Alan Wake 2: Evening Springs Overview (PS5)

For those who suppose Treatment Video games is strange, wait until you get a load of its episodic Alan Wake 2 DLC, Evening Springs. After blowing us away with its horror sequel – one of many only a few 10/10 video games of 2023 for us – we’ve been dying for some extra Treatment goodness. Now that it’s right here although, is Evening Springs as sharp and meta as the primary sport? In so some ways, it’s, however expectation will doubtless be the most important killer of this content material providing.

Evening Springs is unfold throughout three episodes, all of which span about 40 minutes in size. It’s a brutally quick enlargement that is solely actually a problem as a result of they’re so rattling good. With every episode centred round particular characters from the primary sport (and the broader Treatment Related Universe), all of them have distinctive flavours, every being a enjoyable exploration of the bizarre broad world of Alan Wake.

Whether or not it is a whimsical rescue mission as Alan’s primary fan, Rose Marigold, or a genre-hopping multiversal escapade because the precise actor Shawn Ashmor (who performs Tim Breaker within the base sport), there’s slightly one thing for everybody right here — but it surely all serves to focus on that Treatment is on the peak of its sport proper now.

You possibly can inform the Finnish developer is having enjoyable with this DLC. Defined inside the spiralling lore as one of many many realities Alan writes to attempt to escape the Darkish Place, these aren’t integral subsequent steps within the franchise’s narrative, however alternatives to experiment with the format. As an alternative of bullet counting, it’ll offer you a full auto shotgun as whimsical music tinkles away within the background. As an alternative of simply switching up your environment within the Darkish Place, it would actually change sport genres, the place one second you’re inching throughout an oppressive and extremely detailed forest, and the following you are blasting your manner by a 16-bit side-scroller.

Gameplay-wise, these are comparatively easy, often taking up foes from the sport, or fixing the odd puzzle. There’s nothing fairly as encapsulating as the primary sport, however we’d say this DLC is extra concerning the vibe than the content material.

Definitely, you’ll be able to really feel that by its script, which may really be extremely humorous. Typically it’ll throw gags at you just like the happy-go-lucky Rose having a totally stocked arsenal of weapons within the Oh Deer Diner. Others will see Sam Lake exhibiting up as soon as extra, this time as a model of himself directing a FMV online game. There’s an limitless sense of creativity on show, the place even in such a brief period of time, Treatment’s id permeates by each side of the DLC. We had a smile on our face throughout all three episodes, as Treatment provides layer upon layer to its ever-expanding meta commentary.

However after all, all of those episodes are quick lived and we’d be mendacity if we mentioned we weren’t looking forward to slightly bit extra. Whereas episodes one and three each really feel contained and nearly so long as they have to be, the second episode, that includes Jesse from Management, wants slightly one thing extra to actually hammer it residence. What’s extra, if you happen to’re hoping to see extra of the Alan Wake world, then it’s best to know that Evening Springs reuses areas from the bottom sport, albeit with some multiversal twists to them.

Conclusion

All in all, Evening Springs is a brief excuse to revel within the oddities of Alan Wake 2 and Treatment. Whether or not it’s comedic, horror-tinged, or genre-hopping, the developer is simply having a great deal of enjoyable with this DLC. We’d adore it to be slightly longer, or even perhaps embody one other episode or two, however what’s here’s a reminder that Treatment is without doubt one of the most authentic and distinctive builders within the sport proper now.