For a game that has been in development for such a long time, you would expect Alan Wake to be ground-breaking and innovative.

But the five years of toil which has gone into the game has produced something that is flawed and narratively poor, and it’s a big surprise.

When Alan Wake was first revealed, the story of a novelist moving to a village from the delights of New York in a bid to cure his writer’s block only to be blighted by haunting psychological thoughts was an instant attraction.

It was billed as a story-driven thriller and the premise was enough to see gamer’s rush to discover the little tit bits of information being thrown their way.

Ultimately, it’s not Hitchcock — ironic given the game’s references to the director — but, to be honest, you don’t really play games for the story.

What you get is a game delivered in well-paced television-style episodes which ooze a creepy atmosphere. And, if you test a game on its fun factor, then Alan Wake will enthrall you.

The gameplay is pure action, with Wake making his way, torch in hand to dazzle his dark foes, and a weapon not too far from reach (except at the start of every chapter where you end up losing all your guns). Moments when you’re running for cover with a gang of nasties behind you are genuinely frightening.

The game switches between day and night and the quality is high, no matter the time.

Had the story been more expertly worked on, this review would have been far more glowing.

But the tension and the beasts which lurk in the shadows are spot on and the narrative does, admittedly, have its moments.

Play the game with your expectations lowered and you won’t be disappointed.

It’s just a shame that games like Uncharted and Heavy Rain are getting the narratives of games right and Alan Wake, which promised so much, has failed to deliver in that respect.