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10-05-14 05:20 AM
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Alice in Wonderland gets dark. Well, Darker
Game's Ratings
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9.7
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10-05-14 05:20 AM
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“Have I gone mad?" "I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.” -Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Madness Begins See, I even found an original quote for you! None of that cliché "We're all mad here" stuff for you guys. In fact, I've vowed not to have that quote in this review at all, and....wait a minute....oops. Oh well, Alice: Madness Returns is the sequel to the famous American McGee's Alice. A game released 11 years prior to this one. If you haven't played the original game however, don't fear! For one, you aren't required to play it as everything is explained. Regardless, an HD remake of the original is bundled with Madness Returns, so your good. Let me start by saying that Madness Return is a great game. It has platforming, combat, amazing story, and in depth exploration. All of this is well implemented, and fine tuned. This game does have some weak points, however it's still a game that delivers on every front. The ambiance is fantastic and lends well to the spooky and surreal tone to the game, and even the violin heavy score is endearing and spooky at the same time. It's a game that tactfully manages to blend combat and platforming in a perfect, seamless match. The story line is the big hook for me though. While it seems a bit disjointed at first, it really ties together in a spectacular way. It's a spiraling story as Alice tries to piece together what little sanity she has left, and uncover the potentially dark secrets lurking in the deepest pits of her lost memories. Memories that a certain therapist seems rather intent on her forgetting, as he seems to believe that repression is the best course to mental health. Victorian psychology at it's finest huh? Still, Alice must return to her wonderland, and try to save it, and by extension herself, from the almost demonic force that is seeking to lay waste to everything she believes to be real. This is contrasted by periods spent in the "real world" where Alice runs around a wonderfully designed Victorian town, that sets as an interlude until she inevitably and seamlessly returns to wonderland....and returns to madness. Enough of the intro though, time to follow me down the rabbit hole... Graphics Despite a few small gripes from me, I still think the graphics deserve a 10, if not a strong 10. On the whole, the graphics are positively stunning. From the large to the small. Everything is rendered in a realistic, but slightly off way. This of course is the intention, as it gives the game a hint of surrealism that is at times hard to place, but is definitely present. And the game in general looks fantastic. One small thing, that somehow greatly adds to the overall beauty of the game, is Alice's hair. It freely blows in the wind and moves as she moves. This is small, but really gives it that almost real quality that draws you in and doesn't let you go. The only gripe I can come up with as far as graphics is that sometimes enemy models get reused with a bit too much frequency. Also, some of the stages are rendered in an annoying way, making navigation a bit of a challenge as it's hard to discern what is and what isn't a path. Now, I've heard criticism of the graphic novel style of graphics the game takes for some of the cut- scenes, and while this isn't always a good thing, I feel Madness Returns handles them well. They are often creepy, as the take a lighter approach, often with horrible things lurking in the background, or even prominently displayed. This contrast is often unsettling, and sometimes psychotic in nature. The scenes look great, and they serve the artistic feel that this game captures in a significant way. And of course,that's exactly what this game feels like. A work of art. Sound I wasn't sure what to go with here honestly, but I've settled on a soft 9. Now, I did state before that this game has a beautiful score, and that is certainly true. Very heavy on violins, and it leans greatly toward the Victorian era the game is set in, and embodies that essence quite nicely. The music has a creeping quality to it as well, and has you descend deeper into the recesses of Alice's shattered and broken wonderland (mind), the music will haunt you. The music to this game further lends to the ever unraveling of sanity as you attempt to wade through the mess of Alice's memories and emotions, and sets the mood as you wander through this desolate land, where madness rules the day. The voice acting? It's ok. Gets a bit odd at times, but overall decent. In general, everything from music to sound effects and voices, all lend to the artistic, and surreal style of the game. Gripes? Well, as I said voice acting can be a bit off. Some characters sound almost cartoonish, and the voice actor for Alice herself seems to have a bit of trouble conveying emotion. Not too bad, but I noticed it. Also, the music can sometimes get a bit repetitive and even annoying on some of the longer levels. Still they are masterfully done for the most part, and set the atmosphere for an experience that will leave a mark on you that will be slow to fade. Especially is you find yourself playing Madness Return over and over, which you just may because... Addictiveness ...Madness Returns is a game you simply won't be able to put down. Solid 9. Combat is a blast, all the weapons are visceral and satisfying (except for the tea pot cannon at least, which just feels plain pathetic), the ambiance is the perfect type of disconcerting, exploration is very engrossing, and the overall mechanics are brilliantly done and smoothly designed. Also, to put it simply for you, the game is fun! The platforming element is a bit weird, because the jumping distance is insane enough that the levels have been forced to spread themselves out a bit too far, but it makes sense in context with the story, so it's fine, and the platforming is still enjoyable and challenging. The puzzles are good as well, and the entire game has enough flow that you will never find yourself bored. You have plenty of side things to collect, and the story is so intriguing that you will certainly want to stick it out to see how it ends. What's the story about you ask? Well let me tell you a bit about it... Story Alice, out of her coma, and out of Ruthledge asylum (where the first game took place), is now undergoing therapy to integrate her into back into society. This goes perfectly well, and she experiences little to no turbulence, becoming a fully functioning, and well adjusted 19 year old girl. Naturally of course, I'm completely lying. You see, Alice's "repression therapy" isn't going well. When she was 7 her entire family died in a fire, with the exception of herself. Alice suffers a significant amount of survivors guilt, and blames herself for what happened. Because she can't remember what happened, she's concocted several ways in which she think she was directly responsible for these deaths. The original game was about her returning to wonderland to sort out her distorted feelings, and enable her to be released from the asylum, and released from the complex emotions holding her back. She made a lot of headway, and was eventually released from the asylum. Now however, we see new problems arising. Her therapist is trying to teach her to block away the horrors that are troubling her, but her return to wonderland has revealed that things are getting worse, not better. A lot worse in fact. A giant demonic train has been traveling her mentally constructed world, and is destroying everything, and everyone in it's path. Worse, the residents of wonderland have grown far more violent and maniacally than before. Throughout this twisted version of wonderland are the fragmented pieces of her memories, and she believes these pieces will enable her to confront the terror that is destroying her beautiful sanctuary, and allow her to finally reclaim her own mind. American McGee as taken the concept that Alice is a girl who constructed an entire world in her own mind to help her cope with the changes that come with growing up, and took it in a new direction. With these two games, he has explored the question; "What would happen to wonderland if Alice underwent some sort of trauma? How would Wonderland change?". In answer to this question, he has given us a bleak, and heavier version of wonderland. One where whimsy and chaos still reign, but now with very real consequences. The story part starts a bit scattered and seemingly predictable, but takes some unexpected and sometime horrific turns. All of this leads up to one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in awhile. I won't ruin it...but I was shocked by something done at the end of the game, but shocked in the most ecstatic way. It was just...great! The story if chaotic, but click together fantastically, and has an explosive finish that will leave you with a big smile on your face. It did with me at least. Solid 10, for an amazing story with tons of depth. Depth Though the story isn't the only place where you will find depth. I rated this category 8 after some deliberation, though it's closer to 9 than it is to 7. The game does offer a rich story, and rich atmosphere, but it also brings a host of collectibles to the table. For one thing, you can unlock different dresses for Alice to wear while in Wonderland. While this does give a dress up barbie vibe, changing dresses carries a practical aspect as well. Different dresses offer different passive buffs (with the exception of the queen of heart dress, which is actually a detriment, and is to be worn for a challenge). Along with unlocking different dresses to buff Alice, every level has hidden min-games to be played for increases to the max health for Alice. You can also find pig noses to be shot by a certain weapon, and offer various rewards and sometimes open up completely new paths to take. They are very well hidden though, and you generally have to listen for audio cues, and search when you hear them. Another addition in the depth department is memories. While each level results in a major realization for Alice, bottles can be found that unlock smaller memories, and help piece together the world outside of wonderland, and Alice's past. Many are well hidden as well. I also greatly enjoyed how it came back and forth from wonderland, and at points, even blended the two in an almost terrifying way. One part in particular...wow. However, I obviously have some issues in this department or I wouldn't have given it an 8. One thing I didn't like is that parts of the levels started to look very much the same. Because of this I found myself getting bored of the scenery before I was actually done with the level. And as I stated before, the game has some interesting enemies, but reuses them a bit too much for my taste. So things get recycled a lot more than I like, but at least what's getting repeated was very high quality to begin with. The game had a decent length as well. No Special section for Difficulty, because I have little to say on it. However, the gameplay is intuitive, and design is ingenious. This game offers a challenge, but it easy to play. Madness Prevails I gave this game a 9. It has it's kinks and shortcoming, yes, but if you can overlook them, you will be rewarded with a menacing and memorable experience, that will stick with you. An often overlooked title that has something for everyone. A fun game with great combat, beautiful music, solid platforming, mind-blowing graphics, and wonderful story. A game that you will not soon forget. Alice: Madness Returns defiantly get's my recommendation, and I would suggest you go out and buy it now if you haven't already played it. Move quickly though I mean You wouldn't wanna be..late  "I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.” -Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Madness Begins See, I even found an original quote for you! None of that cliché "We're all mad here" stuff for you guys. In fact, I've vowed not to have that quote in this review at all, and....wait a minute....oops. Oh well, Alice: Madness Returns is the sequel to the famous American McGee's Alice. A game released 11 years prior to this one. If you haven't played the original game however, don't fear! For one, you aren't required to play it as everything is explained. Regardless, an HD remake of the original is bundled with Madness Returns, so your good. Let me start by saying that Madness Return is a great game. It has platforming, combat, amazing story, and in depth exploration. All of this is well implemented, and fine tuned. This game does have some weak points, however it's still a game that delivers on every front. The ambiance is fantastic and lends well to the spooky and surreal tone to the game, and even the violin heavy score is endearing and spooky at the same time. It's a game that tactfully manages to blend combat and platforming in a perfect, seamless match. The story line is the big hook for me though. While it seems a bit disjointed at first, it really ties together in a spectacular way. It's a spiraling story as Alice tries to piece together what little sanity she has left, and uncover the potentially dark secrets lurking in the deepest pits of her lost memories. Memories that a certain therapist seems rather intent on her forgetting, as he seems to believe that repression is the best course to mental health. Victorian psychology at it's finest huh? Still, Alice must return to her wonderland, and try to save it, and by extension herself, from the almost demonic force that is seeking to lay waste to everything she believes to be real. This is contrasted by periods spent in the "real world" where Alice runs around a wonderfully designed Victorian town, that sets as an interlude until she inevitably and seamlessly returns to wonderland....and returns to madness. Enough of the intro though, time to follow me down the rabbit hole... Graphics Despite a few small gripes from me, I still think the graphics deserve a 10, if not a strong 10. On the whole, the graphics are positively stunning. From the large to the small. Everything is rendered in a realistic, but slightly off way. This of course is the intention, as it gives the game a hint of surrealism that is at times hard to place, but is definitely present. And the game in general looks fantastic. One small thing, that somehow greatly adds to the overall beauty of the game, is Alice's hair. It freely blows in the wind and moves as she moves. This is small, but really gives it that almost real quality that draws you in and doesn't let you go. The only gripe I can come up with as far as graphics is that sometimes enemy models get reused with a bit too much frequency. Also, some of the stages are rendered in an annoying way, making navigation a bit of a challenge as it's hard to discern what is and what isn't a path. Now, I've heard criticism of the graphic novel style of graphics the game takes for some of the cut- scenes, and while this isn't always a good thing, I feel Madness Returns handles them well. They are often creepy, as the take a lighter approach, often with horrible things lurking in the background, or even prominently displayed. This contrast is often unsettling, and sometimes psychotic in nature. The scenes look great, and they serve the artistic feel that this game captures in a significant way. And of course,that's exactly what this game feels like. A work of art. Sound I wasn't sure what to go with here honestly, but I've settled on a soft 9. Now, I did state before that this game has a beautiful score, and that is certainly true. Very heavy on violins, and it leans greatly toward the Victorian era the game is set in, and embodies that essence quite nicely. The music has a creeping quality to it as well, and has you descend deeper into the recesses of Alice's shattered and broken wonderland (mind), the music will haunt you. The music to this game further lends to the ever unraveling of sanity as you attempt to wade through the mess of Alice's memories and emotions, and sets the mood as you wander through this desolate land, where madness rules the day. The voice acting? It's ok. Gets a bit odd at times, but overall decent. In general, everything from music to sound effects and voices, all lend to the artistic, and surreal style of the game. Gripes? Well, as I said voice acting can be a bit off. Some characters sound almost cartoonish, and the voice actor for Alice herself seems to have a bit of trouble conveying emotion. Not too bad, but I noticed it. Also, the music can sometimes get a bit repetitive and even annoying on some of the longer levels. Still they are masterfully done for the most part, and set the atmosphere for an experience that will leave a mark on you that will be slow to fade. Especially is you find yourself playing Madness Return over and over, which you just may because... Addictiveness ...Madness Returns is a game you simply won't be able to put down. Solid 9. Combat is a blast, all the weapons are visceral and satisfying (except for the tea pot cannon at least, which just feels plain pathetic), the ambiance is the perfect type of disconcerting, exploration is very engrossing, and the overall mechanics are brilliantly done and smoothly designed. Also, to put it simply for you, the game is fun! The platforming element is a bit weird, because the jumping distance is insane enough that the levels have been forced to spread themselves out a bit too far, but it makes sense in context with the story, so it's fine, and the platforming is still enjoyable and challenging. The puzzles are good as well, and the entire game has enough flow that you will never find yourself bored. You have plenty of side things to collect, and the story is so intriguing that you will certainly want to stick it out to see how it ends. What's the story about you ask? Well let me tell you a bit about it... Story Alice, out of her coma, and out of Ruthledge asylum (where the first game took place), is now undergoing therapy to integrate her into back into society. This goes perfectly well, and she experiences little to no turbulence, becoming a fully functioning, and well adjusted 19 year old girl. Naturally of course, I'm completely lying. You see, Alice's "repression therapy" isn't going well. When she was 7 her entire family died in a fire, with the exception of herself. Alice suffers a significant amount of survivors guilt, and blames herself for what happened. Because she can't remember what happened, she's concocted several ways in which she think she was directly responsible for these deaths. The original game was about her returning to wonderland to sort out her distorted feelings, and enable her to be released from the asylum, and released from the complex emotions holding her back. She made a lot of headway, and was eventually released from the asylum. Now however, we see new problems arising. Her therapist is trying to teach her to block away the horrors that are troubling her, but her return to wonderland has revealed that things are getting worse, not better. A lot worse in fact. A giant demonic train has been traveling her mentally constructed world, and is destroying everything, and everyone in it's path. Worse, the residents of wonderland have grown far more violent and maniacally than before. Throughout this twisted version of wonderland are the fragmented pieces of her memories, and she believes these pieces will enable her to confront the terror that is destroying her beautiful sanctuary, and allow her to finally reclaim her own mind. American McGee as taken the concept that Alice is a girl who constructed an entire world in her own mind to help her cope with the changes that come with growing up, and took it in a new direction. With these two games, he has explored the question; "What would happen to wonderland if Alice underwent some sort of trauma? How would Wonderland change?". In answer to this question, he has given us a bleak, and heavier version of wonderland. One where whimsy and chaos still reign, but now with very real consequences. The story part starts a bit scattered and seemingly predictable, but takes some unexpected and sometime horrific turns. All of this leads up to one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in awhile. I won't ruin it...but I was shocked by something done at the end of the game, but shocked in the most ecstatic way. It was just...great! The story if chaotic, but click together fantastically, and has an explosive finish that will leave you with a big smile on your face. It did with me at least. Solid 10, for an amazing story with tons of depth. Depth Though the story isn't the only place where you will find depth. I rated this category 8 after some deliberation, though it's closer to 9 than it is to 7. The game does offer a rich story, and rich atmosphere, but it also brings a host of collectibles to the table. For one thing, you can unlock different dresses for Alice to wear while in Wonderland. While this does give a dress up barbie vibe, changing dresses carries a practical aspect as well. Different dresses offer different passive buffs (with the exception of the queen of heart dress, which is actually a detriment, and is to be worn for a challenge). Along with unlocking different dresses to buff Alice, every level has hidden min-games to be played for increases to the max health for Alice. You can also find pig noses to be shot by a certain weapon, and offer various rewards and sometimes open up completely new paths to take. They are very well hidden though, and you generally have to listen for audio cues, and search when you hear them. Another addition in the depth department is memories. While each level results in a major realization for Alice, bottles can be found that unlock smaller memories, and help piece together the world outside of wonderland, and Alice's past. Many are well hidden as well. I also greatly enjoyed how it came back and forth from wonderland, and at points, even blended the two in an almost terrifying way. One part in particular...wow. However, I obviously have some issues in this department or I wouldn't have given it an 8. One thing I didn't like is that parts of the levels started to look very much the same. Because of this I found myself getting bored of the scenery before I was actually done with the level. And as I stated before, the game has some interesting enemies, but reuses them a bit too much for my taste. So things get recycled a lot more than I like, but at least what's getting repeated was very high quality to begin with. The game had a decent length as well. No Special section for Difficulty, because I have little to say on it. However, the gameplay is intuitive, and design is ingenious. This game offers a challenge, but it easy to play. Madness Prevails I gave this game a 9. It has it's kinks and shortcoming, yes, but if you can overlook them, you will be rewarded with a menacing and memorable experience, that will stick with you. An often overlooked title that has something for everyone. A fun game with great combat, beautiful music, solid platforming, mind-blowing graphics, and wonderful story. A game that you will not soon forget. Alice: Madness Returns defiantly get's my recommendation, and I would suggest you go out and buy it now if you haven't already played it. Move quickly though I mean You wouldn't wanna be..late |
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10-05-14 10:24 AM
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baileyface544 : awesome review man! Have not seen any spelling errors or anything like that. This is a big review but it's not the biggest review. Other than that, keep up the reviews! |
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10-05-14 10:29 AM
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baileyface544 : Like I said your reviews are awesome and well made. I feel so bad for Alice this game seems so sad but at the same time I want to play it due to what you said about it. The music sounds like it would great to hear and the story just works so well with what happens. And it just seems like a fun experience to have. |
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