Alan Wake, Let's play without commentary, Chapter 1 Part 1 of 4: Intro

It all started nine years ago.

When darkness came, so did the questions: Will this narrative-driven horror game from a well-regarded Finnish developer contain Stephen King references? Will Max Payne be mentioned? Can we have an unironic game? Is every line of inner monologue novel-ready? Are fourth walls even real? Which side of the illusion are we on?

What if an eldritch horror has crept into the fabric of reality and replaced the zeitgeist with a poltergeist? If reality is not real reality, do I still have to eat my salad?

Like acid rain these questions rained down on my sanity, each question a rain drop dissolving part of my mental clarity. I couldn't be sure that playing Alan Wake would help restore some aspect of my mind or at least bring some reprieve, but I knew there was only one way to find out.

I'll shut up now.

Eldritch.