With Remedy’sAlan Wake 2reveal showcasing a blend of both a psychological horror experience adhering to its predecessor and survival horror, it has left fans of the series more than excited to see what is to come. Given the massively successful remake of Capcom’s cult classic title inResident Evil 4,particularly in its execution of survival horror, many fans consider it the standard in the genre and what other titles from other developers should aim to achieve.
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While fans of the first entry will be expecting the sequel to revisit and improve upon some of the mechanics that were already present,Alan Wake 2’s reveal trailerand gameplay appear to be inspired by theResident Evil 4 Remake’s opening segment, and it would be very beneficial to see this same trend throughout the game.
5Action/Horror Orientation
As previously mentioned, both the original and remake ofResident Evil 4have received almost nothing but praise from fans of the franchise, and of survival horror titles. While both versions of the title adhere to their horror aspects, most especially the remake, there is also a great level of action that players get to indulge in throughout the experience.
Given theclear similarities betweenAlan Wake 2andResident Evil 4, not only within their gameplay elements, but both stories focused on cults, it would be best for Remedy to also follow in the same footsteps of ensuring there is a decent balance between horror and action, providing just enough to satisfy fans within both spectrums.
4Melee Option After Stun
Speaking of action,Capcom’s efforts in pushing for variety withinResident Evil 4’s combatled to success, expanding on the animations of Leon’s kicks that were present in the 2005 version. Just as satisfying as it was back then to execute, players can stun aggressive enemies, leaving them open for Leon’s signature roundhouse kick, giving them an edge in overwhelming scenarios.
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The firstAlan Waketitle had no melee opportunities whatsoever, much to some fans' disappointment, but withAlan Wake 2on the horizon, developers at Remedy have the opportunity to implement melee combat just as well as Capcom has done, ultimately striking a greater balance between its action and horror elements.
3Intelligent AI
One of the most pleasing aspects of theResident Evil 4 Remakeis the fact that enemies are not only overwhelming when surrounding players in large numbers, but they act and behave far more like humans as opposed to the franchise’s slow zombies. Subtle details such as Ganados faking out axe throws or acting together as a team when hunting Leon down are all integral to the game’s immersion of survival horror.
Considering the more horror-centric themeAlan Wake 2appears to be leading with,the level of AI intelligence could make or break the entire experience, so if developers can push enemy behaviors close to theResident Evil 4 Remakein any manner, it would be highly likely for this to be a success.
2Enemy Variety/Mini-Bosses
Those who are familiar with the firstAlan Waketitle will be aware of the numerous enemies and mini-bosses that players will encounter throughout the experience. Capcom’sResident Evil 4took what was provided within the original and improved this in almost every aspect. While it is worth mentioning that enemies such as theGanados and Dr. Salvadorare still present in the remake, changes to their design in terms of their appearance and behaviors introduced a feeling of greater variety.
Unlike the original, it is less likely for players to run into enemies that look exactly the same with either their physical appearance or clothing being unique in one way or another. WithAlan Wake 2, it would be interesting, to say the least, to see if developers can provide players with enemies that can leave them on the edge of their seats in panic, just as Dr. Salvador and others inResident Evil 4have done.
1Replayability
Arguably the best aspect above all else in theResident Evil 4 Remakeis the level of replay value developers were sure to implement this time around. Even more so than the original 2005 version, there are numerous challenges, trophies, skins, accessories, and content to unlock, encouraging players to take on multiple playthroughs on different difficulty modes. For players who view aspects such as platinum or 100% completions in titles,Resident Evil 4 Remaketakes all of this into great consideration withrumors of the original’sSeparate WaysDLC making a return.
Remedy has the perfect template to work from on this occasion, as one of the most important aspects of a title is its replayability. If the aforementioned pivotal features of Capcom’s popular title are met in full force, along with mostly new and exciting innovations on Remedy’s part, it could lead to yet another major success for thegenre of survival horrorin 2023, pushing for fellow developers to produce their own take on the matter.
Alan Wake 2is set to release on Jul 02, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC with a digital-only release.
