Alice – Madness Returns Review

The original classic tale of a trip to Wonderland spun into a bizarre game was refreshing, exciting, and caught the attention of gamers of all types. In Alice: Madness Returns, the signature dark, twisted spin returns, but is much less appealing and unique than its predecessor. Die-hard fans will appreciate the same features that they loved about the original, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, finding entertainment in the most expected features.

Beyond the initial entertainment, however, Alice: Madness Returns quickly becomes a generic tale of Alice attempting to put the pieces of her family’s death together. With her asylum-committed mind tripping, the story takes place mostly in Wonderland with occasional trips to England for a quintessential reality check. Taking place 10 years after the first game, the new Alice appears to be reliable, if nothing else.

The Good News About Alice: Madness Returns

The graphics of Alice herself are quite stunning. She is beautiful, well designed, and provides very detailed features that anyone can appreciate. Additionally, the references to the original absurd story will surely delight all fans. Meeting with the white rabbit, Mad Hatter, and dormouse are definitely expected and appreciated. Everyone loves these characters and the interactions offer plenty of entertainment and game play.

In Alice: Madness Returns, gamers get a new chance to explore a traditional licensed game style with the addition of things like mini games to keep it interesting. Add to that the glide and triple-jump abilities that Alice is characterized with and you’ve got a main character that acts far more like Spyro in terms of platforming and navigation. A promising stroll through the demented Wonderland realm turns into everything that fans expect.

Screenshot of Alice - Madness Returns (Credit: EA)

The Not So Good News About Alice

Alice: Madness Returns is typical. Gamers looking for something new and exciting aren’t going to find it here. Of course, we know that licensed games often are designed for the die-hard fans and most end up creating predictable tales that are redundant at best. While the worlds are new and the battles are different, the basic premise of the game is identical to the first, leaving something to be desired for many players.

The graphics are lackluster, mediocre, and definitely leave something to be desired. While Alice looks great, the views on the game certainly don’t measure up and it often seems that the main character is playing in a world she doesn’t belong in. This realm of nightmares isn’t the curiouser and curiouser Wonderland that Lewis Carroll dreamed up, but a twisted world where death and despair waits behind every single corner. While this might sound like a good time for sequel lovers, it leaves much to be desired for those who want a *new* story about our beloved Alice.

The Bottom Line

Die-hard fans will love the typical, predictable storyline of Alice: Madness Returns. It is, after all, exactly what gamers would expect if they played the original. Licensed games often get caught up in sticking to the basics because the storyline is more important than the gameplay itself, and Madness Returns is no exception. Fans of RPGs and First-Person Shooters might not find pleasure in this twisted world of battles, but those who are playing for the love of Alice will find the game enjoyable, as is the standard with many licensed games.