Developed by Spicy Horse
Published by Electronic Arts
Released for Xbox 360
Also on PS3/PC
Backward Compatible on Xbox One
I'll start the review by mentioning that if you purchased a disc copy of Alice: Madness Returns new, it included a code to unlock the original American McGee's Alice game. This was an awesome bonus for those who purchased a physical copy of the game. No worries if you bought it used or digitally though, because they have it available to download on the digital store (as of this writing it's still up). So for the first portion of this review, I'd like to briefly talk about my experience with the original Alice game before going into Madness Returns...
For a game that originally came out back in 2000, American McGee's Alice has aged surprisingly well. It's had a bit of a graphical upgrade but it still runs on a much older engine (Quake III Arena) causing the jumping to be a tad floaty but you'll get used to it pretty quick. The environments are interesting to explore and continue to get even more twisted as you progress. There are some unique takes on some of the classic characters and despite the old graphics engine, many of them still hold up.. There's a nice variety of weapons provided and they all operate differently. Some of the platforming can seem a bit tough but you can save anytime, so as long as you're smart with saving frequently the game can be an easy, fun ride that's worth the trip if you haven't played it. The voice acting is pretty good and the music is definitely fitting. It's very cool to see a bonus like this and gave me the chance to check out one I'd never played before.
Upon booting up the main feature, Alice: Madness Returns, I was immediately impressed. The game features meticulously detailed environments and the controls have been sharpened up from the original game. The levels are among the longest I can recall in recent history and I struggled to finish a chapter in a sitting in this game. They are broken up into sections and the game does have auto-save checkpoints so it's easy to take a break when you need to. Like I mentioned earlier, the levels are incredibly detailed and the use of color makes this a very pretty game to look at. It's hard to believe this came out back in 2011 it looks so good!
The idea of 3D platforming segments doesn't typically excite me, but everything is laid out so well and the controls are responsive enough that I never really got frustrated due to it. The game has tons of collectibles for those who like that sort of thing, many of them revealing little tidbits of the story. There are now less weapons than you had in the original Alice game, but they are all very different and you will use them each in different situations (where I mostly used the frozen wand weapon the whole time in the first game!).
My only real knock against this game are a few somewhat frustrating mini-games mixed throughout. Most of these are simple, but I wasn't too fond of the 2D side-scroller segments. The graphics look okay, but the jump feels nerfed compared to the 3D platforming and Alice's hitbox is way too large while trying to dodge the fireballs and cannonballs. I also didn't care much for the head rolling segments in chapter 5. The idea is okay, roll the head through a maze like Monkey Ball and countless others that have done this before, but later on it turns into launching yourself from cannon to cannon ala Donkey Kong Country, a segment which can be frustrating. All in all, despite those gripes about a few short minigames, Alice: Madness Returns was an absolute pleasure to play. Electronic Arts definitely did a solid in my book for publishing this one and the programmers at Spicy Horse should be a commended for some incredible work!
Final Verdict: Alice: Madness Returns is a fantastic experience and a fresh spin on the old material. Highly recommended, especially if you like a trippy adventure.
Related Links:
Buy Alice: Madness Returns (Digital) - Xbox Marketplace
Buy Alice: Madness Returns (Disc) - eBay
Related Links:
Spicy Horse - Official Site
Electronic Arts - Official Site
Alice: Madness Returns - Metacritic
Alice: Madness Returns - GameFAQs
Alice: Madness Returns Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Alice: Madness Returns - True Achievements
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