Gameitall The date was October 6th, 2000, I had just gotten my computer with a pretty bad video card and a series of video games from Dell, this was one of my first taste at 3D gaming, a trend that would sweep the industry by storm.
The first game I ever purchased was a game that looked like a fairy tale, this game was dark, twisted, and featured a girl in a blue and white apron and a near skeleton cat, on the words was written in big letters “American Mcgee’s ALICE.” I was amazed when I played it, although it there was quite some lag due to said, “bad video card” I played the game until completion. I never will watch Alice in Wonderland again because of this game, there was nothing could match the disturbing power of that game.
It’s now Tuesday, June 14 2011, and today I’m taking another trip down the rabbit hole.
Alice: Madness Returns takes place after the events of the first game, Alice has been released from the asylum and given into the care of a psychiatrist who wants her remove her memories of wonderland and the nightmares about her parents death. It becomes quickly implied that the fire that killed her parents may not have been as accidental as we were lead to believe.
The story is much more stronger here from the first game, but that’s not saying much, as with both games story doesn’t seem to be the main focus. Both the stories are just a set up to understanding why Wonderland is the way it is, Alice has gone mad, simple enough.
What really was the main goal of this game was Wonderland itself. As twisted as it has become, it is gorgeous to look at, from the twisted halls of the queens castle, to the industrial wonder of the Hatter’s Domain. The game itself is beautiful.
Now when we get into the gameplay, the only thing that comes to mind is Zelda, Alice has some tools available to her to help dispatch the queen’s guards and other creepy enemies, including the series famed Vorpal Blade. Combat quick and simple thanks to the use of a lock on tool and camera that actually works, which in itself is a great accomplishment.
The only issue with Alice’s gameplay is the puzzles, for being Wonderland the puzzles don’t seem too creative, and in fact they are quite repetitive, involving alot of switch and leavers, pressure pads and jumping. The only creative part I’ve found about the puzzles is the Shrink ability, which allows you to enter small doorways and see invisible platforms.
Alice is not a short game, but doesn’t offer much as replay value, unless finding many different collectibles or getting achievements for playing on the hardest difficulty. Although the Original Alice does come with the game via EA’s Online Pass or 8 dollars though Live Marketplace/PSN.
Alice is a wonderful head trip, and you can tell that there is allot of love put into this game, it is hard to find something wrong with this game other than repetitive puzzles and sub-par story. Alice has improved with age and the team at Spicy Horse really delivered on a quality game.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Alice Madness Returns hits an 8 – Highly recommended.
