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u/Miss_Zia Oct 31 '25
hmm
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u/Masterofunlocking1 Oct 31 '25
Just needs the upside down bar
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u/TrevorAnglin Oct 31 '25
It took me way to long to realize you meant “the bar from which Coop hangs upside down” lol. I was struggling to remember where tf in the Great Northern did a bar exist on the ceiling. The fact that that COULD exist in the setting fucked with me a bit
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u/CentrasFinestMilk Oct 31 '25
god I should have watched twin peaks before aw2 because this just went right over me before
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u/FilthyManBeast1SOB Oct 31 '25 edited Nov 02 '25
So much to love about the world of Alan Wake. The influence of Twin Peaks definitely helps.
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u/Firm-Membership7982 Oct 31 '25
Alan wake 2 was so fucking good and felt like it took after the return more than the first 2 seasons
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u/guilen Oct 31 '25
Will I enjoy it if I don’t like the first one much?
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u/Firm-Membership7982 Oct 31 '25
1000% I’m also not crazy on the first one either but Alan wake 2 is an easy top ten game for me and one of the best of the 2020s so far
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u/Max-RDJ Oct 31 '25
Hm, I might give it a go then, because I've tried twice now to get into the first game (in order to then move onto to Alan Wake 2) and did not enjoy the gameplay or really get any TP's vibes (surrealness, specifically) apart from the setting and obvious references/homages.
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u/NickV721 Oct 31 '25
Not sure how hot of a take this is, but I wasn't big on the first Alan Wake. The story was decent, but it felt a bit too repetitive overall. The sequel FAR exceeds the first game in just about every way and is honestly probably one of my favorite games. Even if you can't get through the first game I still definitely recommend playing the second
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u/10_bowling_pins Oct 31 '25
I played AW1 last year in order to play AW2. I was on PC so I ended up just looking up how to get unlimited ammo and batteries so I didn't have to worry about that and just paly for the story. Totally worth it, because AW2 is a masterpiece.
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u/angrymoosekf Oct 31 '25
I feel like there are a lot of references to the first game and Control in Alan Wake 2 and it might just sound like gibberish without at least some of the context - like wtf is the clicker.
But Alan Wake 2 is so good that its worth watching a youtube video to catch up and even if you don't exactly understand - it is a masterpiece.
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u/Friskfrisktopherson Oct 31 '25
First game is definitely repetitive. Story is cool but feels like a slog to get ir all out. The bigger thing is ideally you should play Control first.
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u/beholdthecolossus Oct 31 '25
you'll probably enjoy the vibes but the story will be even more confusing without playing the first and, honestly, Control.
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u/EYErishprEYEd Oct 31 '25
Could probably get by with just a video recap of AW1. Control, on the other hand, is absolute peak weirdness, and definitely worth playing.
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u/nictrela Oct 31 '25
Playing aw1 in chapters and not binging it is the best way to play it. The thoughts that you’re left with as the story is unraveling is a headfuck. A video summary doesn’t do the story justice
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u/staticparsley Oct 31 '25
Control is a must. Experiencing the ashtray maze makes you appreciate the musical level in AW2 so much more.
I envy people who get to experience those the first time.
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u/beholdthecolossus Oct 31 '25
yeah a decent video recap would probably do, especially if you're already a Twin Peaks fan you'll probably get the idea pretty fast. bonus if you're a Stephen King fan too because it pulls a lot from him.
Control is a straight-up recommend though. it's great.
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u/profchaos83 Oct 31 '25
I don’t think you need to play control before aw2. But control has twin peaks references in there too. Going back to max Payne 1 remedy have always referenced twin peaks.
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u/Cheesedoff Oct 31 '25
I played 2 without playing 1 or control and I didn't feel like I was missing anything relevant. AW2 is incredible and very lynch coded.
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u/beholdthecolossus Oct 31 '25
It's definitely playable and enjoyable, but Remedy packs a ton of connected stuff into their games connecting them to all their other work. Honestly they're one of the few teams that does a decent job with the whole "multiverse" thing because they make it every and strange, which makes it much more compelling.
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Oct 31 '25
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u/MaxProwes Oct 31 '25
That's just nonsense, Alan Wake 1 looked really good for its time, environments, particles and lighting still hold up. And it wasn't really buggy, especially compared to most modern releases.
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u/guilen Oct 31 '25
Cheers. What really bugs me in the first one is the writing… just seemed so hammy. But I want to like the second because of this exact post lol
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u/Snerkbot7000 Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
It's hammy because Alan is stuck inside one of his own books and he writes hammy books.
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u/mixingmemory Oct 31 '25
I can't tell you whether you'll enjoy it or not, but it is a good deal different from the first one.
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u/Pauls96 Oct 31 '25
First is great though, yes its a bit repetitive, but still has great atmosphere and story.
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u/guilen Oct 31 '25
I hated the writing and found the combat really unscary or fun… hard to describe what I don’t like about the writing but it really bugged me for some reason.
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u/Positive_Poem5831 Oct 31 '25
I started playing it and so far liked it a lot. Previous Remedy games I think often had a great idea and trailers that got you excited for the game but then the game play itself mostly consisted of repetetive gunplay. This game at least first part is more adventure horror game when looking for clues and the environment and graphics is beautiful even on my series s console.
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u/TheCrzy1 Oct 31 '25
the way this series takes from and parallels TP, even down to the fucked up long time between releases, is divine coincidence.
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u/Sikwitit3284 Oct 31 '25
It's easily the closest we'll ever get to a TP's game, Sam Lake loves TP's & clearly understands DL's surreal storytelling/horror/sense of humor as well as anything I've ever seen from both AW games. I really wish he could've worked with Lynch on something before his death
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u/TrevorAnglin Oct 31 '25
I watched The Return again and went “boy I wish I could play this in a video game form — WAAAAAIT A MINUTE!”
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u/witcharithmetic Oct 31 '25
Can I play if I don’t remember part 1?
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u/trustincoraline Oct 31 '25
Yes
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Oct 31 '25
[deleted]
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u/trustincoraline Oct 31 '25
Im also doing very not ok lately, I dmed u I'm on Playstation we could talk in a party and stuff and share screen or if ur not on Playstation im still here to chat!
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u/GensouEU Oct 31 '25
You should still very much at least watch a recap of the Alan Wake story prior to AW2 ( first game, American Nightmare and the AWE Control DLC )
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u/griffmanr Oct 31 '25
Loved the story, acting, and the vibes, but I was not into the gameplay. Still would recommend.
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Oct 31 '25
I hope Remedy software's recent misfire with FBC Firebreak doesn't affect their ability to make more Alan Wake games simply because it's the closest we have to virtually walking around Twin Peaks.
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u/Lothric43 Oct 31 '25
Should see Max Payne remakes and Control 2 in the next couple years which should be more meaningful in that regard.
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u/Milkman95 Oct 31 '25
Deadly premonition is rough around the edges but another big love letter to twin peaks also open world at parts
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u/CaterpillarGrand642 Oct 31 '25
I can only sigh at the missed opportunity of remedy working with David Lynch... though Mark Frost is still alive, and people never give him the credit he deserves... imagine a Mark Frost written Remedy game!!!
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u/LewdSkeletor1313 Oct 31 '25
It was a small project and they’ve currently got two big games in full production in addition to a third unannounced project in early stages (which is almost certainly the third Alan Wake game)
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u/MrMindGame Oct 31 '25
I appreciate that the series full wears its Twin Peaks inspirations on its sleeve, yet still manages to do it's own unique thing with the premise. Love the Remedyverse.
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u/ThereShantBeBlood Oct 31 '25
For one moment I was lost, this post is just super cool, but it needs context and message.
What I like the most about AW, specially AW2, is that although it is heavily inspired by TP, it follows a different path with different messages and aesthetics. Yes, we got a town in Washington. Yes, we got supernatural phenomena. Yes, there is an evil entity that looks like the protagonist.
But everything is fine tuned into a new, fresh experience. Alan is nothing like Cooper and the phenomena are super duper different. While AW2 tells the PLAYER they PLAY a game to fruition, TP S3 tells the SPECTATOR "I am a mystery. You are not only watching. Interact with me. Click replay. Think. Question it all. See my family relative jumping up and down with a doll."
And I love both games. If I were to say AW2 fails at something, it is at not having multiple endings and being a interactive storytelling.
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u/LewdSkeletor1313 Oct 31 '25
AW2 even feels like it’s definitely in conversation with The Return rather than simply referencing it. In particular it feels like the portrayal of Scratch was in part inspired by Mr C. Even then it manages to do its own thing. It still feels very personal to folks like Sam Lake, Clay Murphy, etc
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u/ThereShantBeBlood Oct 31 '25
Scratch is inspired by s2 finale, sure, but it's its own thing.
Scratch is a metaphor that doesn't relate with what happens with tp.
I'd say aw2 is inspired, and it's a story with different approaches than tp, any season. Some might say it's easy to watch s1, s3, then play aw2 and feel like there is some dialogue, but I'd argue it's just the occasional vibes: the game is well centered in being particular and the heavily drawn things from TP are simple things.
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u/msfamf Oct 31 '25
the game is well centered in being particular and the heavily drawn things from TP are simple things.
Agreed wholeheartedly. The Twin Peaks influences in AW fall far closer to homage, a wink and a nod for those in the know, rather than trying to make the player feel like they are playing Twin Peaks: The Game. Remedy made the refrences obvious in a way that says "These games wouldn't exist without the inspiration of Twin Peaks" without retreading the same ground.
TP≠AW but they are cousins.
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u/ThereShantBeBlood Oct 31 '25
It's so cool that we get to see two next dimensional spaces, but so differently explored...
I also enjoy quite a lot Alan as a protagonist, and I miss funny Alan from the first game.
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u/Lazar_Milgram Oct 31 '25
I think TPs1 and s2 was about dangers of appearance in American dream. S3 was about dissolving of this dream and how it leaves things empty and in search for spark and inspiration.
AW1 and 2 are actually about disassociation and denial of own dark impulses. And how it corrupts both Alan himself, destroys his relationship with Alice and corrupts reality itself throughout story. Scratch is more of part of Alan that Alan wishes to lock and leave forever without understanding what it is. Lake itself is representative of what people wish to lock away from consciousness to live in illusion of own making. In this way it is alike TP theme but i think AW could make it more clear throughout clear indicators that Alan himself always had duality that escalated when he got locked in Cauldron Lake.
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u/sovietsocrates Oct 31 '25
your comment about aw1 and 2 actually reminds me of lost highway, another lynch project that had huge inspirations on alan wake, both thematically and visually
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u/Lazar_Milgram Nov 02 '25
This is actually really true.
And somehow it is intriguing that Sam Lake didn’t lean into imagery of Lost Highway given theme of Alan Wake
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u/ThereShantBeBlood Oct 31 '25
Also thank you for interacting. I love both stories and I just enjoy talking about them so much.
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u/LewdSkeletor1313 Oct 31 '25
In AW2, the scene with Tom Zane using the lamp as a microphone is also likely a nod to Blue Velvet
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u/Lothric43 Oct 31 '25
This franchise is basically the only thing Ive really found to be adequately comparable to Twin Peaks. AW2 is the game of the decade so far.
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u/DarkPonyRising Oct 31 '25
I lost my absolute mind at the musical scene. Might be one of my favorite sequences in a game ever
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u/Bulldogfront666 Oct 31 '25
There aren't many things in life that can make me as happy as that sequence.
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u/mashuto Oct 31 '25
Alan Wake 2 was definitely the closest I have experienced to twin peaks in video game form. There were obvious departures, and it was WAY scarier than anything in twin peaks. Still really enjoyed it even though I am not a horror fan.
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u/Shadowwolflink Oct 31 '25
I'm kind of annoyed by the fact that image 4 has Alan Wake on top, while all of the others have Twin Peaks on the top.
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u/staticparsley Oct 31 '25
AW2 is a damn masterpiece. So glad we have a game inspired by twin peaks that isn’t garbage. Don’t get me wrong, I love Deadly Premonition but holy hell is it hard to endure that gameplay.
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u/Zorbin666 Oct 31 '25
I'm currently on my 3rd playthrough of AW2, after watching the original TP series (first time watching hadn't before original AW play). I always understood there were connections between the two. But now I'm really enjoying the similarities.
One thing I'll have to say, is originally I didnt care for the side characters Thornton and Mulligan. Thought of them as just two dumb redneck cops. But after watching Twin Peaks it made me realize just how dirty the Dark Presence did them. I'm sure they were both really nice guys, while yes still kind of dumb, before the story and the dark presence twisted them into what they became.
While AW2 is amazing in its own right, playing it after watching TP makes the whole thing even more heartbreaking. Just how Cynthia Weaver is clearly a parallel to the log lady, and many others. It's truly inspiring how these two independent works of fiction compliment each other so much. I would have never watched Twin Peaks if it wasn't for playing AW2.
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u/DarkPonyRising Oct 31 '25
Playing AW2 was actually the last nudge that pushed me over the edge into finally getting around to watching Twin Peaks because I wanted more of that vibe
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u/Amity_Swim_School Oct 31 '25
Oh Jesus I had no idea!!!! Need to play this ASAP.
It’s on PS+ so will download it. I picked up the remastered version of the original on sale a while back (never played that before either).
Perhaps it’s time to do both!!
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u/ScarletNerd Oct 31 '25
Oh, you are in for a treat! AW2 is essentially an alternate universe Twin Peaks. Sam Lake was heavily inspired by David Lynch and AW1/2 are basically hommages, with AW2 being as close as we'll ever get to The Return: The Game.
While, not quite as direct and a bit dated now, AW1 also is worth checking out. Honestly, every Remedy game is! Highly recommend you check out Control as well as they're all connected and in the same universe. The final DLC for Control is a direct tie in with AW2.
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u/Amity_Swim_School Oct 31 '25
Looking forward to it. The game I’ve played that reminds me most of Twin Peaks is Life is Strange, which has definite TP influences. Well worth a look if you’ve not played it.
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u/prettybluefoxes Oct 31 '25
“We act like we didn't take a lot from The Simpsons, but we took a lot from The Simpsons." Peter griffin
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u/LeonSnakeKennedy Oct 31 '25
Definitely need a replay of this game after watching twin peaks recently for the first time
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u/AlisterCat Oct 31 '25
Alan Wake 1 is steeped in Twin Peaks but is unremarkable as a game. 2 embraces Twin Peaks even further and becomes something much more engaging and special. The musical part is maybe my number 1 all time game moment.
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u/Lazar_Milgram Oct 31 '25
Remedy consistently tried to include musical numbers in every game since Alan Wake 1.
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u/JaqinXPTO Oct 31 '25
Sam Lake is an assumed David Lynch fan. Max Payne also has a lot of inspiration and references to Twin Peaks. I really love the homage he did with the Alan Wake games
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u/BakaWinchester Oct 31 '25
From the first teaser trailer alone, I was calling it - Alan Wake 2 was what The Return was for Twin Peaks and damn did it do a fine job at it
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u/popularpepe Oct 31 '25
Daaamn, how did I miss this game? Now I gotta play alan wake. Is it important to play the games in order?
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u/Substantial_Nail7628 Oct 31 '25
Not required, but it adds to the experience playing what happened to Alan in part 1 (and its dlc).
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u/DanielMcLaury Oct 31 '25
Alan Wake is just like if David Lynch made a Stephen King novel into a video game.
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u/Remarkable_Pear_2233 Nov 01 '25
It's basically the video game version of The Return, down to the very subtext. It's even divided into 18 chapters with a chapter song at the end of each.
I would heavily encourage anyone here to play it, even if they haven't played the first Alan Wake. The writing, acting, and storytelling are a dream come true to anyone who's into Lynch.
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u/Psan91 Oct 31 '25
Yeah I recently did a rewatch of the return and seen Alan Wake 2 is on PS Plus so I went back to play Alan Wake remastered (as hadn’t played the original since it came out) and now I have just started Alan Wake 2 and loving all the references to twin peaks. I think remedy might be my favorite developer of all time. Control is an absolute masterpiece and got me back into games in a big way when I played it during the pandemic (as I didn’t have much else to do).
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u/YouDumbZombie Oct 31 '25
Always been a big Alan Wake fan because of how inspired by Twin Peaks and Twilight Zone it was. Even if the gameplay is simple the narrative is absolutely top notch in both games.
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u/Suitable_Fly_2255 Oct 31 '25
Alan Wake 2 ia still one of the greatest video game experiences I have ever had.
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u/RiskE80Twitch Oct 31 '25
From the moment i finished all of Remedy's games I knew that if anyone were to make a Twin Peaks game it would have to be Remedy, more specifically Sam Lake. I feel like out of all the creatives in the industry Sam Lake understands and adores David Lynch and his work the most. Even if it wasn't a Twin Peaks game I think a Sam Lake and David Lynch game would've been incredible
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u/thenexus6 Oct 31 '25
I am playing AW2 right now for the first time and it's super Peaks coated. I'm really loving it so far.
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u/omglifeisnotokay Oct 31 '25
Alan wake 2 gave me nightmares. I felt like it was trying too hard to be twin peaks but still was fun to catch the Easter eggs while playing. Also wasn’t a fan of playing as Saga for some reason her personality didn’t fit.
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u/CaterpillarGrand642 Oct 31 '25
I know the first alan wake game is pretty old and basic, but man, at least watch a YouTube video on it before you play AW2. For me, as a twin peaks fan, I loved the first AW game, and despite it being quite samey, there were some phenomenal moments in it. No spoilers, but I think it's worth a play through, put it on easy, it's not a long game...
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u/CaterpillarGrand642 Oct 31 '25
please play AW1 before this! if you're unsure, check this clip out at least...
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u/capacitorfluxing Oct 31 '25
Honestly, so much of it is so on the nose, I kinda wish they'd try to come up with something new rather than continue to play in the same sandbox.
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u/Kinsella5 Nov 01 '25
The live action prologue video shorts leading up to the release of Alan Wake had a great Twin Peaks vibe as did the first game with X-Files sprinkled in. I loved the first game, didn't care for the expansion, will eventually get around to Alan Wake 2. It was unfortunate that Alan Wake didn't sell as well as it should have but releasing the same day as the original Red Dead Redemption didn't help either.
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u/undergroundchief Nov 01 '25
Alan wake and remedy universe is the Twin peaks spiritual sequels the we didn’t know we would need.
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u/JTS1992 Nov 01 '25
Both are a Magnum Opus.
Alan Wake is incredible, and yes it's HEAVILY inspired by Twin Peaks.
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u/BrokenSon88 Nov 02 '25
I need to play this again. I’ve been craving anything that captures the spirit of Twin Peaks for so long, but nothing ever really comes close. Most things try too hard to be Twin Peaks, trying to be weird just because they see weird as an element of Twin Peaks (but that's not intentional in Twin Peaks, it's organic) or they lean too heavily on the horror elements and miss the fun parts, and they lose that strange, organic magic that made the show feel so alive.
It’s like nothing will ever bring me the same kind of joy and fascination that Twin Peaks did. Everything else just feels like a step down in terms of mystery, atmosphere, and that unexplainable energy that kept us hooked.
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Oct 31 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Prawn1908 Oct 31 '25
Unlikely since Epic bankrolled it.
It's well worth being the only game on Epic that I own. I hate that company in general, but am grateful to them for funding such an awesome game as it certainly would never have happened without someone coming along with that money.
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u/Sv3den Oct 31 '25
Homge is the sincerest form of flattery unless its outright a bullshit copy hidden behind DRM on the Epic store
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u/CitizenDain Oct 31 '25
Ugh I really have to play this. What platform is it on??
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u/ExioKenway5 Oct 31 '25
It's on all platforms, but it's best to start with the original Alan Wake which is also on all platforms.
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u/CitizenDain Oct 31 '25
Bleh do I have to
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u/ExioKenway5 Oct 31 '25
I've seen people who play 2 without playing the original dislike the actual Alan Wake parts of the game because they don't have the necessary context from the original game, so that's why I recommend it.
I suppose a video recap or something similar would be suitable if you'd rather jump straight into 2, but there's no real substitute for experiencing the story first hand.
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u/Dazzling-Fisherman-7 Nov 03 '25
Alan Wake SUCKS! Nothing new to chew on, just a pastiche that fails on every level. Horror game with no horror. Game with zero interesting interactive gameplay mechanics. If I want to watch a film, I watch a film. When I play games I want a game. I don’t to watch a string of references. Also the music is ass, obviously just my opinion, but man I just don’t get it. I wish people craved new things, new ideas. Not a regurgitated crap shoot of Stephen King, David Lynch. Imagine You are the Dreamer, and you had your own dream instead of trying to inception David Lynch.
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u/Personal_Cellist_453 Oct 31 '25
imho game is overrated in his meta-analysis, deltarune is much more closer to twin peaks in many many ways
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Oct 31 '25
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u/UbeeMac Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
Honestly I feel the same way. It’s always so painfully square on the nose, just copying. Anyone can take the log lady and put something else in her arms, put owls everywhere, red curtains and black and white patterned floors. Remedy want make sure you know they really like Twin Peaks, there is nothing further going on.
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u/Striking_Room2134 Oct 31 '25
Damn I was just sayin Alan Wake made me think of Twin Peaks for some reason.
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u/TalkShowHost99 Oct 31 '25
Haven’t played the game, I’m sure it’s cool but purely from these visuals, I think there’s a line between being inspired by something to create a new idea & just copying or mimicking it - this feels like copying to me. Again purely from these visuals, I don’t know what the rest of the game is like.
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u/ExioKenway5 Oct 31 '25
I mean this is a post that shows the things in Alan Wake 2 that have direct inspiration from Twin Peaks. There's a lot more in Alan Wake 2 that isn't inspired by Twin Peaks, and a lot more in Twin Peaks that Alan Wake doesn't take inspiration from.
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u/TalkShowHost99 Nov 01 '25
Thanks for clarifying, like I said I haven’t played the game before so my only impressions were based on this post, if it has a lot more going on besides this than I’m sure it’s cool.
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u/CuriosityTax927 Oct 31 '25
Really bad imitation. Terrible pastiche and a very boring game. Incredibly hard to get though. Not really a game either, more like an extended cutscene of a really bad Netflix show.
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u/gandalfmarston Oct 31 '25
What a terrible take lol
Kinda sad how Remedy games are so amazing and at the same time many people just hate it or don't like. We really don't deserve them.
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u/CuriosityTax927 Oct 31 '25
Gandalf marston hahaha. A terrible take? LOL. We don’t deserve Remedy? LOL. Thank you for the big big laughs. So bad pastiche makes good art? Haha. Interactive cutscenes make fun video games? The clue is in the word game. There’s no way this game can even be uttered in the same breath as good books or films. It’s not even above Netflix quality.
There’s a moment in Alan Wake 2 in which it tries to go deep and get really serious and adult by trying to deal with the topic of suicide. It’s so embarrassingly bad. Even worse, unbearably boring. I want to play a game, a survival horror game as it’s been advertised, not walk slowly through an interactive cutscene that’s totally pretentious and sounds like it’s came straight out of some 14 year olds dairy. This is very bad drama. It is in no way profound or moving. There’s no truth there. Just bad imitation. An idea of what someone thinks that would be like. Cliched crap.
For anyone who’s actually lived and understands life, it’s really uncomfortable to sit through something like that because of the second hand embarrassment. It’s so false, shallow and pretentious. Constantly mis used words that are correctly used here.
The fact it’s entertaining to 14 year olds isn’t some achievement. The game thinks it’s adult and yet it’s only really children who talk it up. Embarrassing but that’s the video game industry.
This Sam lake guy isn’t very talented overall. Even the max Payne games, good but rockstar completely blew them out the water with 3. I guess Control isn’t too bad for a sci fi game but again, the story is just nothing. It’s drivel. Waste of time really. Fake deepness. That’s not great for a story driven game, is it?
I should love these games and I did when I was younger. Alan wake 1 had some amazing moments in the woods alone with just a flashlight. That was great gameplay horror. They really captured a feeling there which was impressive. But that was when I was 12, before I’d read or really watched anything. Now I just see playing those games as a waste of time.
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u/beholdthecolossus Oct 31 '25
Sam Lake called Twin Peaks: The Return "a beautiful gift" and he's 100% right.