Alan Wake's American Nightmare is "4-5 hours long"

By Fred Dutton Published 13 January, 2012

Remedy offers new details on XBLA spin-off.

Forthcoming Xbox Live Arcade horror spin-off Alan Wake's American Nightmare will take the average player between four and five hours to complete, according to developer Remedy.

Speaking in an interview with GameTrailers, Remedy's Oskari Häkinnen added that it might take a little longer than that depending on how much of the "optional story content" players want to explore.

On top of the main campaign, there's also a Horde mode called Fight 'til Dawn that sees you fending off wave after wave of enemies in an attempt to survive until the sun comes up. There'll be five maps to master - finish them all and you'll unlock an additional Nightmare mode.

Häkinnen also divulged a few details about the game's plot. Early on in Wake's writing career he wrote a few episodes of the Night Springs TV show. Somehow fiction has become reality and the game sees Wake sucked into one of his own scripts, set in a town in Arizona.

It's a standalone experience so no knowledge of the original game is necessary, though there's apparently plenty of background detail in there to allow franchise fans to "join the dots" back to the predecessor.

Häkinnen added that Remedy has updated the game engine with a new colour palette and more destructible environments.

The game will be released as part of the Xbox Live House Party season, which kicks off on 15th February.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (52) Latest comment 4 months ago

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  • Syrette #1 4 months ago

    I need this game in my life.

  • captain_Carl #2 4 months ago

    So about 2 - 3 hours then

  • Centrifugal #3 4 months ago

    Glad there's a sequel; the first game had its flaws but had a quintessential charm that really appealed to me.

  • DurzoBlint #4 4 months ago

    It seems like a bad idea to have a "Horde mode" when the weakest element of the game is far and away the combat.

  • Syrette #5 4 months ago

    @Centrifugal

    Spot on. I think with games like Alan Wake, it's best to look past the flaws it has as a game and just take in the atmosphere and enjoy it as an experience.

    I loved it because I loved the vibe, the story, the characters. It just felt so alive.

  • Lunatic4ever #6 4 months ago

    When I played Alan Wake I saw so much porential in it...
    I wanted the developers to make use of it...
    Well,THIS is not what I meant back then

  • rotsujin #7 4 months ago

    Agree that combat in the last game was garbage.
    Basic idea was fine it was just way too easy.

  • -cerberus- #8 4 months ago

    @Syrette: "You don't need this game in your life."
    Edited by -cerberus- at 13/01/12 @ 23:23

  • MattEdWithCheese #9 4 months ago

    Probably for the best, the biggest problem I had with the first game was that it dragged...

    @rotsujin Not on nightmare it ain't

  • metallicorphan #10 4 months ago

    AW took me about 10-12 hrs(not including DLC),so i guess i knew this was coming for an XBLA game,still very much looking forward to it though

  • Jay-ITFC #11 4 months ago

    Basically short enough that it could have been released as DLC for Alan Wake. However with every man and his dog having long since sold or traded it, it made more sense to release on XBLA...

  • Code_R #12 4 months ago

    DLC length, but not DLC.... I don't get it. They should have put the last two together as one episode, then released this one. At least the upcoming PC version should bump the sales up and increase the chances of a full sequel being done.

  • cheeky-sod #13 4 months ago

    And will cost £15 or something.. unless its 800 i aint buying.

  • wattsn26 #14 4 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x Killzone 1 sold less than Alan Wake, Killzone 2 sold 3 million copies, twice as much as Alan Wake, Uncharted 1 sold 4 million copies almost 4x as much as Alan Wake, Uncharted 2 sold more than 5 million copies and UC3 sold more copies than Alan Wake's lifetime sales in one week....I'm not quite sure why you're using Killzone and Uncharted as an example.

    I'm sure Alan Wake 2 would sell great seeing as it has a large enough following to get 1.5 million sales

  • wattsn26 #15 4 months ago

    @cheeky-sod A 4 to 5 hour Alan Wake game is worth $15 imo

  • Fruit-Salad #16 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 01:35:51 08-02-2012

  • Spong #17 4 months ago

    4 - 5 hours means nothing. Like captain_Carl said, that could mean 2 - 3 hours for some.

    A better indicator as to the amount of content we're getting I think would be to tell us the download size. Anything less than the 2GB limit on XBLA is a waste as far as I'm concerned.

  • cloudskipa #18 4 months ago

    That's fine length considering Alan Wake is one of my most replayed games this gen. This kind of length was to be expected since Remedy announced this is not the sequel or pseudo-sequel but a spin off. I'm still grateful we didn't get a twin stick shooter! hehe

    Potential for DLC too, in fact that's quite likely and this game is geared for replayability with it's additional game modes. I'm excited for it.

  • d3v1g0d #19 4 months ago

    I won't be shocked if it's 1600/1860 msp.

  • Snake_2011 #20 4 months ago

    JAGUARCD32x your wrong the first Uncharted sold 3.78m.

  • space_ace #21 4 months ago

    The Horde, now that was a great game from 1994.

  • Widge #22 4 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x Although Microsoft seem more keen to court the multiplatform publishers than nourish their own physical release content.

    Fine in one way as multiplatform published titles are high quality and very popular, but they are also the most focus tested and risk averse types of games. The 8/10 influx.

  • Widge #23 4 months ago

    I'm looking forward to the actual first game coming to PC. Mass Effect and Alan Wake I would cite as the titles I am most missing out on by not having a 360. Thankfully ME1 hit PC, fingers crossed on AW.

  • Nova1977 #24 4 months ago

    I love Remedy to death but I don't..this particular game it's just not doing anything for me. Horde mode? Xbox Live Arcade?

  • revan8 #25 4 months ago

    No way this only 800 msp. 1200 at least.

  • 43n1m4 #26 4 months ago

    I will join the "I like the Alan Wake game" club. It is by no means a Batman AC or a Skyrim game, but the atmosphere and environments was definitely a big plus. Look forward to this spin-off, and then we'll see if Alan Wake has some staying power.

  • revan8 #27 4 months ago

    Alan wake is brilliant. combat could be better but is very solid. Played through 3rd time last week before this new release. The 2 dlc was no where near as good as main game.

  • Phantom_Dynamite #28 4 months ago

    Hyped for this but got such a back log argghhhhh

  • cloudskipa #29 4 months ago

    Regarding the price it's an XBLA game so the maximum it can retail for is 1200 MS points, that's obviously what it will cost. It's a great deal imo (around £10)

  • TheMillionDollarMan #30 4 months ago

    I love a comments thread as much as the next troll but I'm a bit bored of reading if someone will/won't buy a game...it's up there with the '__ had an amazing day/loves their baby...etc' FB updates.
    An opinion I'm interested in...your personal gaming purchases I couldn't give a sh*t about. :)

  • cloudskipa #31 4 months ago

    I find it a bit odd people moaning about the combat when I felt it was one of highlights of the game (far enough though). The game has tight controls and some inventive use of weaponry, the evade move was a great idea and the flashlight mechanic really added an extra element to it all. It just felt good to play. Compare the combat to games like Silent Hill or even Resident Evil and it's obviously far superior. Remedy are masters at 3rd person combat games ever since Max Payne imo.

    The only thing I felt the original game was lacking in terms of combat was the fact the weapon selection was rather limited, however that sounds like it's been addressed for American Nightmare.

  • Jay-ITFC #32 4 months ago

    @cloudskipa How can you say it's a great deal when we don't know the price or quality of the game yet!?

  • norsende #33 4 months ago

    Häkkinen, not Häkinnen. Have you not watched Formulas back in the day?

  • jamieleng #34 4 months ago

    I enjoyed the first & it's one of the few games that invaded my dreams whilst playing. I'm worried the homages/references to classic horror & now sci-fi (based on the trailer) will be horribly ham-fisted.

  • Syrette #35 4 months ago

    @Spong

    Yeah, it could last 2-3 hours to some if they rush through it. It could also be more than 4-5 hours, as the quote in the article itself suggested.

    I'm pretty sure that size limit does not exist any more. At least one or two titles have been granted exceptions to be above that supposed limit.

  • HoriZon #36 4 months ago

    Loved the 1st game and still have it (got the SE with the book and DVD) but never bothered with the DLC even the free 'The Signal' I got with the game but it was released months later has been left unplayed.

    This might be worth a punt though.
    Edited by HoriZon at 14/01/12 @ 14:13

  • Baihu1983 #37 4 months ago

    Aslong as most full priced retail games then.

    More AW is allways welcome.

  • makeamazing #38 4 months ago

    More Alan Wake is good news, really enjoyed the first one... just hope MS see's sense and pays for a full AW2 game... as it would be a shame. Will get this day one though.

  • motim #39 4 months ago

    Despita its flaws, Alan Wake found a way to make me look at it as one of the best games i've played this generation. So more AW is always something to welcome for me.

  • cobaltfram #40 4 months ago

    If I wanted more Alan Wake I'd rewatch Twin Peaks.

  • es_lebt #41 4 months ago

    I'm curious if they already implemented that facial animation system, that according to Myllyrinne will rise the bar L.A. Noire has set. Probably not from what I've seen from the trailers.

  • miiiguel #42 4 months ago

    "Basic idea was fine it was just way too easy. "

    Play it on Nightmare, especially the DLCs.


    I always find it odd the lenght comments on games, like it somehow justifies the price. Content/quality != lenght.

  • actionfitz #43 4 months ago

    "Alan Wake's American Nightmare is "4-5 hours long"

    so longer than most £45 games released thee days...

  • smelck #44 4 months ago

    AW is probably one of the most under-appreciated 360 exclusives.....can't quite see why it didn't get more love...put me down for this DLC

  • HeNiCiDe1988 #45 4 months ago

    sigh remedy why do you persist with this game its just that great imho. They shouldnt use it as a flagship game

  • SimonM7 #46 4 months ago

    I think the combat was easily the strongest element of what you were actually tasked with doing in Alan Wake. You know the bit where it's a video game?

    Fundamental mechanics and character control in combat were expertly done - just like Max Payne - but what ultimately let it down was the lacking enemy variety and measures required of you. This was somewhat remedied (no pun) by turning up the difficulty level, forcing you to shoot guys as opposed to thinking about the guys you're shooting, but ultimately the feeling that you were applying the exact same strategy to each situation, employing the exact same light tagging -> dodge -> shotgun to face maneuvers did start to grate.

    Pair that with treks through woods seemingly devised to evoke a feeling of solitude and uncertainty, hopelessly undercut by a constant waypoint marker turning what could be atmospheric into mere travel distance, and the game had problems somehow in spite of its own successes. It's easy to see how you'd fix Alan Wake, and even the DLC managed to tighten the bolts some. Unless, of course, you for whatever reason can't deal with a protagonist that isn't an emotional simpleton and feel good cypher 24/7.

    It seems evident from the screenshots and videos that AW:AN is spicing up the combat some with greater variety both in enemies and tools at your disposal, and its shorter runtime should allow for a tightly paced experience aswell. It bears mentioning, however, that Max Paynes 1 and 2 both had you shooting the same guy for 6ish hours, so Remedy has sorta yet to prove that they can conjure up significantly different enemy types, or even the desire to do so. Fingers crossed though!

  • ReapingAngel #47 4 months ago

    Nice to see some details about the game. 4-5 hours? Could be longer if Remedy decide to add more content to it through DLC (I hope).

  • AnotherIdiot #48 4 months ago

    Should that be '4-5 hours too long'? Probs

  • Lunatic4ever #49 4 months ago

    @es_lebt

    what are u talking about???
    of course it wasnt implemented.

  • Lord_Gremlin #50 4 months ago

    I've read "4-5 dollars worth".

  • Collymilad #51 4 months ago

    I personally loved Alan Wake. So damn atmospheric, which is one of the things I love in games.

    Will definitely be getting this.

  • alimokrane #52 4 months ago

    I need to know the price! I have a gut feeling this will be overpriced! If it's 4-5 hours long I think 1200MP is about right but it will probablyu be 1600/1800