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American McGee's Alice

American McGee's Alice

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: EYE CANDY!
Review: I have been looking forward to the release of this game for while, but I had no idea it was going to be this visual. The screenshots on the website are great but the movement and gameplay are unmatched by any game I've EVER played.

The requirements are a little steep (the review says 200mhz and 64mb ram but the retail box says 400mhz, 64mb ram and 16mb 3D video card), but if you have the system, and you like third person adventure games, you will be completely immersed in this game. I'm only on chapter one and I'm sucked in beyond belief.

The environments are an acid trip to say the least, so not only are you looking forward to the next level and new enemies, but you are also looking forward to what sort of strange, dream induced hallucinations American McGee has come up with.

Again if you like 3rd person adventures, and can handle Alice in Wonderland on crack and a ouija board, this game is for you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Go ask Alice
Review: I have recently downloaded a demo of this game and spent several hours in a wonderland. That is precisely where the game begins, and even from the load screen, it looks marvelous. It is set in the third person perspective using the Quake III engine, which must have had major changes made to it because it runs perfectly ~ the movement and views available are fluid and easy to negotiate, covering a 3D spectrum.

The look of the game (through the first few levels, anyway) is completely psychedelic and beautiful. Gardens with iridescent mushrooms, GIANT leaves of grass, and creeks that wind mysteriously through it all. The interiors are just as detailed ~ with grandfather clocks that sway, 'liquid' floors and ceilings, and a pastel design. I actually found myself pausing at each new scene just to take it all in, and after advancing, I wanted to go back to view it all over again.

But, of course, it isn't all sugar and spice. The inhabitants of this colorful world are well drawn, and, being enchanted by the evil Queen of Hearts, are basically out to kill you. But, Alice seems to have a few tricks of her own as she arms herself with toys that turn into weapons. This isn't the tame little fairy tale that Disney popularized per se, but is enhanced with subtle creepy elements that Lewis Carroll would probably be proud of.

Another impressive aspect of the game is the sound. From what I heard, the ambient music works well, providing an eerie foundation which borders on nightmarish at times. The effects samples are diverse and add to the experience without overloading it. (There are also some interesting 'old toy' sounds in the game.)

Game play itself is smooth ~ a combination of action (run and shoot) and adventure (puzzles and secret paths), but don't think Tomb Raider exactly. There seems to be just enough problem solving in the journey to keep it interesting, but not so much that will bring headaches. Alice is mostly an action game, and the adventure portion breaks up the fighting elements nicely.

Basically, American McGee's Alice looks like a good 3D action game. There is a nice variety in level design, a clever lot of weapons, and even a good game options screen providing many video/sound choices.

I would most definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys playing action/adventure games, as it brings the genre to a new standard ~ it's the next best thing to reading the book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Even Better Than We Hoped...
Review: I will keep this simple. This review is based on the demo released December 2. The graphics are unbelievable and just what were promised in the trailers and screenshots. You can do so much with the Quake 3 engine, and this proves it. The music is creepy and sets a perfect mood. This is similar in atmosphere to Sanitarium, released in 1998, but the gameplay is smoother and the story much more inviting. The weapons are minimalist, but effective. This is not a place for rocket-launchers and railguns. The Cheshire Cat is your smarmy guide, perhaps a bit bitter. You already know these characters, and though the twist that has afflicted Alice and Wonderland is severe and dark, it is not beyond probability. Alice has to grow up. Wonderland did not cease when she left. The Red Queen didn't rest easily. Go. Look at the box, it practically says "BUY ME" ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best games of the year
Review: I have to admit, before I played this game, I really didn't think that much of it. Good third-person games on the PC are few and far between. Sure, we have MDK2, F.A.K.K. 2 is alright, and Rune is a nice title, but there aren't many great third-person games on PC. All of this changes with Alice.

Alice has a winning combination of great graphics (thanks to the power of the Quake 3 engine) and wonderful gameplay. I'll start off with the graphics. The textures are highly detailed, and perfectly fit the atmosphere of the game, which is dark. However, what really makes this game shine is the originality and detail of the levels. Each level is much different from any other. You'll walk on huge chess boards rendered in black and white, where you Alice will be the only thing of color on the screen. You'll go through castles that have clocks that sway from side to side. Other places will have tables flying and twirling all about. No other game has levels quite like Alice, and no other game has the originality of Alice. I suppose the best way to describe it would be a 3D Castlevania game done right.

Now onto gameplay. The problem with most third-person games is that many leaps of faith are required. Jumps become tiresome and just plain hard. Alice avoids this with a very nice "lock-on" jump system. You'll land right where you want to. It is a great addition, and jumps never seem tedious. The combat is quite a bit similar to Rune's. Most weapons are melee, but there are some projection weapons. All weapons have a secondary fire, which usually projects something. The game also has a "lock-on" system for combat, which avoids the frustration of continually missing an enemy.

Alice also has quite a few nice touches that make the gameplay more enjoyable. There is a cat character (the one on the cover, standing right next to Alice) who helps you out on your journey. He only speaks in riddles, which gives him a nice personality. The sound is quite nice, and you're in for a real treat if you have a Soundblaster Live! card. The music is great, and perfectly fits the game.

Another thing that makes Alice great is its atmosphere. If you just look at the pictures, you'd think that the game tries to induce nightmares. This is very wrong. The atmosphere is more...well, it is hard to describe, but you should have no problem playing it with the lights off. I guess you could say that the game really "feels" like Wonderland. Great job by the developers there.

The game run's nicely on my middle of the road P3 500 MHz with 128 megs of RAM, and a now outdated TNT card.

The bottom line: this game does to third-person action/adventures what Half-Life did for first-person shooters. Get it now. If you can't get it now, make sure it is the first thing on your want list for the Holidays.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Gamer in USA
Review: American McGee's Alice In Wonderland suprised me. When I first noticed that the game was out I was like yeah right,but I bought it and I loved it. Basicly you play Alice and Wonderland does not look like it used to. It is deformed and evil. She carries around a Knife along with many other toys (that you get latter in the game), as the Mad Hatter calls them, and she kills the evil monsters around her. The Graphics in this game are unbelievable. In the game there are many different levels and most of the characters from the movie (The Queen, The Cat, The Catipiller ex.) are in the game along with some added ones. The sky is a swirling black pit and the cat has no skin. The game is pretty advanced, not extermely hard but it has its times. If you like Alice In Wonderland or you thought the movie was to fruity then this is the game for you. Its an awsomely wicked game that everyone should try. Highly Reccomended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Unique
Review: This game is one of the greatest games ever made. The twistest story of Alice ever told that even Lewis Carrol would be impressed. Highly recomended!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: beautiful but a little skin deep
Review: More 2 and a half stars for everything; a grudging recommendation.

Usually I write pretty long reviews, but i suppose this game is getting a bit long in the tooth so I thought I'd try and dash a brief one out for the small group of people who might be interested. I mean, its not that outdated.

This game is pretty interesting in a few ways, namely graphics and design, but it unfortunately has a lot of problems that make it not entirely fun, and it has a sad tendency to let down in places where it could really shine. Here is a brief look based on things that are important to me.

Story: D, there is an opening cut scene, also a pretty brilliant concept about how Alice is older, had a horrible tragedy, is struggling with sanity, is back in wonderland as a kind of subconscious or unconscious struggle for her mind. it is set up well, like I said the concept is great, however, they neglect to actually have a story of any weight or interest to match- it's all just find this person, defeat this creature, get this thing. I found it quite disappointing on this score.

Graphics: A-, these are strange and beautiful and a high-water mark in gaming. The color, tone, and inventiveness are really fun to look at. While they lack some of the detail current games are now capable of they still hold up pretty well on that score. I think my minus is mostly for the way the game itself can actually detract from the wonderful world construction of the game, and, well, they really went a little too dark with it, both in tone and feel, which i wouldn't mind so much, just, it's so typical.

game play: D-, not very fun, this is mainly a weird kind of shooter with puzzles. the puzzles are mediocre. The weapons, while graphically full of the dark whimsy of the game, are not a pleasure to use. You use something and have to wait, tic tic tic, to use it again, and that kind of timing is irritating. You have to be patient and use timing and it just does not suit this sort of game. Also, as the game is purely about advancing it tends to have a breathless quality far too much more than an exploratory quality which is a waste of the lovely design. Boss battles are tedious (I must admit I find that so all too often in games) and mostly involve run, employ correct weapon correctly, run, employ... and so on.

Difficulty: B-, sorry, cant remember too well- did this have difficulty levels? (Something I feel strongly about). I just remember that playing it was not too too hard though not exactly easy- and some fights and puzzles are a bit of a pain for not especially good reasons (oh, I can climb that ledge? unlike these other 12?), but there is a lot of health around, and I do tend to like games to be easier.

Dreariness factor: C-, the game lacks much release, relief or joyful factors. it's a bit of a dark game for all it's whimsy. Time spent with friends in the game is brief.

Characters: B, pretty well done, but a little brief, Alice is pretty appealing to play as. Pretty good voice acting. of course, beautifully designed.

chore factor: C-, like I said, getting ahead is not hugely rewarding without a good story or real light spots and getting from point a to point b can be a bit tiring, especially when it's a sort of non linear maze kind of approach (not a favorite of mine).

Technical issues: I really cannot remember any problems at all, not even minor. Of course, that's all subjective to different systems, but this seems pretty stable, works fine on xp etc.

Game saves: B, many a mighty game has been brought low by a poor game save system. Alice allows for anytime saves which I feel is mainly how it should be.

Product materials: B-, again I am trying to do this one from memory, but I think there was some neat stuff in the box that set up the back-story. The how to play guide was less great, but something- if I am recalling correctly.

Ooops, I guess that was long. If computer games were as inventive and varied as they should be I would seriously not be recommending this game, but because the field is generally kind of weak I think there are some points of interest and hope in this sort of game, and it might really be worth a try especially at the low prices you can get it for these days.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best version of Alice
Review: This game is great. I couldn't stop playing it and finished the game within a few days.
Alice should have always looked like this.
The weapons in this game came from different themes of the Alice in Wonderland we all remember. There's cards (card men), dice, wands (the Queen). Then others that weren't from the cartoon, but were really sweet.
Only get this game if you have a really good graphics card though. I didn't and a lot of things show up gray and are hard to see.
Also, don't use the cheats, this game is pretty simple once you get the hang of it.
Watch out for the ants. They seem to come out of nowhere. Well, that's how most of the bad guys in this game are. They're around every corner.
Great game!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just Awesome
Review: I think American McGee's Alice is one of my all time favorite games. It has lush, dark, beautifully rendered settings. It has interesting and graphically compelling characters and a good backstory. Granted it is not for the kiddies but that this is made for us older gamers is just another plus in my book. I was drawn into Alice's world within minutes of starting play. If you have played Clive Barker's Undying and enjoyed that then you will probably love Alice. It edges out Undying a bit in my book in areas of ease of game play and coolness of weoponery but it is atmospherically similar. In terms of comments on difficulties with movement I have yet to find a game that didn't have places where the movement was tricky or unpredictable. I didn't notice any really bad or overly annoying problems in Alice myself.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A dark game to just love
Review: When I saw an ad for this game, something just drew me to it. I don't know if it was just the twistedness of my mind, or the game just looked good. We have the story of alice who is a few years older with a darker hair color to match her dark persona. She may have returned happy from wonderland before, but now she survived a fire that killed her family and is a local at the mental instatution. She is called back to wonderland and wonderful it is not as the queen of hearts now rules with an iron fist. All the old characters are back in a twisted way and the errie music that accomponies this game truly sets the mood. A good game but kinda hard to control at first. I would love it if this would be a movie (an interesting concept actually) but a game you should definately get and a deal at the price nowadays.



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