Getting Started
Getting Started Guide for Alan Wake
Introduction
Welcome to Bright Falls, Washington. You are Alan Wake, a bestselling thriller writer suffering from writer’s block. This guide will help brand-new players survive the first hour, understand controls, and avoid common pitfalls. There is no character creation – you play as Alan Wake, and his appearance and backstory are fixed.
First Hour Walkthrough (Spoiler-Free)
1. Opening Cutscene – You arrive in Bright Falls by ferry. Absorb the atmosphere; no gameplay yet.
2. Driving to the Lodge – A short driving sequence through the woods. Follow the road signs; ignore the suicide cult mannequins (they’re just set dressing).
3. Arrival at Cauldron Lake Lodge – Meet your wife Alice. Explore the lodge living room, kitchen, and balcony. Pick up collectible manuscript pages on the coffee table. Do not skip the TV show Night Springs – it contains clues.
4. The Lake House Incident – Alice drops her camera from the dock. You go after it and witness a mysterious light show. A possessed deer head attacks. This is your first combat encounter. Use the flashlight to burn away the darkness, then shoot with your revolver.
5. Escape to the Cabin – After drowning (don’t worry, it’s a dream), you wake in a crashed car. Follow the path to a safe cabin. Pick up the flashlight and revolver upgrades here.
6. First Real Combat – Outside, you face Taken (possessed humans). Remember: light weakens them, bullets finish them. Use environmental lights (car headlights, flares, street lamps) as safe zones.
7. The Cauldron Lake Lighthouse – Reach the lighthouse to trigger a major cutscene. The first hour ends with Alan realizing he wrote a manuscript that predicts the events.
Controls (All Platforms)
#### Xbox (360/One/Series X|S)
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move/Look | Left/Right sticks |
| Aim/Fire | Left trigger / Right trigger |
| Flashlight Focus | LB (hold) |
| Reload | X |
| Interact/Pick Up | Y |
| Run | Hold Left stick click |
| Dodge | A (tap while moving) |
| Use Flare/Flashbang | RB |
| Pause | Start |
| Map | Back / View |
| Switch Weapon | D-Pad Up (next) / Down (previous) |
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move/Look | Left/Right sticks |
| Aim/Fire | L2 / R2 |
| Flashlight Focus | L1 (hold) |
| Reload | Square |
| Interact/Pick Up | Triangle |
| Run | Hold Left stick click |
| Dodge | Cross (tap while moving) |
| Use Flare/Flashbang | R1 |
| Pause | Options |
| Map | Touchpad |
| Switch Weapon | D-Pad Up/Down |
Recommended: Use a controller for better camera control and dodge timing.
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | W/A/S/D |
| Look | Mouse |
| Aim | Right Mouse Button (hold) |
| Fire | Left Mouse Button |
| Flashlight Focus | Left Shift (hold) |
| Reload | R |
| Interact/Pick Up | E |
| Run | Hold W + Shift |
| Dodge | Space (tap) |
| Use Flare/Flashbang | F |
| Pause/Menu | Esc |
| Map | Tab |
| Switch Weapon | 1 (handgun), 2 (shotgun, later), 3 (flashbang/flare) |
| Flashlight On/Off | Middle Mouse Button |
Same as console controls. Enable controller in settings if not auto-detected.
UI Overview
- Health Bar: Bottom-left, marked by a silhouette of Alan. Red flashing means low health.
- Ammo Counter: Bottom-right, shows current/max ammo for equipped weapon.
- Flashlight Battery: Beside ammo; a small battery icon. Runs out faster when focusing.
- Weapon Slots: Top-left corner of the screen, small icons for equipped weapons.
- Map: Press Tab (PC) or Back/View (Xbox) or Touchpad (PS). Important: Look for blue markers for safe rooms, and red markers for story objectives.
- Manuscript Pages: Found throughout; they grant optional lore and sometimes foreshadow enemy spawns (read them to survive).
- Radar (optional): Some versions have a mini-map; toggle in settings.
- Explore thoroughly – Many resources and lore items are off the main path.
- Save often – At every thermos or pause menu (autosave points are frequent, but manual saves protect you).
- Listen to dialogue – Alan’s narration and radio broadcasts contain puzzle hints.
- Use flares – Against swarms of Taken, toss a flare at your feet to create a safe zone.
- Aim for the light – When you focus the flashlight on a Taken, it glows brighter. Wait until the darkness skin shatters before shooting – you deal triple damage.
- Wasting ammo on un-removed darkness – Always weaken with light first. Shooting a full-dark Taken does minimal damage.
- Running into the darkness – Staying in the dark without a light source drains health rapidly. Stick to lit paths or carry a flashlight.
- Ignoring the environment – Look for flickering lights; they indicate a Taken ambush. Throw a flare into a suspicious patch of darkness.
- Using heavy weapons on weak enemies – Save shotgun shells for large groups or shielded Taken (like the ones with pickaxes).
- Skipping the tutorial pop-ups – They teach advanced combat like dodge-and-shoot timing.
Essential Early Objectives (First 2-3 Hours)
1. Find and read manuscript pages – They give hints about upcoming ambushes.
2. Learn to switch weapons quickly – Handgun for generic Taken, shotgun (found later) for heavy enemies.
3. Master the dodge – Tap dodge just as an enemy attacks; invincibility frames exist. Practicing early prevents deaths.
4. Collect batteries and ammo – Search every desk, drawer, and corpse. Ammo is scarce.
5. Use environmental lights – Stand next to street lamps or car headlights to regenerate health slowly and prevent Taken from spawning nearby.
6. Find the first shotgun – In the trailer park (around Chapter 2). It’s behind a locked gate; use a crowbar found nearby.
7. Upgrade your flashlight – In safe rooms (marked by a lightbulb icon on map), you can enhance battery life or focus intensity.
What to Do First and What to Avoid
#### DO:
#### AVOID:
Early Resource Priorities
| Resource | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | High | Flashlight focus is your primary weapon; always carry extra batteries. |
| Handgun Ammo | Medium | Common, but you’ll need plenty for basic Taken. |
| Shotgun Shells | High (save) | Use only for emergencies: multiple enemies or shielded ones. |
| Flares | Medium | Excellent crowd control; keep one slot full. |
| Flashbangs | Low (early) | Found later; use primarily against large groups or to buy time. |
| First Aid Kits | High | Heal when health is below half; don’t hoard them. |
| Manuscript Pages | Lore + Hint | Always read; they might reveal a hidden cache. |
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Not using flashlight focus – Many players shoot without weakening. This wastes ammo and takes longer to kill.
2. Ignoring the dodge – Standing still is death. Always dodge toward the enemy (you phase through them).
3. Hoarding batteries – Using flashlight focus conserves ammo more than batteries. Don’t be afraid to focus.
4. Walking into the dark – Only travel through darkness if you have a flashlight or flare active. The darkness hurts.
5. Skipping safe rooms – They contain weapon upgrades, supplies, and a complete health restore. Always enter them.
6. Not reading maps – The map shows item locations (chests, stashes). Use it to plan routes.
7. Forgetting to switch to the right weapon – D-Pad swapping is slow; practice so you don’t fumble mid-fight.
Day-One Checklist (First Play Session)
- [ ] Complete the first hour (up to lighthouse chapter).
- [ ] Master the dodge timing by practicing on the first two Taken near the cabin.
- [ ] Collect all manuscript pages in Chapter 1 (approx. 3 pages).
- [ ] Find and upgrade flashlight at the first safe room (the cabin with a radio).
- [ ] Pick up the first shotgun (Chapter 2, trailer park).
- [ ] Save manually at the start of Chapter 2.
- [ ] Set brightness to at least 70% (game is intentionally dark).
- [ ] Adjust audio settings: enable subtitles, turn down music slightly for better ambient cues.
- [ ] Check control layout in settings; remap if needed (e.g., swap reload and interact on controller).
- [ ] Watch the Night Springs episodes fully – they contain collectible lore and a brief achievement.
- Persistence pays off: The story gets better as you go. Don’t get discouraged by the first hour’s difficulty.
- Collectibles: There are 100 coffee thermoses, 20 manuscript pages (per episode), and 10 TV shows. Use a guide if you want 100% completion.
- Combat rhythm: Light, shoot, dodge, repeat. Once it clicks, you’ll feel powerful.
- Play at night: The atmosphere is unmatched with lights off and headphones on.
Final Tips
Welcome to Bright Falls. The darkness is coming. Stay in the light.