Initial release date: October 2024
Genres: Shooter game, Adventure game, Puzzle
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Publisher: Epic Games
Okay, here we are. I recall being completely engrossed in the first Alan Wake game and spending years hoping and praying for a sequel. It seemed like a lifetime, but nearly a year after the release of Alan Wake 2, the last act is here. The Lakehouse.
Going to The Lake House with Alan Wake 2?
The events occur toward the beginning of the main game, following Kiran Estevez from the Federal Bureau of Control. She arrives to examine unusual occurrences at The Lake House, an FBC facility located on Cauldron Lake. It quickly becomes clear that all is not right, as questionable experiments have gone wrong, culminating in a slew of strange activity.
The building is divided into five floors, each revealing more about the FBC’s confidential activities, which, coincidentally, began shortly after the events of the original Alan Wake game. Eagle-eyed Alan Wake 2 players may have seen The Lake House facility, which was gated off, indicating that it was absolutely off limits.
To completely explore The Lake House, you’ll need to find numerous keycards with varying clearance levels, and getting from floor to floor via elevator isn’t as simple as you may think. However, given Alan Wake’s reputation, this is probably not unexpected.
The old box of tricks is opened once more as your surroundings vary and change. You’ll frequently get taken to the wrong floor, get stuck in loops, and end up in other familiar places.
Unfortunately for Agent Estevez, the facility is no longer safe, and your old foes, The Taken, have returned to terrorize you once more. However, The Painted, a new and much more horrific creature, lurks in the shadows of Alan Wake 2: The Lake House.
Prepare for some scares.
Art is an important thread in this DLC pack and at the heart of the FBC experiments. The Painted are tall, gangly, and swift, frequently appearing from a painting to catch you off guard. Regular weaponry will likewise not work against them, so you’ll need to use the Black Rock Launcher to defeat them. I’m not hesitant to admit that on numerous times, they made me completely crap myself.
Otherwise, Alan Wake fans should expect the gameplay to be pretty much the same as before. The Lake House is a linear campaign with no truly difficult puzzles that will take you only a few hours to finish. There are some small cognitive teasers when it comes to hacking into computer terminals, but that’s about as taxing as it gets. Fortunately, the atmosphere is so successfully evocative that these constraints will not prevent you from becoming completely immersed in the experience.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House looks stunning, as it always does. The facility’s interior architecture is inspired by 1970s modernist style, with a solid level foundation. The use of lighting and sound is once again superb, particularly in heightening the dread with brilliant blood reds piercing the darkness. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a scene where you emerge into a vast room filled with workstations that will make you stop and take it all in. I believe it is fair to call this an assault on the senses.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House is just as much for Control lovers as it is for the disturbed writer’s exploits. It is indisputable that worlds cross, and you will get the most out of this DLC if you are familiar with the experiences of Jesse Faden and Alan Wake. There’s also a significant hint as to what players can expect from the impending Control sequel.
An intriguing addition.
I’m very convinced that you won’t find a bigger Alan Wake 2 enthusiast than me. It was my Game of the Year in 2023 and one of the best games I’ve ever played. The Lake House is an unexpected way to finish this chapter of the Remedy Connected Universe, but I completely appreciate the decision. The path forward is clear, and this final chapter ties Alan Wake and Control together as strongly as ever.
Overall, it was my least favorite aspect of Alan Wake 2. I had a good time while it lasted, but The Lake House did not thrill me as much as previous games, both the basic game and the Night Springs extension. It felt like an anticlimax, but in the present age of video games, expectations may quickly overwhelm us. The Lake House remains a standout piece of DLC.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 92%
Controls: 88%
Aesthetics: 95%
Content: 90%
Accessibility: 84%
Value: 89%
Overall: 90%
EXCELLENT!
Summary:
Alan Wake II: The Lake House delves deep into psychological horror, engrossing players with its compelling storyline and well-crafted gameplay. The unsettling images and ambient tension enhance each encounter, making every inch of The Lake House feel dangerously alive. Fans of suspense-driven storylines will enjoy the game’s well-paced story and intricate mechanisms that make survival both thrilling and strategic. Alan Wake II: The Lake House is a standout entry in psychological horror, providing an unforgettable and spine-chilling experience through a combination of cinematic presentation and engaging gameplay.