Alan Wake 2 was my Game of the Year for 2023, I absolutely loved it. I was lucky enough to play both this and Baldur’s Gate 3 in a bumper year for AAA titles, but the tortured writer’s tale gripped me in a way unlike any other game had done so in such a long time.
News on follow up DLC had been slim, until the irresistible Sam Lake danced onto Summer Game Fest this year to save an otherwise disappointing show.
In what was very nearly a shadow drop, the Deluxe Edition was revealed, comprising two halves. First off, are the Night Springs “What If” episodes, which I have been playing for this very review. A further story expansion, “Lake House” is due later this year.
For those unaware, “Night Springs” is a TV show which exists within the world of Alan Wake, and tells strange tales very much in the style of “The Twilight Zone”. Despite having a prominent presence in the first game, the series was somewhat absent in the sequel, which is why I’m delighted by its full blown return. Rather than just watching this time, you assume the role of three different characters from the game and follow them as if their fate had taken a different path to what we already know.
The first tale, “Number One Fan”, is all about Alan Wake fanatic Rose Marigold who is a waitress from Oh Deer Diner. She sets off on a mission to silence all his haters, and rescue the legendary writer from the “Bad Boy”, his evil twin.
It’s a light hearted, frankly absurd start to the trilogy of short stories, but it’s an absolute blast. There’s no shadows and torchlight here, right from Rose accessing her secret stash of weapons it’s clear what type of ride you’re in for. Hell hath no fury like a superfan scorned.
Another indicator of this is Rose’s shotgun having a rapid fire mode, if you hold down RT. The enemies can take a few rounds as usual, but feel a lot less threatening thanks to the firepower Rose is packing. It’s reminiscent of starting a playthrough with “New Game Plus”; no real stress but instead just enjoying the ride.
That is, of course, until you start the next instalment, North Star. The happy go lucky adventures of Rose feel like a distant memory as you take up the role of a different familiar character, this time from another of Remedy’s beloved IPs.
Your journey whisks you back to Coffee World, the drinks based theme park from the main game. However, the search for your missing brother takes you to the heart of a rather disturbing and pretty terrifying cult. This is more like it then.
The classic handgun and torch combo is back, as are the Taken who stalk you at every turn. There’s something really satisfying about revising past locations, albeit with a very different feel to them the second time around. North Star is a chilling, much more serious tale that leans into familiar territory for Alan Wake fans.
Finally, we have the last episode in the trio, Time Breaker. This is a surreal tale which goes some way to blur the lines between reality and fiction, and boasts a guest appearance which very much hammers home this aim.
You must track down the “Master of Many Worlds” in what, at first, seems like nothing more than a fruitful acting gig. This is where Remedy really flexes their creative muscles, in a thrilling ride that traverses multiple genres of gaming whilst having you continually question if you’re still playing the “What If” themed DLC you started out with. It encapsulates everything I love about the world of Alan Wake and has once again made me very excited about what’s to come.
Overall, Alan Wake 2 Night Springs offers more of the same brilliant gameplay, but chucks a spanner in the works in the final act for any players who were worried it was feeling a tad pedestrian. It’s a treat to play as fan favourites, and explore more of the subtext from the base game.
The only real criticism I can level here is the fact there’s only around two to three hours playing time, and I was left wanting more. Night Springs is a shorter, stripped back addition to the main game which chucks away the rulebook and gets experimental. Its main purpose? To challenge player expectations and let them act out what were perhaps their own fantasy story arcs. It’s a format which definitely has legs, and I already have a wishlist of what could be done next.
Alan Wake 2 Night Springs is a short, sharp burst of brilliance which, despite existing simply to expertly whet our appetites for more, is a great ride whilst it lasts.
