This summer, we finally got to know Night Springs, the first expansion pack for Alan Wake 2. A very different story made up of three different events with their own themes and atmosphere. It’s an interesting addition, although it doesn’t add much on its own and completely lacks the feel of the original game. Now, the second and final part of the expansion, The Lake House, has been released, and it’s nothing like the previous expansions.
This time we are not playing as Alan Wake, Saga Anderson, or any other character from Night Springs. Instead, Remedy puts us under the control of a new main character named Kiran Estevez, an agent of the FBC (Federal Bureau of Control). Something is terribly wrong at the secret research facility at Cauldron Lake, and if Estevez doesn’t stop it, it could have dire consequences for Bright Falls.
The background of “The Lake House” is set before the events of Alan Wake 2, and takes place entirely in a cold and strange laboratory. When Estevez entered it, it felt like a haunted house, and the environment indicated that people had left in a hurry. Desktop documents and email conversations tell us that something very bad happened and that all is not right here. Saga himself mentioned in the main game that the space station was attacked by The Dark Prescent and no one survived. The mystery is complex, and anyone who wants to fully understand everything can expect to have to read dozens of papers to piece the puzzle together.
Here’s a hint:
While Night Springs feels less like the main game, this expansion feels more like it. The atmosphere is very scary, with dark corridors reminiscent of the sequence in the main game where we explore the health center. What follows is a mix of “jump scares” where tortured people cover the screen with their horrible screams and scarce ammo, not unlike that episode of Nightfall where we ‘ play as Ross pumping lead into a pile of enemies. Meanwhile, there is no getting around the fact that Taigh nan Loch has more connections to Remedy’s Control and sets the stage for the game’s sequels.
The extension takes two to three hours to complete and is very slow. Of course, there are not many times when enemies appear and you have to kill them. Instead, most of the time is spent researching, listening to, and reading many presentations. However, a whole new type of enemy has been introduced, one that lives within the paintings and that scientists believe may tap into the mysterious powers of the Wake story. . Enemies that may suddenly appear from the picture are completely immune to flashlights and ordinary guns. So if they saw her, Kiran Estevez would have no choice but to turn and run for cover. At least until the last hour of the expansion, when she gets her hands on a weapon unlike any other the series has ever seen.
Wake is often mentioned, but so is Rudolf Lane, who players met in the first game about Alan Wake. It was Lane himself who painted the picture of the demonic appearance, meaning that it was not just the author who was connected to these unexplained powers. The facility is run by husband-and-wife team Jules and Diana Mormont, but whether their research helps end the series’ nightmare, I’ll leave it to you to decide. find out for yourself. But I can at least say that the story is not just about the author, but about other characters.
Here’s a hint:
Visually, you can expect a design that exudes luxury. The style is similar to Alan Wake 2, but with Control’s unique element of raw brutality. The characters and environments are detailed, and the technology makes great use of ray tracing and full path tracing, which is impressive. The result is excellent shadows, lights and shadows that really add to the atmosphere. Remedy has pushed their Northlight engine to the limits, and it shows in every detail.
Overall, The Lake House is an atmospheric and fun adventure that is worth the time of fans of Control and Alan Wake. I just wish the game’s narration wasn’t limited to reading email conversations, notes, and other documents, as it would slow down the already relatively slow pace. However, Kiran Estevez is a well written main character in a story that will stay with me for a long time and I hope to see more of her in the future.
