Review of Alan Wake 2 Lake House DLC – A Rushed Series of Brushstrokes

After considerable anticipation, the latest DLC for Alan Wake 2, titled The Lake House, has finally been released. This marks the second piece of post-launch content brought to us by developer Remedy Entertainment, following the initial Night Springs expansion. Set in an entirely new location, this installment introduces fresh narrative elements, making it essential for fans of the original game.

But does The Lake House deliver a truly chilling experience, or does it fall short? Discover the details in our comprehensive review of the newest DLC for Alan Wake 2.

Experience the terror of Alan Wake 2 The Lake House

Firstly, it’s important to highlight that all post-launch DLC for Alan Wake 2 is exclusively available through the Deluxe Edition. Players who own the standard edition will need to upgrade to the Deluxe version to access The Lake House, as it is not sold separately. Now, let’s delve into the specifics.

The narrative of Alan Wake 2 The Lake House unfolds during the early chapters of the main game, focusing on FBC Agent Kiran Estevez summoned to the infamous Lake House near Cauldron Lake. This location has played a significant role since the original Alan Wake title.

With the facility shrouded in darkness, Estevez and her team must explore its depths to uncover the mysteries within. Upon entering the chilling research facility, players will quickly realize it is devoid of life, except for the unsettling sounds of an automated typewriter echoing through the distorted office space.

As players sift through numerous documents and reports, the story reveals that the facility was run by a couple of scientists, Jules and Diana Marmont. Their experiments aimed at replicating Alan Wake’s writing to alter reality ultimately led to conflict between them.

This rivalry culminates in a dark painting that consumes all five sublevels of the facility, unleashing the Taken—shadowy, possessed figures prominent throughout the series. Additionally, the setting echoes the sleek and sterile design found in Control’s The Oldest House.

Facing this formidable threat, Estevez must summon her courage and confront the chaos. Notably, Estevez’s character stands out.

As a member of the Federal Bureau of Control (the central organization from 2019’s Control), she understands the supernatural threats that surround her. This contrasts sharply with the protagonist from the base game, FBI Agent Saga Anderson, who is thrust into this bizarre situation unwittingly, just as Alan Wake is ensnared in the Dark Place.

However, Estevez lacks the shape-shifting weaponry possessed by Jesse Fayden, the protagonist of Control. Instead, she must rely on traditional methods to confront the lurking dangers.

The overarching theme of the couple’s ambition unleashing horrific consequences is compelling, cleverly enhanced by satirical references to AI-generated art throughout the narrative.

Importantly, an encounter with a well-known character that hints at Control 2 serves as an additional draw for fans to explore Alan Wake 2 The Lake House.

Gameplay dynamics: Shine a light on the horror

The gameplay mechanics in Alan Wake 2 The Lake House are consistent with those found in the base game, which is standard for a narrative expansion. The map is relatively compact, confined to an indoor setting that spans five sublevels within the facility.

Players navigate between sublevels primarily using an elevator that necessitates locating keycards to access deeper areas.

This journey is occasionally interrupted by light puzzle-solving segments involving computer codes, power generator relocation, and documents that elucidate the storyline before the facility succumbed to madness. Overall, it adheres to the classic survival horror framework.

Starting with a pistol, Estevez has the chance to discover various weapons, alongside ammunition and other resources, which will be essential as she confronts the hostile Taken—a challenge she’s equipped to handle with her flashlight, a vital tool for dispelling the protective shadows around her enemies, similar to the original game mechanics.

This light-and-firearm combination proves effective against the swift and aggressive Taken, but it’s ineffective against the new “painting”creatures that players will soon encounter.

Players will quickly notice odd splashes of paint marking the walls and floors in certain sublevels, indicating nests for the eerie, Slenderman-like painting entities. These creatures emerge to pursue Estevez, presenting a unique challenge, as they are immune to conventional weaponry, forcing players to avoid direct confrontation until they acquire the new Black Rock Launcher—a grenade launcher capable of decimating these elongated fiends. As expected, ammunition for this weapon is limited, promoting cautious resource management.

Shortcomings in the canvas

The challenge of resource scarcity is a hallmark of the survival horror genre, and initially, Alan Wake 2 The Lake House does a commendable job of maintaining this tension. Players will need to navigate encounters with multiple Taken at once, often having to escape rather than fight.

The challenge intensifies with the introduction of the painting creatures, pushing players towards evasion unless combat is absolutely necessary.

However, the economy of resources feels unbalanced, with ammunition being too abundant compared to the scarcity of healing items. This imbalance often leads to players facing off against the final boss with little to no healing supplies, an outcome resulting from the numerous enemy encounters throughout the winding paths leading to it.

Moving on to puzzle design, while the original Alan Wake 2 featured innovative mechanics such as the light-switching Angel Lamp, this expansion relies on repetition, offering puzzles like codes based on calendar dates and relocating power blocks to manipulate the energy flow.

Ultimately, Alan Wake 2 The Lake House is a short experience that might last a couple of hours at most, potentially extending slightly for players eager to discover every note and hidden item. The brevity of the content may leave players wishing for more, providing little opportunity to fully immerse themselves.

Visuals, performance, and audio

As noted in our review of Alan Wake 2, Remedy has created one of the most visually stunning games to date, and this DLC maintains that high standard, with performance remaining robust. The art direction leans more toward the aesthetics of Control, employing striking reds and dynamic brutalist structures that evoke a sense of both wonder and fear.

The sound design aligns perfectly with what fans expect from Alan Wake 2, successfully creating a tense atmosphere—whether it’s Estevez sneaking through eerily quiet hallways or frantically escaping from the uncanny horrors that burst forth from paint-laden walls.

On a minor note, I encountered a bug in Alan Wake 2 The Lake House where the player marker was not visible on the map. I hope this issue, along with the resource imbalance, gets addressed shortly.

Final thoughts

While Alan Wake 2 The Lake House may not reach the remarkable heights of the original game, it offers enough satisfaction for fans despite its shortcomings. This new chapter enriches the world of Alan Wake, granting deeper insights into the overarching narrative.

The new sinister threats faced by Agent Estevez are undeniably creepy, though the experience is marred by simplistic puzzles and a brief duration. Nonetheless, newcomers to the genre or those who find the difficulty spikes overwhelming due to limited healing resources might want to explore the helpful “cheats”available in the free Alan Wake 2 Anniversary Update.

Alan Wake 2 The Lake House

Reviewed on: PC (review code provided by Epic Games Publishing)

Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Developer(s): Remedy Entertainment

Publisher(s): Epic Games Publishing

Release Date: October 22, 2024

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