The upcoming remaster ofAlan Wakereceived a new trailer today, in which it is directly compared to the original. The bold comparison aims to frame the remaster as a faithful update to the original, showing off visual overhauls in direct contrast.
Alan Wakeoriginally released in 2010 to positive critical reception, with a carefully balanced blend of action and horror. The game is known for its unique use of light as a combat mechanic. The gameplay and story ofAlan Wakeare common points of praise among fans. However, as with many games from over a decade ago, the graphics are beginning to show their age.
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Remedy has releasedscreenshot comparisons betweenAlan Wakeand its remasterbefore, but the new comparison trailer gives more perspective by showing how the improvements look in motion. Character models see an obvious improvement, with much more detail in the faces, less jagged edges and more realistic hair.
The improvements are immediately evident while still being faithful to the original’s style. SinceAlan Wakerelies heavily on light for its combat, the lighting system could not change too much from the original, otherwise combat could become more difficult or unfaithful to the original’s intent. Fortunately, aside from higher realism, it appears that the core systems surrounding the lighting remain intact. The comparison shots that feature Alan holding a flashlight show the expected visual improvements but the flashlight beam is still clearly visible. Whileproduct placements being removed from the remasterwill mean a 100% faithful version is impossible, that is a minor loss in a trailer that shows so much gain.
Though no official announcement has been made, rumors are circulating thatAlan Wake Remasteredwill come to Nintendo Switch, though if it does it will likely be in the form of a cloud game. The overhauled version seems unlikely to run well on the Switch’s limited hardware, and Remedy has set a precedent for releasing demanding titles likeControlas cloud games. While this means playingAlan Wake Remasteredon the Switch would be restricted in accessibility to fast internet connections, it would still allow a much wider audience to experience the story.
Alan Wake Remasteredreleases next monthand is confirmed for both current and last-generation systems, so those still unable to find a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S will not have to miss out on this definitive version.Control’s popularity likely brought Remedy many fans, soAlan Wake Remasteredseems like the perfect opportunity to experience the studio’s past works.
Alan Wake Remasteredwill be released on October 5 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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