E3 2006: Alan Wake Fact Sheet @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on May 09, 2006

News: Remedy's latest has another guy's descriptive name at the center of it.

After capturing the essence of the gritty film noir for Max Payne, Remedy has turned to the psychological thriller for their next full name affair.

Alan Wake is the name of Remedy's new character and like Max Payne (who inflicted max pain) before him, he'll have follow his name to survive.

In Wake's case he will have to stay awake and use the light to stay alive as he battles some really nasty creatures.

Here's what we know about the PC/Xbox 360 dual release:

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Remedy Entertainment Ltd.
Format: Format TBD for Microsoft Windows Vista and DVD for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: TBD

Product Overview: УAlan WakeФ is a psychological action thriller from Remedy, the legendary and renowned developers of highly successful action titles. In this exciting new title exclusively for Windows and Xbox 360, gamers assume the role of Alan Wake, a best-selling suspense author who escapes to a small town to recover from the mysterious disappearance of his fiancщe.

Set in the deceptively idyllic town of Bright Falls, Wash., УAlan WakeФ immerses players in an intense and expansive cinematic world that enables players to roam freely in hyper-realistic, dynamic and interactive environments. УAlan WakeФ is mission-based with a deeply engaging and suspenseful story line unveiling new twists and profound character revelations at every turn. Players will unravel the riveting plot through multilayered character interactions, unique problem-solving and intense combat against terrifying enemies. In this nightmarish world, Alan Wake must use a variety of weapons to survive, including his most powerful ally against the creatures of darkness Ч light itself.

Features:

Intense psychological thriller. УAlan WakeФ delivers a deeply psychological and finely crafted plot that raises the bar for storytelling in video games. The riveting story of УAlan WakeФ is propelled by a movie-like atmosphere, compelling situations, memorable characters and real-time pacing. Remedy has a record of creating and developing games with unique cinematic presentation and exceptionally high production values. The developer has harnessed next-generation gaming technology to tell a powerful story that immerses the gamer in the intense emotion and suspense of Alan Wake's thrilling adventure.

Massive, open world to explore. The free-roaming elements and massive open world allow gamers to investigate the mysteries of Bright Falls and encourage them to explore and pay close attention to detail.

Light as a combat element. As the story progresses, nights grow longer and days grow shorter. This poses a severe problem for Alan Wake since his enemies seemingly gain strength from the shadows, and before long light itself becomes his greatest ally. Players must skillfully combine their use of light with more conventional weapons to stand a chance against these creatures of darkness.

Realistic, interactive environment. Set in the town of Bright Falls, the hyperdetailed environments of the Pacific Northwest play an important role; even the change in daylight and weather will profoundly affect the characters and enemies in УAlan Wake.Ф The game's advanced rendering engine provides amazingly realistic environments that bring this world to detailed life Ч from the lush forest of evergreen trees to the quaint small-town buildings and streets. The world of УAlan WakeФ is alive and real.

Episodic narrative. The mission-based structure of УAlan WakeФ creates an episodic narrative similar to a deeply structured dramatic television series. As the episodes progress, gameplay will evolve to introduce new elements and characters, escalating the level of threat and action in the game.