There are many wonderful things about Alice: Madness Returns. Just look at the jailbait urchin heroine herself -with her beautifully rendered hair swishing this way and that, or her ever-changing dress glowing like a deep sea fish when underwater.
Then there's the Wonderland around her: rampaging cathedrals built into the backs of trains, a communist dormouse whose Dobby-like voice trumpets worker death throughout the Hatter's mechanical kingdom, skull-faced playing cards built out of punctured, bloody sackcloth... this is truly a dark, fascinating place. The graphics may be a smidge dated, but the art style and the imagination make up for it in spades. (Or, if you're of that persuasion, hearts.)
As a base to build on, the combat in Madness Returns is inarguably entirely solid. Alice's main weapon is the melee Vorpal Blade - yet soon toys like a Pepper-grinder machine-gun, a Hobby Horse hammer and a Teapot cannon get added to the arsenal. You're encouraged to really mix up your moves throughout, gradually learning the attack routines and frailties of a full cast of black slimy 'Ruined' enemies, red-eyed Cyclops teapots and cigar-chomping crabs, while Alice's meaty attacks do occasionally feel something approaching badass.
This sensation, however, rarely lasts for long - endless enemy repetition, poor camera lock-on in busy fighting arenas and hugely punishing checkpoints when you perish will make you want to break things. (Given that you're potentially sitting quite close to a relatively expensive TV and console set-up, this is quite the bad thing.)
In between the girl-powered brawling, though, is three dimensional platforming that belongs to another age. A rubbish age at that, when we all had bad haircuts and a proportion of us were afraid to talk to girls - let alone delicately jump them between invisible platforms. Alice is thrown up on jump-pads, hovered up on gusts of air and finds herself racheting/inhaling various machines to mess with the environment again and again, and again. The puzzles are universally one-note and the platforming unchanging throughout - whatever the current shade of the game's wacky wallpaper.
It doesn't help matters that Wonderland's characters refer to Alice's previous exploits (in a decade old, largely PC game) as if they happened yesterday and are in no further need of discussion. Sure the forerunner, American McGee's Alice, does come attached to new 360 and PS3 versions of Madness Returns (so in terms of pure gameplay hours this certainly can be seen as a good deal) but those playing Madness Returns alone will still feel narratively short-changed. Returning rabbit-hole pioneers almost certainly get the best treatment, while the underlying story itself (a gradually unravelling mental murder mystery) simply doesn't grab as much as it should.
Comments
24 comments so far...
WHERESMYMONKEY on 15 Jun '11 said:
The lock on is identical to ocarina of time. Which isn't perfect when facing multiple enemies but its far from dodgey. the oyster/bell ringing sections like wise have more in common with zelda than guitar hero even down to thier presentation. the platformings not amazing but its not difficult or particuly frustrating because if you die you just respawn on the nearest platform.
Also like every other review i've read there's absolutely no mention of american mcgees alice, i want to know how well its translated to consoles and whether its using the game engine of the second or is it just a port. Despite how good madness returns argumbly is or isn't the original is one of my favourite games. being able to play it again with better graphics would be amazing.
InsertMoreCredit on 15 Jun '11 said:
Not a favourable review, but being as I'm an Alice fan and have no issue with games using aging mechanics, I'm still going to pick it up.
almanac2015 on 15 Jun '11 said:
This isn't the type of game I'd normally go for but I was looking closely at it. Well...it's a shame. Still, despite the criticism I am still intrigued.
ingy on 15 Jun '11 said:
I'm tired of reading these reviews that highlight so called flaws that could be levelled at most other games out there, psychonauts also had punishing checkpoints and was entirely repetitive, ocarina of time had me throwing my pad across the room on many occasions for the very same reasons.
Having bought, and currently enjoying duke nukem forever, i think i will ignore this review and make my own mind up.
dragonjim on 15 Jun '11 said:
Its like when reveiwers whine about open world games combat mechanics then give every GTA game 10/10
metallicorphan on 15 Jun '11 said:
this has been getting some very varied review scores...but mainly 6s and 7s
i decided ages ago that i was picking this up,i love the style and it comes with Alice 1 as well
WHERESMYMONKEY on 15 Jun '11 said:
just had thought about the review. Alice isn't jailbait, She's like 20 in madness returns. she spent 10 years in an asylum.
supremeoutcast on 15 Jun '11 said:
Complaining about the game referencing its predecessor is something of a moot point, really. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn on the DS came out seven years after Golden Sun: The Lost Age on the GBA but I don't recall seeing people bitch about the former making references to characters and events that happened in the latter. The developers did everything they could to stop people getting confused by making the original Alice available as a free download so if gamers are stupid enough to buy a game called Madness RETURNS and not bother playing the original - or at least looking up the storyline on Wikipedia - then it's their own damn fault if they get confused.
As for the combat, she's an ordinary (if slightly unhinged) twenty-something year old woman, she's not supposed to be flipping around the screen pulling off combos, Devil May Cry style. The original was all about the journey, not the combat, and although some may see the platforming as a bit old school, having a game that isn't focused on frantic, thrill-a-minute combat is a welcome change from some of the crap that's currently saturating the gaming market.
Balladeer on 15 Jun '11 said:
Nobody needed to complain about GSDD referencing its predecessor. The game was s**t enough without that. (And as someone who never played the previous games, I found the game's assumption that (a) we'd played the previous games or (b) that we could be bothered to read the wall of text explaining the story very off-putting.)
The_KFD_Case on 15 Jun '11 said:
Ah! What a shame, going by this review that is. I had hoped for something quite special given the setting and characters.
Oh well. Maybe a bargain buy in the future then. Thanks for the heads-up, CVG.
The_KFD_Case on 15 Jun '11 said:
'Atta boy, Monkey! Good to see you've got your priorities straight.
InsertMoreCredit on 15 Jun '11 said:
I enjoy game reviews and sometimes they can be helpful, but deciding to not even try a game based on one persons opinion, (albeit the opinion of someone who clearly isn't happy with anything that may nod towards older game mechanics), is just barking.
When it comes to buying decisions reviews should act as a guide, not an absolute.
El Mag on 15 Jun '11 said:
If in doubt rent it out.
Sounds like it should be used in an advert inbetween go compare and that fecking simples ad that.
dwhlufc on 15 Jun '11 said:
I love the artstyle and old game mechanics do not bother me at all.I'm not going to purchase this at full price but as soon as I see it around the £18 mark I'll snap it up.
Does the reviewer not know that psychonauts was on pc,xbox & the ps2?I think I'll take his review with a pinch of salt as he obviously knows his stuff
The_KFD_Case on 15 Jun '11 said:
Did you miss this bit of my post? "Maybe a bargain buy in the future then."
I don't generally feel inclined to pay 34-40 quid for a console game during the best of times and reviews. Let alone when the review(s) appear to be a mixed bag indeed.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 16 Jun '11 said:
Sapeaking of Psychonauts there's an eater egg in madness returns where there's a skeleton in a catacombe that looks a hell of a lot like raz, big head, goggles puliing the funky psychic pose he does.
InsertMoreCredit on 16 Jun '11 said:
No I did not, you're still dismissing the game out of hand, regardless.
I've now have the game and can confirm while it dos indeed have an old school feel to it, it is not to the games detriment and is far better than than CVG have made out.
vampiresslisa on 17 Jun '11 said:
I have to agree 100%.
I am a huge fan of the original, so I of coarse squealed like a Japanese schoolgirl when I heard about the sequel. I've had it on reserve at GameStop and picked it up yesterday. While it doesn't hold a candle to the original, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite games ever. (The original is second in my faves list, the first spot belongs to Darkstalkers. This is now number 3, replacing Marvel vs Capcom 3) The ability to download the original for free was another awesome perk.
The style admittedly does look like the graphics from the original Alice... And that's one thing I love about it. Sure, graphics have come a LOOOONG way since 2000, but the graphics here remind me of sitting at home on the weekends and playing my N64. The dated style does, in my opinion, add a small degree of creepiness to it.
Speaking of style, I absolutely love the Victorian style animations. It makes the violence in them(particularly in the opening scene) that much more creepy. I actually had nightmares last night about Alice getting her face ripped off. I just sat with my jaw hanging open for that entire scene.
I also enjoy the game's puzzles and mini games. I love games that make me think. Not only are the puzzles intriguing to me, but I like that the characters have a Victorian era vocabulary. Words you don't hear every day are said as if they are frequently mentioned.
Can't end this without mentioning the various dresses. Each is themed to it's setting, using the background as an accessory. I personally wouldn't mind owning the dress she wears while helping the Hatter.
Overall, I have to heavily disagree with this review. Many of the flaws you mentioned are in quite a few games. I can understand it being picked on here, because it had very big shoes to fill. Regardless, I feel that the game is fun and challenging.
Oh, and for the record, Alice isn't "Jailbait" as you put it. She is in her early 30's.
legion on 17 Jun '11 said:
Sounds alot better than the other garbage game that was released lately.
InsertMoreCredit on 18 Jun '11 said:
About half way through now and thoroughly enjoying it.
The CVG reviewer said it had "unforgiving checkpoints" and while it can be quite challenging its hardly Demons Souls.
And 'creepy' is a good way of describing the game.
Sadly it probably won't do very well at retail. Our local Game, for example, only have a handful of copies stuffed on the bottom shelves in their back cat.
MrPirtniw on 18 Jun '11 said:
I bought it yesterday and so far it's really refreshing! Yeah, it's a bit old school- you have to do some platforming (Which really isn't frustrating whatsoever), solve a puzzle and fight some bad guys. But it's put together really well and exploring this version of Wonderland is great fun.
InsertMoreCredit on 18 Jun '11 said:
Unfortunatly a game having old school leanings-platforming, puzzle solving etc-is a no-no for most publications, even more so for Joe-public. Just look at the luke warm reception the excellent Darksiders received.
And yet everyone tends to trip over themselves silly for the next average first person shooter.
vampiresslisa on 19 Jun '11 said:
Same here. I SERIOUSLY want the Kimono dress.
That is very sad to read. It's a great game that, I feel, has been unfairly judged. I've told a few friends about it and the usual response I've gotten is "Eh, I read bad things about it..."
Look, I am one of the pickiest people ever when it comes to games. If a game sucks, I make no secret of it. So far, I am absolutely loving this game. I have actually been fighting with my boyfriend over PS3 time because I want to play it THAT much. (I would be further along, but I do have to work.)
Seriously, if you are reading this and are thinking about buying it, I would do so, even if it's just to get the first Alice for free. Give it an unbiased chance. It really is worth the money.
killakingkrow on 10 Jul '11 said:
Played and finished the game.
Here's a true adjusted score 8/10. True adjusted, unbiased score
Graphics: Don't let anyone fool you, its not crysis 2, but then again its not infamous 2 either. The graphics are up to date and very beautiful. And by far in any game on the market ever in my entire 21 years of gaming There is no game out there as visually creative as this one. You will enjoy it if you are a fan of the horror/gothic media style.
Targeting system: Its trained to track on to the nearest enemy, not the highest danger to you, so you will have to adjust ur targeting. That's the mechanic in most games believe it or not. People fairly unfamiliar to that concept will complain about that. The camera will track to center the enemy on screen. With this being nearly an ots (over the shoulder) your feet will go off screen, and with combat sometimes being on a platform, could be frustrating. But again that is "RARELY" not frequently.
Weapons: Creative, fun. Simply put. You have to think god of war without the aerial styles, and you will understand it. Different weapons makes up for different approaches to enemies. You didn't use the chaos blades for every enemy, you won't use the knife for every boss here. Get the picture?
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Ok as far as understanding the game more
Teeth is currency... Alice's father was a dentist
Keys unlocks next chapter... All rooms were locked when fire went off in house
Empty bottles... Watch the 1st 20 min of the disney movie alice in wonderland and you'll get it
Wonderland... Reflects the "emotion, immediate environment, and situation", as opposed to the first alice it was mental state. Wonderland honestly can't be described in 3 to 4 words, its more of a psychology discussion for professors.
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Compared to the last alice, this one focuses more on the immediate story, as where the last one focused on the urban legends and gothic folklore of Alice in wonderland, and Through the looking glass.
For example:
Alice is thought to be a real case of dementia and violent split personality disorder. Every character in wonderland reflected an employee in the asylum she was admitted to. When reviewing her case to return her to her family, alice lashed out at the female judge and slit her throat. The red queen. She was also thought to be related to the author who had a chance to interview her.
Also the author of the book Lewis Carol was thought to be taking LSD (aka acid) hence in the original to load, save, and delete a save file it was noted With the 1st letter instead of the word. Hence the monitors for the original game, hence the old camera.
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I'm huge a fan of the gothic/horror genre. Obviously an Alice fan. But more importantly I'm a huge gamer as well.
If you like the bizarre, disturbing style side of media. Gothic scenery and excellent costume pieces. If you're an artist of any medium. PICK IT UP.
IF you're an alice fan, enjoy it for visuals and wonderland. There are 2 stories here. Wonderlands (for the alice fans) and the story of how the house burned down (for the scooby doo fans lol... inside joke).
It is a good game, the flaws honestly stands out for those new or still young at video games. Not the hardcore gamers like myself. Regardless it's playable to the point that after 7 min. in wonderland experimenting with the jump mechanics, you'll enjoy it.