Alan Wake

NOTE: Please see the edits at the bottom of this for a warning as to actions that can cause you not to get the achievement.

This achievement is a whole lot easier than it sounds but there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost - Do not die and do NOT restart the level. If you so much as reload a checkpoint because you missed a collectible the achievement is lost. If you happen to miss something make sure you restart the whole level not just the checkpoint. You can get the achievement by going into the level from the Episode select menu it's just that your playthrough has to be one unbroken run.

Secondly find all of the supply chests in the level. Almost all of them contain a Flare Gun or ammo for it which is invaluable. Lastly there are only two hard parts to this stage - the gate defense and the finale with the chopper - but there are a few tricky spots. So lets go down this one section by section.

The first tricky spot is near the port-a-potties after getting off the street for the first time. Since this is such a close quarters fight it's very easy to be surprised and die here. Either use a flare or just run for the gate in front of you. If you activate the button a light turns on and ends the encounter.

Next is the gate you and Sarah have to defend. It's not that bad at first, what with a heavy Taken, a pair of fast ones and a regular guy who loves to huck axes at your face. Get rid of the fast ones and then just choose your next targets by whoever is more of a threat. When they die a chainsaw Taken comes out with some backup. Now would be the time to use a Flare Gun shot to get rid of everyone and lower the big guys shield.

In the church crypt a pair of large Taken will attack you and the Sheriff. This is a great place to use a flare to keep them away while whittling away their shields with your flashlight. Otherwise they might choose to rush you and that's basically a death sentence down here.

Last but not least is the choppa scene. This is almost laughably easy once you know what you're doing. Forget the red canisters, I tried using them on my Normal playthrough and they didn't help out nearly enough. The following strategy worked just fine on my Nightmare run though - I got this achievement on that run of all things.

When you reach the yard run to the right and gather up the things from the red emergency supply box. Go back towards the entrance and then over to the left emergency supply box before going over to the truck and looting that as well. So long as you stay away from Sarah and Barry the cutscene won't play. Once you've got everything go over to them to start the fight.

As soon as it begins grab the flares and flashbangs off the ground and walk up the steps. Put your back to the chopper and press up against it. Now you just wait.

When you see enemies clustering together fire off a flare. If they get too close to you use a flare to fend them off, possibly followed by a flashbang to show them how you feel about your personal space. While they're at a distance use the flashlight to drain their shields and, if possible, shoot the red canisters to take out any who stay too close to them. The hunting rifle works wonders here especially on Nightmare since it's a one shot kill for most everybody.

The advantage to this strategy is that with your back to the chopper as soon as you can escape all you have to do is drop a flare, turn around and finish the level. It's incredibly easy doing it this way and there's no danger of being cut up, falling off the edge or blowing yourself up accidentally.

Hope this helps!

Edit: As a warning it seems that some people have reported that starting the chapter, shutting it off and then continuing your game counts as reloading so it won't pop. It's best to either finish it once you start the chapter or start the whole thing over if that's the case. It wants you to play from the cutscene with Nightingale until the end of the stage without stopping.

Edit 2: It seems that pausing the game for too long or letting the console go idle / controller shut off, can cause you to lose this achievement. It's possible that the game interprets this as you "shutting down" the game by taking too big a break. This is almost certainly a glitch but as it's not likely to be fixed at this point in time it's best to figure in playing around this and the above issue.

You need to complete the entire chapter without dying. The best thing is to utilise Sarah as much as you can as she has a pump action shotgun, so when the Taken appear in large mobs try to cover your back and don't be worried to use any flares or flash bangs if you get surrounded.

Take it slow, theres no need to rush around any corners because the Taken do tend to jump out at you in certain area's, also don't forget to investigate every nook and cranny for flares/flash bangs and especially the flare gun. If you find yourself in a tight spot, keep the flare gun for those life saving moments.

There are a few key moments when you have to defend a position because Sarah has to open a few doors along the way, try to get your back against a wall and be aware of all your blind spots.

The end level sequence has a lot of things you can use, try to save the big flame canisters for larger groups, and when they run out start to use the flash bangs. The best tactic is to stay as close to the chopper as you can, but if you find yourself low on ammo use the time between mobs to investigate the emergency box stores. Just be wary of the Tornado dropping the large metal pieces on your position and remember to try to turn on both flood lights before more Taken arrive.

From the sheriff leading you out of the police station to the point where you flee Bright Falls in the helicopter, you can't die or restart. This is pretty much just a case of being very careful.

The trickiest point is at the front of the church when in the second wave, you'll get a couple of the fast taken. Stay up on the church steps and close to the sheriff - she'll cover you, and there's limited ways for the Taken to get to you.

By the time you get to the helicopter, you should have plenty of batteries, flares, and flashbangs, and don't hesitate to use 'em - you'll lose 'em all after the next cutscene anyway, so as well to use 'em here!

Just keep tossing flares at the approaching Taken and then take 'em out. Even on Nightmare, this is a straightforward achievement if you don't try to rush it.

This is for the gamers that do not like reading, but watching the solutions, like myself :) I hope this helps! I take no credit, it all goes to soulreaper1308 on youtube.

The achievement guide/solution is in the attached youtube video:

(Disclaimer: May contain Spoilers)
(Video Credits to: Frozen Nut Studios)
(PM me for more video guides for Alan Wake)

You need to fight your way through the streets of Bright Falls without getting killed and/or restarting checkpoints. Achievement becomes null and void if you die and/or restart last checkpoint. To restore this achievement, you'll have to restart the episode to try again, AND I MEAN THE ENTIRE EPISODE.


If you go under a working light post, or if you turn on a light post, light bulbs, etc., you'll restore your health bar, and enemies won't attack you once you're in a light. Achievement pops if you're able to get on the chopper without any deaths.

Note to self: Flashbangs can really be useful too.