Alice: Madness Returns for Xbox 360 Reviews by Gamers

From what I've seen, this game isn't getting very good reviews in the gaming press, so I wasn't expecting too much when I put it in my Xbox 360. And yes, the first 5 or 10 minutes was not great - dreary graphics, no combat, just trying to find the way out of the first level. But once Alice entered Wonderland, things got much better, and quickly. The graphics went from drab and dreary to bright and colorful, and the combat mechanics were quickly introduced. Combat itself is nothing fancy - no real combos to use, although you can switch between weapons on the fly for a variety in your beatdowns. Defeating certain enemies takes a bit of strategy, although there isn't a whole lot of variety in enemy types in this game. Combat is simple and effective, but may get boring for some - I personally enjoyed it. But the thing I really enjoyed about this game was the level design - absolutely stunning. Lots of hidden areas to explore and things to find, all in bizarre and highly creative environments such as a city of dollhouses, a castle made of playing cards, etc. And the graphics don't stay 3D for the entire game, either. There are several levels which are presented in a beautiful 2D, watercolor look as Alice makes her way through a painting she steps into. There are also levels where you play as a creepy dolls head and must roll across platforms, dodge swinging anvils, shoot up ramps, etc. All are extremely creative and very well done, and fun to play. All in all, I'd have to say that this game is one of the best platformers I have ever played, and if you enjoy the genre, do yourself a favor , ignore the critics, and play this game!!!!

Alice: Madness Returns is a unique game in this day and age. It's very colorful. It's also an action/adventure platformer. It's very good at being creative and quirky.

That being said, there are a few things that make it less of a "must own" and more of a "should rent". The levels are way too long for their own good, considering there are only five of them. Each one lasts at minimum three hours. Normally I wouldn't complain but that's a bit much to be jumping and running in the same environment. It's like playing Mario and being stuck in World 1-1 for two hours. It just shouldn't be. They would've been much better off designing various worlds to break up the pace. There are only a few different types of enemies, and it would've been cool to see more.

One final thing that drove me crazy is that throughout the game there are no bosses. Then you get to the end and there's a final boss. He's not tough per se but they don't go over how to fight him like you get to learn with other enemies and so you have to learn pretty quickly to unlearn everything else.

All in all Alice was a fun game, and I enjoyed it. It did have its flaws, but I will probably buy it if I find it cheap enough somewhere.

I would have to say that this is probably one of the most visually stunning games that I have ever had the pleasure to play! I seriously would have to stop several times in game to just look at all of the amazing world levels. Being a fan of steam punk, I nearly fainted that the styles of the characters, costumes, and music. The platforming can be a bit difficult at times, however the controls are very natural and do not become super overwhelming, but at times can even challenge an expert player. My only beef with the game was the relentless platforming with some levels that would never seem to end. That lost my interest in continuing playing the game, along with my patience. Otherwise I would give this a much higher rating.

This was a fun game. It is a continuation of the old Alice PC game. The old PC game is available for download, but if you purchase it you MUST have the New Alice Disc in your machine to play it. Which sucks if your renting it from gamefly and dont want to keep the game longer, just to be able to play what you have already payed $10 for. The graphics are good, and the Art is FANTASTIC!! The gameplay is smooth, but after a while it is just alot of levels where you have to get from one side of the screen to the other, via jumpng from platform to platform, searching for extra stuff along the way. There are four main weapons, which can be upgraded 3 times each, although the upgrades dont really give you anything extra but looks. The main story only lasted around 10 hours of gameplay, so good for renting. Replay value is low, but first time play is recommended if you like dark, and twisted games. Creepy game, but not really scary or overly violent.

This game has everything going for it: interesting story, beautiful atmosphere, decent platforming, and thoughtful combat--however, the game drags on for too long. Usually that's not a bad thing, but the game feels very repetitive; you are forced to repeat the same actions over and over again. The game is definitely worth a play, but you may not have the patience to finish the entire playthrough.

Game was kind of repetative in some parts, but was definatly fun. I liked that fact that you could upgrade your weapons, but seemed like you had to get quite a bit of the teeth points to even upgrade them, and that takes awhile. I think first upgrade was only like 400 or so per weapon, and the second on a lot of them was higher 500 to 800 for the knife.
I never finished the game though because I got mad in some area's you had to shirnk yourself and jump to a sideways moving platform that was moving fairly fast and it disaperars when you become big again, and have to hit it almost perfect and shrink yourself again right away, and repeat repeat. Oh and it's timed a door closed where you needed to go, and I could never make it, so gave up. If you don't mind a twisted outlook on Alice in Wonderland, it is worth a try, and maybe you'll have better luck than I.

First and foremost, Alice: Madness Returns was saved from a lower score by it's fantastically dark setting. Everybody assumes that the old Disney animation is a drug-fueled trip, but this game brings that assumption to life in full force. Twisted re-imaginings of classic Alice characters, bloody combat/cinematics, and the dark atmosphere definitely earns this game's M rating. Other than that, Alice: Madness Returns is your typical third-person adventure game, which comes with the genres trademark problems.

The camera needed some work. It would get caught in tight areas and why the camera does not stay behind you when you're locked onto a target during combat is beyond me. Having to unlock from a target just to adjust the camera became incredibly frustrating.

Combat started out really exciting. Enemies were interesting and there was actual strategy involved in defeating them. Unfortunately, and this can be attributed to the overly long length of the game/chapters, the enemies and combat became quite repetitive.

When it comes to platforming in a 3D space, games usually get it right or they don't. Alice fell somewhere in between. There was just something that felt off. As the game got further along, it actually began to feel like the problem was associated with the flaky camera more than anything else. Take a jump toward a platform without adjusting the camera and death is very likely.

Weapons in Alice were very cool. There are five which you will eventually have at your disposal, four of which you can upgrade (with teeth which you collect throughout the game). Each was very original and fit the setting perfectly.

Like I said in the beginning, were it not for the atmosphere, this game would've have definitely received a 5 from me. But, if you're a fan of the Alice universe, such as myself, your score will probably be bumped up just as mine was. If you're not a fan, I would still recommend checking it out, but expect more of the same old thing.

"Alice" does an admirable job of presenting a lushly realized, well thought out 3rd person brawler/platformer. It's uncommonly well written for a brawler, with an engaging story that wraps itself snugly around the action while never becoming too obtrusive. I found myself very invested in Alice's madness, and her desire to remember her troubled past.
The action is straightforward and effective. while lacking the loving, geeky depth of fighting system like Bayonetta, combat remains engaging and fun for most of the game. Like all brawlers, it gets repetitive quickly, but new enemies add a good amount of spice to the mix.
If you are in this game to see some massive boss fights (God of war, Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, most others) you will be VERY disappointed. The creators actually seem to take perverse delight in confounding your hopes, setting up for what appears to be a big end boss encounter, then ending it with a (always funny) deus ex machina cut scene.
anyways, TL;DR: Solid gameplay, some fun puzzles, good length, good challenge, limited replay, beautiful graphics. Solid B+

I got this game thinking it would be a more demented and twisted version of alice and wonderland and it didn't disappoint. The story was good and was pretty well thought out and as you save wonderland you save Alice from the grip of insanity. It was a basic platformer lots of running, lots of jumping but it was fun. The enemies were very zelda like and also the health system you do random hidden side quest throughout the chapters and when you succeed you paint 1/4 of a rose red when you get all 4 parts painted you get an extra health rose. the battle system was pretty fun but that was prolly more for the awesome dodge which is more of a teleport/speed boost. I played this game and beat in about 7-9 hours so it isn't very long but there is more than enough stuff to find to fill in the 10 years inbetween the original story and that game to fill out 20-25 hours. I advise anyone who rents it play it all the way through it gets really good dont play just chapter 1 and quit...

When video games made the transition to 3D more than a decade ago, platformers have had some very high peaks and some pretty low valleys. There seems to rarely be one that's just somewhere in between, but I think that's exactly where Alice: The Madness Returns lies.

To start with the good, this game has a very interesting artistic style to it, and it maintains a creepy and sometimes morbid atmosphere throughout the game. Also, while it gets off to a bit of a preschool pace in terms of difficulty, it ramps up quickly and and is fairly challenging in the last several levels. There are a fair variety of enemies and while most seem to be more annoying as opposed to difficult, they present various challenges throughout the game. Finally, There are several options in terms of how you choose to fend off enemies so at least there is some flexibility as to how you play the game.

Now here's why I could go no higher than a 6 when scoring this game. First, Whether you want to talk about fighting, platforming, or puzzle solving, there really isn't much of a challenge in this game for a gamer with really any experience. It's just too easy all around. Second, while there are many hidden passages and things to collect throughout the adventure, none serve much of a purpose other than the teeth that can be spent on weapons. Third, speaking of weapons and upgrades... it is almost guaranteed that you'll have all weapons maxed out about halfway through the game as teeth can be found everywhere. In addition to that, it is very unclear as to exactly what the upgrades are doing other than the assumption that they're making your weapons a little stronger. Fourth and last, maybe it's just me, but the reward for trekking through solid adventure/platforming games has almost always been epic boss battles at the end of each level. Alice misses the boat on this completely.

In summary, great effort here but I really wish they had taken a couple more months to polish it.

This game is a must have....if you can make it through the first 15 minutes of game which is mostly narration and setup for the world you will be entering then you are going to absolutely love this game. Think platformer, shooter,puzzle and exploration with hack and slash and that is exactly what this game has. The controls are responsive and no part of the game is seriously frustrating. They could have saved a little bit more often but all in all I love this refreshing change of pace. God bless the developers for taking a chance.

It is basically an emo-like platformer with lots of gore within the Alice and Wonderland world. I really liked it for the first hour or so, but it just got so repetitive after awhile. During a long play session, I found that I was just bored. I wouldn't mind playing every once in awhile, but it just does not hold my attention very long. I like the art style and the story, and even the animations. Alice's hair animation is spot on and her character is beautiful. It is a shame that the game does not have more variety.

Alice: Madness Returns is a glorious sequel ten years in the making. It does what every sequel should strive to do: improve upon the foundation of its original in as many areas as possible while not losing sight of where you came from.

Alice is gorgeous in HD, and her movements are as crisp and fluid as her wit. She begins the tale in therapy, a snooty doctor helping her to forget her tragic past. All too quick, however, she is dragged down into Wonderland. This Wonderland isn't the one you remember from the original game, however you might recognize it from the Disney movie. Butterflies flutter about, flowers open up as you pass by, the grass is green and the river is clear. The Cheshire Cat warns you that this change is not for the better and sends you off on your quest to save Wonderland once again.

Combat is more akin to Kingdom Hearts than American McGee's Alice (finally, you can string together a combo of hits from the knife). This makes Madness Returns more accessible and leads to far more interesting combat situations. There is also a lot of platforming to do in this game, though even that has been made simplistically better with the addition of Alice's twirl and float (either of which she can perform while jumping) as well as the ability to shrink on demand (I'd like to become this big).

A retail purchase of this game is highly recommended, as it includes the original Alice via a download code. The original platformer is quirky and twisted, and the ten year old game plays surprisingly well on a console, provided you don't need to stop on a dime. Downloadable dresses and weapons for another $2, each with a unique powerup, add a fun twist. For example, the Caterpillar dress allows you to see things you would normally only see while you were shrunk, allowing your Shrink Sense to persist even through combat and while jumping.

Pun completely intended. Apparently the reviewers at IGN didn't start playing video games until Uncharted came out. Alice has the platforming elements that made great ALL the games we used to love (Banjo Kazooie, Super Mario 64). Even the combat is Zelda-esque. And who gives three chocolate squirells about sandbox games anymore!! I'm so sick of going from point a to point b just to get to go from point b to point c. I haven't even mentioned the story. It's really hard to go to some of the places this game goes in the plot without getting dark just for the sake of getting dark. Ya dig? The levels get long and and they do get eye stabbingly dull, but take it for what it is.. A GAME. Not a mind blowing adventure into the heart of astrological demon hunting mansters. It's a game.

Really liked some of the visuals in this game, particularly the different dresses / costumes available for Alice. As to gameplay, you've essentially got a lot of jumping/lever-pulling puzzle-solving mixed in with a fair amount of hack-n-slash.

Overall, a fun game if taken in intervals.

I was up in the air about this game when I first saw it but thought I'd give it a rent (thank goodness for GameFly) and I was happily surprised. Many people are saying this game has mediocre graphics but good combat. I am actually on the opposite side of this argument.

The Good:
In my opinion the graphics were the best part of the game. The scenery around Wonderland (and even in London I believe) was the best part of this experience. I had fun with it just too look around and this made searching for collectables a lot more enjoyable. The character models were very clever and fun in a demented sort of way. The voice acting was very well done as well and made this feel like a very English/British title. Not only were these things good but the game was original. Yeah the whole Alice thing has been done before but making it demented made it very fun and interesting. I was always wondering how the next well known character would look. It's a breath of fresh air from the usual FPS and open-ended exploring games.

The Bad:
The first thing that comes to mind is the controls. They just weren't there. The combat was okay at best. The camera during battles made it hard to fight (if stayed locked-on to a target too long the camera would end up behind the enemy leaving you blind to seeing Alice). The game got repetitive and by half way I was ready for it to end, but having the length is good if one purchased the game. The platforming was frustrating at times as well because of the insane jumps you had to pull off at times.

Overall this game is a rent, but a good rent. If you're tired of the FPS's out there and unoriginal games pick this up and just look around in Wonderland. I think you'll be happy you did.

I give this a 9 out of 10 just on visuals. I was extremely drawn into the whole demented Alice idea and was very happy with the results.

P.S. The Chesire Cat was awesome.

The art style and chars are good but as a game its just very poor. There are invisible walls everywhere, most of the enemies take way too long to kill, and there just isn't much variation. Really what ruined this game for me was how padded and repetitive this game is, especially towards the end. You'll keep doing the same platforming puzzles, the same slide segment, and the same arena gauntlet ad nauseum. Not since Too Human have I found myself yelling "Are we done yet?!" out loud so much.

It's obvious they only had half a games worth of actual content so they stretched things out to the point I physically wanted to puke. Take it in small doses and you might have a better time...maybe.

Okay, so I am usually not in to playing any kind of game remotely close to this one. I decided to try it because it looked a little off and insane, so fits me perfectly. The game itself is actually really good and the story is pretty decent as well. The graphics aren't the best by far and the main problem of this game and why I give this a low rating is because of this.....to accomplish the smallest task within this game in each level, the designers put way to much effort in to it. By the time you finish a task and realize all you were getting was a memory bottle or a dang piece of a 5 piece puzzel, I.E.....the Mad Hatter....your like that took me almost 45 minutes. I guess I learned my lesson on not playing online games and attempting actually beat a game. Overall I give this a 4. It had really great potential but too much time to play each level; it becomes tedious instead of fun.

definitely a good game, very visually interesting like any alice game should be, however not even close to as epic the original was. the story is somewhat lacking, and the gameplay can get monotonous at times, however the gameplay in general is pretty entertaining. love the graphics, colors, and maps in this game... but in my opinion the characters from the old game should have been much more involved, as they were in the first.

this game might lose hold of the average player, but a must-play for any fan of the original

I found this game to be very entertaining and some how original. I've heard of this game for PC a long time ago, but would of never gave it a chance. Until it hit X BOX that is. This game has some grahpical and glithcing issues but nothing major to ruin the experience. I suggest playing this game if you find your self bored with others.

This could be a case study in 'how to ruin a game with invisible walls'. On top of the ridiculous amount of invisible walls, they have ledges that you clip right through, the camera goes stupid at the worst times, and the story is so badly told I still am not sure what its supposed to be.

On the plus side the game looks great, and it does a great job of conveying a eerie empty feeling. The game play is well done, but the negatives just drown it out.

This game reminds me sooo much of Legend of Zelda, the way she uses the vopal blade, JUST like Link! The teapot monsters where you have to shoot them in the eye, just like monsters on LoZ! But I love those games and this kinda takes it to another level with all the creepy and gory intros too new chapters :D

The Good:

-The artstyle- American McGee's art style is beautiful. Everything has a goth/dark tone to it, not to mention that the creatures and things of the sort are beautifully twisted.

-The fightin'- While the game may suffer in other departments, at least the fighting is fun enough. It consists of dodging, melee attacks and ranged attacks. Think of the fighting as really similar to Darksiders [to a lesser degree] so if you liked that you'll like this.

-The characters- While you'll be somewhat lost with the story if you haven't played the first, seeing how characters from Alice in Wonderland are represented in this game is quite badass.

The Bad:

- Graphical Errors- Seems that textures don't load and there are pop-ins/screen tears every now and again.

- The simplicity of the game- The game doesn't have much to offer if you don't play it at least in the Hard difficulty. There's also a simplistic feeling to the game in general, as in not quite mediocre but.... like you know it isn't a big game.

The Ugly

The platforming- It isn't bad, but something of it is not as appealing. Especially after great platforming games out there. It does have interesting aspects, but over-all it just feels like a resounding 'meh'

The story- good story if you know the background. If you don't I suggest you read on Wikipedia the first game's plot to know about some of the characters.

Conclusion- 7/10. A good game to pass time with, but like other American McGee's the gameplay isn't its most appealing aspect it's the story, characters and artstyle.

Buy/Rent- Buying the game gives you free access to a remastered Alice as an XBLA/PSN download, so you'd be getting two games for one. If you're not interested in playing the first though, just rent it.

I am surprised at all of the awesome reviews. After ten minutes playing Alice: The Madness Returns, you will be repeating the same actions the whole way through. Though the whole game is not bad, the story, platforming, and fighting never really progress. Sure, new enemies pop up, but defeating them requires the same "skill" (dodge, hit, dodge, hit, dodge, hit) as the last enemy you fought.

The platforming really let me down as almost no skill or thought is needed to get where you need to go or find any hidden items. After this disappointment I was hoping for a great story. Again, none. There could have been no storyline and you wouldn't have missed anything.

For being a mature game, the developers sure didn't up the skill level for adults. I recommend this game for rent only.