The lights are on
Alan Wake's ending is open for interpretation. Some people believe the dark presence exists in Alan's world. Others see it as a figment of a mental patient's mind. A few souls out there will even tell you that Alan Wake is just a character in a book.
I believed strongly in one of these possibilities...until I played through Alan Wake's first DLC offering The Signal. The game didn't sway me to a new possibility, nor did it make me believe my theory was invalid. Instead of giving an answer, or even a few clues to point toward the correct theory, The Signal recognizes and teases every conceivable outcome, and in the end, just made me all the more confused. I'm now of the mind that any and all theories are correct. I'm even beginning to think that Alan Wake may have been abducted by aliens.
If you went into this DLC expecting answers, you'll undoubtedly be disappointed. However, if you just want to play around with a flashlight more, you're going to love what Remedy has cooked up. The Signal offers the game's most dynamic gameplay. Enemies swarm in great numbers, and light is used in different ways to combat their assaults. I don't want to ruin the surprises ahead, but I will say that fire, explosions, and words are used brilliantly in fights. This chapter is just as lengthy and polished as any of the others in the main game. Instead of collecting flashlights, you are now tasked to collect 10 alarm clocks. Before you say anything, the clock did make me think about one of the theories out there. One of the many possibilities that this DLC taunts you with.
The most closure delivered from this DLC is the fate of that creepy deer float. That's something, right? I enjoyed playing through this new chapter and grabbing a few new Achievements, but it confused me more, and left me with that Lost-like feeling of "Do the writers really know where they are going with this story?" Here's hoping the next DLC offering, The Writer, wraps it all together. If Alan has to endure more of this mental chaos, I fear he may turn the shotgun on himself. And yes, I'd settle for that ending.
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I have yet to get The Signal yet, but nice to hear about it!
I have got to pick this game up before my summer is over. It looks like so much fun and it has generated a lot of discussion here.
i downloaded this on day one but have yet to play it. hurting my hand makes it even harder for me to play it, too. in a few days i will finally get to play this one. if you haven't played Alan Wake and have an Xbox 360, buy it!
there is probably going to be a sequel so id imagine the writer wont explain to many things, maybe just one shocker at the end.
The description for the next DLC says Alan comes to term with what opposes him.
So... I don't think the next episode's ending will leave us exactly where it found us, the same place we were left at the end of the retail game.
I was very pleased with the DLC. It didn't stay repetitive like most of the game did. It could have been a little longer though.. I beat it in an hour.
I don't think Remedy plans on giving people any answers anytime soon. Until Alan Wake hits its final game in the series through the last planned DLC I expect no answers to the mystery. And I think thats a good thing
I didn't really know what to make of Alan's situation in this.
I don't want to spoil it for those who have yet to play, but it just seemed to me that it was basically one unnecessary trip in a circle, where Alan end's up being right where he was at the beginning of things.
Those who played it, may be as baffled as me, or may not.
I have an idea of where they are going with it (including what I took away from this venture), but again, I'm trying to make this sans spoilers.
Basically, as Reiner says, you still can't really make heads or tails of the situation even after The Signal.
Yeah I played it when it came out and was like WTF?!?!
I'm glad GI did a quick review of this, although no rating number was given. I guess I get the gist what the reviewer is trying to say. Personally, I'm looking forward to playing the dlc when I get around to downloading it, but I better beat the normal game first.
I played "The Signal" and the level was pretty challenging the first time around. Getting swarmed by enemies almost constantly is intense. The ending really left me wanting for more, so I just have to wait for the 2nd DLC.
I hope the darkness reanimates Bucktooth Charlie. THAT would be a good boss fight.
Riener, why would you expect answers in a DLC. Not everybody plays DLC so nothing too major is going to happen. They'd be saving that for the sequel I hope gets made. As for the shotgun to the head maybe you should settle for that ending. Haven't you watched Inception? Not knowing what is going on in the story is the new thing today. Your a critic you should know that
Funny ending quip.
I enjoyed Season 1 (the full game) a decent amount but The Signal definitely had some of the tightest and most fun game play sections yet. The way they set up some of the areas was brilliant. I really have enjoyed Alan Wake a lot and look forward to The Writer DLC and of course the next full game.
After playing The Signal, I'm even more convinced that my original indifference towards Alan Wake is bordering dislike. The combat focuses even more on enemy swarms in the DLC than it did originally. Encounters have taken a turn for the cheap (think Doom), as enemies now spawn from behind way too often. The Signal prefers to not warn of the flanking Taken, whereas it was originally not such a problem. I was trapped and battered back and forth, from enemy to enemy, rendering my dodge attempts useless. Hits received do more damage now as well. I agree that there are some clever and unique battle opportunities, but they are too often squandered because the swarms of Taken block Alan's shot efforts. But every time I try to dislike the game, I end up enjoying one or two parts enough to convince me Alan Wake isn't total crap.
I loved this DLC. I thought it was the best chapter in the Alan Wake universe so far. The setpieces are dark and abstract, sort of like a pacific northwest version of an evil Wonderland, which is awesome. The writing is witty and hilarious; the gamplay is as good as ever. It's fresh and exiting and totally worth $0.00.
I need to go get this right now.
Sick!!!