ALAN WAKE

Alan Wake is a Stephen King-styled author whose writers' block leads him and his wife to an idyllic get-away, but in stead encounters danger, thrills, scares and bizarre scenarios when his wife disappears.

Compared to other survival-horror games like Resident Evil, Alan Wake has more of a psychological angle than all-out gore.  The action, tension and frights are by no means absent, a great mood woven into the story and graphics.  Reality, dream worlds and madness blur as the tale kick-starts in a Castle Rock-like area, with a lighthouse also a significant location (which ties into darkness and light playing a big role). 
Dangers come in the shape of possessed villagers known as "The Taken", and supernatural apparitions resembling characters from Wake's writing (like an axe-wielding madman).  Your torch becomes a very important accessory, since a gun won't help you much in this strange place - so when one of The Taken attacks, the light from your torch can fight their darkness.  Streetlights and other light sources also come in handy, especially if you need time to recuperate if attacks got the better of you.  As the intriguing tale unfolds, Alan also collects pages of a manuscript hinting at dangers ahead.

The graphics, lighting and sound is fantastic, and rumours of future installments is very good news.

Alan Wake is exclusive to the X Box.

5 / B
- Paul Blom

A - Multiple Playing Prospects
B - Can be taken for another Run
C - Once Should Suffice