Review: Alan Wake

Remedy's Alan Wake has been in the works for a long, long time. The tortured tale of a famous novelist whose trip to a reclusive Pacific Northwest town goes horribly awry has seen several delays, but it's finally within reach. And while you've still got another two weeks before you can pop it into your Xbox 360 -- really, after this many delays, is it that long? -- Abbie Heppe has immersed herself into the dark and dangerous terrain of Bright Falls. Among her anecdotes:

"Since darkness is the core of Alan Wake's horror, the game finds a balance between daylight hours and the impending terror of nightfall that can only be accomplished through the pairing of great art design, dramatic tension, and great visuals. Daytime represents safety and normalcy, but Alan Wake truly shines in the dark. The ever-shifting shadows that shroud the nighttime scenes are spectacular, creating an environment that seems to live and breathe on its own. Light is used impeccably; shadows play all the correct tricks on the eye and the lamps that beckon the player towards safety are always just far enough away to induce panic."

I've been playing Alan Wake and it's definitely got the atmosphere down pat. Are you ready to arm your flashlight and step out into the unknown? Click here to read more!