Alice: Madness Returns
American McGee's Alice
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Action, TPP, fantasy, books, Surrealism, action adventure, Game Pass, EA Play, singleplayer
Steam
A third-person action game with elements of 3D platformer and adventure game, designed by American McGee and his Spice Horse studio. Similarly to the previous work of that developer, i.e. American McGee’s Alice, also this game is a reinterpretation of a novel by Lewis Carroll. After ten years of dealing with catatonic schizophrenia caused by the tragic death of her parents, the eponymous heroine has a chance of getting back to a normal life.
Alice: Madness Returns for PC, PS3 and X360 is a sequel to a TPP action game from released in 2000. The first installment was created by Rogue Entertainment (also known for such games as Strife and Quake II: Ground Zero) – a company that has ben closed since. The second part of Alice’s adventures was developed by Spicy Horse, a studio founded by American McGee. The developer is mostly known for American McGee’s Grimm. This game is a reinterpretation of Lewis Caroll’s novel about Alice – a young girl who explores a bizarre, fantasy world full of anthropomorphic creatures. However, American McGee’s version presents the adventure in a much darker way. The game sports unusual audiovisuals and great level design.
Plot
For ten years Alice has been dealing with catatonic schizophrenia caused by the tragic death of her parents. Now, the girl has a chance of getting back to normal life. Unfortunately, the move to London does not bring the expected relief, since the lack of any logical explanation for her parents’ demise leaves Alice restless. It seems that the best way out of this is to use the help of a hypnotist. However, a hypnosis session ends up with Alice returning to Wonderland, which, by the way, has deteriorated since the girl’s last visit.
Mechanics
Alice: Madness Returns for PC, PS3 and X360 is a third-person action game. Most of the time you explore various locations and fight all kinds of enemies. Alice can make use of many types of weapons, such as a kitchen knife or deadly cards, just to name a few. In her journey characters known from the original story of Alice accompany her.
Gameplay can be divided into platform and fighting sequences. The game also offers simple logic puzzles, which were also present in the first game (you must, for example, find the proper one out of countless doors). Some well-known locations have returned as well: the castle of the Queen of Hearts, Vale of Tears, or Fortress of Doors. Besides, at almost any moment, Alice can stop the amazing adventure and return to the real world – i.e. to a psychiatrist’s office, somewhere in the 19th-century London. Doing that gives you a chance to save the game and restore lost health. The psychiatrist’s office also serves the role of a lobby, from where Alice starts every journey into Wonderland. Interestingly, the players are free to choose their next destination, as the main story is non-linear.
Technical aspects
The game looks very nice and features an interesting art style and compelling sound design. Alice: Madness Returns for PC, PS3 and X360 features locations known from the original story, however, they were recreated in a much darker, distorted way.
Last updated on June 21, 2017
Videos and Screens
[0:40] Alice: Madness Returns Dollmaker
[0:06] Alice: Madness Returns Fort Resistance
The main pros of the game
- Visuals and Art Style: The graphics are consistently praised for their beauty, creativity, and Tim Burton-esque aesthetic. The environments and character designs are described as vibrant, gothic, and artistically impressive.
- Soundtrack: The music is highlighted as one of the best aspects of the game, enhancing the atmospheric experience and emotional depth of the narrative.
- Engaging Story: The narrative explores deep themes such as trauma, mental health, and personal growth, making it compelling for players. Many reviews mention the unique take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The platforming and combat mechanics are generally considered fun and engaging, with a variety of weapons and strategies available to players.
- Collectibles and Exploration: Players appreciate the inclusion of collectibles and secrets that add depth to the gameplay and encourage exploration.
The main cons of the game
- Technical Issues: The game is plagued by bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on modern hardware. Many users report frequent crashes and the need for workarounds to get the game running smoothly.
- Repetitive Gameplay: Several reviews mention that the gameplay can become monotonous, with repetitive combat and platforming mechanics that lack variety over time.
- Camera and Control Problems: The camera is often criticized for being clunky, making platforming and combat more challenging than necessary. Some players also report issues with the lock-on targeting system.
- Length and Pacing: Some users feel that certain chapters are too long and could benefit from tighter pacing, leading to a diluted experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Better Bug Fixes: Many players express a desire for more robust patches and updates to resolve the numerous bugs and performance issues.
- Steam Achievements: Users note the absence of achievements on Steam, which they feel would enhance the gaming experience.
- Improved Controller Support: Some reviews mention issues with controller compatibility and functionality, suggesting that better support would improve gameplay for those using controllers.
- Variety in Enemies and Challenges: A call for more diverse enemy types and challenges throughout the game is noted, as many feel that the existing variety is lacking.
Summary
- Overall, while Alice: Madness Returns is celebrated for its artistic design and compelling narrative, it suffers from significant technical shortcomings that affect gameplay enjoyment.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 1637 votes. 426 players anticipated the game.
Alice: Madness Returns Summary
Game Series: American McGee's Alice
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Developer: Spicy Horse
Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc.
Alice: Madness Returns System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM - Vista/7), graphic card 256 MB (GeForce 7600 or better), 8,5 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/7
Xbox 360
Supports: Xbox Live
American McGee Appreciates Alice Fans' Actions but Stresses the Next Move Is up to EA
American McGee appreciates fans' actions but isn't returning to game development. Nevertheless, the Alice Asylum „bible” is ready for possible moves by Electronic Arts.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
July 1, 2024
![Alice Dev American McGee Was 'Emotionally Destroyed' by EA; Doesn't Give Fans Much Hope [Update]](https://cdn.gracza.pl/i_gp/h/16/435792886.jpg)
Alice Dev American McGee Was 'Emotionally Destroyed' by EA; Doesn't Give Fans Much Hope [Update]
The canceled Alice Asylum will never be developed. At least not with the participation of Americana McGee, but the creator has made it clear that also Electronic Arts is not interested in further development of the series.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
October 24, 2023
EA Rejects Alice: Asylum; Broken American McGee is Done With Gamedev
EA has not agreed to develop a new installment of the Alice series. Its creator, American McGee, has announced that he will not try again and is done with both the series and the entire gamedev industry.
video games
Adrian Werner
April 10, 2023
Xbox and PC Game Pass For End of February; Total War: Warhammer 3 and More
New games will soon be added to Game Pass, including Total War: Warhammer III and Alice: Madness Returns. It is worth reminding that these are the last days to try out the first part of Titanfall.
video games
Michael Zegar
February 15, 2022
American McGee Shared the Script for Alice: Asylum
American McGee is still working on Alice: Asylum, the third installment of his take on Alice in Wonderland. The creator has already shared the initial script of the game.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
August 23, 2021
American McGee is working on another Alice
American McGee is working on concept arts and script for the third installment in the iconic American McGee’s Alice series.
video games
Bart Swiatek
January 30, 2019
American McGee has started works on Alice 3
American McGee wants to convince Electronic Arts to make Alice 3. To reach that goal the dev has started works on Alice: Asylum concept, which he intends to present to the franchise's owner.
video games
September 4, 2017