Highlights
- The Game Awards 2023 featured a standout performance by Remedy Entertainment, with the Old Gods of Asgard performing a bombastic musical number from Alan Wake 2.
- Remedy has a history of incorporating live-action elements into its games, and Alan Wake 2 is seen as the studio’s masterwork in this area.
- Remedy should consider taking the Alan Wake 2 stage show on a live tour, as it would be a great way to treat fans and captivate new audiences with a fantastic presentation.
The Game Awards 2023 recently wrapped up, and there were plenty of reasons for gamers to celebrate many of the great titles and surprises seen in this year’s ceremony. While it’s usually expected that TGA will also provide viewers with excellent entertainment in between the awards and the slew of reveals and world premiers, there are inevitably some moments that end up being memorable standouts. Remedy Entertainment arguably stole the show this year by having the Old Gods of Asgard, aka Finnish band Poets of the Fall, perform “Herald of Darkness” from Alan Wake 2, accompanied by a choreographed stage production.
The performance was a recreation of what might be the best live-action section in Alan Wake 2. A short way into the story, as players are settling into its survival horror atmosphere, Alan Wake 2 presents them with “Herald of Darkness,” a bombastic musical number resembling a Broadway production. Impressively, it doesn’t interrupt gameplay, but seamlessly accompanies it. It’s incredibly effective and displays Remedy’s talent in incorporating such elements into its titles. With what was accomplished at TGA, it might very well be time for Remedy, the Old Gods, and the Alan Wake actors to commit to a full live tour.
Alan Wake 2 won Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2023.
Alan Wake 2’s Musical Sequence is Remedy at its Best
Alan Wake 2 is full of huge surprises and twists around practically every corner, but there’s one musical sequence that quickly becomes a highlight.
Now’s the Time For Remedy to Produce an Alan Wake Live Stage Show
Remedy Entertainment’s Fondness For Multimedia and Live-Action
Remedy has long had an affection for dabbling in other media, going back to its earliest work with the Max Payne series. Remedy’s use of live-action sets it apart from almost every other developer, as the studio has strived to find better and more interesting ways of enfolding live-action elements into its games to create uniquely engaging experiences. Though this meant a bit of trial and error, as Remedy pushed forward with experimenting to find the right balance, it subsequently became one of the leading innovators in its use.
The first Alan Wake had multimedia tie-ins, including a prequel miniseries. Remedy would continue to evolve its integration of live-action and multimedia components to varying effectiveness in later titles like Quantum Break and Control. With Alan Wake 2, many fans and critics agree that Remedy has perfected its vision, and AW2 is regarded as its masterwork in the area thus far.
Remedy Should Take TGA’s Alan Wake 2 Stage Show on the Road
The performance of “Herald of Darkness” at The Game Awards 2023 will likely go down as one of the most outstanding moments in gaming entertainment for years to come. This was helped in large part by the fact that Old Gods of Asgard/Poets of the Fall have collaborated with Remedy in the past, and are close friends with Sam Lake, Remedy’s lead writer and creative director. They have chemistry, and the strength of the show speaks for itself.
Though it may seem a frivolous endeavor, as Remedy certainly will want to focus on its next games, it shouldn’t be a deterrent from it considering a live Alan Wake 2 stage show tour. Remedy has never shied away from leveraging its creativity to captivate audiences, and it would be a move in keeping with the studio’s sensibilities. Should it wish, Remedy is likely to have the resources and wherewithal to devote to what putting on such a production would entail. It would be a great way to treat long-time Alan Wake fans, while possibly bringing in new ones who may not be as familiar with the IP, or gaming in general, but would be engrossed by a fantastic presentation of it in a live setting.
Alan Wake 2
- Franchise
- alan wake
- Released
- October 27, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
- Metascore
- 92
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
