Dodging Tutorial Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

You can probably play the game without a lot dodging, however it's extremely handy for those tricky moments later on when the protagonist is overrun by Taken. It's also a pretty important element at the start of the game too as the player has to dodge twice before the game allows you to move onto the next section.

Scenario: Alan will come across a clearing in the woods with an axe-wielding Taken blocking the gate opposite. This begins the dodging tutorial. The gate can't be reached even when the antagonist leaves his position as it's covered in shadows. Once the player dodges twice, the Taken will vanish and the gate will open.

To successfully dodge the enemy attack, press the dodge keys as the Taken raises his weapon.

With an XBOX360 Controller:
Left Back Button + Left Analogue Stick

With a Keyboard and Mouse
Shift + Direction Keys (W,A,S,D)

How the Game Helps:
As it's the start of the game, the player won't be expected to know how to dodge straight away, therefore on-screen hints will be available. Once the player dodges the enemy once, text will appear reading "Well Done!" so you know you've correctly executed the move. Additionally successful dodges may also activate a cinematic camera shot.

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Running From Tornado Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

This section of the game isn't as intimidating as initially implied, although it does involve predicting (or memorizing) a specific path. 

As you drop down onto the street, the camera will pan up to reveal the tornado hot on Alan's heels. You should waste no time and head directly in the opposite direction, across the wooden bridge and inside the lighthouse. As you run, the tornado will throw numerous large objects in your direction; while they don't necessarily hit you, they will destroy the bridge

(If you stand still after the tornado emerges, you will have roughly 17 seconds before it kills Alan. So it's not a really harsh time trial; you're allowed to make a few mistakes. The game won't punish you. If you die, the game will reset to the top of the rocks, so not that far at all!)

You can predict where the next item will land and switch course but if you're having trouble, there's a quick and easy guide here to help you become familiar with the layout.

Once you've reach the other side, enter the lighthouse door on the left to trigger a cinematic. If you are planning on collecting the game's numerous coffee thermoses, there should be one directly in front of you, on a seat as you step off the bridge. 

While sprinting may give you extra time to get the coffee thermos, it's not vital; you can play the section (and pick up the collectible) while just jogging.

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Getting the Generator Online Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

As soon as you arrive at Diver's Isle, your first objective is to "Go to the cabin". As you walk across the bridge to the cabin, Alan will inform you of Alice's phobia of the darkness, hence her insistence to get inside before dark.

As you reach the cabin, you will need to open the front door by tapping the Interact button (Press B on a game pad or E on the keyboard), but upon doing so Alice will declare it's too dark. Your mission now is to get the lights on by starting up the cabin's generator!

EASTER EGG #1: If you ignore Alice's instructions and go inside the cabin, make sure to investigate the rooms for a special hint at what's to come in the game. 

EASTER EGG #2: There's a tree stump halfway between the cabin and the shed, with "TZ + BJ" you can interact with it to learn more.

The generator is location in the back garden, you can see it pretty clearly from the porch. It looks like an old wooden shed, with a cable to connect it to the house. Once inside the room, you should repeat the same controls you used to get the front door open on the generator.

After successfully getting the machine running, go outside to trigger a cutscene.

EASTER EGG #3: If you walk over to the edge of the island near the shed, you can see a large building on the cliff. If you hold the focus key, Alan will inform you of the historical background of the place.

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Escaping Stucky Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

After waking up from the car crash, Alan decides his best bet is to make it to the nearest gas station he spots in the distance. On your path down the mountain, you will begin to uncover pieces of a manuscript entitled Departure, as well as encountering Stucky. This time Stucky has completely changed; his face covered in shadows as he hovered over a body.

As soon as the cutscene ends, the player must run to safety inside a nearby cabin. The diagram below shows the path that needs to be taken. (Prepare to dodge Stucky's blade at the end).

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Nightmare Fight Tips Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

After the shooting tutorial, you will be faced with your first group of Taken as Remedy throws you in the deep end. Only one Taken will attack you at first and luckily for you he announces his appearance by taunting Wake as he climbs over the wooden structure directly in front of you as you leave your previous area.

**Nightmare Mode Tip** The enemies are harder to take down in nightmare mode, even the standard Taken tends to empty your revolver pretty quickly. Before leaving the shooting tutorial area, go to the ammo storage crate near the fence and replenish your stock. If you have already moved onto the new section you can still return to the crate by following the concrete fence near the cliff edge back up to the area. Also make sure to reload the revolver after each fight in case of an ambush later.

I recommend not boosting your torch beam or shooting at first, if you do he will fall down off the wooden ledge and will walk up the slope to the right of the ledge. Pushing him off the ledge isn't terrible, but it does make targeting your enemy harder. Instead wait until the Taken has climbed up the wooden ledge and has walked a few steps towards you; there he will be easier to target and shoot.

NOTE: Do NOT drop down and walk along the path before defeating the previous single Taken, as you will trigger two more Taken to emerge from the foliage. It is much easier to take them down in smaller groups especially if you're playing for the first time or on a harder difficulty.

As you proceed forward, things get a little more tricky as two Taken will run at you at once, emerging from the plants either side of the path. Move backwards and use your torch to try to force them away. It's likely that you will run out of space to move, if this is the case run to either side of the two Taken (preferably not down the middle as you are increasing your chances of getting hit) and dodge any attacks. From that point you can either run into the safe haven or fight the Taken.

As you reach the safe haven, the Taken will disappear (if you have not killed them already).  Make sure to open the red storage box on the post and pick up your flaregun and flaregun ammo. As you are nearing the end of the first section you can use your flaregun as your main weapon. As it both burns away the darkness and destroys the Taken (it's the most powerful gun in the game). It acts as your quick and easy method of defeating the antagonist. Shooting your flaregun is exactly like shooting the revolver.

Tips for using a flaregun:
   - Use it sparingly and wisely in future chapters
   - Use it while being over run by a number of Taken for maximum damage
   - Always aim for the center enemy
   - It covers a wide area so don't fire too many in one specifc location.
   - If you've fired it, reload it before switching to another weapon
     (You don't want to waste time reloading it if you need it desperately during a later battle)

As you walk on from the safety of the light, you can either drop down to the path directly in front of you OR get another collectible thermos from the bunker to the right. When you drop down, three more Taken will ambush you, however armed with your flaregun you should be able to defeat them in a few seconds.

What if you forgot to pick up the flaregun? It means that things are going to be a little bit more trickier. However, as they're quite a considerable distance away from you, you've got enough time to pick off the Taken one by one with your flashlight and gun. If this is your first time playing the game, and you don't want to face a large group of enemies so soon, I suggest reading the Nightmare Mode Tip below...

**Nightmare Mode Tip** If you didn't pick up the flaregun in the red box, but still passed under the light, I would recommend going into your ingame menu and choosing "Restart Checkpoint". Any time you pass under a safe haven, it automatically saves.

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Shooting Tutorial Alan Wake Walkthrough / Episode 01

Shooting in Alan Wake may not be as straight forward compared to other games. Whereas with many shooters, the player can shoot by tapping the mouse or trigger buttons, in this game you also need to fight with light. The Taken are covered in shadows, it acts as an impenetrable barrier and with it they can't be killed. The one thing they're vulnerable to is light which you can use to your advantage.

Scenario: After being saved by a being emanating light, he leads to a lamp post (or safe haven) where you can recuperate. Once at full health, the character guides you down into a small clearing where you face your second Taken. The light being hands you a torch and a gun and informs you have to defeat your enemy.

Note: The gun can only be obtained once you have used the torch to burn away the darkness surrounding the Taken.(Left trigger button for XBOX360, or left mouse button for PC)

Once you have burned away the darkness, the light being will give you a gun. At this point the game becomes slightly more frantic as the Taken rushes towards you. Keep him at a distance, and remember to dodge if he gets too close. Fire the revolver using the right trigger button if you are using the XBOX360 controller or left mouse button if you're using a PC. If you run out of ammo there is a ammo storage unit behind you.

**Nightmare Mode Tip** If you're playing on the hardest difficulties, I recommend that you only shine your beam on the first Taken and not boost the beam. The antagonist doesn't move at first so there's no need to kill him quickly. The batteries in your torch will diminish rapidly, and recharging is a lot slower than desired. There's also another mini fight scene involving a small group of Taken after the tutorial which you may want to save your batteries for.

XBOX360 Controller:
Left trigger button to boost light.
Right trigger button to shoot revolver.
Y to reload torch.
X to reload gun.

PC Keyboard and Mouse:
Right mouse button to boost light.
Left mouse button to shoot revolver.
Q to reload torch.
R to reload gun.

How The Game Helps: During the dream sequence, the light being offers help through direct commands. "Pick up the flashlight" and "turn your flashlight toward him and burn the darkness away". There are also onscreen instructions informing you of the controls. After you have burned away the darkness, the light being gives you a gun, and another on screen tutorial instructs you how to fire it. If you run out of ammo you can pick up some more from the ammo storage crate in the vicinity. There is also an onscreen indication when you are running out of bullets and need to reload.

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