Differences Between Alan Wake 2 & Alan Wake Remastered

Highlights

Alan Wake 2 features dual protagonists, allowing players to switch between playing as Alan and FBI Agent Saga in their investigation of a series of murders in Bright Falls.
The game offers two different realities to explore: Bright Falls with its mysterious Cauldron Lake, and a twisted, neo-noir version of New York City called the Dark Place.
Alan Wake 2 shifts its focus towards the survival horror genre, with a stronger emphasis on building atmosphere and tension, creepier enemies, and an over-the-shoulder camera perspective, providing a more intense horror experience compared to its predecessor.

It's been thirteen years since players first stepped foot in the mysterious world of Bright Falls, with 2021's Alan Wake Remastered bringing improved visual fidelity and more to 2010's original Alan Wake title. Now, players can return to Bright Falls with Remedy Entertainment's survival horror follow-up, Alan Wake 2. Yet, players who enjoyed the original and remastered versions may be keen to know more about some of the core differences Alan Wake 2 offers.

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Compared to Alan Wake Remastered, Alan Wake 2 has several differences concerning gameplay, systems, narrative components, and more, beyond Alan growing a beard. A breakdown of all these features can also help new players know more about what to expect from one of Fall's most anticipated game releases.

10 Two Switchable Protagonists

In the original Alan Wake and Remastered version, players solely stepped into the role of the namesake protagonist. However, Alan Wake 2's dual protagonists enable players to take on the role of Alan plus newcomer FBI Agent Saga Anderson investigating a series of murders in Bright Falls.

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At key narrative ramp points in the game, players can also switch between playing as Saga or Alan, with Remedy letting players decide when they want to change characters at certain moments. How players experience Alan Wake 2 is likely to be somewhat different, with things in place so players don't miss crucial parts.

9 Two Realities To Explore

In addition to two playable characters, players can experience two different kinds of world realities. Players investigate the town of Bright Falls and Watery as Saga, the location of the original Alan Wake and its remaster. This includes the mysterious Cauldron Lake, the main focal point of Alan Wake's Dark Presence in Alan Wake.

When playing as Alan, players are trapped in the Dark Place, presumably at least to begin with. However, Alan Wake 2's Dark Place becomes a twisted, neo-noir New York City. The game also includes live-action video sequences, expanding upon similar moments seen briefly on TV screens in the original.

8 Survival Horror Genre Focus

Alan Wake 2 also switches things up with a change in genre. While Alan Wake and Alan Wake Remastered were more psychological thriller experiences with horror elements, Alan Wake 2 shifts its focus towards the survival horror game genre.

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Gameplay changes include a stronger focus on building atmosphere and tension with a more intense horror experience and potentially more puzzle gameplay like Resident Evil games. Alan Wake certainly had its jump scare moments with its Taken stalking the woods and inanimate objects brought to life. However, Alan Wake 2 takes its horror vibes to the next level with creepier enemies and more.

7 Over-The-Shoulder Camera Perspective

Alan Wake 2 Resident Evil inspired brighter

Although Alan Wake 2 had various inspirations from movies, TV series, and video games, the influence of games like the Resident Evil 2 Remake couldn't be clearer, with the change to an over-the-shoulder, third-person camera perspective. This is a change from Alan Wake's wider, third-person perspective, immersing players closer to the action.

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Surviving Alan Wake Remastered's enemies relied upon shining Alan's torch to weaken them. While these light mechanics return in Alan Wake 2, defeating enemies could feel more intense with the new gameplay perspective.

6 The Dark Place

For the first time, players see what lurks inside the Dark Place in Alan Wake 2, the unsettling location where Wake's wife became trapped in the original versions. The Dark Presence haunted Alan across Bright Falls and twisted the world he knew, but players never saw Alan there until now.

The Dark Place also introduces players to different ways to move between areas. In Alan Wake, Alan could clear blocked pathways using light from a torch or environmental tools. In Alan Wake 2, players can clear the path to a new area in the blink of an eye using brand-new light mechanics.

5 More Open World Feel, But Not Traditionally Open World

Exploring the environment in Alan Wake and its remastered counterpart was a pretty linear experience, with the level design gearing players towards particular paths. Although Alan Wake 2 is not a traditional open-world video game, it features more open and explorable areas, such as the Diner area in Bright Falls.

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Previously, players could collect hidden collectibles like Thermos Flasks and Night Springs video games, so it will be interesting to see what kinds of collectibles, secrets, or easter eggs Remedy might add to the mix in Alan Wake 2 as players explore its dual worlds.

4 The Mind and Writer's Rooms

Alan Wake 2 introduces players to additional new mechanics called the Mind Room and Writer's Room. These are interactive boards that players can use to help piece together what's going on. Players use an interactive case board in Saga's head called the Mind Room when playing as Saga to profile and connect clues gathered from the world in her investigations and unlock new objectives.

When playing as Alan in the Dark Place, players can use the Plot Board in the Writer's Room, which exists only in Alan's head as a metaphorical chalkboard space. Here, players can craft new stories that physically change the Dark Place, helping players unveil things like new pathways and ways forward.

3 Longer Gameplay Length

While Alan Wake and Alan Wake Remastered lasted approximately 11 hours of playtime, Alan Wake 2 is said to be a much longer gameplay experience, taking at least 20 hours to beat. That's also not including Alan Wake 2's confirmed DLC plans, making it one of Remedy's lengthiest titles.

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DLC from the original versions also gave players more things to do, like find all the various collectibles and unlock all of Alan Wake 2's achievements and trophies, potentially adding even more gameplay time to the horror experience.

2 Less But More Varied Combat

Like the original games, Alan Wake 2 gives players third-person-shooter style combat, with weapons including a revolver and shotgun. However, while the originals were combat-heavy and to some extent, a little repetitive, Alan Wake 2 focuses more on building tension, with more varied combat for players and enemies.

Alan Wake 2 also looks set to add new types of equipment, like charms, which look a bit like Resident Evil 4 Remake's charms. There may also be different kinds of flare, such as the rocket flare, as seen in Saga's survival resources pack included in the game's Deluxe Edition.

1 New And Familiar Characters

Alan Wake 2 also introduces players to new and familiar names with its cast of supporting characters, with some key differences. For instance, for the first time, FBI Agent Alex Casey appears in the game world as Saga's partner. Alex also shares the same name as the fictional protagonist of Alan Wake's book in the original games.

While there are new characters, it's possible that minor characters from the Remastered and original games could make a return, with no doubt many fans hoping for the return of characters like Barry Wheeler, Alan's Agent, who helped provide some lighthearted, comedic relief. However, who might return, and how, remains to be seen.