Wake Up: Should the next Alan Wake encourage player choice?

Sorry, this author doesn't have a bio.

In this installment of “Wake Up,” I’d like to address an idea I’ve had for a future installment of the Alan Wake series. One of the most intriguing aspects, at least for me, of Alan Wake is the role that writing plays in the story. While Wake can write the story, and he somewhat has control over where it takes him, he also explains that it still must make sense in the end, a give and take between he and the darkness. He can’t write just anything. My proposition is, why not give the player the chance to decide what to write next?

Now, while I understand that it would be difficult to allow players to make decisions that would drastically change the games storyline, I don’t see why we, the gamers, shouldn’t be able to “write” some of our own choices into the story. With Wake being a writer, it’d be rather interesting coming to a point in the story, a fork in the road, where we had to choose between two transcript pages, each with its own hidden consequences and rewards. Avoiding a group of Taken at one point could mean running into one of those psycho chainsaw Taken later. Choosing to surround Alan with Taken now, could lead to a safe haven, ammo, or maybe even a new weapon somewhere down the trail. This shouldn’t limited to just game play; carrying over transcript choices into cut scenes would also be welcomed.

Making choices throughout the story could spice up the game, but what I’m most interested in is the possibility of what these choices could lead to, a la multiple endings. Now, I know stories don’t normally have multiple endings, but implementing a “story writing” system throughout the game could allow for players to make the story their own. Immersing players in the role of an “author” would surely give the game play a twist, and it’s also a facet of Wake’s character that I’d like to see further explored.

What do you think? Is this something you’d like to see in a future Alan Wake game? Be sure to share what you’d like to see next in the comments!

  • http://www.facebook.com/ray.wagner3 Ray Wagner

    I think it would add a lot of re-playability to the game for one thing. If Mass Effect and The Walking Dead games have showed us anything about the gaming market it is that gamers love having choices that affect the outcome and story-arch of the game. I feel that implementing Player Choice brings the player even further into the world of the game. It creates a more immersive environment and encourages gamers to approach and deal with each situation in their own way. Most games are so linear you never even get to choose which direction to go in so I’m personally all for any game that progresses the role of choice in gaming.

  • Resguy

    While I do agree that it would be a fun idea to have multiple choices, I don’t like the idea of having multiple endings. I don’t like having to choose which is the “real” ending after having multiple endings. That said I wouldn’t mind if the middle of the game would have different path. Such as folowwing a certain character through a town or going alone in a forest. As if choosing the charater arcs of others? Sorry if I’m not making it clear.

    • Brent Cook

      I understand what you are saying, and I agree for the most part. I also prefer to know which ending is the true ending. Maybe, they could make it so that the first play through would only have one ending, while subsequent saves would allow the ending to change, perhaps? On second thought, I’m not sure how well that would work either. Sounds a bit messy…

    • Jeremy Saylor

      It’s usually pretty easy to tell the canon ending. In every game with choices I’ve ever played, the good ending stemming from the “nice” choices is the real one. The only way I could see it being confusing is if the endings are all ambiguous, which imo makes for pretty good storytelling.