Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic Alan Wake, released in 2023 and quickly racked up a reputation as one of the all-time greatest horror games ever made. It boasts not only a thrilling narrative, but also a unique and unconventional soundtrack, perfectly mirroring the game’s wild and unpredictable nature.
Composer Petri Alanko, known for his unorthodox methods, went to some nutty lengths to create a soundscape that matches the game’s oddball energy. Be warned, it may be nuttier than the story itself.
Alan Wake 2’s Soundtrack Features Burnt Pianos And Adult Toys
Alan Wake 2‘s developer, Remedy, went above and beyond for the game, incorporating dual protagonists, an out of the blue musical number, and subtle nods to their rich history. All while setting the stage for future games set in the Remedy Connected Universe. To keep pace with the studio’s creative vision, Alanko embraced a rather odd approach to music composition.
In a fascinating interview with NME, Alanko revealed his unique methods for crafting the game’s soundscape: “By now [Remedy] knows I won’t leave a stone unturned in order to find something extraordinary…I recorded a rusty old cattle fence, burned two pianos, violated one piano with adult toys, and triggered a fire alarm, then dropped [a piano] from a forklift onto a concrete floor.”
The Oddball Methods Were Worth It
This unconventional approach, while raising a few eyebrows, ultimately served its purpose. According to Alanko, the eccentric methods were justified by the final product: “The only thing that matters is whether the music resonates with the player, whether it evokes emotions. Everything else is irrelevant. A great score is a great score, regardless of how it’s created.”
It’s not a common sight for game studios to embrace such oddball methods for big-budget AAA titles, so Remedy’s peculiar approach to soundtrack production is certainly a breath of fresh air in what is becoming a very homogenized space.
However, with Alan Wake 2 not having recouped its developmental budget yet, we can only wonder how many more pianos Remedy can destroy, and how many more of these creatively risky auteur-driven games the industry can allow in the future.
While Alanko’s methods might seem destructive and costly, they didn’t hinder the game’s success one bit. Alan Wake 2 garnered universal acclaim and became Remedy’s fastest-selling game ever, proving that Alanko’s unconventional approach paid off.
The studio is currently working on two expansions for the game, which, while not directly linked to their other hit title Control, will hint at the future of the Remedy Connected Universe.
