A Story Analysis of Alan Wake 

When my daughter was younger I played Alan Wake once while she was watching. She got so into it that it became a sort of highlight to our hangouts. She told my Mom about it and I ended up playing it for them during Halloween. And now I play it for them every Halloween. No other game has had that impact and I can’t think of another game that this would happen.

It's heavily implied that Alan is a clairvoyant and that he can also see a few things outside the dark place for brief moments. That's how he possibly knows about Jesse, Polaris and the FBC. If I'm not mistaken he was also considered a parautilitarian with some potential.

Alan is implied to have Clairvoyance in that he "sees" things happening in the real world but just chalks it up to inspiration or story elements. He is not writing things into existence like you said but using preexisting knowledge to "nudge" things into place.

alan wake's story is so insane that i cant help but love it, its on a metal gear solid level story-wise for me. i cant wait for AW 2

My personal theory regarding Alex Casey: I am not sure where but it was said somewhere that Alan even before interacting with the power of the Dark Place always had a dream power. Even without realizing it, he was able to get insparations for stories from his dreams. I think he talks about this in one of the Qr code videos. So I belive that FBI agent Alex Casey was always a real man, Alan -even though he doesnt remember- happened to see him in his dreams and used this insparation to create hard-boiled noir detective Alex Casey.

Perfect timing

It's hard to find such quality content. Keep up the great work Gingy!

Look after your health bud! Love your videos and the effort and writing you put into them is unmatched. Would LOVE to to see one of your videos on CONTROL. Keep up the great work (don’t don’t over work yourself)!

hey: fun fact in Max Payne 2 you have a reference to a similar story to American Nightmare, in one of the cut-scenes on Max's TV "I was trapped in a nightmare, my evil double had taken my girlfriend" "Following him I had somehow slipped into a twisted alternate reality, Noir York City."

Great Video, thank you

Honestly, from everything I've played and read about Wake and Control, the FBC more and more seems influenced by Alan, especially given that it's heavily hinted that the Hiss is a villain either created or spread by Alan with the possible purpose of creating Jesse's story and, eventually, freeing himself and keeping the Dark Place in check.

Yeah the Fbi agent definitely had me cracking up at his name-calling bits 😂

A couple of issues: The quantum suicide episode summary had a few innacuracies: it was a crowd of journalists, not peers, and it was a journalist who accidentally unplugged the machine. Thomas Zane and Barbara Jagger are never stated to be married, just lovers, and they weren't in Bright Falls for a holiday, they lived there, and Emil was Zane's assistant. While the diving suit _is_ the Bright Presence, he also seems to have some of Zane's personality traits. _The Alan Wake Files_ explains exactly why Nightingale is such a dick: his partner in the FBI was having dreams where he saw Alan, and eventually died. The two were noted for being very clean, they neither drank nor smoked, and did everything by the books. After his partner's sudden death, Nightingale starts drinking, gets fired, and starts having nightmares where he saw Alan. He remembers what his partner described and thinks that if he finds Alan he'll have his revenge.

I decided to play this through when you announced you would be talking about it. Thank you for your always clear explanation! Can’t wait for this sequel!

I never liked the gameplay of Alan wake or control, but the story enthralled me, can't wait to watch the video!

Thanks for the well done recap. I loved experiencing this in high school as it was a gateway in to the world of writing, Stephen king, and twin peaks. Glad to see that it’s getting its well earned sequel

Also you've built such an extensive and engaged audience with such great content you deserve a break man we'll always be here when you return, your health is paramount or we can't get any of these

Great vid! Your breakdown, analysis, and personal analogies were very well composed.

needed this today. thank you so much for being you and making what you do. you’re deeply appreciated.

Man I always though I was alone trying to convince ppl to play this masterpiece, and you did it in the first 15. I share the passion for this game, I still have my 360 collector's edition and I adore Remedy's way to weave characters that are flawed, interesting and relatable. Sam Lake is a fucking genius. Great vid man, such a good piece to retake the remaster before the release of the sequel I have been waiting for ages.

Literally just finished the game last night, this is perfect

Can't wait for the control video too, I recently fully beated it and I need to see your take on it, great vid

Your channel is criminally underrated, always looking forward to your next project 🙌🏾

I appreciate how you related your experience making videos to Alan Wake. Thanks for all your work man. It's awesome 👌

I finished this at the start of the month for the 2nd game and my God it's such a great experience, it's just so crazy and I feel does a great job with it's psychological horror it does and just the flow like a book, such a fun game.

Your videos are genuine perfection. We have more than enough to come back and watch while you’re resting. Take a break! God bless ❤️

Great job as always. We can tell for certain you're the best at expressing your own insights.

Love your work. Thanks for covering this one

Thank you for sharing about your personal challenges. These videos are appreciated.

I really appreciate how you added a short analysis of Control, I was fascinated by the connection Control made to the Alan Wake games, they really did a great job that game tyin everything together

I just finished playing Alan Wake and control for the first time. This was a nice presentation that helped me tie everything together. Thanks!

gingy i just want you to know man that your content is genuinely some of my favorite on this whole site and you cover all of my favorite games so very well but please prioritize your health man! if you need a break im sure we would all understand fully!

i remember this game scared the absolute shit out of me as a kid, cannot wait for Alan Wake 2 it looks insanely impressive, awesome video by the way!

Love your content my man! The effort you put into these really shows, thank you fr🤘

Its quite commendable what Remedy is trying to do with its own Remedyverse, creating so many different stories between AW and Control. In the second one, its probably the lore ive obsessed the most without understanding it, but i just couldn’t wait to find the next piece of it and get even more lost. AW 2 seems to reinforce that and I cant wait for it.

Bro I have been binge watching (actually just listening lol) to all your videos as I game for the past few days. Your content is awesome and you have a video for pretty much every game I find interesting.

I'll definitely be here for your Control video. Loved that game.

I remember preordering AW1 on Xbox 360. Then it got delayed indefinitely. Did t think it was ever going to come out. When it did come out I thought it was pretty good. Control is one of my most favorite games. I'm excited to see what the culmination of AW in AW2!

Love this games! Game surprisingly has aged well in my opinion. I also love Twin Peaks and this game as close to a Twin Peaks game you can ask for. Well. This game and Deadly Premonition which I also love despite its many flaws. I replayed Alan Wake a month ago to get ready for the sequel. My hope for the next game that it answer some things from the first game but also creates new questions/mystery.

I just started AW2 and coming back to this video just because its so informative and I love how Control and Alan Wake has a connection in the Sequel

I loved Alan Wake and Im so excited to play the sequel. Its been a while since I played the game and this video is such an amazing refresher. Keep it up Gingy! Looking forward to your future videos

For the past few days I have been binging on your videos, and man I love to listen to your opinions, explanations and reviews. And yes I do think about the roman empire twice a week...

I love this man’s lore vids bring so much joy

One of the games I always was interested but never played!

first time checking out your channel. I was really interested in this topic but was glad you reviewed it in a normal voice. I've been on a bad streak of video game reviewers where they had a wacky voice. thank you for being normal. I've subbed.

I definitely think Thomas wrote Alan into existence, he didn’t create him out of thin air, but he wrote a story about a man named Alan wake probably from birth. The bridge example explains it. Alan can’t spawn a bridge out of nowhere but he can spawn a piece of debris that makes a bridge. One way or another Alan’s writing causes something to come from nothing, in some roundabout final destination way. Zane could easily have written about Alan’s mom giving birth, and write about Alan growing up.

This is the first video I’ve seen on this channel and I thought it was really well put together and was nice to see someone talk about the dlc specials too! Only thing I’d add is when you talked about American Nightmare you mentioned how you’re unsure of how Alan is aware of what’s going on in the real world. He explains in the beginning and throughout the manuscripts that sometimes reality “wears thin” in certain places and the dark place is able to cross over. So American Nightmare is actually in a small town in Arizona but the dark place is able to cross over and make everything wonky and turn it into Night Springs. This is also how Alan is able to hear the radio shows and know how Barry and Alice are doing. Lastly, you mentioned that you weren’t sure how playing the CD or turning on lights make the meteor crash into the oil rig, but it’s explained in a manuscript that you have to match the scene to the written page to make certain events take place. You kinda touched on this when talking about how the stories that cauldron lake uses have to be actual stories with drama and other aspects to them. Overall, really great video and I loved hearing your perspective on one of my favorite games!

I should play this game again. Played it during a very traumatic moment of my life and listening to you narrating the plot kinda gave me a cozy feeling. I missed some pages the first time but never got around to play it again. I got the impression not that Tom magically put things like the clicker in. Alan's life to solve his own riddle but rather that Alan influenced in some way the narrative through his own experience as some of us who are writers do

Love your videos as always, take care of yourself and take that deserved break!

Nice timing as always Have a look at quantum break

I been sleeping on this video. Literally. I keep going back to rewatch we’re I last been before passing out. Thank you for helping me sleep 😂❤

After watching this and the video on Alan Wake 2 i went to play Quantum Break for the first time and theres totally an Alan Wake 2 "teaser" type thing right off the bat as like a movie trailer. It was alot cooler than it would have been had I not watched these 2 videos. Keep up the great content!

Always a good day when you post mate 👍

His Highness has returned with another banger🔥🔥

One of my all time favorites, can’t wait to see what you think of it!

Entered the video without seeing the time stamp and just said "more than 20 minutes, please, i need that Gingy goodgood"... Than i saw it.. And i couldn't be happier, thanks for another gem

Thanks for this my guy, played Alan Wake 1 a long time ago. Recently tried the Alan Wake Remastered though and modern games have spoiled me, the game now feels really clunky and frustrating. Really excited for Alan Wake 2 as it seems to have all the issues i had with Part 1 but still wanted a recap of the game. This was a really good video explaining the plot in detail, subscribed for more quality content like this.

I actually wanted you to make a video about alan wake after i saw your spec ops the line video. Great work bro, appreciate the efforts you put in for us. You're gonna get several millions of subscribers, i can feel it.

I'm super looking forward to Alan Wake 2 next week, so I really appreciate seeing some Alan Wake content! I didn't know about the ARG and the pocket-dimension Tom and Barbara are in; although, that does lead me to believe more heavily in the theories that Alan and "Tom" are the same person - if our "Tom" is just a creation based on the real Tom, it makes sense that "Tom" is just an Alan Wake insert.

hell yeah, just got into the lore of alan wake

Even before the incident at Bright Falls, Alan Wake was considered a Prime Candidate in Director Trench's plan to find a replacement for himself once he retires. The Prime Candidates were all people with high paranatural potential, so something about him was already strange enough to get the FBC's attention. Additionally, we know from the Anderson Brothers' moonshine that the water of the lake can grant the gift of sight, which is how they wrote songs about stuff that hadn't happened yet. So the reason Wake knows what's going on outside the Dark Place is probably some combination of innate potential and the waters of the lake granting him clairvoyance.

Well, thank you for the quick summary of Alan Wake. I got interested in Alan Wake 2 yet I didn’t know the og story so thanks for explaining most of it within an hour.

I honestly didn't really enjoy the gameplay of Alan Wake, but am intrigued by its sequel, so this is perfect to help me catch up! Thanks gingy ❤

Alan Wake is one of my fave games ever, and it came to me in a very dark time. It made sense, perfect sense, back then. "I was Alan Wake" in my own way (at least I thought so...). The gameplay is not the very best, indeed, but what fails in that department is excelled in many other, such as character development or the story itself. I always found it very "intelligent" and somewhat scary... The music and how it is presented is also fantastic, Poets of the Fall did a majestic job there. "War" is a life changing track, and the fact that the official video for that song is based on the Alan Wake events makes it even better. Great job as always, Gin! Cheers! Oh, and, take care... Have a break from time to time, stay safe and healthy.

Another amazing upload, thank you man

Great video! Hopefully you can manage a break soon man. To your point in the video though, Control was one of my most favorite teams and I feel like it didn't get the attention it deserved a video on it would be pretty cool

Woah this just dropped!! Thought this was an older video given I haven’t played this game since it came out in middle school, dope there is a second one coming!

Great work! One of my favorite game of all time. Remedy has a way in telling some of the most simple yet subversive story in the videogame media. Keep up but dont overdoing. Personal time is really important

Youre the only one that has been able to explain this game and have it make sense. I tried playing it, but i stopped at chapter 2 when it bugged and i had to restart. I had no idea what alan wake was about so playing it blind was very confusing. I might try it again tho

Look at you being so close to 400k now. Excellent video

I remember randomly picking up Alan wake on an egs sale and just falling in love with it great video

Idk if it matters but thank you for your hard work, the content you produce is amazing.

I remember my dad playing this game years ago, I got the chance to pick it up on steam recently. I loved the game’s slower combat and how it felt similar to Dead Space. My dad said that it was one of the reasons he really liked about the game and how mind-bending the story is.

Great video man. For a long time It felt like I was the only person who knew what Alan Wake even was, but seeing people share the love I have for It is really heartwarming. Alan Wake 2 is the culmination of everything Remedy has ever done, and I can't wait for more people to discover there games, truly some of the best in the entire industry.

You’re right about Alan Wake not being underrated. But I feel like it and all of remedy’s games are under loved.

Keep up the great videos🤘🏼

Amazing content, hope you review Quantum Break as well

The wait was killing me finally!

big W Gingy this is the closest audience interaction ive seen, stay healthy man

Can't wait for the control video whenever you sre able to make it, I absolutely loved that game

I love when media can really relate to your own life. I hope you found the motivation to get through the burn out. You should definitely go on a vacation if you're getting too burnt out though. Anyways, great content as always Gingy.

Thank you. I barely had any idea what was happening in this game when I played it years ago and now...well, I got the gist of it

Just played it for the first time! Stoked for the sequel!

10:49 “returning to where we left off” WOW I NEVER THOUGHT I’D HEAR THOSE WORDS YAPYAPYAPYAP

I doubt you'll see this, but you are the best with the story analysis. I know this is a catch 22, but don't get burnt out and keep up the amazing work! Take a break, the real fans love your content. Amazing as always

Great video hope you manage to take a well deserved break soon :)

Nice vid keep hp the good work.

Great vid bro.😺

Watching this to touch up on the story/lore of Alan wake before I start playing Alan wake 2 tonight!!! I probably should have replayed the game but this will do. Lol

Im gonna leave my favorite fact about Alan Wake as well, The Old Gods Of Asgard are an actual band, called Poets Of The Fall. Their music is pretty great, highly recommend if you're into 2000's emo.

this was amazing hitting the like

First of all thank you for all the awesome you provide to us! You have no idea how much me and my sister get so hyped when a new video from you is available! But please be sure to not burn out yourself!! Believe it or not it may not seem like it is affecting you right now but it will in the long run (talking from experience here) so take care of yourself please!

Definitely the new Raycevick! Keep them coming

Listening in on the Andersons in the clinic after their cutscene, they talk about how they survived because they traded the powers they had gained back to the Dark Presence, in Odin's case the ravens which constantly pester Alan, and in Thor's case; Memory, his mind. Which explains why they're both suffering from dementia, Alan forgot the week he had written for the Dark Presence, and also why the villagers seem to forget these strange events ever happening except for Cynthia Weaver. The Dark Presence has the power to steal memories! Alan also 'restores' his memory by drinking the Andersons' moonshine ("made with unfiltered water from the Cauldron Lake, no less), so maybe their homemade booze retains some of Thor's power.

Seriously the best 👍

1:01:35 "Alan Wick" was that intentional or just a trip of the words? 👀 Also as for how Alan knows about Barry and the old gods, it's in the radio shows. Alan I believe also explains how sometimes the real world bleeds into the dark place, and therefore it informs him of some of the events.

Gingy could honestly explain to me Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis for hours and I wouldnt mind. Great vid as always, love your work bro!

Yay new Gingy vid for lunch 😂 thanks!

Stupendous video 😊 Also take a break otherwise a break will take you

My guy, no one has ever been on there death bed wishing they worked more. You videos are great but you health is more important. Please don’t literally work yourself to the grave. Keep up the excellent work on what your passionate about but make sure your just as passionate as your health. Great video. 😊