Help, Nightmare is a Nightmare!

[virtuoso]

Hi All,

Having completed the game on Normal mode I have now jumped straight back in on Nightmare mode and am currently on Episode 2, heading to Lover's Peak.

Up until now I have found the game to be slightly more challenging than Normal mode but not by a great deal, however, I am at the point on Episode 2 where you come to a clearing with a tree in the middle, which has a hole at the base where one Taken appears and who is also joined by two others.

I can dispose of these Taken but after doing so I am left with little or no ammo and then run into three more taken a little further down.

Does anyone have any hints or tips!? I have tried making a run for it but they simply catch you up and destroy you!

The Taken that I now seem to be encountering are much more aggresive than before (they charge towards you much faster) and also seem to need more shots to take down. I have tried to conserve as much ammo as possible right from the get-go but it now seems my efforts have been for nothing!

[jkler]

Run - aim torch at enemies with light boosted - run - repeat.

That's the best advice I can give. That part is hard on nightmare, I know.

[Damien_Azreal]

You really need to make use of the dodge. I mean dodge everything, thrown weapons, birds, taken... anything and everything... dodge, run, flip around boost the flashlight and shoot.

[noah]

Don't forget the flares. I barely used flares when playing through Normal and Hard, but on Nightmare they became my favorite weapon. If you're running and a mob of Taken catch up to you, drop a flare and keep booking it to the next light checkpoint.

In retrospect, I didn't fight nearly as many Taken in Nightmare mode. In many cases the best solution was to just press on, running from light to light. I also had a lot of fun using the environment against them in this mode - I hadn't initially realized how effective dangling electric lines are at clearing out huge swarms of Taken. :D

Lastly, sometimes it's better to flash an enemy quickly with a boosted flashlight, rather then keeping the trigger held down. The Taken have a recoil animation that lasts a few seconds, during which you can gain some considerable distance as Alan moves much faster away from the enemies when you're not boosting.

I'd often get mobbed, give each enemy a quick boosted light tap, than run back a bit with the normal flashlight still trained on the Taken - this also allows the light meter to charge a bit while it's still doing a small bit of darkness damage.

[ElusiveMime]

Here's what I do whenever I have to save ammo. I run for the light. If they get to close shine the flashlight which will stun them for a few seconds. If you have to, always look back and slowly back up as you keep the light on them. Or if needed, start the episode over.

[Dirty Barry]

I remember that part, there is a HUGE taken that comes right through the hole in the tree.

I would wait until he comes at you, try to lure him to the right-hand side, and then when he is blocked, dash around the left side of that big rock that is there. There's a taken there, but a smaller one - he won't do as much damage if he hits you. Then run like hell through the hole in the tree and head for the light! LOL

Also, I noticed that when the Taken are running behind you, if you time it just right, you can dodge pretty much all of their attacks before they hit you, but it takes some precision. This part of the game is the only part I did that for, because it just felt like cheating. But it works, as long as no other taken come up in front of you.

[virtuoso]

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

[Dirty Barry]

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

Did you get past it? :D

[virtuoso]

lol, haven't tried yet to be honest Barry - been busy with work etc but if/when I do I'll be sure to let you know!!

[Maniac]

I'm doing my nightmare (and all nightmare manuscript) run, and I'm past the midpoint of episode 3. I did just kind of run through these guys, only taking out the ones that chased me. At the overturned log with the hole through it, you really just have to get around these guys as there's a light on the other side of the log.

[virtuoso]

Thanks for all the great advice guys - now at the start of Episode 3. Definitely think the advice given in this thread should be pinned...

[Pauloselhombre]

Thanks for all the great advice guys - now at the start of Episode 3. Definitely think the advice given in this thread should be pinned...

One other piece of advice: If you find yourself having to play a section over and over because the taken keep overwhelming you then use an attempt of two to survey the area. If you can funnel Taken into bottlenecks, block off their advance completely, etc, then that can help. Also, if you're near enough to the most recent checkpoint, lure tham back to the light, the bigger taken especially will be likely to run at you, and straight into the light when you dodge out of the way :)

Either way, I completed the game on Nightmare a few days ago and I found that at points it really forces you to think tactically. I love the way it's almost like a whole different experience :)

[whoiscraig]

When I started my Nightmare run, I still had the Gunless Wonder achievement to do, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

In short, I DID IT! but it was incredibly hard! The big axe guys take 3/4 flashbangs to kill, so there was a hell of a lot of running and dodging. It was so nervewracking, but I did it. Completed Ep6 on Nightmare difficulty without using a gun! :D

Save flashbangs for big unavoidable fights. Use flares to help avoid other enemies, and run to the light praying you make it!

[Hukka55]

I agree with all the advice above, but the best for conserving flares and FB's for really sh**y situations is the tactic of run, turn and boosting your light, swipe on all three or four taken chasing you quickly to stop and blind them. Turn and run again until out of breath. Then you turn around again and blind them.

Blinding works with a short boosted contact with the taken.
If you keep the boosted light on them, they cover their eyes and continue advancing. So quickly just flash them and run again.

[MoldyClay]

At that point, you actually don't have flashbangs and flares, if I recall correctly (you get flares when you meet Mot or whatever).

I legitimately just ran out of ammo here and ran like nobody's business.

I had a hard time there, and when you have to use just the flares/flashlight, because he was legitimately NOT shooting anything that I got the darkness off of. >:(

I also had a hard time getting through parts of the maze in Episode 4 (I got killed by birds, because I was ignoring them and trying to kill Hartman; I didn't even think that was possible!). I am on my way to the Anderson's farm, but I stopped for now. I'm taking it slow so I don't get overly frustrated by stupid things.

[Hukka55]

I also had a hard time getting through parts of the maze in Episode 4 (I got killed by birds, because I was ignoring them and trying to kill Hartman; I didn't even think that was possible!)

It's not Hartman, it's nurse Birch, the big guy. :cool:

[MoldyClay]

It's not Hartman, it's nurse Birch, the big guy. :cool:

OH RIGHT. I dunno why I wrote Hartman.

[Crow]

OH RIGHT. I dunno why I wrote Hartman.

If it helps I also thought that big burly character in the gazebo was Hartman.

[Celeste]

Me too =)

[Ed321]

Probably didn't help that someone kept changing the Alan Wake wiki to state that it was Hartman under the gazebo :lol:

[Gumbeaux Jr]

Good tips! Just finished my hard playthrough last night. Going to start nightmare soon!

[GameScares]

Just finished it on nightmare, and literally some parts were a nightmare. The parts where you control a huge light by pressing B and then use left trigger to blow away the taken are surely impossible to kill all of them that way?

I took out a few then had to back out and use whatever ammo I had left to get rid of the rest, literally got through by the skin of my teeth on those sections.

Was a fantastic experience though and I'm glad I pressed on although I felt like quitting many times!

One of the greatest achievements I've ever earnt, Alan Wake on nightmare difficulty, superb.

[MoldyClay]

If it helps I also thought that big burly character in the gazebo was Hartman.

Me too =)

Oh good. I feel better now. lol.

Probably didn't help that someone kept changing the Alan Wake wiki to state that it was Hartman under the gazebo :lol:

That WOULD happen.

Just finished it on nightmare, and literally some parts were a nightmare. The parts where you control a huge light by pressing B and then use left trigger to blow away the taken are surely impossible to kill all of them that way?

I took out a few then had to back out and use whatever ammo I had left to get rid of the rest, literally got through by the skin of my teeth on those sections.

I would try putting flares around me during those situations, and then try doing as much as I coul. The spotlights were definitely some of the harder parts. Those, and when you have people chasing you in the woods.

I had a harder time on Episode 5 (with the helicopter spotlight) on Hard than on Nightmare though. I just bolted in Nightmare and was fine.

Alan Wake became my first 1000/1000 game (I had previously finished Sneak King, which is a feat in itself, but it only has 200/200; This also excludes RE5, because I actually completed that, and both DLC missions, but Versus screwed me over). I'm pretty glad.

[js.martin]

quick question guys... i know the whole point of nightmare mode is to enjoy the experience, but for us who want to collect all the manuscript pages, how do you do that when u spend the entire game running like hell? :eek:

[Hukka55]

quick question guys... i know the whole point of nightmare mode is to enjoy the experience, but for us who want to collect all the manuscript pages, how do you do that when u spend the entire game running like hell? :eek:

You check the combat tips section and start forcing yourself to calm down in face of certain death. ;)

[Gumbeaux Jr]

quick question guys... i know the whole point of nightmare mode is to enjoy the experience, but for us who want to collect all the manuscript pages, how do you do that when u spend the entire game running like hell? :eek:

There are only like 15 manuscript pages that you must collect while in Nightmare difficulty, and you hold onto them if you die. Most of the pages are in the last couple of chapters also. Therefore, just book it to the page, pick it up, and who cares what happens after...? You can die and restart at your checkpoint with the page in tow!

[ShaolinGamer]

You check the combat tips section and start forcing yourself to calm down in face of certain death. ;)

:lol: True! You need an almost superhuman nerve in some places. Especially in that radio warehouse on the way to the Power Station. Whew!! Almost quit there.
Also, I got the hang of the three-to-four-seconds sprint. Run---and jog. If Wake starts breathing hard, you're a goner. Jog for a few seconds to get his wind back up, then he can sprint for another few.

[Pauloselhombre]

Just finished it on nightmare, and literally some parts were a nightmare. The parts where you control a huge light by pressing B and then use left trigger to blow away the taken are surely impossible to kill all of them that way?

I took out a few then had to back out and use whatever ammo I had left to get rid of the rest, literally got through by the skin of my teeth on those sections.

Was a fantastic experience though and I'm glad I pressed on although I felt like quitting many times!

One of the greatest achievements I've ever earnt, Alan Wake on nightmare difficulty, superb.

I worked out (eventually) that if you sort of 'feather' the trigger while you're using the searchlight, it refills at nearly the same pace as it drains, so it has enough juice left to swing round and quickly blast the crap out of the 2nd wave of Taken. After a few tries to get the timing right of course :D

[PsychoSuccubus]

wow good advice:) bookmarking this page...
Question, is it hard to find the pages in nightmare? cuz it seems ill be doing alot of running away so how hard is it to find them all? I didn't find all of them on normal mode either:(

[Alice Wake]

Don't forget the flares. I barely used flares when playing through Normal and Hard, but on Nightmare they became my favorite weapon. If you're running and a mob of Taken catch up to you, drop a flare and keep booking it to the next light checkpoint.

In retrospect, I didn't fight nearly as many Taken in Nightmare mode. In many cases the best solution was to just press on, running from light to light. I also had a lot of fun using the environment against them in this mode - I hadn't initially realized how effective dangling electric lines are at clearing out huge swarms of Taken. :D

Lastly, sometimes it's better to flash an enemy quickly with a boosted flashlight, rather then keeping the trigger held down. The Taken have a recoil animation that lasts a few seconds, during which you can gain some considerable distance as Alan moves much faster away from the enemies when you're not boosting.

I'd often get mobbed, give each enemy a quick boosted light tap, than run back a bit with the normal flashlight still trained on the Taken - this also allows the light meter to charge a bit while it's still doing a small bit of darkness damage.

This is the best advice and what I had to do...flares and flashbangs and (RUNNING AWAY) is your best bet....Nightmare mode gave me nightmares...literally! :(

[Dogtopia]

^ Agreed know when to run the ammo you save can be invaluable

[intrinsc]

Nightmare isn't as bad as The Signal battles. At least in key battles in Nightmare you still have those propane tanks, etc. The biggest thing is using your flashlight to stun enemies and keep your distance. The game is pretty good at giving you enough batteries even through nightmare. It then becomes more about ammo conservation.

[Mutilate]

I wish I had tips, unfortunately I have none.

[Archvile78]

wow good advice:) bookmarking this page...
Question, is it hard to find the pages in nightmare? cuz it seems ill be doing alot of running away so how hard is it to find them all? I didn't find all of them on normal mode either:(

Not at all, if you checked every single corner on Normal, there's instance where you, sometime, reach dead end with nothing to be found, some pages are in said dead end and there's also some nightmare mode pages on the way that are hard to miss.

Makes me remember how i had trouble, i must've spent 7 to 8h searching every chapters when the last thermos was on a stump in the Anderson farm. :lol:

[Anthony]

I'm on the exact same part! I was like, holy **** this is insane, as there's loads of them & I kept running out of ammo & batteries. :p

I'll try out some of these tips & hopefully they'll work for me.

[Anthony]

Some fantastic tips, I just finished episode 2, on episode 3 now. :D