While the first two chapters of Alan Wake 2 feature the new protagonist, FBI Special Agent Saga, the game returns to the prequel’s main protagonist in chapter three. After the third chapter, called ‘Initiation One: Late Night,’ the game takes Alan into the subway tunnels in New York.
After exiting the Talk Show studio, you will find yourself in the streets of New York trying to find a murder scene in the subway tunnels under the city. Amidst all the chaos, even getting inside the tunnels can be challenging, let alone navigating them. That’s where our guide steps in.
How To Find The Subway Tunnels
When you leave the studio, you will hear a phone ringing across the street. Over the phone, you will talk to an unknown person who will invite you to the Caldera Street Station in New York. This event will mark the start of chapter four, ‘Initiation Two: Casey.’
During the cut scene, you will also watch Alan pick up a subway pass, which will be added to your inventory. This will be useful later.
After the call ends, turn left and collect the map of the Caldera Street Plaza from the board next to the phone booth. You can use the map to track the location of the Caldera Street Station. From the phone booth, turn left and keep going straight.
Then, take a right onto Caldera Street. Moving forward, you will see the Caldera Street Station on your right.
While exploring the area, you will encounter many dark shadows. Although they will disappear once you get close, it is best to steer clear since you have nothing to defend yourself with.
How To Enter The Subway Tunnels
When you approach the Caldera Street Station, the entrance will be blocked. You must use your lamp and activate a light source near the station to make the entrance appear. Head back to Caldera Street and cross the intersection to find a light source.
From the Cladera Street Station, you can spot two bright light sources. While one source is to the right across Draft Street, the other one is on the alleyway on your left. However, the light source across Draft Street can’t be accessed now.
On your left, you will find a sign ‘Neighborhood Illumination,’ which points into an alleyway. You can find a light source at the end of this alley.
Before going into the alley, go to the ‘Vision IV Shop’ on your right to collect a ‘Writing’ from the ‘Writer’s Journey.’
While walking across the alleyway, you will trigger a cut scene featuring Alan and Detective Casey in dialogue. Towards the end of the cutscene, the light at the end of the alley will turn off, and Casey will run towards the voices coming from the right end to the right of the alley.
Once the cut scene ends, you must run in the same direction as Casey to investigate the mysterious sound. Here, you will find his dead body against a wall with his revolver and flashlight.
From Casey’s dead body, you can now pick up his flashlight and revolver to defend yourself.
Right across the body, you can take the light source from the streetlight back to the station using your angel lamp. As you collect, the streetlight from the layout of the alley will change.
Before going back, explore the newly created path in the alleyway on your left, which appeared after you collected the light source. Here, you will find Words of Power for Alan, which can enhance Alan’s abilities when equipped.
The alley will be filled with dark aberrations as soon as you try to head back. Although you can attempt to dodge them while running, you must use your flashlight on the last two aberrations near the stairs.
Once out on Caldera Street, head back to the station and activate the light source to enter it.
How To Find The Second Light Source For The Subway Tunnels
When you enter the subway tunnels, you will be disappointed to see that you need yet another light source to travel further into the subway. The only remaining light source in the area is the light behind the locked door across Draft Street.
Explore the Rooftops Near High-Line Station
To get to that side of the locked door, you must use your lamp to activate the streetlight further down Caldera Street at the Draft Street intersection. Activating this light will open up the stairs to the High-Line Station.
To activate the streetlight, you must reuse the alley light outside the Caldera station and transfer it to the intersection.
Go up the stairs, cross the train tracks, and walk across the wooden planks on your right, leading to a rooftop. On the rooftop, climb the ladder on your left. Once you climb the ladder, take the set of stairs on your right and open the door on this rooftop.
During this stretch, you will encounter several shadows. For now, the shadows will remain passive if you keep your distance. So you don’t have to waste your batteries and ammo on them.
After opening the door, head down the staircase to get to the lower rooftops. Here, you will encounter two strange dark shadows. On your left, you can spot a break room where you can save your game. From the break room, turn left and then take a sharp right towards the yellow arrow on the wall.
Saving the game at break rooms is always a good idea since you can also find various collectibles like healing items and ammo in them.
After this right turn, you can continue walking straight and take a left towards a door with the word ‘Lost’ written above it.
After the first right next to the yellow arrow, you can find another yellow arrow to your right. This will lead you to more Words of Power. You can also explore further in this general direction to find an interesting character interaction with a character you saw in the previous chapters and more loot.
Collect The Second Light Source
The door with the words ‘Lost’ will open right before the second light source on the other side of the locked alleyway door. This light source will be the headlights of a taxi stationed at the side of the road.
When you collect the light in your angel lamp, the taxi will turn into a noisy police car, attracting hostile shadows towards you. Be prepared for a fight because the shadows will attack you now. So, keep your gun and flashlight ready for some action.
You can unlock the locked door from this side, which leads you directly to the Draft Street intersection. It is best to open it before collecting the light from the taxi, so you can run from the dark shadows and reach the intersection light source without wasting many resources.
After acquiring the second light, you can use it with the light source on the Draft Street intersection to enter the Caldera Station into the tunnels. Once collected, use the first light source to reveal the entrance to the station.
Use the second light source inside the station to alter its layout and reveal an entry gate leading to the platform.