[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":737},["ShallowReactive",2],{"i-ph:copy":3,"i-pivi:substack-logo":8,"i-pivi:fiverr-logo":11,"i-pivi:instagram-logo":15,"i-pivi:email-logo":18,"i-pivi:linkedin-logo":20,"i-pivi:youtube-logo":22,"blog-\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fend-of-physical-disc":24,"related-\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fend-of-physical-disc":161,"reading-time-\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fthe-merchant-in-resident-evil-4":520,"reading-time-\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Falan-wake-2-review":579,"reading-time-\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fit-takes-two-review-best-co-op-game-2026":673,"i-ph:arrow-right":729,"i-ph:list-dashes":731,"i-ph:calendar-blank":733,"i-ph:envelope-simple":735},{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":7},0,256,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M216 32H88a8 8 0 0 0-8 8v40H40a8 8 0 0 0-8 8v128a8 8 0 0 0 8 8h128a8 8 0 0 0 8-8v-40h40a8 8 0 0 0 8-8V40a8 8 0 0 0-8-8m-56 176H48V96h112Zm48-48h-32V88a8 8 0 0 0-8-8H96V48h112Z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":9,"height":9,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":10},24,"\u003Cpath d=\"M0 0h24v24H0z\" fill=\"none\" \u002F>\n\t\u003Cg fill=\"none\">\n\t\t\u003Cpath d=\"m12.594 23.258l-.012.002l-.071.035l-.02.004l-.014-.004l-.071-.036q-.016-.004-.024.006l-.004.01l-.017.428l.005.02l.01.013l.104.074l.015.004l.012-.004l.104-.074l.012-.016l.004-.017l-.017-.427q-.004-.016-.016-.018m.264-.113l-.014.002l-.184.093l-.01.01l-.003.011l.018.43l.005.012l.008.008l.201.092q.019.005.029-.008l.004-.014l-.034-.614q-.005-.019-.02-.022m-.715.002a.02.02 0 0 0-.027.006l-.006.014l-.034.614q.001.018.017.024l.015-.002l.201-.093l.01-.008l.003-.011l.018-.43l-.003-.012l-.01-.01z\" \u002F>\n\t\t\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M19 11a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v8a1 1 0 0 1-1.496.868L12 17.151l-6.504 3.717A1 1 0 0 1 4 20v-8a1 1 0 0 1 1-1zm0-8a1 1 0 1 1 0 2H5a1 1 0 0 1 0-2zm0 4a1 1 0 1 1 0 2H5a1 1 0 0 1 0-2z\" \u002F>\n\t\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":12,"top":13,"width":9,"height":9,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":14},-2.5,-2,"\u003Cg fill=\"currentColor\">\u003Cpath d=\"M16.25 16.25v-10h-10v-.625c0-1.034.841-1.875 1.875-1.875H10V0H8.125A5.63 5.63 0 0 0 2.5 5.625v.625H0V10h2.5v6.25H0V20h8.75v-3.75h-2.5V10h6.285v6.25H10V20h8.75v-3.75z\"\u002F>\u003Ccircle cx=\"14.375\" cy=\"1.875\" r=\"1.875\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":16,"height":16,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":17},16,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14.5 0h-13C.675 0 0 .675 0 1.5v13c0 .825.675 1.5 1.5 1.5h13c.825 0 1.5-.675 1.5-1.5v-13c0-.825-.675-1.5-1.5-1.5M11 2.5c0-.275.225-.5.5-.5h2c.275 0 .5.225.5.5v2c0 .275-.225.5-.5.5h-2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5zM8 5a3.001 3.001 0 0 1 0 6a3.001 3.001 0 0 1 0-6m6 8.5c0 .275-.225.5-.5.5h-11a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V7h1.1A5 5 0 0 0 8 13a5 5 0 0 0 4.9-6H14z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":9,"height":9,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":19},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M23 3H1v2.83l11 5.55l11-5.551z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M23 8.069L12 13.62L1 8.07V21h22z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":16,"height":16,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":21},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M0 1.146C0 .513.526 0 1.175 0h13.65C15.474 0 16 .513 16 1.146v13.708c0 .633-.526 1.146-1.175 1.146H1.175C.526 16 0 15.487 0 14.854zm4.943 12.248V6.169H2.542v7.225zm-1.2-8.212c.837 0 1.358-.554 1.358-1.248c-.015-.709-.52-1.248-1.342-1.248S2.4 3.226 2.4 3.934c0 .694.521 1.248 1.327 1.248zm4.908 8.212V9.359c0-.216.016-.432.08-.586c.173-.431.568-.878 1.232-.878c.869 0 1.216.662 1.216 1.634v3.865h2.401V9.25c0-2.22-1.184-3.252-2.764-3.252c-1.274 0-1.845.7-2.165 1.193v.025h-.016l.016-.025V6.169h-2.4c.03.678 0 7.225 0 7.225z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":16,"height":16,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":23},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M15.8 4.8c-.2-1.3-.8-2.2-2.2-2.4C11.4 2 8 2 8 2s-3.4 0-5.6.4C1 2.6.4 3.5.2 4.8 0 6.1 0 8 0 8s0 1.9.2 3.2c.2 1.3.8 2.2 2.2 2.4C4.6 14 8 14 8 14s3.4 0 5.6-.4c1.4-.2 2-1.1 2.2-2.4.2-1.3.2-3.2.2-3.2s0-1.9-.2-3.2zM6.5 10.5V5.5l4.5 2.5-4.5 2.5z\"\u002F>",{"id":25,"title":26,"author":27,"body":28,"categories":142,"created_at":147,"description":148,"draft":6,"extension":149,"head":150,"image":151,"image_alt":150,"meta":152,"navigation":153,"ogImage":150,"page":154,"path":155,"robots":150,"schemaOrg":150,"seo":156,"sitemap":157,"slug":158,"stem":159,"updated_at":150,"__hash__":160},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fend-of-physical-disc.md","End Of Physical Disc Production: Farewell To Our Childhood (A Gamer’s Lament)","pivi",{"type":29,"value":30,"toc":132},"minimark",[31,38,43,46,49,52,55,58,62,65,68,71,74,78,81,84,87,91,97,100,103,106,110,113,116,120,123,126,129],[32,33,34],"p",{},[35,36,37],"em",{},"The news came in the early hours of July 1st, 2026. The headline started with “Physical disc production ending in January 2028…” and our hearts pounded. It wasn’t an April Fool’s joke; it was a different month, so the news was real. Sony is officially killing our childhoods. No more collecting, no more video game shelves, no more sharing and exchanging, just a whole lot of nothing.",[39,40,42],"h2",{"id":41},"down-the-memory-lane-why-sonys-decision-hurts","Down the memory lane… Why Sony’s decision hurts",[32,44,45],{},"I have been a gamer since I could hold a controller. The first video game I was addicted to as a tiny girl was Duck Hunt. Then came the mighty PlayStation 1, and my brother and I had no life beyond this little gem. I remember coming straight from school in a white little school uniform and turning on the TV to play Crash Bandicoot on PS1. Despite my mom’s constant yelling that I needed to change and eat as soon as I got home, especially as a girl, I was never distracted from getting to the next stage. Because playing video games was my number one priority.",[32,47,48],{},"I remember my brother was paying his dues until he saw a PlayStation 2, and my father finally got him one. After this, one of our cousins gave him a whole big collection of video games, and when I laid my eyes on it, I literally heard the angels singing. The first thing I noticed was the disc titled “Resident Evil 2,” and it flaunted the face of a young fellow. When I played that game for the first time, I fell in love with it.",[32,50,51],{},"I still remember the countless times we had to put a DVD in my brother’s PlayStation 2, close the disc drive lid, and pray to the gods that it would do the trick without it rerouting us to the system configuration menu.",[32,53,54],{},"While I understand that it is 2026 and the world has significantly changed since then, it sucks to be completely digital. It goes without saying that the majority of the gaming community is enraged, and it has spawned dozens of memes in response to this decision.",[32,56,57],{},"Here’s why, as a gamer, it doesn’t just suck but is also overwhelmingly outrageous.",[39,59,61],{"id":60},"no-more-video-game-collectors-no-more-individuality","No More Video Game Collectors, No More Individuality",[32,63,64],{},"I am a physical person when it comes to books. While I always appreciate audiobooks and books in digital media, simultaneously, I would never trade the smell of a new book for the world. The same goes for video games. It’s like you can’t see paperbacks or hardcovers in bookstores anymore. There will be no shelves dedicated to new games after 2028. It’s essentially going to be a graveyard of a bygone era.",[32,66,67],{},"Gone are the days when we bought a video game and were surprised with a manual, or a handbook on how to play the game. Better yet, remember the maps they gave us with the game disc? It’s okay, we endured it. It’s over. No point in complaining. But, scrapping physical discs altogether? We won’t be coming back from that.",[32,69,70],{},"There are thousands of gamers out there who collect physical copies of video games. My brother was one of them. I, on the other hand, am not much of a collector, but the most recent video game disc I bought made me nostalgic. It was Resident Evil 9. The holographic disc case was brilliantly made. When you examine and tilt the cover, you’ll see a nice, intact Raccoon City Police Department (RPD) on one side, while on the other, a ruined building, a haunting reminder of a traumatic past. The second I saw this, it reminded me how awesome physical discs are. Would you get this same effect from a digital copy? I highly doubt that.",[32,72,73],{},"What would you show your friends when they come over? Your empty video game shelf? Worse yet, your digital video game library? Talk about being pathetic.",[39,75,77],{"id":76},"no-physical-disc-production-means-games-are-strictly-for-the-rich","No Physical Disc Production Means Games Are Strictly For The Rich",[32,79,80],{},"No physical copies means no exchanging. You no longer will be able to share your video games with friends or borrow them from anyone. You must always, and absolutely should, own a digital copy to play games, even if the game ends up being crappy.",[32,82,83],{},"Most importantly, disc production always ensured one thing: access for all. Video games aren’t cheap, and kids and even some adults still rent video games and buy second-hand. This is exactly why there are shops out there where you could trade your old games for something that you’ve never played before. In other words, you are a gamer, but you don’t have the luxury to spend 80 dollars for a video game and make ends meet at the same time.",[32,85,86],{},"Like I previously mentioned, we were gifted a whole collection of games because we weren’t rich. My brother and his friends constantly exchanged video games they owned. But, now, guess what? The fun’s over.",[39,88,90],{"id":89},"backwards-compatibility-is-dead","Backwards Compatibility Is Dead",[32,92,93,96],{},[35,94,95],{},"“This transition has no impact on games that have already been released, or will be released, before January 2028 in disc format.”"," Said Sid Shuman, Senior Director, Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications. Of course, this change won’t impact those said games, but going completely digital means your PS5 Blu-rays are obsolete, because the PS6 is unlikely to feature a disc drive.",[32,98,99],{},"Thankfully, they will allow gamers to play their older games on a PS6 using a USB disc drive, but it doesn’t mean that it’s truly backwards compatible.",[32,101,102],{},"The essence of backwards compatibility is that you take your Blu-ray and put it inside the new console, and bam, you’re going back in time.",[32,104,105],{},"Well, not anymore, it seems.",[39,107,109],{"id":108},"no-real-ownership","No Real Ownership",[32,111,112],{},"After 2028, buying a video game means owning a license. It’s not a keepsake of something you love. If Sony feels like it, this “License” can be revoked anytime. There’s no guarantee that they’ll allow you to keep playing.",[32,114,115],{},"So, as far as I could gather, we won’t own anything after next year.",[39,117,119],{"id":118},"a-final-thought","A Final Thought",[32,121,122],{},"This situation might be subjective, and as for me, I can’t imagine owning a purely digital console next year. It’s deeply saddening.",[32,124,125],{},"Sony is essentially sucking the life out of gaming. It might be fun to own games in digital format without having to worry about running out of space to stack your video games; however, we gamers at least had a choice before: Either buy a completely digital console or one with a disc drive.",[32,127,128],{},"This means we, as gamers, have no agency at all. The realm of gaming has changed, and as Sid says, this decision is a result of the preference of the “majority” of the gaming community in terms of how they play and access video games. In other words, they are alienating a chunk of gamers who would prefer to hold a video game in their hands. Even the retailers are faced with a grim choice: leave the business or stay put, hoping that a gamer will step foot in their shop to buy a “digital copy” instead of accessing the PlayStation Store. Which one do you think is gonna happen?",[32,130,131],{},"Since Sony is not giving gamers a choice, perhaps we must not buy their “physical” consoles at all?",{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":135},"",2,[136,137,138,139,140,141],{"id":41,"depth":134,"text":42},{"id":60,"depth":134,"text":61},{"id":76,"depth":134,"text":77},{"id":89,"depth":134,"text":90},{"id":108,"depth":134,"text":109},{"id":118,"depth":134,"text":119},[143,144,145,146],"video-games-industry","sony","gaming-culture","video-game-opinion","2026-07-09","Sony’s decision to go fully digital after 2028 is scrapping our childhoods. It’s the end of ownership, collecting, and game availability limited to the rich.","md",null,"\u002Fmedia\u002Fend-of-physical-disc-production.webp",{},true,"Games & Storytelling","\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fend-of-physical-disc",{"title":26,"description":148},"[object Object]","end-of-physical-disc-production","blog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fend-of-physical-disc","v2j9_NcBRT4CTu6vpdOAsSYxGqPfW5XJyIt1l5-C2bc",[162,268,426],{"id":163,"title":164,"author":27,"body":165,"categories":254,"created_at":259,"description":260,"draft":6,"extension":149,"head":150,"image":261,"image_alt":150,"meta":262,"navigation":153,"ogImage":150,"page":154,"path":263,"robots":150,"schemaOrg":150,"seo":264,"sitemap":157,"slug":265,"stem":266,"updated_at":259,"__hash__":267},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fthe-merchant-in-resident-evil-4.md","The Enigmatic NPC: Secrets Behind The Merchant in Resident Evil 4",{"type":29,"value":166,"toc":248},[167,173,177,180,184,187,190,193,196,200,203,206,213,216,219,222,225,228,231,235],[168,169,170],"blockquote",{},[32,171,172],{},"The age-old question remains: How does the merchant survive through the Resident Evil 4 game world? Over the years, fans have come up with countless theories. As a hardcore fan of both the original Resident Evil 4 (RE:4 OG) and the Remake, I intend to go through some of them and suggest my own theory.",[39,174,176],{"id":175},"who-is-this-merchant","Who is this Merchant?",[32,178,179],{},"Introduced in Resident Evil 4 in 2005, the merchant was placed in the game as a literal replacement for a physical shop. This NPC was designed with a long black trench coat, which he uses to store most of his weapons and other items. The majority of his face is covered with a bandana, thereby allowing him to blend in while concealing his identity. Adding to the mystery factor, he has a thick, more stylized version of a British accent. This might be the grand giveaway that he, in fact, goes out of his way to differentiate himself from the crowd and present himself as a gruff weapons dealer. Here, we could speculate that he might be one of the villagers, or someone from that area, but he doesn’t want anybody to know about it.",[39,181,183],{"id":182},"how-does-he-survive-in-the-game-world-fan-theories","How does he survive in the game world? (Fan theories)",[32,185,186],{},"Some of the fan theories are far-fetched, whereas some are pretty believable. Capcom, in this regard, plays coy with us since they need to keep this perfect NPC’s character as opaque as possible.",[32,188,189],{},"One theory is that the Merchant himself is infected, given his weird-looking eyes in the OG. This idea suggests that he took a suppressant, similar to what Luis Serra did. On the one hand, I believe that the Merchant is far more capable of finding a better cure for himself, because, in the remake, he has many recipes that he’s so eager to sell. On the other hand, he wouldn’t sell a cure even if one existed, as it would easily expose his abilities to the cult and ultimately make him a victim again. But if he was once infected and now the Plaga is dormant, or he managed to completely get rid of it, it’s unlikely that he would stay in this volatile setting.",[32,191,192],{},"The other theory is that he is not human, which is my least favorite and a bit of a stretch in the Resident Evil 4 setting. This might be primarily stemming from his glowing eyes in the OG. However, Capcom may have had second thoughts about retaining his original eyes as it pertains to a more supernatural aspect. This could be the reason why he looks more human in the remake.",[32,194,195],{},"This last theory is my personal favorite, with which I also resonate. Most believe that he has simply made a deal with the cult, the Los Illuminados. When dissecting this theory, I find it more plausible because, after all, he sells high-powered weapons and supplies. I mean, rocket launchers? How convenient it is for the cultists to have a merchant with supplies of this magnitude? So, in exchange, he was maybe given a lifeline and a free pass to roam around.",[39,197,199],{"id":198},"my-theory-just-hear-me-out","My theory (Just hear me out)",[32,201,202],{},"As I said before, I choose to believe that the Merchant and the cult struck a deal — a win-win situation for both parties. He could set up his shop wherever he wishes to, and in return, the cultists get state-of-the-art supplies.",[32,204,205],{},"The Merchant himself calls Leon, “Over here, stranger!” implying that he’s been doing business for a long time in the area, and this is one of the rare occasions he has come across a capable man who would make good use of his supplies. However, I think Osmund Saddler would nip the danger in the bud if he knew that the Merchant was selling weapons to someone other than his subordinates. Therefore, he would put, for example, Ganado to spy on the Merchant so that Saddler could keep himself in the loop. This might be the reason why the Merchant has opted for a blue\u002Fpurple light to illuminate the area of his shop. We could theorize that he uses the light as a precaution, even though he knows that the parasites are only active at night. This is exactly why he leaves a note to inform Leon, or anyone else for that matter, that a flash grenade would instantly kill the parasites. Perhaps, he doesn’t like the villagers or the cultists to come near his shop.",[32,207,208],{},[209,210],"img",{"alt":211,"src":212},"Ashley Blue Light Resident Evil 4 Remake","\u002Fmedia\u002Fre4-remake-Ashley-Blue-Light.png",[32,214,215],{},"In Resident Evil 4 Remake, Leon must fight off Plaga-infested knights in the castle’s armory, where Ashley, being the supportive company that she is, helps Leon by stunning them with “Blue Lanterns.” Even in Ashley’s gameplay section, she uses a blue lantern to temporarily incapacitate the armored knights. All in all, the Merchant’s blue light may also help him feel safer even when the sun shines brightly in the sky, and it automatically makes his presence a safe haven for Leon as well. Not to mention, after mayhem, the soothing music provides the instant serenity and calming effect that players are longing for.",[32,217,218],{},"Another thing that I missed during my first few playthroughs of RE: 4 remake was the lantern beside the merchant’s table. Whenever we’re purchasing something, the lantern is lit with a bright blue color. Perhaps to protect his “bits and bobs” from parasite-ridden enemies? Well, these are just my observations, nothing more.",[32,220,221],{},"In short, he has ostracized himself, he is well aware of the terrain, he knows how to exploit the situation, and above all—sells to anyone who has “cash”. He seems to be a businessman worth his salt. He knows there’s a fight, and he sells to both parties, in his own words, during “hard times.” Be that as it may, to counter this idea, the remake is giving us a clue or a snippet of his personal agenda as well. Towards the latter part of the game, he once says, “I can hardly contain myself! You’re really gonna do it, stranger!” indicating that perhaps he’s rooting for Leon; rather, he’s rooting for anyone who could put a stop to the ongoing madness. He might be well-informed that he won’t be doing business any longer, and it’s high time he took his leave. Moreover, he refers to himself as “us,” hinting that there are many merchants like him or he’s not alone. Undoubtedly, a businessman of his calibre would be insane to plant himself in a hellhole like this without some sort of backup after all. Even in RE: Village, the merchant character is making subtle hints about his knowledge of the Merchant from Resident Evil 4 and calls him a friend, clearly suggesting that they have their own network.",[32,223,224],{},"But, most probably, he’s just a gameplay convenience. A personification of a physical shop to add that extra personal touch and mystery element to the game, and we are just overthinking it! That’s it!",[32,226,227],{},"The best part is that, although he’s a mysterious businessman with limited dialogue and screen time, fans love him and were quite worked up about him never making an appearance after RE: 4. But props to the development team for preserving the merchant’s original design and characteristics with minimal changes and, better yet, creating a phenomenal remake that will stand the test of time.",[32,229,230],{},"Do you think he’ll ever make a comeback? What do YOU think about the blue\u002Fpurple torch? Over here, stranger! Let’s chat!",[39,232,234],{"id":233},"some-fun-facts-about-the-merchant-from-re4","Some fun facts about the Merchant from RE:4",[236,237,238,242,245],"ol",{},[239,240,241],"li",{},"The Merchant’s long trench coat was inspired by the cloak worn by Neptuneman in the Kinnikuman series.",[239,243,244],{},"In Resident Evil 4 (2005), if you kill the Merchant, he stays dead in that specific location and respawns in the next area. In the remake, however, we can’t kill him, oh well",[239,246,247],{},"The Merchant in the original game was voiced by Paul Mercier, the same voice actor who has given Leon his iconic, sassy, and masculine voice.",{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":249},[250,251,252,253],{"id":175,"depth":134,"text":176},{"id":182,"depth":134,"text":183},{"id":198,"depth":134,"text":199},{"id":233,"depth":134,"text":234},[255,256,143,257,258],"resident-evil","video-game-review","resident-evil-4","video-game-journalism","2025-07-23","The age-old question remains: How does the merchant survive through the Resident Evil 4 game world? Over the years, fans have come up with countless theories.","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775744197236-877908794.webp",{},"\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fthe-merchant-in-resident-evil-4",{"title":164,"description":260},"the-merchant-in-resident-evil-4","blog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fthe-merchant-in-resident-evil-4","ZjHnvn7Slh1XW4C9ywfQ4Gbhx2_USRAfux6dgwGSifQ",{"id":269,"title":270,"author":27,"body":271,"categories":411,"created_at":416,"description":417,"draft":6,"extension":149,"head":150,"image":418,"image_alt":150,"meta":419,"navigation":153,"ogImage":150,"page":154,"path":420,"robots":150,"schemaOrg":150,"seo":421,"sitemap":157,"slug":422,"stem":423,"updated_at":424,"__hash__":425},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Falan-wake-2-review.md","The Gorgeous Disappointment: Alan Wake 2 (Spoiler-free review)",{"type":29,"value":272,"toc":404},[273,278,282,285,288,291,294,297,303,307,310,313,316,319,322,325,328,331,337,340,343,346,349,355,359,362,365,368,372,375,381,385,388,391,394,397],[168,274,275],{},[32,276,277],{},"Disappointing. Boring. A walking simulator—This is how underwhelming some reviewers find Alan Wake 2 to be. Although this game might be an acquired taste, what would a fan of Alan Wake 1 who was also deeply invested in its narrative say?",[39,279,281],{"id":280},"story","Story",[32,283,284],{},"Alan Wake 1 set the bar quite high with its gripping yet conceivable story that offered a smooth resolution and satisfaction at the end. The story in the second game follows the return of Alan Wake, who was previously drowned in Cauldron Lake, and how they, Alex Casey, and a brand-new protagonist, Saga Anderson, attempt to put a stop to the “Dark Presence” that got out with Wake.",[32,286,287],{},"The first installment was all about Alan Wake, the magical phenomena around Bright Falls and Cauldron Lake, and his survival as a writer who resorts to a flashlight, a gun, and his writing. This storyline felt more personal and relatable, and Alan Wake was more than likable, unlike how he is portrayed in the new story.",[32,289,290],{},"The second game, on the other hand, pushes Alex Casey’s narrative a bit too much to the point that I just wanted to get it over with. Sometimes I couldn’t help but feel as if it was a way to forcibly include Sam Lake (Remedy's creative director and the face model for Alex Casey) in the game’s narrative. The cult, the cult leaders, and their motives for rituals and whatnot are somewhat interesting and don’t take our attention away from the protagonist’s plight. Plus, Alan Wake 2 provides answers to most of the things that happened in 2010.",[32,292,293],{},"However, Saga’s involvement in the story and making her the visible protagonist turns Alan Wake into a rather feeble character, sidelining him in his own story. What’s worse, Saga addresses Alan Wake as “a white A**hole” near the end of the game, which made me slightly nauseated. Even if this was the writers’ grand way of implying that it’s never good to be racist, it adds nothing to the narrative and is unnecessary, especially for a video game of this scale.",[32,295,296],{},"Not to mention, the new narrative seems even more complex than it’s supposed to be, as if they desperately tried to make an intricate story just for the sake of it. The ending, however, lacks resolution and is anxiety-inducing. Some might argue about the unsolved ending of Alan Wake. Comparatively, even though the first game didn’t give us all the answers, it still felt pretty good at the end and made me crave a sequel for many years.",[32,298,299],{},[209,300],{"alt":301,"src":302},"It Started Off So... Well","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775742148001-847791739.webp",[39,304,306],{"id":305},"gameplay","Gameplay",[32,308,309],{},"Alan Wake 2 gameplay starts on a high note, not to mention one of the most impressive openings I’ve seen in years. The graphics are impeccable, and the gloomy atmosphere around the lake and the forest complements the story and beautifully captures the vibe of the previous game, which is an ode to Alan Wake. The character designs are also a pro.",[32,311,312],{},"But, the gamers, including myself, who anticipated going in with guns blazing like before, were taken aback by the snail’s pace gameplay and tedious case-solving inside Saga’s head, A.K.A. the mind place. Put simply, I didn’t expect to dive into a case board at the very beginning of the game. Despite this, when I encountered the first boss, it was exhilarating, difficult even in the easy mode, and foreshadowed a challenging gameplay for the rest of the game. Boy, was I wrong!",[32,314,315],{},"The above-mentioned gameplay element of case-solving becomes incredibly monotonous since it’s a reiteration of what exactly happened a few minutes ago. All you need to do is put some pictures in order and link the cases to come to a verdict that you’ve already come to. Saga’s profiling is accompanied by repeated animations and, quite frankly, even more unenthusiastic live-action cut-scenes playing in the background.",[32,317,318],{},"In terms of the playable characters, their sluggish movements discouraged me from covering more ground. Evidently, the spacious world needs to be explored, but when the characters run and dodge at a glacial pace, the fun of exploring is dissipated. Even sorting items and moving them around feels cumbersome. Although it’s unfair to compare it with Resident Evil, even the older games like Resident Evil 4 excelled at inventory management.",[32,320,321],{},"Cult boxes scattered around the world are another delight. If you aren’t math-savvy, like me, get ready to Google the answers to the math problems that need to be solved in order to collect the loot inside. In my case, my husband solved the problems on my behalf. But, as a gamer, I would like to do them all by myself, and as a result, I was completely irritated because the game wasn’t meant for goons like me. Even if you get a kick out of solving math problems and opening boxes one after the other, the rewards aren’t good enough. Besides the occasional new weapon that you’ll find, the effort just isn’t worth it. Most of the time, it’s either some health kits, ammo, or flares.",[32,323,324],{},"The issue is that even if you disregard the lack of satisfaction, you won’t need an abundance of ammo or health kits just to pass by two or three enemies. The enemies aren’t that impressive either, and there isn’t enough variety as well. Boss battles are just mediocre, and nothing groundbreaking was done to elevate them above average.",[32,326,327],{},"Even the charms you receive by solving the nursery rhymes aren’t that useful; most of mine were leisurely put away in the shoebox (storage), except for some, for example, the one that increased the charge of the flashlight.",[32,329,330],{},"The weapon upgrade system is another bust. The system itself isn’t half bad, but again, the question is—why? When there aren’t enough enemies populated around the world, or difficult ones for that matter, your weapon upgrades or supplies don’t matter. Why would anyone bother upgrading them if there is no significant use for them?",[32,332,333],{},[209,334],{"alt":335,"src":336},"Why? Just Why? Photo: yang","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775743881135-299972736.webp",[32,338,339],{},"Nevertheless, having the option to change reality halfway through to switch between Saga and Alan’s story is clever. Likewise, how Alan can change scenes and alter his environment by typing on his typewriter is another brilliant addition.",[32,341,342],{},"Although the settings are exceptional and they are the epitome of horror, and the music makes your heart beat faster, when you anticipate something to come right at you, nothing comes at all. Sometimes, you won’t even have to discharge a single bullet or arrow.",[32,344,345],{},"I am more than willing to forgive the occasional T-posing (The neutral resting position for 3D models when they stand straight, creating a T shape with arms extended to the sides) and suddenly falling through the floor bits in Alan Wake 2. But, sometimes you’ll spend a LOT of time wondering what to do, even if you have the answer in your hands, say a fuse for instance, just because the game unnecessarily holds you until you progress to some parts. Things like these make the game feel broken.",[32,347,348],{},"I mostly enjoyed where I could play as Saga, primarily because I liked the Coffee World level, and most of her sections were in the forest. As for Alan, I was yawning during the subway section, and all I wanted was to get out of there and resume playing as Saga, which I did. There wasn’t anything exciting in Alan’s walkthrough, except for the latter part when Alan enters the forest for just 1 or 2 minutes. Letting us play as Alan in the forest with his flashlight and gun, followed by the classic Alan Wake music, was enough to induce nostalgia and put a smile on my face. This underscores the small changes that could’ve been made to create another video game that is worth mentioning decades later, just like the first one.",[32,350,351],{},[209,352],{"alt":353,"src":354},"Incredible!","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775743115397-919386509.webp",[39,356,358],{"id":357},"visuals","Visuals",[32,360,361],{},"The visuals are stunning. Alan Wake 2 could essentially be the cornerstone for the aesthetics of future horror games. However, I have noticed some issues with its lighting. For instance, when you go inside a house, the outside appears to be very bright, and once you step outside, it becomes significantly darker. The other inconsistency with lighting is that, when you clearly see the sun and sun rays around you, it feels like broad daylight, but in some areas, Taken (The shadowy enemies) come and attack you even though it’s not nighttime.",[32,363,364],{},"Superimposing two visuals together to indicate that you’re in another reality is wise, too.",[32,366,367],{},"Speaking of showing things, Alan Wake 2 is packed with cheap jump scares. They do not do anything but make you furious. The first game also had its fair share of jump scares, but they had a purpose, and you actually could do something. For instance, a Taken would come out of nowhere, and you have to shoot it before it kills you, which is fun and rewarding.",[39,369,371],{"id":370},"music","Music",[32,373,374],{},"The eerie surroundings are supplemented with creepy music, and the Old Gods of Asgard didn’t disappoint this time around as well. Alan Wake’s musical with Herald of Darkness playing in the background was one of my favorite sequences of the game. Some of the other tracks featured in the game from various artists were also entertaining.",[32,376,377],{},[209,378],{"alt":379,"src":380},"The Best Musical Ever!","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775743517335-89105862.webp",[39,382,384],{"id":383},"verdict-is-it-a-bad-game","Verdict - Is it a bad game?",[32,386,387],{},"Is it a bad narrative? No. Is it a detective game? No. Unless you think sorting some pictures on a board is. Is it a survival horror game? It screams interactive drama horror rather than a survival horror. The bottom line is that the balance between scarcity of supplies and having more formidable enemies is lost. I love a good interactive drama horror video game, if it were marketed as such. Then again, the gameplay and drama, so to speak, need to be balanced.",[32,389,390],{},"So, is it a bad game? No, but unfortunately, it’s not good.",[32,392,393],{},"In all honesty, playing Alan Wake 2 felt exhausting, so much so that I couldn’t play it for several days after getting started. I only continued because, of course, we paid for the game and I had to finish it to see the ending, and even that didn’t go as planned.",[32,395,396],{},"When it comes to the fresh face of Saga, she’s an exceptional character, and her gameplay was generally a fun experience. Hadn’t her character been written to undermine the hero, the game could have had the potential to be a tad more likable.",[32,398,399,400],{},"As a gamer who thoroughly enjoyed the first game more than a decade earlier, I had high hopes for Alan Wake 2. Be that as it may, its unparalleled visuals, some game mechanics, some bosses, the mighty musical, and music aside, Alan Wake is truly a ",[401,402,403],"strong",{},"beautiful disappointment.",{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":405},[406,407,408,409,410],{"id":280,"depth":134,"text":281},{"id":305,"depth":134,"text":306},{"id":357,"depth":134,"text":358},{"id":370,"depth":134,"text":371},{"id":383,"depth":134,"text":384},[412,413,414,415,256],"alanwake2","alan-wake","remedy-entertainment","game-review","2024-03-06","An honest spoiler-free Alan Wake 2 review by an Alan Wake 1 fan. Impressive visuals, weak gameplay, and an underwhelming story.","\u002Fmedia\u002Fuploads\u002F1775741731406-218565875.webp",{},"\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Falan-wake-2-review",{"title":270,"description":417},"alan-wake-2-review","blog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Falan-wake-2-review","2026-04-09","HNRdsJ76RkA-gAS9bFMlCGKJof3sB8cBQ-xUaDinD4w",{"id":427,"title":428,"author":27,"body":429,"categories":508,"created_at":511,"description":512,"draft":6,"extension":149,"head":150,"image":513,"image_alt":150,"meta":514,"navigation":153,"ogImage":150,"page":154,"path":515,"robots":150,"schemaOrg":150,"seo":516,"sitemap":157,"slug":517,"stem":518,"updated_at":150,"__hash__":519},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fit-takes-two-review-best-co-op-game-2026.md","It Takes Two Review: Why This Co-op Game Still Kicks Ass in 2026",{"type":29,"value":430,"toc":501},[431,436,441,445,452,455,457,460,463,466,469,472,476,479,483,486,489,493,496],[168,432,433],{},[32,434,435],{},"Released in 2021, It Takes Two turned a lot of heads around the world for supplying veteran gamers with what they’ve been craving for years: coziness and authenticity. I am revisiting this piece in 2026 after five years of its original publication because it goes without saying that this game still holds up. Its story, gameplay, puzzles, and environments can still give any and every modern game out there a run for their money.",[32,437,438],{},[35,439,440],{},"When it comes to video games, I'm not easily pleased. In other words, fancy graphics or top-notch animations ain't gonna cut it. At the time of writing this piece, the majority of recent video games haven't been up to par to leave a mark in my brain like Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid 4, The Last of Us, or The Ghost of Tsushima. But, this co-op action-adventure game developed by Hazelight Studios not only is gonna engrain an irremovable memory in your head while teleporting you back to your childhood, but also makes you yearn for a sequel.",[39,442,444],{"id":443},"the-story-in-a-nutshell","The story in a nutshell",[32,446,447,448,451],{},"The synopsis of the video game would be: a struggling married couple resorts to a divorce, and their little girl, Rose, is devastated and caught in the crossfire. Heartbroken, she makes a wish to turn her mom and dad into friends again. The ultimate result is that Cody (Father) and May (Mother) are reimagined with something, let's say brand-new looks. ",[35,449,450],{},"(Not going to spoil it for you)"," Now they desperately want to go back to their old lives.",[32,453,454],{},"Now, with your other half, sibling, or friend, you have to play as Cody and May to get out of this pickle!",[39,456,306],{"id":305},[32,458,459],{},"Simply put, it really takes two! A brilliant wordplay, or a little lazy? Perhaps both, but we’re here for it! Now that we have established that you cannot play this game alone, all the gameplay mechanics are put together with two players in mind. Split-screen gameplay was somewhat forgotten back in 2021, and I was ecstatic to play a couch co-op like we used to. Did It Takes Two deliver? More than I’ve ever expected.",[32,461,462],{},"All the tasks are fairly divided between the two characters, which hinders the players from overpowering each other. This prevents your partner from later bragging about who did the best at the end. LOL!. So, all the potential catfights are minimized! However, for all the gamers who prefer a healthy challenge, there are plenty of fun minigames planted throughout the game world in case you want to test your skills or (kick your partner’s ass). It could be a simple snowball fight or a vicious chess game!",[32,464,465],{},"The more you progress with the story, the more capable the characters become with different sets of weapons and abilities. You start with a hammer and nails, which, by the way, you can call back with a whistle (a little God of War action right there, wink!), but soon you'll gain shrinking powers, the ability to walk on walls, a singing voice and magnets that’ll help you and your partner progress through the levels. Rest assured that these are just a smidgen of the abilities and weapons you’re going to see. But these are only granted for one chapter, so have fun while they last.",[32,467,468],{},"Then, there are the boss battles, oh, the boss battles. Dare I say, they are to die for? These boss fights are sending me straight to the good ol' days when we had to strategize every move without mindlessly hitting things, assuming something would happen.",[32,470,471],{},"It Takes Two is so dynamic that it changes its view multiple times, catching players off guard. Sometimes, it’s a full-blown side-scrolling platformer, and the next minute, the game transforms itself into Diablo with three special powers handed to each player when you least expect it, flipping the genre upside down. It goes without saying that this game’s creativity is off the charts, and my smile when I was playing this game can attest to that.",[39,473,475],{"id":474},"graphics-and-animation","Graphics and Animation",[32,477,478],{},"They take a subtle approach to the game's graphics and animation, which perfectly fits the game's childlike, vivid theme. The two protagonists are designed to be wooden and clay-like, and the atmosphere is also created with low-poly graphics in mind.",[39,480,482],{"id":481},"environments-and-puzzles","Environments and Puzzles",[32,484,485],{},"Undoubtedly, It Takes Two offers you some of the most balanced and strategic puzzles you've ever laid eyes on in a game. They are incredibly well thought out to the point that I almost felt like they'd spent all the good puzzles in the first half of the game, so they'd run out of ideas soon. But, not to my surprise, they maintain their creativity till the very end. The game designers might have been woohooing in the studio, “We’re on a roll!”",[32,487,488],{},"As for the environments, most of them are pretty large compared to the protagonists. So, if you want to feel like an ant, look no further. Every chapter has something new to bring you, and the environments are perfectly paired up with the theme, whether it's a medieval setup or a snow land that you want to live forever in. Again, a round of applause to the artists of It Takes Two, who went the extra mile to make the atmosphere a lovely, bright-colored, relatable, and sensible piece of art that will stand the test of time.",[39,490,492],{"id":491},"is-it-takes-two-still-playable-in-2026","Is It Takes Two still playable in 2026?",[32,494,495],{},"Is this even a question? What more can I say than, Way to go, Hazelight Studios! The plot, gameplay, environments, graphics, puzzles, and music are just phenomenal. I’ve played it with my husband and once again with my brother, and as I’m updating this old review, I’m planning to play it once again after five years of its release. If you still haven’t played it with your partner, what are you waiting for? To play it in 2027? That is, my friend, a mistake.",[32,497,498],{},[401,499,500],{},"It Takes Two: 10\u002F10 A Must Play",{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":502},[503,504,505,506,507],{"id":443,"depth":134,"text":444},{"id":305,"depth":134,"text":306},{"id":474,"depth":134,"text":475},{"id":481,"depth":134,"text":482},{"id":491,"depth":134,"text":492},[509,510,256],"ittakestwo","co-op-games","2026-06-22","Don’t call yourself a gamer if you still haven’t played It Takes Two. It was released in 2021 and is still a masterpiece in 2026.","\u002Fmedia\u002Fit-takes-two-review.webp",{},"\u002Fblog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fit-takes-two-review-best-co-op-game-2026",{"title":428,"description":512},"it-takes-two-review-best-co-op-game-2026","blog\u002Fgames-and-storytelling\u002Fit-takes-two-review-best-co-op-game-2026","yjABg1wHAO7n8fTeIXgsRk2dCSQO73ljRhT9n7_D1c4",{"body":521},{"type":29,"value":522,"toc":573},[523,527,529,531,533,535,537,539,541,543,545,547,551,553,555,557,559,561,563,565],[168,524,525],{},[32,526,172],{},[39,528,176],{"id":175},[32,530,179],{},[39,532,183],{"id":182},[32,534,186],{},[32,536,189],{},[32,538,192],{},[32,540,195],{},[39,542,199],{"id":198},[32,544,202],{},[32,546,205],{},[32,548,549],{},[209,550],{"alt":211,"src":212},[32,552,215],{},[32,554,218],{},[32,556,221],{},[32,558,224],{},[32,560,227],{},[32,562,230],{},[39,564,234],{"id":233},[236,566,567,569,571],{},[239,568,241],{},[239,570,244],{},[239,572,247],{},{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":574},[575,576,577,578],{"id":175,"depth":134,"text":176},{"id":182,"depth":134,"text":183},{"id":198,"depth":134,"text":199},{"id":233,"depth":134,"text":234},{"body":580},{"type":29,"value":581,"toc":666},[582,586,588,590,592,594,596,598,602,604,606,608,610,612,614,616,618,620,624,626,628,630,632,636,638,640,642,644,646,648,652,654,656,658,660,662],[168,583,584],{},[32,585,277],{},[39,587,281],{"id":280},[32,589,284],{},[32,591,287],{},[32,593,290],{},[32,595,293],{},[32,597,296],{},[32,599,600],{},[209,601],{"alt":301,"src":302},[39,603,306],{"id":305},[32,605,309],{},[32,607,312],{},[32,609,315],{},[32,611,318],{},[32,613,321],{},[32,615,324],{},[32,617,327],{},[32,619,330],{},[32,621,622],{},[209,623],{"alt":335,"src":336},[32,625,339],{},[32,627,342],{},[32,629,345],{},[32,631,348],{},[32,633,634],{},[209,635],{"alt":353,"src":354},[39,637,358],{"id":357},[32,639,361],{},[32,641,364],{},[32,643,367],{},[39,645,371],{"id":370},[32,647,374],{},[32,649,650],{},[209,651],{"alt":379,"src":380},[39,653,384],{"id":383},[32,655,387],{},[32,657,390],{},[32,659,393],{},[32,661,396],{},[32,663,399,664],{},[401,665,403],{},{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":667},[668,669,670,671,672],{"id":280,"depth":134,"text":281},{"id":305,"depth":134,"text":306},{"id":357,"depth":134,"text":358},{"id":370,"depth":134,"text":371},{"id":383,"depth":134,"text":384},{"body":674},{"type":29,"value":675,"toc":722},[676,680,684,686,690,692,694,696,698,700,702,704,706,708,710,712,714,716,718],[168,677,678],{},[32,679,435],{},[32,681,682],{},[35,683,440],{},[39,685,444],{"id":443},[32,687,447,688,451],{},[35,689,450],{},[32,691,454],{},[39,693,306],{"id":305},[32,695,459],{},[32,697,462],{},[32,699,465],{},[32,701,468],{},[32,703,471],{},[39,705,475],{"id":474},[32,707,478],{},[39,709,482],{"id":481},[32,711,485],{},[32,713,488],{},[39,715,492],{"id":491},[32,717,495],{},[32,719,720],{},[401,721,500],{},{"title":133,"searchDepth":134,"depth":134,"links":723},[724,725,726,727,728],{"id":443,"depth":134,"text":444},{"id":305,"depth":134,"text":306},{"id":474,"depth":134,"text":475},{"id":481,"depth":134,"text":482},{"id":491,"depth":134,"text":492},{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":730},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"m221.66 133.66l-72 72a8 8 0 0 1-11.32-11.32L196.69 136H40a8 8 0 0 1 0-16h156.69l-58.35-58.34a8 8 0 0 1 11.32-11.32l72 72a8 8 0 0 1 0 11.32\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":732},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M88 64a8 8 0 0 1 8-8h120a8 8 0 0 1 0 16H96a8 8 0 0 1-8-8m128 56H96a8 8 0 0 0 0 16h120a8 8 0 0 0 0-16m0 64H96a8 8 0 0 0 0 16h120a8 8 0 0 0 0-16M56 56H40a8 8 0 0 0 0 16h16a8 8 0 0 0 0-16m0 64H40a8 8 0 0 0 0 16h16a8 8 0 0 0 0-16m0 64H40a8 8 0 0 0 0 16h16a8 8 0 0 0 0-16\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":734},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M208 32h-24v-8a8 8 0 0 0-16 0v8H88v-8a8 8 0 0 0-16 0v8H48a16 16 0 0 0-16 16v160a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h160a16 16 0 0 0 16-16V48a16 16 0 0 0-16-16M72 48v8a8 8 0 0 0 16 0v-8h80v8a8 8 0 0 0 16 0v-8h24v32H48V48Zm136 160H48V96h160z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":736},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M224 48H32a8 8 0 0 0-8 8v136a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h176a16 16 0 0 0 16-16V56a8 8 0 0 0-8-8m-20.57 16L128 133.15L52.57 64ZM216 192H40V74.19l82.59 75.71a8 8 0 0 0 10.82 0L216 74.19z\"\u002F>",1783551287717]