18 cert, Microsoft Studios/ Remedy, Xbox Live ***

Advance press said this was not a sequel, but don’t be fooled. Apart from the setting, it feels just like a continuation. Taking inspiration from Dostoyevsky’s The Double (or, indeed, John Woo’s Face/Off), American Nightmare finds the troubled author in a new terrain, confronting the evil Mr Scratch. The rural lakeside of the first game is replaced by a dusty Arizona locale, but it’s still mostly set at night and is again dotted with diners and motels. Just as before, this is a third- person horror/action game. Shine a light on the haunted, shadowy villains to stall them, and fire bullets to kill them. It’s a mite repetitive as you run, reload, shoot and repeat. American Nightmare is still brooding and playable, but its lasting appeal is limited, especially for those who played the first Alan Wake.