Alan Wake 2 features a variety of mind-boggling and trippy missions that will have players transforming the fabric of reality. As a writer, you have so much control over the world, allowing you to get past challenges. As a result, the game has been well-received by both fans and critics.
One of these reality bending missions is the Search for the Cult mission. It is a very interesting mission which allows you to creatively get past challenges inside a subway station. However, the objectives in this mission can be a bit confusing. So, in this guide, we will show you how you can complete the Search for the Cult mission. Let’s dive in and get creative!
Search for the Cult
The Search for the Cult mission will have you going through an entire subway station. There are many obstacles and puzzles that will come in your way, some of which can be very confusing. Here are the steps you need to follow to complete the mission:
- Align Echo to unlock Missing FBI Agent plot element. Use this plot point in the station to open the path forward.
- Follow the blood trail towards the Collapsed Tunnel. Use the Missing FBI Agent in the Collapsed Tunnel scene.
- Leave the tunnel and use the light to change the orientation of the tracks. Align Echo on tracks to obtain the Murder Cult plot Element.
- Return to the break room near Collapsed Tunnel and clear the flooded stairs with the light.
- Reach the Derailed Train Scene. Use the Murder Cult plot element here.
- Go to the room on the right and align the Echoes. This will unlock the Torchbearers plot Element.
- Use the Torchbearers Plot Element to open up the derailed train. Reach the Abandoned Station where there will be blocked gates.
- Use the lights to navigate the blocked gates and reach the Subway Station.
- Reach the hall at the end of the subway station to unlock the End of the Line Scene.
- Use the Murder Cult plot element. Align the Echoes to unlock the Summoning Ritual plot element and use it on the scene.
- Return to the Collapsed Tunnel Scene and use the Summoning Ritual plot. Escape the Dark Presence that appears here.
- Go through the Collapsed Tunnel that is now open to complete the mission.
NOTE: This guide continues with a detailed walkthrough below.
Detailed Walkthrough
The Search for the Cult mission will start in the Caldera Station. You won’t immediately have a way to move forward, as you won’t have any Plot Elements. To obtain these Plot Elements, you need to locate Echoes and align them for inspiration.
Luckily, when you load in, there will be an Echo available right next to you. Locate the right angle to align them to obtain your first Plot Element. A scene will play out before you can unlock it.
After the scene, you will unlock the Missing FBI Agent plot element. Now, you can go into the Plot Board in your Writer’s Room to change reality.
Since there’s only one plot element, select it and watch as the path ahead opens up for you. There will also be a blood trail you can follow underneath.
This will give you a new objective: Follow the blood trail. Walk into the now open tunnels and follow the straightforward path.
If you have trouble, you can simply follow the blood trail below. Go through the door on the left and keep going forward, until you find yourself near a break room.
Save the game inside this break room, to ensure your progress is not wasted. There is also a map that you can take next to the break room door. We highly recommend getting it, as it will make navigation much easier.
After that, make your way towards the left of this door. There is a doorway that you can go through, which leads to the Collapsed Tunnel.
Enter the Collapsed Tunnel, and you will unlock a brand-new scene. Now, you will need to go into the Plot Board and add the Missing FBI Agent Plot Element to it. This will change the scene in front of you.
Wait for the scene to change. After that, you will need to look for further inspiration to further the story. Look up ahead and you should be able to see an Echo. Align the Echoes together and another scene will play out.
After the scene has played out, look towards the right. You should see another doorway that you can go through.
Once you go through this door, you should find a light near a train. Activate the light by holding down the button at the bottom of the screen. This will change up the world and you’ll find yourself in a tunnel.
Go down this tunnel and up ahead you should see another Echo. Align the Echoes up and yet another scene will play out. However, this scene will allow you to unlock a new Plot Element. This is the Murder Cult Plot Element.
Once you have the Murder Cult plot element, go down the tunnel and take a left through the doorway. Now go back up this tunnel and turn right. This will take you back up to the Collapsed Tunnel.
While not necessary, you can change up the plot elements in the Collapsed Tunnel to the new Murder Cult. This will show a new scene and dialogue which sheds some more light on the story. However, this is not needed for the next progression.
Exit the Collapsed Tunnel towards the break room. When you are near the break room, look towards the right. You will see some stairs going downwards.
The area down these stairs will be flooded. Go down the few stairs until you are able to interact with the Light. Hold down the button to use your lamp to change up the orientation. This will clear out the water and you can go through.
After that, go through the door and turn to the right. Follow the hallway ahead until you come to a door.
Be careful, as there will be a Shadow enemy here that will get pretty aggressive. After that, go up the stairs and you’ll find yet another break room.
Save the game here and turn towards the right of this save area. You will see a ladder right next to a wall. Go up this ladder.
After you climb the ladder, you will find yourself in yet another scene. This is the Derailed Train Scene.
For more details, check out this guide which shows you How to rewrite the Derailed Train Scene.
In this scene, you will have the option of two Plot Elements. Use the Murder Cult Plot Element if you want to progress through this area.
You can even interact with the jerry cans that appear for this new scene for some extra context. After that, turn right towards the side room. There will be some aggressive enemies here so be on your guard.
After you have cleared this room, go towards the right corner. You should find an Echo here that you can align. Doing so will allow you to obtain the Torchbearers Plot Element.
Now return to the Derailed Train scene and go into the Plot Board. Here, you will need to change the Plot Element to Torchbearers.
Doing so will clear the path through the train. Now, you can walk through this train and go through a really horrifying scene.
After you have exited the train, you will need to do some platforming. The path ahead though will be pretty straight forward. Eventually, you will reach an underground area with a blocked gate.
You will need to use the lights in this area to solve the puzzle and get past the blocked areas. This is a very tricky area as it is very easy to get thrown off by the repeated changes in orientation. Start by using the light near the blocked gate.
After that, turn around and go towards the right. Here, you should find a light next to a small utility room. Use the lamp here.
This second light will completely change the layout. The path ahead will open up a bit and you can move forward. Right where it gets blocked off again, there will be a light. Use this light.
This will open up a tunnel. Follow this tunnel to yet another blocked gate with a yellow lamp. Use the light here.
Once you use this light, immediately turn back and make your way to the other end of this path.
The path will get blocked off again and there will be yet another light. Interact with this light.
This is the last light that you will need to interact with. After that you can exit the tunnel and get your new objective. For this part, you will need to Find Inspiration at the Subway Station.
You may want to check out this detailed guide for the Find Inspiration at the Subway Station objective.
In essence, you will need to reach the end of the subway station. The path ahead is fairly straightforward.
Go through the train and use the platform on the left to navigate through. Eventually, you will reach a large hall at the end of the station.
Here, you will unlock a new scene, End of the Line.
You will need to open up the Plot Board, and find a relevant Plot Element to find the necessary inspiration. Change the Plot Element to Murder Cult.
When the scene changes, look up in the middle of the hall. You should see two echoes floating up. Align the Echoes and this will play a new scene. This will unlock the Summoning Ritual Plot Element.
Now, go back to the Plot Board and change the Plot Element to Summoning Ritual.
After the scene changes, turn back around and make your back through the station. Make sure that you keep towards the right. This is because a new path will have opened here.
Keep following this path until you see a door on the right.
Go through this door and continue following the route ahead. You basically will need to reach all the way back to the Collapsed Tunnel, and you can use the map to ensure that you are going the right way.
When you reach the Collapsed Tunnel, open up the Plot Board. Here, you will need to change the Plot Element to Summoning Ritual.
When you change the Plot Element, this will immediately cause the Dark Presence to appear. It will start chasing you down, prompting an action scene with QTEs. Run all the way through the train until you see the break room.
Make a break for the break room as there will be light inside. This will safeguard you from the Dark Presence until it has passed.
Now, return to the Collapsed Tunnel where the Dark Presence had appeared. You will see that the tunnel is now wide open.
Make your way through the opening. The path ahead now is straightforward and will have you crawling through some tunnels.
Eventually, you will reach the end of this mission.
That’s everything you need to know about the Search for the Cult Mission. The puzzles in this mission can especially be confusing, especially when you have to use the light. But with this walkthrough, you can get past these stages with ease and get through this mind-bending mission!
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