Alan Wake II: The Lake House Review - Levels Of Complexity
Not content with launching one of 2023’s best games, Remedy have returned with their second (and final?) piece of DLC for Alan Wake II. Following on from June’s Night Springs expansion, Remedy have now launched The Lake House, an expansion that sees the player, through the lens of Kiran Estevez (Janina Gavanka), exploring the FBC (Federal Bureau of Control) controlled facility aptly titled The Lake House, as she investigates an AWE (Altered World Event) that is gripping the facility in a story that runs parallel to the events of the main game. This 2-3 hour journey pulls on threads that made for some of Alan Wake II’s best elements, and consequently The Lake House is a must-play for the many who loved everything Remedy achieved in the prior year.
As Estevez explores the abandoned facility she quickly comes to learn that the Taken have devoured the location, and a new threat, mysterious painted figures are also stalking the dark corridors of The Lake House. As Estevez gradually finds the keycards required to explore the depths of The Lake House, she comes to learn of the previous residents and the poor decision making that led to the massacre of the facility and the hostile occupants now found within. For anyone who hasn’t played Alan Wake II for a while, you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of key terms that are being thrown at you, but if you feel like your head is spinning, be confident in the knowledge that what Remedy is trying to convey can be consolidated in your mind by reading a few documents and listening to some audio logs. Beyond the expansion’s golden path there is much more to explore too including some references to the broader Remedyverse, teases for a Control sequel, and even some indirect commentary on AI in art. There’s a lot to digest, and just like any other Remedy title, there’s plenty, even in this small package, to keep your brain buzzing long after your game session has expired.
The Lake House keeps it simple when it comes to gameplay. Estevez has access to her standard issue pistol, and soon adds a shotgun, and a powerful tool capable of handling the painted figures. Beyond this one quirky new enemy type, The Lake House follows the same gameplay formula of the main-game with the pairing of light to break down an enemies protective darkness, before finishing the job with some well-placed bullets. It’s tried, it’s true, but it is still oh so satisfying. Some light puzzles, and some computers that require passwords exist, requiring players to pick through the environment to get the necessary information to proceed. The game lays the scares on from time to time, with some seriously foreboding environments and entities to encounter that torture Estevez and the player at carefully curated moments. Mechanically, there’s nothing new being brought to the table with The Lake House, but this package does serve to further highlight how superb everything was with the 1.0 release in 2023.
Speaking of superb, acknowledgement must be given to the expansion’s visual design language. From the way the game signposts and distracts players with the use of streaky paint smears, to of course the use of lighting, and then the game’s already stunning technological achievements, The Lake House looks stellar. Don’t go expecting any marathon ‘We Sing’ segments sadly, but the use of music, along with it’s environment-enhancing score serves only to heighten player tension levels, and befuddle the senses. This is once again, peak Remedy at work.
While The Lake House might have benefited from reaching further into the Alan Wake II toolkit to bring additional gameplay elements into the fold, there’s also a restraint here that I appreciate. It’s easy to see a team declare “Oh you want more?!” and get exceedingly carried away in the process. The steady hand of Sam Lake and his team ensures that The Lake House is a tightly curated experience that doesn’t get in its own way. The Remedyverse expands once again, and you should check out this latest chapter.
Alan Wake II: The Lake House was reviewed on PS5 with a code kindly provided by Remedy
