In a brand new teaser, IGN First has revealed the initial introduction between Alan Wake and his until-then fictional detective, Alex Casey. The footage shown was the first look into an extended 4K RTX gameplay from the experience, following Nvidia's earlier clips at Gamescom 2023.
Spoiler Level: From the sounds of it, the footage takes place very early in the game. Alan doesn't even have his gun and flashlight at that point. If you're looking to go in fresh, this actual gameplay clip might be one to return to later.
In the footage, we meet Alan mid-way through a level as he walks cautiously down a damp, twisted New York street. As he tries to resolve a puzzle, he is interrupted by a man in the shadows who approaches him.
For fans of the original adventure, Matthew Porretta's voice jumping in with a description of the events and Alan's mindset is a very welcome return after eleven years. For Control fans, the style of the introduction is familiar too, with live-action (almost Director-esqe) footage overlapping the gameplay, sharing the character's set of mind.
Alan Wake 2 Exclusive: Alan Meets Alex Casey Gameplay Clip (4K RTX) - IGN First / Transcript and Visual Description
Alan Wake walks across the pavement in a dark, abandoned, nightmare version of New York. Shadows creep in from the sides.
Shadow: [Distorted] I've read your mind.
Alan Wake: Fuck! Okay, don't mind me, just passing through.
Alan Wake V.O: Shadows stirred like there was someone there, but there was no one. I wanted to keep it that way.
He walks to where the subway station should be.
Alan Wake V.O: The Caldera Street Station sign was there, but the entrance was missing. I had to make it appear. Maybe I could use the lamp to reveal the station entrance?
Voices around him, Alan turns to an alleyway bathed in a cool light. Beside the path, a red neon sign points to "Neighborhood Illumination".
Alan Wake V.O: There was light at the end of the alley ahead.
He walks down it and into a cutscene.
Alex Casey: Is this the way it was on the page?
Casey stands to the side, his body in shadow.
Alan Wake: What the hell?
Casey moves slowly towards Wake, slightly menacingly.
Alan Wake: Oh... hey. We met at Door's show.
Alex Casey: Alan Wake. The writer. I'm Alex Casey. Looking into a murder.
Alan Wake: C'mon... what- What is this?
Alex Casey: There's a piece of evidence, a manuscript of a novel. You wouldn't know anything about it?
Alan Wake: A manuscript? What manuscript? I need to see it.
Alex Casey V.O: Rumour had it that manuscript contained the details of the murders. A murder cult was following a story to commit their gruesome acts. Was Wake their leader. Had he... written this? How far would he go to create a perfect work of art? Or would he be the next victim?
Casey reaches for his revolver and steps towards Wake. The light down the alleyway flickers to a deep red.
Alex Casey: Stay here.
Alan Wake: No! Wait! I need a gun!
Alex Casey: No chance.
Casey runs down the alleyway, taking a moment to pause at the corner and carefully look around. He steps out, his shadow showing clearly against the red light on the building. The alleyway falls into darkness. Gunshots are heard, Casey's scream and the darkness' mixed into one. Slightly reluctantly, as he's without a firearm, Alan follows Casey.
Alan Wake: Casey! Damnit.
Casey is on the floor, covered in blood, illuminated by the flashlight beam. A shadowy image of him beside him, almost evaluating the scene in front of him.
Alex Casey V.O: I remember dying in this alley in a dream I had. it was just a kid killing me here. Loop by loop.
Alex Casey: You're not going to get what you want. You think you know. You know shit. You don't really wanna know. You're gonna get what's coming to you.
As Casey dies, Wake edges closer and picks up the flashlight and gun left by the detective.
Alan Wake: This was an echo of the books that I had written for years. Picking up Casey's gun felt like I was assuming the role of the detective.
Alan uses the Angel Light to claim a nearby light source. It flickers into the device.
Alan Wake: I had a light now. I needed to get back to the subway station entrance.
Alan turns to leave, back through the alley.
Shadows: Wake.
Alan Wake: Shit.
Alan Wake V.O: With the alley in darkness now, restless shadows blocked my way.
The first set of shadows walk by him. He manages to ignore him. In the distance, shapes on the brick walls become physical creatures.
Shadows: Alan Wake... Let me sleep.
One of the shadows lurches towards him.
Alan Wake: Oh, fuck!
He burns the darkness away.
Alan Wake: (Very distorted over the sound of the light burning away) -light to banish the shadows.
With the darkness no longer protecting them, he shoots four shots, taking down the Taken.
Alan Wake V.O: The shadows faded out. Until they didn't. They were trying to stop me. With the gun and flashlight, I could fight back.
He burns away the darkness which had created a barrier at the end of the alley.
Alan Wake V.O: I could use the light to open the subway entrance now.
