected more.

It's a statement made that in no way can you honestly say was a factor in the actual score, especially with his other comments on how repetitive the game was, how the story felt lackluster, and how the manuscript elements just didn't add anything to the storyline as well when they really should have been integral to the whole event.

EvilBlackCat5128d ago (Edited 5128d ago )

-Title-
"Quick note on Alan Wake review response"

-Info about his opinion-
Alan Wake is certainly not a terrible title, but it is repetitive and fairly underwhelming—doubly so for a game that's been in development for more than five years. I give credit to the developers for some beautiful environments and a combat style that's sensible and engaging, but it's weak in most other areas. I also have to say that for a game that's been so heavily touted for its story, I found the plot to be poorly-structured and unsatisfying.

(A side note to you preemptive Alan Wake fanboys who've been posting negative remarks on the review: At least have the decency to wait until the game hits retail before tearing my evaluation down. If you've got a reason to disagree with me, I'd love to hear it. Present your case. Tell me your rationale. I'm honestly interested. However, you really don't have a thing to say until you've actually played the game, you "every other site gave it a 9" tossers.)

-NONE RELATED ALAN WAKE INFO BUT INCLUDED IUNDER THE TITLE-

In other games news, I've been spending a bit of time with Retro (mini) on PlayStationPortable. It's a new take on the old formula where players pilot a ship of some sort through obstacles and caves while struggling against gravity. I think the first game of its type ever played was Solar Jetman way back on the NES, and this isn't much different. However, although it's not reinventing the wheel, it's got a clean presentation and it handles well. If you've got an itch for this sort of thing, I think it will be pretty well scratched.

Also just finished off the Blue Toad Murder Files series on PSN with the wife. My review of the first three (of six) chapters is right here. Although it's lean on gameplay, a few of the puzzles are bogus, and the story isn't as tight as it could be, I admit that I had a soft spot for the dialogue and characters. Some of that stuff just completely cracks me up. The butcher? Pure gold. If the game was a little more robust in terms of how many puzzles were offered and had the multiplayer tweaked, I would have no problem recommending it to others. As it stands, it's fairly flawed, though there's a lot to like if you dig kooky cut scenes.

One final bit on games, I was quite lucky this week and won a copy of Monster Hunter Tri from GameZone in one of their contests.

Though I'm totally in love with the concept of hunting giant monsters, my experience with the original PlayStation 2 Monster Hunter was quite negative and I couldn't possibly conceive of any way the follow-up PSP version could have possibly been worth my time. Even so, I still think the concept is golden and reviews of Tri have been very favorable. I'm really hoping that Capcom has tweaked the formula enough to finally deliver the goods. At this point, I wasn't convinced enough to put my own money down on it, but I will most definitely put a free copy through its paces.

WTF????

BattleAxe5128d ago

The reviews were probably too good for Alan Wake, just like Splinter Cell. If Splinter Cell had been a Multi Platform game, its meta score would have been around 8/10. The MS hype and money machine can do wonders for games that are mediocre at best. Just like we already know that Gears of War 3 and Halo: Reach are both gonna get 10/10 scores, even though nobody has played these games yet except for the Halo Beta. The gaming media are absolutely brutal.

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Unicron5129d ago

Like all reviews, it's just an opinion. People need to stop stressing.

lowcarb5129d ago

I'm definitely judging for myself and after I complete will give Gamecritics my review of them. This has to many 10's and 9's to add up to there score.

DelbertGrady5129d ago

Two paragraphs before he dove right into "In other games news, I've been spending a bit of time with Retro (mini) on PlayStation Portable." and "Also just finished off the Blue Toad Murder Files series on PSN with the wife."

Silly gameAr5129d ago (Edited 5129d ago )

I think he was trying to make a point of how those games were overlooked or pretty much ignored by reviewers. If I didn't have a PS3, I wouldn't know jack about those titles, but other games get hyped like crazy.

Not saying Alan Wake is to hyped because it looks like a great title to me, but things need to be evened out a bit.

-EvoAnubis-5129d ago

Oh, of course!! Because he's played these games as well, he's obviously a fanboy!! Well, that makes sense...or at least it would if I were an idiot. It's no shock that even on the new N4G you only have one bubble. Think I'll do my part as well.

aaronisbla5129d ago

im really trying to figure out the point Soda was going for in this response...

bjornbear5129d ago

oh wait..there isn't any right? I FORGOT! DOUBLE STANDARDS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

*dodges double standards from left and right*

monkey nuts5128d ago

* Gets sucker punched from above and below*

Inside_out5128d ago (Edited 5128d ago )

Desperation at it's worst...Please don't judge my review UNTIL you play the game...just give me 750+ hits like Eurogamer review....What a idiot...BTW, here are all my favorite PS3 games me and my wife are playing.....if he doesn't want his review REVIEWED, don't post it...

The game was " to samey " , then he says he doesn't know how the game is rated " T " because he wouldn't let a kid near it...way to weird and scary...LMAO...he can't help but contradict himself in a attempt to discredit the game...

As usual...haters will hate...I guess he wanted to be scared on the beach in Rio like that retard Ellie over at Eurogamer...AW is in the forest alot..Hmmmm...Tiny town in the FICTIONAL Pacific N/W...trees and Mountains and a spooky lake...duh...was he expecting to fight the fallen in the local bar " I lived in Washington, looks just like that "...So all the great locations like the dam, beautifully rendered...The incredible vistas of over 2 km...All the atmospheric fog, light and incredible sound that Digital Foundry couldn't explain how they did it...lol...Game only gets good at the last 1/3 or so...so, last 3+ hrs were great...ending a head scratcher...Did he read about the free DLC and how the game is episodic has 2 DLC packs ready to go...this guys a moron...There are T.v's, radios and 100 manuscripts scattered all around the game that fills in many pieces...lol...he didn't bother...just complain...sad really..

Review a complete fail...PS3 fanboy, what do you expect...

graemed20055128d ago

Its a REVIEW, if the guy does not like the game as much as others then thats HIS opinion, stop taking a bitch fit because hes not praising your beloved game. You are the fanboy!

monkey nuts5128d ago

Switch 'PS3 fanboy, what do you expect' with 360 fanboy, wadya expect, then apply that to you're comment. Then deny!deny!deny!

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520°

Gamer buys 4,000 copies of Alan Wake, none of them work

Alan Wake, from Max Payne and Control creator Remedy, is a horror classic, prompting one player to buy 4,000 copies that don’t even work.

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pcgamesn.com
roadkillers42d ago

Kind of a goody story...

On a serious note, that is why I try activating gift cards asap. It's happened to me where the store didnt scan it right where the card was unusuable. Happened at Wally World.

gigoran842d ago

wait, that place is real? national lampoon wasn't kidding?

Tacoboto41d ago

I just bought two of the MonsterVerse Godzilla movies on 4K - both had digital copies expiring in 2023. Both were actually expired.

I'd be surprised but it's WB, of course they'd actually expire them

Knightofelemia42d ago

Usually most of those redemption card have an expiry date on them. If they expired all buyer did was buy recycled paper. And some of those codes are country locked to certain countries. I buy a card from the States I can't use it in Canada.

Chocoburger42d ago

Dumb and silly story. She wasted her money for no reason.

Is it really that hard to go to Steam or GOG. She spent $240, when its currently 70% off on GOG, and only costs $4.49.

Gee, I wonder, should I spend $240 on eBay, or $4.49 on GOG? 🙄

Rynxie41d ago

Most likely she wanted to resell a few or most of them. However, it was a too good to be true situation.

41d ago
Profchaos41d ago

So in short she paid $240.00 assuming usd for a bunch on unactivated game codes.

I still don't understand why I guess cause there's not a physical version and she wanted something for a collection or art project.

Rynxie41d ago

No, most likely to resell. However, she ended up getting screwed.

Asplundh41d ago

This is Alan Wake 1, it had physical copies.

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60°

Previously On... Alan Wake

Alan Wake 2 continues the writer's story, 13 years later.

60°

A thermos is upending the Alan Wake community

Remedy has Alan Wake merch on sale, including a pretty blue thermos. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone according to plan, and many players who want a thermos find themselves without one, though it does appear that Remedy is attempting to fix things. Nevertheless, it has resulted in a lot of upset, illustrating just how much the thermos means to Alan Wake fans.

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destructoid.com