Games are better drunk
Alan Wake is a pretty cool game, so far I'm reasonably sure Alan is a crazy serial killer rationalizing it all away. But it's really interesting, and furthermore a GOOD game in the horror/survival category. I'm having a lot of fun shooting shadow people, dodging them and listening to their crazy talk.
There's a very direct story line. I'm not sure how that'll effect replayability, but it certainly makes for a strong impression on the first way through. Picking up manuscript pages (that Alan has already written, but doesn't remember at all) with a scattered hint here and there for future scenes is a really nice touch. If you've been starved for a survival horror game that immerses you deep into its world, Alan Wake does a pretty good job.
It could stand to have a bit more horror, but this is more on the 'psychological thriller' side. Being trapped in a cabin while an axe wielding man tries to force his way in, surrounded by TVs with a creepy close up of an eye is bad enough. When the TVs start chanting about how they are going to kill you on top of that, the 'psychological' part really starts to kick in.
All in all a psychological thriller with smooth, fun gameplay- a painfully rare creation. If it weren't for the unknown replay value I would snap this up in a second!