Released in 2011, Alice Madness Returns is the sequel to American Mcgee's `Alice`, originally a PC only but available on console with some versions of Madness Returns. Released on Xbox, Ps3 and Pc the game twists the typical Alice and wonderland story and turns it dark, telling the story of how a grown up Alice lost not only her parents but her sanity in a fire.
In comparison to it's predecessor, Madness Returns is a hell of a lot shorter game, with a depressingly smaller stock of maddening weapons. The story continues from Alice in a bit of a clunky and confusing way, but none the less has it's own unique and interesting story that will keep you playing at least until near the end.
The switching between Wonderland and the real world between chapters at times is annoying but usually gives a nice juxtaposition to the game and provides the player with a good insight into Alice's life when she's not slicing and dicing Card People. Just like Alice, Madness Returns features amazing re-imagining's of the classic characters, twisting them into version that could genuinely give you nightmares had the game not been so laughable at times.
The gameplay in Madness Returns is incredibly lacking, with most of the combat being pretty much button bushing, none of the enemies being particularly challenging, with the exception of some just being incredibly annoying, and the weapons being quite the let down. However, Madness Returns did massively improve on the platform gameplay and makes for some fun, almost Crash Bandicootesque levels. This doesn't make up for the fact that nearly all the levels - despite being place in lush and incredibly well designed settings - are practically the same. Jump here, do that, do this, go here, fight. But That's something that's quite common in a game like this.
If you constantly compare Madness Returns to Alice (something I'm ridiculously guilty off) then it's nothing but a disappointing failure of a sequel in all but story; Nonetheless, thinking of it in it's own light the game has some very good qualities. It returns some fun mini-games that spice up the gameplay so it doesn't get too repetitive, and features a wide cast of Wonderland characters for Mcgee to twist, especially the Cheshire Cat who's voice is weirdly soothing.
Overall, while Madness Returns can be considered a massive let down of a sequel, it works well as it's own game. The graphics are beautiful and the storyline is fun and engaging. It lacks somewhat in gameplay but makes-up for it in other departments and is definitely at least worth a play.
No comments:
Post a Comment