Today’s game is some more Alan Wake II. I already made it through the hotel today. I always forget how fast this game goes by. It definitely is a good length, but damn does it leave me wanting more.
Speaking of the Hotel, while in room 666 I had noticed the furniture in there (as in the stuff in the shadows) is all Pitch Black. With how much detail the game has I have to imagine this is intentional, but intentional or not this is still really cool to get a glimpse at.
Spoiler
Another thing I started thinking of is that with each “loop” that ends with you meeting scratch, the accompanying media form is the ritual in mention.
Like the hotel is a Stage Play, and the play is the ritual, the theater is a movie with it being its own ritual, and the subway, I believe at least, is a book. Which is why it’s so hands on with Alan and is a little less Meta.
It’s the ritual “Leading” Alan on because he’s being called there and being jerked around by others. It works with the dark places loops too because the whole story of Return is a ritual leading him on too. So it’s the whole “Loops within loops”
It’s a bit sloppy thinking, I know. I haven’t thought much on it until now (and maybe I’ll think more on it and realize I’m completely wrong), and I’m sure everyone else reading this is either thinking “duh, but I guess I was so enamored with Dream New York I guess it took me 4 playthroughs to notice.
Final thing I noticed, but Max Payne dies with his right side facing Alan and the light, while the right faces the shadow. I think it’s intentional camera work. And I think it’s a cool detail, since Alan is meant to represent the light.
That’s really all though. I could talk more about the Art pieces in the hotel. But I’ve done that in the past. I did noticed they’re all kind of surface level, referring to water, dreaming, or writing. Which I thought lent to a dream like quality to them. The kind of random shallow shit your brain might come up with while dreaming.
Anyways, thats the last thing I’m gonna touch on. I swear. I have some cool ideas for photos with the theater so I’m excited to do those next time I play.
Given the new CEO... Doubtful.
I understand the worry, however I'd say what has shown to be profitable and work for Remedy does stray from this new CEO's typical wheelhouse. Remedy tried the live-service market and failed pretty bad. He may have entirely been hired just to help get them afloat financially. Also Sam Lake seems to approve, and I'd trust his voice in this considering the universe they've been building is his baby.
Forgot to add too, considering Firebreak's downfall, it would be pretty insane for Remedy to even attempt another live-service like or adjacent any time soon.