Alan Wake 2: A Deep Dive into Night Springs and The Lake House

It's been over a year since I delved into the world of Remedy games, and I'm thrilled to report that my journey is far from over. Since the release of Alan Wake 2 in October 2023, I've had the opportunity to play almost every game in Remedy's catalog, with some titles receiving multiple playthroughs - I'm looking at you, Control and Max Payne 2. These games have dominated my gaming experience, leaving little room for other releases in 2024. However, I did manage to squeeze in some new games, including Little Kitty, Big City, Thank Goodness You're Here, and Star Wars Outlaws, which brought back a wave of nostalgia. I also spent over 120 hours playing Baldur's Gate 3 within a span of 20 days. Just when I thought I'd had enough, Remedy released two expansions for Alan Wake 2: Night Springs and The Lake House. Night Springs, launched on June 8, consists of three episodes that pay homage to The Twilight Zone, a TV show that appears throughout the 2010 game Alan Wake. This expansion follows the same premise as Alan Wake's American Nightmare, where Alan uses characters from Remedy games to escape The Dark Place. One episode is based on the plot of Control, following Jesse Faden, the director of the Federal Bureau of Control, as she searches for her brother in a theme park from Alan Wake 2. Another episode takes players on a mind-bending journey through parallel universes, where they control Shawn Ashmore, the actor who portrays Sheriff Tim Breaker in Alan Wake 2 and Jack Joyce in Quantum Break. The episode that captivated me the most, however, was the first installment of Night Springs, titled Number One Fan. This episode centers around Rose Marigold, a waitress from the game's fictional diner, who must save Alan from his jealous twin brother, Scratch. What struck me about Number One Fan was its portrayal of Rose's dedication to Alan, which is not mocked or ridiculed but rather celebrated. As someone who has been made fun of for being overly passionate about games and TV shows, I found it refreshing to see a character like Rose being the hero of her own story. The Remedy community has been incredibly welcoming, and I've even been referred to as Rose by my friends - a nickname I've grown fond of. After pouring over 100 hours into replaying Alan Wake 2, I was eager to see Remedy's quirky side take center stage, and Night Springs delivers. The absurdity is off the charts, with moments like Alan communicating with Rose through a mounted bass ornament and a deer, or a motorcycle transforming into a werewolf. The voice acting, particularly Jessica Preddy's portrayal of Rose and the duo of Matthew Porretta and Ilkka Villi as Alan and Scratch, solidified Night Springs as my game of the year. Then came The Lake House, the game's second DLC, which amplified the survival horror elements to new heights. Released on October 22, this expansion is set up as a Control crossover event, where players take on the role of Kiran Estevez, an agent from the Federal Bureau of Control. Estevez is tasked with investigating a situation unfolding in the game's fictional town of Bright Falls, which is connected to the events of Alan Wake 2. The incident takes place at The Lake House, a research facility monitoring paranatural occurrences at Cauldron Lake, which serves as a portal to The Dark Place. Estevez soon discovers that horrific supernatural entities have been unleashed through abstract paintings, and it's up to her to find out why and how to stop them. Playing as Estevez reminded me of my experience with Jesse in Control - both characters are strong, sarcastic, and unphased by the weirdness around them. However, as the story unfolds, Estevez's calm demeanor begins to falter, and she uses a grounding technique of taking six deep breaths to cope with the overwhelming situations. This mechanic resonated with me, as someone who struggles with anxiety, and it's become a useful coping mechanism. The DLC also features a new song, '6 Deep Breaths,' written by singer-songwriter Poe, which has become a personal mantra for me. As I played through The Lake House, I found myself reacting to situations in the same way as Estevez, often saying the same things she would say in response to the horrors unfolding around her. The expansion's commentary on the future of AI was also a pleasant surprise, as it explores the idea of automating Alan's writing style to mimic his ability to make fiction become reality. The Lake House combines the worlds of Control and Alan Wake in a joyous way, with plenty of questionable experiments, weird moments, and pure horror. As a massive fan of Remedy's games, I found this expansion to be the perfect conclusion to Alan Wake 2, leaving me wanting more - not only from Alan Wake but also from Control 2, which was teased at the end. I eagerly await what Remedy has in store for its ever-expanding connected universe.