Game Reviews

Alan Wake was a long time coming but not only was it worth the wait, it stands as one of the most unique Xbox 360 exclusives. The fact that it was released in the shadow of the excellent Red Dead Redemption was a shame, but for those of us that were enthralled by the psychological thriller the first "special episode" is a welcome arrival. Better yet, this add-on is free to anyone who bought Alan Wake new at retail (or 560 MS points to purchase).

Along with its compelling narrative and tense third-person gun play Alan Wake had a tight presentation that strung players along in the similar vein of a serial drama. There were plot twists aplenty, and in the dramatic conclusion Wake accomplished his primary goal but left open a number of mysteries woven throughout the story.

The Signal picks up right where we left off, with Alan literally and figuratively going off the deep end. In the original game, elements of reality were mixed with dark apparitions and it always seemed as though Alan's psyche was ready to burst through the seams of the world. Without spoiling anything, I can safely say that in this episode the demented mind of Alan Wake takes full control. He must battle his demons across a shifting dreamscape that resembles the setting of Season One, only far more twisted, and a lot more interesting. Alan faces familiar obstacles in The Signal including violently possessed objects and people. However, these threats are condensed into smaller, more interesting areas.The strange new environments have more interactive elements that add to a brand of combat that some people felt was too repetitive in Season One. Enemies are clustered more tightly together, there are more explosive elements, and Alan's written words have tumbled out into the world to act as item drops and puzzle triggers.In one section Alan's flashlight -- which has always acted as a shield from harm -- becomes a trigger to release more threats if the beam of light touches certain objects. In another, the flashlight can ignite explosions by passing over specially marked objects... it's amazing to me that these clever mechanics weren't in the original game.