Alan has spent two long years in the Dark Place, both literally and figuratively. Remedy hadn't announced anything new for their cult hit until this past December when we finally learned Alan's return would be available exclusively in digital format on XBLA. This decision was both good and bad for different reasons, and ultimately American Nightmare makes for a very fun game that represents the pinnacle of XBLA, but also exposes the restraints the format still has. When the game begins, we're introduced, or reintroduced, to Alan Wake. The Champion of Light. He's still trapped in the Dark Place, now searching for his sinister doppelganger Mr. Scratch, but he is much better equipped this time around. He's been down this road before and like anything else, practice makes perfect. The developers used this game as practice for themselves, too, but it isn't yet perfect.