Tom Acres of High Score Reviews writes:
'Alice in Wonderland was a staple of my childhood. Whether it was having Lewis Carroll’s novels read to me by my parents, or watching Disney’s classic animation for the umpteenth time, I always found myself enamored with Wonderland’s crazy inhabitants and ridiculous notions. The way in which Carroll’s world deals with logic and fantasy simultaneously has allowed Alice’s adventures to live long and prosper, and no more was that apparent than when Tim Burton managed to completely butcher the concept with 2010′s Alice in Wonderland and still rake in over $1,000,000,000 in revenue. That makes it the 16th highest grossing film of all time – of all time - you’re all mad, mad as a hatter.
Just one year later and we were treated to another interpretation of the formula, this time with Alice: Madness Returns, an action-platformer from the brilliantly named American McGee and his just as brilliantly named Shanghai-based development studio, Spicy Horse. Madness Returns was released for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and was a game I actually had an interest in upon it hitting store shelves (it was during the typically dry summer months) but never got round to picking up until earlier this year when it popped up at an enticingly low price during a PlayStation Network sale. Little did I know, I was getting some serious bang for buck with the addition of a second game included in the package – American McGee’s Alice – where the madness began for McGee’s take on Wonderland 14 years ago.'
At the end of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, ABG's editors open up about their own experiences, and look back at the Video Game industry's sordid past, and the advances made in recent years in tackling this most sensitive of subjects
2000. The beginning of the new millennium and the 21st century. It’s mind-boggling that just over 20 years—two whole decades—have passed in what felt like a heartbeat. The gaming industry has seen itself evolve in so many interesting and creative ways, strengthening its standing as an art form with every title and exploring themes as yet untouched by the medium—in particular, the subject of the mind and mental health.
Still one of my favorite games wish there was a sequel also wish Lollipop Chainsaw saw a sequel as well shitty part to this is that EA controls Alice now.
Oh EA...what would we do without them? I'd just love for a port of Lollipop Chainsaw, though a sequel would be nice too.
Technically, The Madness Returns is a sequel. The odd thing is, I love the original from a story and theme standpoint, and it may even be my absolute favourite take on Alice, but it isn't the greatest game to actually play. The sequel addresses my issues with the gameplay in the original, and is a great game to play, but it massacres the themes of the original, and presents a narrative that throws all its subtlety out the window so it can hit the player over the head with its story.
I've heard a third game is supposedly in the works. Hopefully it will happen, and maybe it can combine the best aspects of both existing games. I want a game that plays great, and gets the themes and story right.
I guess there was a sequel and American Magee was involved but i thought it wasn't that great
I confess, I didn't finish it. I managed to get to the stage with the Mad Hatter, but I found that so annoying that I just couldn't continue. Up to that point, it was taking every fiber of my being to forgive some of the story and theme choices.
The sadness and despair of the Vale of Tears made it one of my favourite stages in the original game, so when the "Vale of Tears" in the sequel had rainbows...I didn't get it. My friend who was ok with it said "maybe they're happy tears". Ugh. I told him "no, they can't be happy tears, because the point of American McGee's Alice is that it's a dark take on Wonderland".
Also, it's not as if the original was overly subtle with its narrative, but what was wrong with "I broke this world, and only I can make it right?" What the story needed wasn't "Poor Alice" over and over again, and needing to dump a ton of exposition on things we could easily infer. Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea that losing her family in a house fire caused psychological trauma. Please explain that to me in excruciating detail. /s Also, isn't it kind of the point of the original that she overcomes that trauma? The Madness Returns doesn't even need to exist.
But yeah, the Mad Hatter sequence was so migraine inducing I just had to quit. The Madness Returns is much better gameplay-wise, but it's telling that I managed to complete the original, and only got so far into its sequel.
Sorry for the rant. Suffice to say, I didn't think it was that great either.
Seeing as this is talking about the original, I feel the need to warn there is a sequel to those who come here and don't know the franchise. Alice Madness Returns was amazing and I loved it. Only two complains I have is the lack of boss battles and the lack of a sequel
i really hate how gems like this just .. sit there. untouched. left alone. can u imagine this being ported to current or past gen ? that would be amazing.
Omri koresh has released a 2GB HD Fan Remaster Mod for American McGee's Alice.
Still an incredible game and game series. I backed the 3rd one so lets hope we see that one soon as well.
