For my next review I decided to choose 'Alice, Madness Returns'. I am a huge Alice fan reading the books (Looking Glass Wars by Frank Baddor is an excellent take on the tale), watching the films, listening to the songs (Hypnogaja - Looking Glass) and playing the games. For months I had been trying to find the PC game 'Alice' as it looked exactly like the kind of game I would love.
Amazing then that when the new game came out last year it would also have the bonus content of the first game. I nearly wet myself. But didn't. Because I got the game as a birthday present and that wouldn't have been good for my rep...not that I have one..SO...Alice...ooooo.
Don't let the concept of a children's story fool you. This is one dark and twisted tale of a girl in a very dire situation.
In the first game Alice is woken from her sleep by a voice in her head (The Mad Hatter) telling her to wake up. She does to find her home on fire. With the help of her cat Dinah, she jumps out the window, escaping death. Unlike her family. Now Alice is thrown into her own world of madness, filled with guilt, thinking her family's fate was her doing. This has a chain reaction on Wonderland, turning friends to foes and calm into chaos. With the help of the Cheshire Cat and (while he's around) the White Rabbit, Alice must find the cause of her madness to once again be at peace.
Fast forward a year. This is where the second game starts. Alice is talking to Dr Angus Bumby where he keeps repeating for her to forget but all she can see is her Wonderland worst off then ever and once again succumbs to its chaos. The goal of this game is to get Alice's memories back and find the truth behind the night of the fire and thus restoring Wonderland.
Ok, so I'm coming to the conclusion that I enjoy games based on the human mind because like Psychonauts this game is imaginative with American McGee's interpretation of what Alice's mind would do to Wonderland and how she sees the world.
The characters of this game are all interesting and engaging and each one is important to helping Alice, no matter how big their role is. Alice herself gives this game a very creepy edge. Although a likeable heroine who has speed and agility on her side, she has a calm air about her no matter what she's faced with as if she is used to these sorts of events, not to give anything away but as an example when she sees Hatter for the first time or behind the theatre in the 'Deluded Depths'. Not reacting in the way a 'normal' person would, gives her that insane personality that is needed to complete the game.
In my eyes, the best character is the Cheshire Cat. Roger. L Jackson provides the voice and has the wonderfully wise yet sarcastic and slightly patronising tone that the cat needs to get Alice to do what is needed. I love his look and the fact he can pop up at any time makes him a much anticipated character.
The shrink state is very cool by helping to see things in a level that you couldn't see in full size such as platforms and hints. I do however at times forget that in this state you can only run. You can't fight or jump so this meant I fell a lot because I was too busy looking for my next platform or too intrigued buy the clue drawings. Also because I like to collect and explore everything in a game I spent a lot of time being small and this does knacker your left index finger.
Also I would recommend getting the DLC for the game. On Xbox it is only 160 points but you get 6 new costumes and four new skins for your weapons. I think you can all guess which is the one I'm currently using >^^< . All costumes have a benefit such as staying smaller for longer and taking less damage. Its not necessary to have but it can help and its always good to have a larger choice in wardrobe. Right girls?
