CREATION
- The game was a result of Remedy experimenting with several gameplay styles leading to the horde mode, Fight Til Dawn.
- The game is significantly bigger than any previous single episodes in the original games or either DLC pack.
CULTURAL REFERENCES AND INSPIRATIONS
- During its development, Remedy was inspired by From Dusk 'Til Dawn, urban legends, B movie classics and The Twilight Zone.
- Both Club Foot by Kasabian and Watching the Sun Come Up by Ed Harcourt have been licensed for the game.
STORYLINE AND LOCATIONS
- New players can join the experience, they don't need to know the back-story from Alan Wake to enjoy it. However if you played the previous games, the plot will continue and be expanded upon.
- American Nightmare acts as a bridge between Alan Wake 1 and 2 in terms of carrying on it's storyline, but isn't considered to be an official sequel, more like a spin off
- The three main locations, a gas station, a mountain-top observatory and an old drive-in theatre, were announced in promotion for the title.
- Night isn't the only setting this time around, with the game delivering more sun sets and rises.
- In the game, Wake travels to Night Springs which his manuscripts have set in Arizona.
- The game starts at Bird Leg Cabin, where The Writer DLC left off.
- There's a quick tutorial at the start which frees Wake from the cabin. In the tutorial, players will be reminded how to use the torch and gun to their advantage against the enemies.
- The pages foretell upcoming events but they can also be used to alter the events in your favor; an idea originally schedule to appear in Alan Wake 2.
- Adding to the sense that Alan is in a Night Springs episode, Lloyd Floyd returns as the show's narrator, delivering the game's overall voice over.
- Remedy has created an open world for the arcade game; an idea which they originally explored for Alan Wake.
- In the game, Mr Scratch is trying to hunt down Alice, but Alan is trying to stop him. The events take place 2 years after the events of the original game. Wake's fans created several legends about what has happened; that Wake travelled into the woods, but emerged as Mr Scratch, now a serial killer made real by the Dark Presence.
- Poets of the Fall are back as the Old Gods of Asgard. In the game, the OGoA are on a reunion tour with Barry Wheeler as their agent.
- American Nightmare was described in magazines as a mirror to episode four and five from the first game.
- American Nightmare was described as "two thirds action and one third story" in interviews.
COMBAT AND HINT SYSTEM
- Expanded combat with more weapons and enemies; it's focused more on action compared to Alan Wake.
- The HUD radar makes locating items easier for completionists.
- Another new enemy is the Grenadiers who can throw grenades that explode with a dark gas, injuring any people nearby, including enemies.
- Mr Scratch will appear mainly in live action performances such as TV broadcasts and cinematics. He is played by Alan Wake live action and motion capture actor, Ilkka Villi.
- The Splitter is a new enemy which divides into two Taken if the flashlight beam hits them.
- The Birdman is another new enemy which can turn into a flock of birds when the player tries to shoot at him using the flashlight beam or gun. He will appear as a flock of birds but will take human form just before attacking.
- A new weapon is a crossbow which can pierce the darkness that protects them without burning away the darkness. This is probably the most effective tool against the Splitter.
- Other new weapons include an Uzi, military grade rifle, and a nailgun.
FIGHT TIL DAWN
- Fight Til Dawn is single player only.
- The game will also feature a leaderboard on the "Fight 'Til Dawn" mode showing both global and friends scoreboards.
- The combo number goes up to a maximum of nine in the survival mode.
- Locations include an oil derrick, caves, trailer park and more.
.
