Alice: Madness Returns

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 252 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 192 out of 252
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 252
  3. Negative: 13 out of 252
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  1. dragonfondler
    Jun 17, 2011
    10
    Reviewers are somehow blind to what makes a game actually good I guess. Every game is repetitive, and yet only certain games does it seem to make the reviewer call it out. Black OPs is shooting bad guys for the entire campaign absolutely no change and yet it does not get hit with a lower score. Alice is an absolute joy to play each level you play has a very distinct art direction and makesReviewers are somehow blind to what makes a game actually good I guess. Every game is repetitive, and yet only certain games does it seem to make the reviewer call it out. Black OPs is shooting bad guys for the entire campaign absolutely no change and yet it does not get hit with a lower score. Alice is an absolute joy to play each level you play has a very distinct art direction and makes you feel like your truly in Alice's twisted world. The combat is smooth and fluid and actually makes you think about how to beat each enemy, you have to utilize each thing they give you even the block button which I admit I never use in other hack and slashes. There are a few graphical glitches but it doesn't detract from the gameplay, and if you've played the first Alice the games story is intriguing and makes you feel like an absolute continuation of the original story building on it The art is beautiful, the fighting engaging, the mini games give a nice change of pace but don't feel out of place. Don't listen to what paid reviewers have said about this game, instead look at what users are saying everyone is enjoying it and there's a reason!! This is a buy, especially since you get the first alice with it!!… Expand
  2. MrBT
    Jun 20, 2011
    10
    Ok so I took a jump on this game, with the art style and story being the appealing factor and wow did I find a hidden Gem. I seriously cant believe these "reviewers" scores! The minor negatives surely don't negate a drop in score so vast as to score it as a mediocre title? I mean negatives of similar volume appear in their precious CoD titles and yet they still score that patheticOk so I took a jump on this game, with the art style and story being the appealing factor and wow did I find a hidden Gem. I seriously cant believe these "reviewers" scores! The minor negatives surely don't negate a drop in score so vast as to score it as a mediocre title? I mean negatives of similar volume appear in their precious CoD titles and yet they still score that pathetic franchise highly!!?

    Alice is a breath of fresh air and shows what an adventure platformer should and was like. New copies come with the original copy of the game which is just sheer brilliance. If you love the story of Alice and are into Adventure platformers then do yourself a favour and pick this game up. For me so far this year it has been my favourite release!    … Expand
  3. dwelic
    Jun 20, 2011
    10
    I loved it. I could not put the controller down. The controls were easy to learn and the camera didn't get in the way like some other games. Just as good as the first one. Defiantly check it out.
  4. Bakuratsu
    Aug 4, 2011
    10
    I fell in love with this game within the first five minutes of playing. The backgrounds and character designs are absolutely beautiful, and the story is gripping. One of the most interesting aspects of it is the theme of Alice's insanity and trying to use Wonderland as a means so work out her problems. The combat is smooth, and easy to get the hang of. All in all one of the best games II fell in love with this game within the first five minutes of playing. The backgrounds and character designs are absolutely beautiful, and the story is gripping. One of the most interesting aspects of it is the theme of Alice's insanity and trying to use Wonderland as a means so work out her problems. The combat is smooth, and easy to get the hang of. All in all one of the best games I have played this year.… Expand
  5. Garlador
    Jun 19, 2011
    10
    A beautiful platformer with brilliant ideas which was exactly what I needed. It's such a breath of fresh air to see such art and passion put into a project compared to the sea of shooters and terrible movie cash-ins. Alice is a great game with some niggling flaws (repetition, pacing, Unreal engine quirks), but it does so much right that it far outweighs the flaws. A personal 10 for me, andA beautiful platformer with brilliant ideas which was exactly what I needed. It's such a breath of fresh air to see such art and passion put into a project compared to the sea of shooters and terrible movie cash-ins. Alice is a great game with some niggling flaws (repetition, pacing, Unreal engine quirks), but it does so much right that it far outweighs the flaws. A personal 10 for me, and the fact new copies include the rare and brilliant original game only makes it that much sweeter.… Expand
  6. Downunderdagger
    Jun 17, 2011
    8
    I feel that I need to chime in with a brief review of this wonderful platformer, as well, so that those currently on the fence in regards to buying this game - based on the ridiculously mediocre current critics average for "Madness Returns" - feel more at ease and give it a chance. I'm roughly 6 hours into the game and have been enjoying it immensely. As others here have mentioned, thisI feel that I need to chime in with a brief review of this wonderful platformer, as well, so that those currently on the fence in regards to buying this game - based on the ridiculously mediocre current critics average for "Madness Returns" - feel more at ease and give it a chance. I'm roughly 6 hours into the game and have been enjoying it immensely. As others here have mentioned, this game's art style in stunning. When Alice first enters Wonderland - which occurs very early in the game - I probably spent the first hour panning the camera around more than actually advancing forward; I was simply so in awe of the beauty of the environment. It frequently feels as if you're inside a Dali painting because the levels are so surreal and simultaneously gorgeous and terrifying. I'd also be remiss if I didn't at least briefly mention the pleasures of my encounters with the Cheshire Cat, who functions as a riddle-speaking source of "help" for Alice at various points in the game. Alice controls a bit like Spyro did back in the day; you'll need to master jumping & gliding in order to successfully conquer these levels. The game also features a mode that allows Alice to "shrink", which simultaneously functions as a way to reveal clues painted on walls to guide your way. This feature is handled much like Detective Mode was in Arkham Asylum, only better. Combat is your fairly typical hack, slash, and dodge, but it is satisfying. As for the glitches and annoyances that many critics have mentioned as a major reason for their deducting of review points, I can't quite understand what they are harping about. Will you run into the occasional invisible wall? Affirmative. Will that giant teapot with a crack in it the size of a doorway allow you inside to search for hidden goodies? Very doubtful. But you'll learn these quirks - and how to avoid them - within the first hour or so of the game. And as for the charge that I'm certain some people reading through these user reviews will level, that only American McGhee fanboys and original Alice devotees are rushing to defend this game... Well, I've never played the original (although I certainly have that on my agenda now following my experience with Madness so far), and no other American McGhee games, either. Whether it is right or wrong, most gamers nowadays look only at a game's Metascore when determining whether a game is worth a purchase or not. Fun and unique games like this will cease to be made (hell, this game feels almost fresh rather than dated, due to this generations complete avoidance of 3D platforming) if those of us who appreciate good games do not speak out in support of them - and get our fellow gamers to go buy them! Even if this game fails to sustain its admirable momentum for its second half (remember, I still have about half of the game remaining to play), I've already experienced enough fun to highly recommend it to others.… Expand
  7. Ivan_Es_Supremo
    Jul 10, 2011
    10
    Game of the year! This is one of the best and most mature games I've played this whole year. It consistently adds new things like environments, enemies, gameplay mechanics, and characters. It creates a creepy vibe that no other can match in all honesty. The platform design in this game is nothing short of magical at times, the combat is super fluid, and the story is top of the line. PlusGame of the year! This is one of the best and most mature games I've played this whole year. It consistently adds new things like environments, enemies, gameplay mechanics, and characters. It creates a creepy vibe that no other can match in all honesty. The platform design in this game is nothing short of magical at times, the combat is super fluid, and the story is top of the line. Plus the visuals are mind blowing. You really appreciate what Spicy Horse fit into every nook and cranny of this game because of how magnificent and original the whole world feels despite being a sequel.

    All I gotta say is that I hope for another and those who associate low quality with Alice: Madness Returns does not know the meaning of the word quality.    … Expand
  8. Erathil
    Jun 20, 2011
    9
    This game is gorgeous and engaging. Platforming and combat aren't the best they could be, but the staggering design and artistic depth of Wonderland is worth the price of admission alone. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw settings and design so beautiful and creative. The game has a strong narrative artfully delivered with powerful visuals, and even though the combat andThis game is gorgeous and engaging. Platforming and combat aren't the best they could be, but the staggering design and artistic depth of Wonderland is worth the price of admission alone. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw settings and design so beautiful and creative. The game has a strong narrative artfully delivered with powerful visuals, and even though the combat and platforming aren't the best I've ever seen, they still play fast and strong. The mediocre critic's score made me a tad worried about committing to this game, but it is destined to be one of the most memorable releases of 2011, and I can whole-heatedly recommend it.… Expand
  9. mrsomeone
    Jun 16, 2011
    9
    An absolutely gorgeous game that needs a second look by the critics. Sure, it has a lot of jumping, gliding, and a bit of repetition, but what game doesn't? These days I feel reviewers are getting a bit too critical about very minor issues, and in the process they are dragging down some really amazing studios who have put in a ton of hard work to make some unique experiences. I have aAn absolutely gorgeous game that needs a second look by the critics. Sure, it has a lot of jumping, gliding, and a bit of repetition, but what game doesn't? These days I feel reviewers are getting a bit too critical about very minor issues, and in the process they are dragging down some really amazing studios who have put in a ton of hard work to make some unique experiences. I have a feeling if Alice was replaced with Mario, this one would have at least received a 9. The weapons, environments, animation & platforming are outstanding. In fact, the only gripe I'd have is the slight lack of variety of enemies, and the length of some of the stages. Otherwise, this is a must buy.… Expand
  10. z14170
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    GREAT GAME. Don't be fulled by the reviewers score, they underestimated this game, because it is really Amazing. Beautiful Art !! and a very interesting trama. Developers really made a great effort in offering a unique experience. Also if you buy the game from retail (new) you get the EA online pass code, so that you can download for free the original "Alice" on you console (the firstGREAT GAME. Don't be fulled by the reviewers score, they underestimated this game, because it is really Amazing. Beautiful Art !! and a very interesting trama. Developers really made a great effort in offering a unique experience. Also if you buy the game from retail (new) you get the EA online pass code, so that you can download for free the original "Alice" on you console (the first game) so you would be getting 2 great games. Even after the game lacks of multiplayer it offers 4 levels of difficulty and a lot of hours of gameplay. You won't regret it I swear.… Expand
  11. Mr_Plainview
    Jun 24, 2011
    10
    A great game that incorporates surreal graphics with better story telling then most games on the market today. Many critics seem to have given this game low points due to repetitive gameplay, and while this is somewhat true Alice: Madness Returns' gameplay is nowhere near as repetitive as the leading video game titles. If you wish to play a beautiful surreal game with a decent combatA great game that incorporates surreal graphics with better story telling then most games on the market today. Many critics seem to have given this game low points due to repetitive gameplay, and while this is somewhat true Alice: Madness Returns' gameplay is nowhere near as repetitive as the leading video game titles. If you wish to play a beautiful surreal game with a decent combat system where you actually find yourself using things like block and dodge; this is for you. If however you wish for storyless highly repetitive games that involve nothing more that press button to make things blow-up followed by more of the same ad nauseum then don't play this game and instead pick up whatever Halo or Call of Duty game the critics are drooling over.… Expand
  12. beavermatic
    Jun 25, 2011
    10
    I don't know what critics are smoking these days, and maybe the console version was lesser (as I haven't played it on console), but the PC version is drop-dead gorgeous, incredible continuation of the story, fluid, twisted, wicked, and just downright fun to play. It has all the elements prior, and alot of new ones.

    American Mcgee definetely has not lost his touch here, and it's a well    I don't know what critics are smoking these days, and maybe the console version was lesser (as I haven't played it on console), but the PC version is drop-dead gorgeous, incredible continuation of the story, fluid, twisted, wicked, and just downright fun to play. It has all the elements prior, and alot of new ones.

    American Mcgee definetely has not lost his touch here, and it's a well orchestrated sequel that plays, sounds, and feels flawless. Simply compare the amazing user score to the mediocre critic score, and its obvious they either did not play it, or just didn't care. Easily a 10/10.    … Expand
  13. TheQuietGamer
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    This game is truly unique, I love the way Wonderland is interpreted, it's basically Alice's mind, so as her sanity begins to slip and her mind becomes corrupted so does Wonderland, and you really notice the changes, and while that's cool the presentation does suffer from bland graphics, bad voice acting, and a story with plot holes, the graphics aren't a real problem when your inThis game is truly unique, I love the way Wonderland is interpreted, it's basically Alice's mind, so as her sanity begins to slip and her mind becomes corrupted so does Wonderland, and you really notice the changes, and while that's cool the presentation does suffer from bland graphics, bad voice acting, and a story with plot holes, the graphics aren't a real problem when your in Wonderland as long as you don't look to closely as the levels all have very unique themes that keep you interesting and dying to see what the world will look like as you progress, but the environmental graphics aren't 100%, the part of the game of the graphics that are 100% is Alice (when she's in Wonderland), her dresses, face, hair, and animations look fantastic and are incredibly well done, but during the sections when your in London the graphics go straight down hill, the environments and character animations, including Alice herself are all ugly, and the voice acting goes is also weak ranging from bad to passable, and the story behind it all ends up coming together in the end, and I admit I like the fact that it touched on things like insanity, rape, murder, and prostitution with such a high level of maturity, I understand why other developers don't touch on these things, but they fit the tone of this game perfectly, and like I said they were incredibly mature in dealing with these extremely touchy subjects, however a design choice later in the game in the form of triple sixes being in certain parts of the game I feel is incredibly inappropriate, and I'm not just saying this because of my religious views, but because it's tasteless and an immature move on the creators behalf, but even with its minor presentation issues it's backed by strong gameplay which reminded me of old school N64 platformers, it also has strong combat which is like a hack and slash but with more depth, yes you can just button mash to kill certain enemies, but most require tactics to defeat which makes beating a large group of enemies extremely satisfying, and it also mixes up the gameplay with the occasional fun minigame, sections where your a giant, or just switching it up from a 3D platformer to a 2 one, all these sections are incredibly fun and keep the game from getting stale, there are also tons of collectibles like bottles or memories, the latter playing out like the recordings from the Bioshock games (although most aren't nearly as interesting), and also has a new game+ option which is a very nice touch, I know it sounds like I don't like this game, but actually I really like it, it has me dying to play the original, and I do recommend it to older audiences (because of the mature subject matter), one of the best games of 2011 for sure.… Expand
  14. Qwik
    Jun 19, 2011
    8
    I too feel the critics missed the overall evaluation and quality of this game. Alice: Madness Returns is not only visually well done, but the game grabs the attention of the player and keeps them entertained. It does not innovate in any category, but instead is a well polished, delightful experience that turns out to be a wonderful surprise. In particular the audio and music isI too feel the critics missed the overall evaluation and quality of this game. Alice: Madness Returns is not only visually well done, but the game grabs the attention of the player and keeps them entertained. It does not innovate in any category, but instead is a well polished, delightful experience that turns out to be a wonderful surprise. In particular the audio and music is noteworthy, gameplay is well done and the fighting mechanics are really nice. One downfall is the lack of overall combat options. More upgrading/ability to do special moves would have been welcome. Really the game is well done for a platformer.… Expand
  15. Leodious
    Jun 22, 2011
    9
    I have to agree that critic reviews seem to have missed the point. The poor control system for PC should be noted, but it is a port from a console and does not have terribly large or surprising problems in that respect. The visuals are amazing, the story and the way the story is fed to the player both fit with Carroll's genius and with the themes of the madness and confusion. Yes, youI have to agree that critic reviews seem to have missed the point. The poor control system for PC should be noted, but it is a port from a console and does not have terribly large or surprising problems in that respect. The visuals are amazing, the story and the way the story is fed to the player both fit with Carroll's genius and with the themes of the madness and confusion. Yes, you spend a lot of time making jumps and fighting enemies, but it is a platformer. They tend to be repetitive, in that you jump from platform to platform. If you don't like that, this is not the game for you. I feel like many of the reviews criticize either the repetitiveness, the memory collection, or the visuals too harshly, and do not judge what the game actually is.

    This game is not trying to do anything new, in fact it is trying to recapture something old. It is an old-school platformer and it hits all the right notes. If you loved the first one, you will love this one.    … Expand
  16. Ian_Hutcherson
    Jun 13, 2012
    8
    I always felt like this game was underrated. I mean playing it today, for the third time, I can't believe how some of these professional reviewers have bashed the game and slapped it with such mediocre scores, which sadly, many people will take one look at and never give this game a chance.

    This game does so much right: compelling story, VERY beautiful and immersive enviroments/art    I always felt like this game was underrated. I mean playing it today, for the third time, I can't believe how some of these professional reviewers have bashed the game and slapped it with such mediocre scores, which sadly, many people will take one look at and never give this game a chance.

    This game does so much right: compelling story, VERY beautiful and immersive enviroments/art design/graphics, simple yet exciting combat, fluid controls, good voice acting, replay value, etc. This is honestly one of the only few games that made me stop and marvel at the scenery, plus every enviroment is diverse enough so even if platforming can sometime get tedious, it's still fun to keep going.

    The only cons about this game are the textures can sometimes look muddy/distorted, pacing is off in that levels are stretched too long, some mini games are boring and repeated too often. But all of this does not equal a mediocre game in my opinion. Most of these flaws are so minor and doesn't even affect the game all that much.

    Sometimes I feel like the people reviewing the game are just so used to blockbuster games (uncharted, assassin's creed, call of duty, etc.) therefore if a unique game like alice comes out, it doesn't match their "standards" of what a good game should be. Does alice madness returns feel like an old school game? Yes. Is alice madness returns innovative? No. And you know what, that's ok. Unfortunately these so called "professional" don't seem to comprehend this concept rather anything with crosshairs and headshots are considered great games.    … Expand
  17. dumle
    Aug 3, 2012
    6
    Alice does a lot of things right. It has an interesting art design, good voice acting and a satisfying combat. The atmosphere is splendid and the story would be good if the majority of the game didnt feel like filler. And that is the problem with this game. Even if the platforming and combat is alright in it self is it not in any way good or challenging enough to carry the game on its own.Alice does a lot of things right. It has an interesting art design, good voice acting and a satisfying combat. The atmosphere is splendid and the story would be good if the majority of the game didnt feel like filler. And that is the problem with this game. Even if the platforming and combat is alright in it self is it not in any way good or challenging enough to carry the game on its own. The majority of the game is spent going to character A or doing a fetch quest for character B with the occasional puzzle. The game has some nice and quirky gameplay ideas here and there but they cant compensate for the fact that the largest part of the game is simply repetitive and boring. The game is quite long but personally i would have enjoyed the game a lot more if it was shorter and more compact. Quality>Quantity.… Expand
  18. Lhuth
    Aug 24, 2012
    7
    This game has 90% of the things needed to make an excellent game but it let down by just a couple of (fairly large) features. Visually, the game is stunning and the artwork both in Wonderland and in London is fantastic, and well worth pausing to admire. Combat is simple, but fits well within the theme and restraints of the game. Dodging is done in a flurry of butterflies and the weaponsThis game has 90% of the things needed to make an excellent game but it let down by just a couple of (fairly large) features. Visually, the game is stunning and the artwork both in Wonderland and in London is fantastic, and well worth pausing to admire. Combat is simple, but fits well within the theme and restraints of the game. Dodging is done in a flurry of butterflies and the weapons (although arguably not enough in number) are inventive and varied enough to provide entertainment.

    Sadly, the game is flawed in its     … Expand
  19. Peramia
    Nov 28, 2020
    10
    This is one of my all time favorite games. The gameplay and combat are smooth and fun to play, the characters are lovable and very memorable, the story is interesting, and this game has style in droves. There are no perfect games but this one comes dang close.

    The only thing I can really think of to talk negatively about is sometimes the camera angles can be a little annoying and the    This is one of my all time favorite games. The gameplay and combat are smooth and fun to play, the characters are lovable and very memorable, the story is interesting, and this game has style in droves. There are no perfect games but this one comes dang close.

    The only thing I can really think of to talk negatively about is sometimes the camera angles can be a little annoying and the subject matter of the plot will be disturbing to some people. I'm not going to say what it is as it would be a huge spoiler but definitely viewer discretion is advised, it doesn't go into detail but this game is definitely not for children.    … Expand
  20. gertrudabrazorf
    Apr 13, 2022
    10
    is a FANTASTIC platform
    the enemies are difficult to defeat at the right point even on the easy difficulty, the graphics are well done, the weapons are fabulous (umbrella aside), Alice's most important memories are placed in the perfect points neither too visible nor too hidden while some are really well hidden and hard to find, Spicy Horse did a really great job.
  21. RubyTuesdays
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    I would not be writing this review if i didn't feel that the critic scores grossly misrepresent the quality of this title. I feel as though low scores will be given simply because a game does not innovate--rather than it just being a bad game. Alice: Madness Returns is an excellent game and does not claim to, or want to push any new boundaries in gaming. Madness Returns offers a veryI would not be writing this review if i didn't feel that the critic scores grossly misrepresent the quality of this title. I feel as though low scores will be given simply because a game does not innovate--rather than it just being a bad game. Alice: Madness Returns is an excellent game and does not claim to, or want to push any new boundaries in gaming. Madness Returns offers a very nostalgic "oldschool" 3d platformer feel with slick combat to back it up. The puzzles in this game were quite lackluster and are a part of the reason why I will not give this game a 10. The points of Madness Returns that need to be highlighted are the art direction, sound, and story. The atmosphere that the art evokes in this game is simply stunning. I had similar feelings gazing into the distance in "Cardbridge" as I did perched atop a building overlooking a beautiful Italian vista in Assassin's Creed 2. Aiding the stunning landscapes in creating that feeling of Wonderland; is an amazing score, in addition to great character voice acting. (I have never said 'what' so delightfully, SO many times to the things the characters said)
    All of these great aspects of Madness Returns are nothing without a spine, without a story. The tale following the events of American McGee's Alice is an incredibly fun, creepy, and intriguing adventure that will keep you playing.

    To top everything off the game is bundled with a code for American McGee's Alice... how can you go wrong with this game?    … Expand
  22. Captiosus
    Jun 18, 2011
    8
    Original review update: I've got 15 hours of play time in since picking up the game at release and I haven't seen anything here that warrants such negativity of these reviewers. Does Alice: Madness Returns suffer the same minor foibles of just about every 3D platformer since Mario 64? Yeah, it sure does, but why is that making this game, in particular, get such a negative response? I haveOriginal review update: I've got 15 hours of play time in since picking up the game at release and I haven't seen anything here that warrants such negativity of these reviewers. Does Alice: Madness Returns suffer the same minor foibles of just about every 3D platformer since Mario 64? Yeah, it sure does, but why is that making this game, in particular, get such a negative response? I have played FAR, FAR worse platformers this generation than this. Anyone remember Kameo when it came out - fun, odd, but wonky and full of bugs that never got patched? Sure, I've had some frustrating moments due to camera issues but, again, that's been an issue in every platformer since 1996 - even games like Uncharted and Uncharted 2 suffered issues like this, and those are almost universally lauded for their gameplay. Some reviewers go so far as to say that the platformer style of the game is too cookie cutter and mundane. Do these folks not realize there's only SO MUCH that can be done with a third person action/platformer in terms of coding? If Alice: Madness Returns gets slammed for "cookie cutter" gameplay, then I respectfully submit all these reviewers go back and modify their scores for the ENTIRE God of War franchise, as that franchise is as cookie cutter as it gets (yet gets rated 9-9.5 for every iteration). Thus far the game has been a visual treat, the story has been solid, and the gameplay fluid. All in all, it's a great sequel to the original and, unless the macabre style isn't your thing (which I can completely understand), people who are avoiding this game because of the professional reviews are just robbing themselves of a fun game. And they can't even hide behind the excuse that they never played the first one, since that comes along with it!… Expand
  23. Paratonnerre
    Jun 15, 2011
    9
    I wasn't expecting much of this game, but was greatly suprise. The creative side and the story (the way to tell it) are the strong point of this game, as much as the self-explain action/control. The only downside , like all the 3d plat-former, is the camera that sometime gets buggy (especially when focusing an enemy)

    A great change of pace, i recommend it strongly
  24. TheSmileMan
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    I have finished this game and I am confused because I thought it was absolutely wonderful. It felt like a flash back to older platforms with better graphics, great story, and controls that don't get in the way and feel very natural. I see the invisible walls which often bother me in most games but here the world is so very interesting I don't really care that I can't go somewhere that itI have finished this game and I am confused because I thought it was absolutely wonderful. It felt like a flash back to older platforms with better graphics, great story, and controls that don't get in the way and feel very natural. I see the invisible walls which often bother me in most games but here the world is so very interesting I don't really care that I can't go somewhere that it appears I might be able to. Also they have a great system that shows you important things so if there isn't a hint nearby you clearly can't go there.

    I wonder it the same people that complain about how formulaic games are getting yet give all the COD games 9-10 scores and give wonderful games like this crappy ones. I only came hear after playing the game because I wanted to see if other people thought the game was as absolutely amazing as I did. I was expecting to see 80s, 90s from all the reviewers and was completely caught off guard by the low marks.    … Expand
  25. laotus
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    laotus
    8
    I was a little nervous after the first critic rang in with a 50....... BUT after playing it for the last 3 hours I can say that its easily a 7.5/10 that I will round up to 8 for this review. The music and audio is amazing, the gameplay is good (notice I did not say GREAT) as the fighting mechanics are sound I just wish there were more moves and weapons and the Puzzles seem a tad    laotus
    8
    I was a little nervous after the first critic rang in with a 50....... BUT after playing it for the last 3 hours I can say that its easily a 7.5/10 that I will round up to 8 for this review. The music and audio is amazing, the gameplay is good (notice I did not say GREAT) as the fighting mechanics are sound I just wish there were more moves and weapons and the Puzzles seem a tad too easy which makes me not want to have to do them to begin with. Overall a solid game.    … Expand
  26. amccaffrey
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    I knew the critic reviews for this were not going to be great for this game. I have played for quite a few hours now and it is a wonderful game, the colour and art is beautifully twisted as is expected and the combat is very fun. I think the reason the critic reviews are so low is because they are reviewing it as new IP since its been so long since the original was released but I believeI knew the critic reviews for this were not going to be great for this game. I have played for quite a few hours now and it is a wonderful game, the colour and art is beautifully twisted as is expected and the combat is very fun. I think the reason the critic reviews are so low is because they are reviewing it as new IP since its been so long since the original was released but I believe it shouldn't be reviewed this way. If you read the interviews with American McGee about this game he states he has no intentions of reinventing the wheel with this game. This is game is meant to be compared to the original, and is meant for the people who loved the original. If you play even just the first chapter of the original and then start playing this you'll see it's worth at least an 8. Now I know there will be people saying that a game shouldn't be reviewed this way but any true fans of the original will understand what I mean, and will probably buy it no matter what the reviews say.… Expand
  27. Caligari5150
    Jun 17, 2011
    10
    Graphics are not the greatest but backgrounds is pure eye candy. I catch myself getting lost into the game specially at night. The controls are so much better than the first PC version of Alice. The story is awesome, puzzles are fun. I don't want to release any spoilers about the game so I won't talk about the story. If you an American McGee Alice fan I would highly recommend getting this title.
  28. Chillybilly
    Jun 15, 2011
    10
    While I have yet to beat Alice: Madness Returns I can say that my time with it has been very enjoyable. The art direction is fantastic and the level designs are exactly what you would expect from American McGee, they range from disturbing to tranquil.

    Alice: Madness Returns is a fantastic platformer swimming in a sea of tired and old FPS' and dull action games and should definitely NOT    While I have yet to beat Alice: Madness Returns I can say that my time with it has been very enjoyable. The art direction is fantastic and the level designs are exactly what you would expect from American McGee, they range from disturbing to tranquil.

    Alice: Madness Returns is a fantastic platformer swimming in a sea of tired and old FPS' and dull action games and should definitely NOT be missed.    … Expand
  29. Boltfrowah
    Apr 13, 2013
    3
    I'm giving this game a lower score because everyone seems so taken back by just the "interpretation" of the story and the visuals. Yes, you can spray paint a turd gold, but in the end, it's just a pretty turd. This game is simply a grinder. Despite some customizable elements, the gameplay itself is a grinder and I found myself just trying to get to the end of the game so I could retireI'm giving this game a lower score because everyone seems so taken back by just the "interpretation" of the story and the visuals. Yes, you can spray paint a turd gold, but in the end, it's just a pretty turd. This game is simply a grinder. Despite some customizable elements, the gameplay itself is a grinder and I found myself just trying to get to the end of the game so I could retire this on my shelf after one play. I would never recommend this game to anyone, it's just too dull to play.… Expand
  30. Lightning551
    Sep 9, 2011
    6
    There's some great animation, fantastic voice acting, and the levels have jaw-dropping visual design. It's also painfully repetitive. If you're willing to put up with the tedium then it's certainly worth a look for the prettiness alone... but if you want a game with equally good visual design, a sharper wit, a truckload more originality, better level design, better pacing, and a smarterThere's some great animation, fantastic voice acting, and the levels have jaw-dropping visual design. It's also painfully repetitive. If you're willing to put up with the tedium then it's certainly worth a look for the prettiness alone... but if you want a game with equally good visual design, a sharper wit, a truckload more originality, better level design, better pacing, and a smarter take on the levels-inside-the-mind theme, then you might want to consider Psychonauts instead.… Expand
  31. wesker2012
    Jun 13, 2012
    5
    Average game.
  32. Sceptic
    Jun 16, 2011
    7
    Alice:Madness Returns could almost be a HD remake with it's outdated gameplay.The most basic kind of 3D platforming is in evidence here.Run,jump and one button melee your way through Alice's poorly designed levels finding none too subtle 'hidden areas and paths along the way.The excellent art style is almost ruined by some of the worst textures I've ever seen.Even on Hard,the enemiesAlice:Madness Returns could almost be a HD remake with it's outdated gameplay.The most basic kind of 3D platforming is in evidence here.Run,jump and one button melee your way through Alice's poorly designed levels finding none too subtle 'hidden areas and paths along the way.The excellent art style is almost ruined by some of the worst textures I've ever seen.Even on Hard,the enemies present little challenge and 'Death By Falling' is about the only worry you'll have.
    Despite all I've said,I did enjoy the game for a playthrough but will never touch it again.    … Expand
  33. Old_Timer
    Jun 27, 2011
    6
    The original American McGee's Alice arrived during what I call The Golden Age of PC Gaming. We had great original stuff like Giants: Citizen Kabuto, No One Lives Forever (both of which received pitiful console ports), and Clive Barker's Undying. Alice was, to me, a dark, fantastic retelling of the old story for a grownup audience. Even though it was tied to the now ancient Quake 3 engineThe original American McGee's Alice arrived during what I call The Golden Age of PC Gaming. We had great original stuff like Giants: Citizen Kabuto, No One Lives Forever (both of which received pitiful console ports), and Clive Barker's Undying. Alice was, to me, a dark, fantastic retelling of the old story for a grownup audience. Even though it was tied to the now ancient Quake 3 engine and hardware limitations of the time, it managed to be creative, artistic, very difficult at times, and a very nice looking game, primarily due to the textures. Here we are eleven years later, with hardware that can pull off pretty much any sort of amazing visuals imaginable, as well as doing a better job of telling a story without using pre-rendered cinematics, and all I can think of is how much better the first game was. I really thought we were through having to endure low-res, 8-bit color textures now that the PS2 is put to rest. Visually, what we have are higher polygon counts for models and level geometry, often painted in a most sloppily manner...nice particle effects, a bit of bloom, and the ever-present shiny-reflective surfaces. This just seems lazy, as if the entire art department consisted of two guys from Singapore with unpronounceable names. Ever since "American" McGee decided to outsource everything to his newly discovered cheap labor force, apparently for pennies on the dollar, things have gone predictably down hill. It's still a pretty fun game, but it's really a step backward, all things considered. The creative spark that was so prominent back then has all but disappeared.… Expand
  34. MatthewDon2002
    Feb 22, 2014
    4
    What could've been a nostalgic nod to early platformers instead deliquesced into a heinously psychedelic video game with solid fighting mechanics going for it and nothing else. The first hour is worthy enough; I mean, jumping around from toadstool to toadstool is entertaining enough, I will give it that. But it slowly becomes an absurd chore and some of the creatures really are monstrous.
  35. Broyax
    Apr 16, 2017
    2
    Atmosphère très glauque pour cette Alice de retour au pays des maboules, musique sinistre, VF de qualité, graphismes... vilains (encore l'Unreal Engine utilisé par des branques... beuuurk) qu'une direction artistique de bon aloi ne parvient pas à sauver, maniabilité médiocre et en retrait du précédent épisode d'il y a plus de 10 ans (c'est ça le progrès ?)... précédent épisode d'ailleursAtmosphère très glauque pour cette Alice de retour au pays des maboules, musique sinistre, VF de qualité, graphismes... vilains (encore l'Unreal Engine utilisé par des branques... beuuurk) qu'une direction artistique de bon aloi ne parvient pas à sauver, maniabilité médiocre et en retrait du précédent épisode d'il y a plus de 10 ans (c'est ça le progrès ?)... précédent épisode d'ailleurs inclus (enfin, à télécharger avec un code à la con), lequel réussit l'exploit d'être aliasé et d'avoir un problème sur les voix (uniquement sur le canal gauche).

    Cela étant, Alice RPF s'avère plutôt sympathique mais devient assez vite répétitif à souhait jusqu'à plus soif. On n'en voit pas le bout et on s'emmeeeerde. Je préconise de passer la camisole à l'adolescente psychotique une bonne fois pour toute, qu'on en parle plus et qu'on ne ponde plus d'autre jeu : bouclez la folledingue et pour de bon cette fois !!    … Expand
  36. partyintheback
    Jan 31, 2013
    10
    Alice: Madness Returns is a game that needs to be experienced. It's a wonderful journey through a weird and haunting place. This is a game that feels fresh in today's gaming world. So please, pick it up and give it a try.
  37. David962
    Jan 4, 2012
    10
    Un juego excelente, es el claro ejemplo que critica y usuarios no siempre están de acuerdo. La historia es muy madura y absorbe desde el principio. Una ambientación preciosa donde se nota el trabajo artístico que hay detrás del juego. Sobre la jugabilidad cabe destacar que los movimientos de Alice responden a la perfección,Un juego excelente, es el claro ejemplo que critica y usuarios no siempre están de acuerdo. La historia es muy madura y absorbe desde el principio. Una ambientación preciosa donde se nota el trabajo artístico que hay detrás del juego. Sobre la jugabilidad cabe destacar que los movimientos de Alice responden a la perfección, los puzzles son entretenidos y las peleas contra los enemigos muy variadas ya que cada uno tiene diferentes debilidades y nos obliga a utilizar el coco en vez de machacar botones.
    Sobre el único defecto que tiene el juego, y a sido sobre explotado por los medios para bajarle la puntuación, es la carga de textura que en mi opinión no son tan extenuantes como la prensa nos quiere hacer creer. Sinceramente es mi GOTY del 2011.    … Expand
  38. Iky009
    May 31, 2015
    7
    Despite a promising plot fails game in its gameplay, which becomes a repetitive EXPERIENCE, cloying, boring and even annoying. .
  39. Mindkiller7522
    Jul 13, 2021
    8
    7/3/21-7/6/21 100% Main Story

    It usually takes a lot for me to get into a platforming game, but this one was surprisingly fun and interesting! In a bit of a new spin on Alice in Wonderland, Alice is an orphaned girl who's entire family was killed in a suspicious house fire. Alice is then shipped off to the insane asylum where she works through her trauma by escaping into    7/3/21-7/6/21 100% Main Story

    It usually takes a lot for me to get into a platforming game, but this one was surprisingly fun and interesting!

    In a bit of a new spin on Alice in Wonderland, Alice is an orphaned girl who's entire family was killed in a suspicious house fire. Alice is then shipped off to the insane asylum where she works through her trauma by escaping into Wonderland, which she has created in her head (probably?).

    Throughout the game's chapters she navigates through the realm of a different character from the Alice in Wonderland stories. Each of these chapters are very distinct-the visuals, the music, the enemies are all specific to that character's style. The art direction for the environments and characters is incredibly well done and was a huge part of what made this game great for me. The interludes in the real world are drab and dreary while Wonderland is full of color, all very well thought out.

    The levels mostly break down to platforming and combat, which can get a bit repetitive, but I did get into it more than I thought I would. I was checking every area for collectibles and extra story bits most of the way through and having a blast. There is a really cool overpower mode (called “hysteria”) that I wish I had been able to use more, but it requires you to be low on health-which I rarely was.

    The one significant negative I would attribute would be that each chapter is a lot longer than it needed to be. I'm not sure if this was done to stretch the total runtime, but I was usually wishing the story would move faster to the next area.

    I would definitely recommend this game to anyone that enjoyed Psychonauts or similar platforming games. I went in to it with low expectations and it exceeded them for sure!    … Expand
  40. Valkai
    Jul 29, 2022
    2
    Repetitivo, mal diseño de niveles, malos gráficos, poca historia, mala jugabilidad... Recuerdo que este videojuego me llamaba la atención cuando salió pero ha envejecido fatal.
  41. aspentitan
    Nov 11, 2020
    8
    Truthfully I should rank this game 7/10 but after a lot of consideration I feel more accurate giving it an 8/10 with a cautionary disclaimer. Overall, the majority of this game is excellent; however two issues really make this an opportunity missed to have a universally accepted rating above 8/10. I'd like to start with the good stuff: I don't really enjoy platform games but this gameTruthfully I should rank this game 7/10 but after a lot of consideration I feel more accurate giving it an 8/10 with a cautionary disclaimer. Overall, the majority of this game is excellent; however two issues really make this an opportunity missed to have a universally accepted rating above 8/10. I'd like to start with the good stuff: I don't really enjoy platform games but this game caught my attention easily, and trust me that's something. The game starts off with a fantastic story setting that is very unique. No other game is really similar to the style of this game and it captivates you early and never lets up. The gameplay is a blend of many popular games. There are some aspects which are purely platformer, then you have shooting, collecting, upgrading skills (minimal) and puzzles. You explore and unlock as well. So this seems a blend of almost every other successful game and it's debatable which it's closest to. It borrows many concepts and overall I'm almost tempted to say it's like a Zelda game. What's nice is it's a refreshing blend and you won't find the same things in this game as any other, only the concepts. For this reason alone I consider this game a must play. It's unique artwork direction always make you wonder what's coming next and it definitely pulls you into wanting to play this game. The bad side of this game by far is the terrible camera. The camera is so bad it pulls it down to 7/10 but because everything else is so good I had to scale up my rating to must play and this is my cautionary disclaimer. I found the block button was not optimally mapped and early game I had some frustrations with its mapping. I found it quite cumbersome to use and a different controller mapping would have made the game much more enjoyable, or options to map your control scheme. By mid game however this wasn't an issue as you get to upgrade weapons so that became a strategy workaround to overcome this problem. Similarly there are some moments in the game where you are mobbed by groups of enemies you can be stun locked quite a bit. Thankfully you get many chances to die and carry on without being sent back far in the game. A third issue is that the game tries to blend so many other games features it doesn't realize that sometimes less is more. Some of the gameplay such as slider puzzles just depress the good momentum the game had going. To further that there is a repetition within the game that wasn't necessary. As always EA seems to build a game for everyone, and in turn I always say a game built for everyone is a game made for no one. They had a good thing going here within this game with its uniqueness and just couldn't help themselves and know when to stop adding more and more filler content. A very tiny fourth issue is some screen tearing glitches and even some glitches where enemies won't die or disappear, however I hardly put any weight on that. This must have been known and there is a restart option which I had to use multiple times but it wasn't that huge a setback except for one long boss battle area. So as I mentioned this is a 7/10 game however due to some of its development being first in class (art direction) coupled with it overall being a decent game with good length I feel this at minimum should be a must play/try game.… Expand
  42. stalnia
    Oct 20, 2015
    8
    Definitely worth playing through from beginning to end. Unfortunately I believe the QA department did not report how much the game would freeze to the point of having to exit the game then rebooting. I do not mind bugs here and there due to pushing for deadlines from the publisher but impeding gameplay is unacceptable. Overall the game is visually appealing and nailed Mcgees vision.Definitely worth playing through from beginning to end. Unfortunately I believe the QA department did not report how much the game would freeze to the point of having to exit the game then rebooting. I do not mind bugs here and there due to pushing for deadlines from the publisher but impeding gameplay is unacceptable. Overall the game is visually appealing and nailed Mcgees vision. The elements of the story kept me wanting to continue down the morbid path between reality and dream state. Even though the game would freeze I could not help but wait to reboot to continue where I left off. Didnt mind the mind games thrown in there which reminded me of what other games like silent hill attempt to do. Since playing the original game long ago this was a nice touch to the collection of American Mcgee's Alice.… Expand
  43. cinogen
    Jun 20, 2011
    7
    I love Alice. I loved this game for the first 2 chapters. on the 3rd - it all seemed repetitive and started to bore.
    Overall the game is decent with decent graphics - but some obvious bugs as well.
  44. YetiConfetti
    Jul 8, 2011
    9
    Not sure why the critics weren't as crazy about this game. The art direction is stunning, the story is intelligent and twisted, and the combat is unique and challenging. The campaign took me around 15-20 hours to complete, and during that time I always felt like there was something new to discover. Though the gameplay might be considered shallow and derivative by some, I chose toNot sure why the critics weren't as crazy about this game. The art direction is stunning, the story is intelligent and twisted, and the combat is unique and challenging. The campaign took me around 15-20 hours to complete, and during that time I always felt like there was something new to discover. Though the gameplay might be considered shallow and derivative by some, I chose to compare it to a game like Darksiders - both games take from older games like Zelda, but they manage to repackage the addicting gameplay in a way that makes it feel new and exciting. I only had a couple complaints about Alice, one being that 4 weapons (upgradable though they might be) feels like a small number for such a long game, and the other complaint being that the final chapter is underwhelming compared to the previous ones. Other than that, Alice should prove to be an incredibly rewarding game experience for anyone, regardless of if you played the original PC version (which is included for free, so if you feel obligated to play that first, then I still recommend getting this game).… Expand
  45. MaiquelP
    Jul 19, 2011
    7
    melhor visualizado em: criticalplayer.com.br

    Jogo lançado em 14 de Junho de 2011, produzido pela desconhecida Spicy Horse e distribuído pela EA. Alice: Madness Returns é uma grotesca e macabra distorção da obra original de Lewis Carroll, Alice no país das Maravilhas (não vou entrar em detalhes    melhor visualizado em: criticalplayer.com.br

    Jogo lançado em 14 de Junho de 2011, produzido pela desconhecida Spicy Horse e distribuído pela EA. Alice: Madness Returns é uma grotesca e macabra distorção da obra original de Lewis Carroll, Alice no país das Maravilhas (não vou entrar em detalhes porque não conheço mas deve ser aqueles típicos contos de fadas a lá Disney) criada do pelo designer de games American McGee. O estilo é ação/plataforma em terceira pessoa com combate baseado em armas.

    O enredo conta a história de Alice, uma adolescente recém saída de um hospício, em uma busca de respostas para o que aconteceu no dia em que sua família tragicamente morreu queimada dentro de sua própria casa (motivo pelo qual, ela foi parar no hospício).
    A busca ocorre dentro de um mundo criado pela própria Alice dentro de sua mente. No decorrer do jogo, ao encontrar partes da memória e completar os capítulos, a verdadeira história para o acidente vai sendo contada.

    A jogabilidade é bem simples e intuitiva, todos os controles são muito bem explicados e assimilados no decorrer do gameplay. Com ressalva para um problema que ocorre em alguns pontos do cenário que trava a movimentação da personagem.

    A câmera pode ser controlada livremente ou pode ser fixada em um inimigo (no estilo Zelda dos áurios tempos de N64). O arsenal é composto por uma faca (a melhor no combate corpo-a-corpo, é bem rápida, mas tira pouca energia), uma espécie de martelo em formato de cavalo (boa quando os inimigos estão amontoados, ela é devastadora e quebra a guarda de alguns inimigos apesar de ser lenta), um moedor que atira pimenta (ideal para inimigos voadores), um bule que atira chá quente (bom para matar inimigos amontoados a longa distância) e um boneco-bomba (distrai os inimigos e é essencial para resolução de alguns quebra-cabeças).

    A utilização do modo â    … Expand
  46. SilentMugwump
    Sep 1, 2011
    9
    I have been loving this game, but I must admit it is mostly because of its visual concept. The game is basically a platformer with the type of game play you would expect from a 3D Rayman or Super Mario title, and quite repetitive. But that works for me just right because it forces me to explore every little corner to collect all the items and admire the artwork as I play. Relaxing forI have been loving this game, but I must admit it is mostly because of its visual concept. The game is basically a platformer with the type of game play you would expect from a 3D Rayman or Super Mario title, and quite repetitive. But that works for me just right because it forces me to explore every little corner to collect all the items and admire the artwork as I play. Relaxing for the most part, frustrating occasionally, I recommend this game if you are a fan of the characters and/or if you want to see something that looks original, even if it doesn't play that way.… Expand
  47. StaticBroom
    Sep 27, 2011
    9
    This game took a lot of imagination to create. I was very impressed with the psychological mind trip figure-out-what-is-really-going-on feel to this game. The hidden objects are fun to collect, the weapons and upgrades were entertaining to use, and the art direction can be categorized as "top notch". This game is not for the immature, younger crowd. There are some very serious, matureThis game took a lot of imagination to create. I was very impressed with the psychological mind trip figure-out-what-is-really-going-on feel to this game. The hidden objects are fun to collect, the weapons and upgrades were entertaining to use, and the art direction can be categorized as "top notch". This game is not for the immature, younger crowd. There are some very serious, mature themes throughout this story. I have one problem, although it is not with the gameplay. My problem is that, although it is possible to buy the original Alice game on the Xbox Marketplace, you cannot play it unless you also have this game (Alice: Madness Returns). To launch the original Alice after purchasing it on the Marketplace...you must do so from within THIS game's menu.… Expand
  48. Akito8
    Oct 4, 2011
    9
    To me, a game I remember vividly each level and design months and months later is a success. Alice: Madness Returns was one of those games. I played the original American McGee's Alice on PC about a year ago after hearing about it. I loved the dark setting but couldn't get fully immersed because of the hard control scheme on PC. To my delight, I heard they were making a sequel! and on theTo me, a game I remember vividly each level and design months and months later is a success. Alice: Madness Returns was one of those games. I played the original American McGee's Alice on PC about a year ago after hearing about it. I loved the dark setting but couldn't get fully immersed because of the hard control scheme on PC. To my delight, I heard they were making a sequel! and on the Xbox!
    To me the game was a visually stunning piece, even if the graphics weren't futuristic BF3 something or other, I feel like the graphics accented the theme of the game nicely and I had no problem with them. The game is meant to look more unreal, after all. The story was pretty good, although I was a little lost at times as to what was going on, I usually would figure it out after a few minutes or so. The combat was fun and yes, maybe it got repetitive after a while but the stunning levels and new enemies kept me going. The level design was astounding, and I still remember the ruined halls of the Red Queen's castle and the satisfying underwater segment. The setting is changed so rapidly it really keeps you interested and you're never in one place too long. Also the surprise of where Alice was headed next also kept me immersed, and guessing. Overall I wouldn't go as far to say this is a GOTY but I can defiantly recommend this to anyone who loves the dark fantasy/action genre and I will probably be replaying it sometime to get back into that twisted world and dark atmosphere that is American McGee's Alice.    … Expand
  49. LookinLikeMagic
    Jan 31, 2016
    8
    Alice: Madness Returns is the sequel to the critically acclaimed American McGee's Alice. It takes place a year after original game in 1875 were Alice has been released from the asylum and now lives in an orphanage under the care of Dr Bumby. Alice is still traumatised by the fire that killed her entire family and Dr Bumby encourages her to go to Wonderland in her mind as a copingAlice: Madness Returns is the sequel to the critically acclaimed American McGee's Alice. It takes place a year after original game in 1875 were Alice has been released from the asylum and now lives in an orphanage under the care of Dr Bumby. Alice is still traumatised by the fire that killed her entire family and Dr Bumby encourages her to go to Wonderland in her mind as a coping mechanism. However in her visions Wonderland has changed and is much darker and twisted than how she left it. After several hallucinations of the Jabberwock Alice once again arrives in Wonderland.

    Story: 8/10
    Madness Return's storyline is very strong but it does have some minor pacing issues. New players to the series will have no trouble keeping up with the storyline as it references the first game and the Lewis Carroll novels at the start of the game and through collectable memories found throughout the game. The storyline is quite engaging and you'll want to play on to continue Alice's adventure. However I found myself wanting the game to pick up pace as I progressed towards the later chapters. The characters and voice acting however are superb and actually likeable compared to most games these days. American McGee gives an interesting edge to each of Lewis Carroll's original characters such as Hatter who is a mechanical genius who is obsessed with time and clockwork.

    Gameplay: 8/10
    From what I have played, Madness Returns's gameplay is quite similar to the first game but it has much more emphasis on hack n slash combat aswell as platforming. Like most hack n slash games it several basic moves such as a light attack, heavy attack, ranged attack aswell as dodge and block. Alice can equip several weapons and items at a time such as the Vorpal Blade and Pepper Grinder etc. The game has a basic upgrading system were Alice can upgrade several weapons by collecting "teeth" throughout the game. Personally I am a huge fan of the combination of hack n slash, platforming and RPG elements that Madness Returns uses however it does have several problems that bring it down. The camera angles and targeting system are very flawed and can be quite frustrating, for example when in a semi-large area and facing 3 or more enemies the targeting system can irrationally target far off enemies.

    Graphics: 9/10

    The environment and character designs for Madness Returns are very unique when compared to other games on the market. The artistic design really brings Lewis Carroll's Wonderland to life with a unique darker edge that only McGee can achieve. There is a wide range of environments that Alice travels through ranging from classic Wonderland forests to harsh arctic wastelands making each stage very different. Every new environment brings with it new diverse enemies that look and act differently such as goblins that use cutlery as weapons, undead card soldiers and sharks that hide in ice. The designs for characters in both Wonderland and London have their own unique style. Both the environments and character designs remind me of the Fable and Medevil series but with a refreshing edge.

    Extras: 7/10

    Madness Returns only has a singleplayer campaign but due to the diverse levels and the long length of story this is to be expected. I also cannot imagine however a multiplayer or co-op feature would play into the story so I am happy with just the singleplayer mode. However if you buy a new copy of the game on either the PS3 or Xbox 360 you are entitled to a free download of the original American McGee's Alice. This much appreciated extra expands the average play time of about 10-15 hours to about 20-25 hours. It is a simple port of the original game without any graphical updates which is slightly disappointing but not a problem.

    Enjoyment: 8/10
    Personally I found Alice: Madness Returns extremely enjoyable but this is my type of game because its a little bit of everything as I mentioned earlier such as hack n slash, platforming and minor aspects of an RPG and a 3rd person shooter. The characters and environment design of this game really made the storyline very intriguing to me and I will definitely be buying my own copy of this for the PS3. As I mentioned earlier the problems with pacing and the targeting system are the only things that brought the enjoyment of this game down because at times they can be a big issue. I would recommend this to fans of the Fable series and platforming games such as Crash Bandicoot, Medievil and A Series Of Unfortunate Events.

    Overall Rating: 8/10    … Expand
  50. shooterboss
    Oct 11, 2012
    8
    Alice: Madness Returns certainly has a unique art style and stunning visuals. The gameplay itself is agreeably varied and fun. However, some attempts at varying the pace, such as a few 2D platforming and pinball stages, are boring and start to drag near the end of the game. Storyline, however, is quite well done. Definitely one of the most underrated games I've played on this console, andAlice: Madness Returns certainly has a unique art style and stunning visuals. The gameplay itself is agreeably varied and fun. However, some attempts at varying the pace, such as a few 2D platforming and pinball stages, are boring and start to drag near the end of the game. Storyline, however, is quite well done. Definitely one of the most underrated games I've played on this console, and it's certainly worth at least a rent.… Expand
  51. Gilgamesh
    Oct 31, 2012
    8
    A surprise hit for me and well worth a playthrough or more. Some of the imagery is extremely well done. Puzzles aren't too tricky however gameplay is no slouch and weapons are interesting. Controls are very tight and the levels and challenges are diverse. Madness Returns is sure to impress true console gamers willing to give it a chance with an open mind. This one is not just for the girls.
  52. Calebd2
    Dec 9, 2014
    8
    This game's scenery and design is really beautiful and unique. The team did a nice job giving each level its own unique feel even though the same basic mechanics were in each of them. This helped keep the game entertaining even though a lot of it was very repetitive. Storyline was above average and interesting. This genre of game is not something I am typically into, but I found that itThis game's scenery and design is really beautiful and unique. The team did a nice job giving each level its own unique feel even though the same basic mechanics were in each of them. This helped keep the game entertaining even though a lot of it was very repetitive. Storyline was above average and interesting. This genre of game is not something I am typically into, but I found that it was executed really well.
    I was excited and impressed to see that they included the original title along with this game. I had played it as a kid back in 2000, so the nostalgia of that was fun and really appreciated. The port over was well done.    … Expand
  53. Rox22
    Jan 24, 2013
    7
    Alice has got some of the most breathtaking visuals I have seen on the 360. The game is just utterly gorgeous to look at. Almost like the demented love child of Tim Burton & Don Bluth. But regardless of its visual beauty, the game itself is really just average. It's an old school platformer that really doesn't add anything new to the mix. In fact one could say that this style of gameplayAlice has got some of the most breathtaking visuals I have seen on the 360. The game is just utterly gorgeous to look at. Almost like the demented love child of Tim Burton & Don Bluth. But regardless of its visual beauty, the game itself is really just average. It's an old school platformer that really doesn't add anything new to the mix. In fact one could say that this style of gameplay is rather dated, but I will stick to old-school just to be polite. Levels are fun to explore, but not to play. The action is just so slow and the games pacing can be tedious at times. Platforming sections work for the most part, but do face their fair share of frustration due to awkward camera controls. Puzzles are either ridiculously easy or incredibly obscure. Overall: Alice: Madness Returns is a worth playing for the visuals alone, but don't expect a game that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. It's fun, but the dated & repetitive gameplay does get a bit dull.… Expand
  54. iddqd4
    Mar 19, 2018
    8
    Тут Алиса гораздо более мрачная и крутая, чем к примеру у Тима Бертона.
  55. guiletheguiles
    Sep 4, 2023
    4
    Look, I can see why people praise this game. The imagery, aesthetics, atmosphere, puzzles, weapon variety and a creepy take on Alice's tale. Supposedly, it's all there but... it's definitely not for me.

    I enjoyed the first level of this game and that's it. I didn't have fun at all with everything else. Combat is annoying, puzzles are tiresome, music feels superficial, platforming goes    Look, I can see why people praise this game. The imagery, aesthetics, atmosphere, puzzles, weapon variety and a creepy take on Alice's tale. Supposedly, it's all there but... it's definitely not for me.

    I enjoyed the first level of this game and that's it. I didn't have fun at all with everything else. Combat is annoying, puzzles are tiresome, music feels superficial, platforming goes on forever and the story just isn't well told. I liked the ending, but the road towards it was the worst.

    What absolutely killed this game was how tedious it is. Levels are unnecessarily HUGE, padded and bloated. Combat may have some cool weapons, but fighting is boring as hell. Not to mention the excessive use of the same puzzles, gimmicks, platforming tricks etc over and over again.

    Alice Madness Returns, in my experience, is a game that takes forever and amounts to nothing. It's better than the first one, yes, but that doesn't mean much. A waste of time, after all.    … Expand
  56. tristmaster
    Mar 3, 2014
    8
    This game has a very dark, yet satisfyingly twisted plot with fantastic art direction and a beautiful soundtrack. however, the gameplay is very unsatisfying, with no combo system, and limited options for melee. still a pretty good game though.
  57. Joellemm
    Jan 12, 2020
    6
    Due to the game's graphical style, it's visuals still hold up now. Its a fun platformer, that mostly functions well. Nice variety in levels and enemies. Combat is varied and satisfying. The narrative is predictable but functional. Transitions between scenes and levels could be a little jarring. Overall though, it made a nice change in contrast to most new releases. Solid fun.
  58. longneck
    Mar 9, 2015
    9
    If you've never played this game, do yourself a favor and buy it now. I bought it out of a 10$ discount bin not expecting much but the game blindsided me and is now one of my favorites.

    It's one of the best platformers made in my opinion. The atmosphere and "vibe" of the game is stunningly well done. Platforming and combat can become a bit repetitive on a couple of stages but the world    If you've never played this game, do yourself a favor and buy it now. I bought it out of a 10$ discount bin not expecting much but the game blindsided me and is now one of my favorites.

    It's one of the best platformers made in my opinion. The atmosphere and "vibe" of the game is stunningly well done. Platforming and combat can become a bit repetitive on a couple of stages but the world is beautiful/twisted enough to motivate you to keep playing to see the level through. You can tell the developers took the extra bit of effort in the little details and it shows through the game play. Collectables are fairly well thought out and fun, if your not a collectem-all type of person you can skip this part pretty much entirely however I'm on my second play through just for them and am still finding the game enjoyable.

    Drawbacks are the slightly annoying camera and lack of enemy variety but neither are much more than minor annoyances. Seriously, go buy this game right now if you haven't already.    … Expand
  59. InkstaindWretch
    Jan 6, 2016
    9
    Alice is a challenging game in both the good and bad senses of the word. The bad part is that it can be very frustrating at times, at least on the first play-through. Even on the easiest difficulty setting the game can be brutally hard at times and the lack of a quicksave function -- why do designers do this? -- eliminates any margin for error. You're likely to throw your controller downAlice is a challenging game in both the good and bad senses of the word. The bad part is that it can be very frustrating at times, at least on the first play-through. Even on the easiest difficulty setting the game can be brutally hard at times and the lack of a quicksave function -- why do designers do this? -- eliminates any margin for error. You're likely to throw your controller down and curse more than once. But if you stick with it, Alice is a genuinely rewarding experience.

    It is a visually stunning and continually imaginative adventure (seriously, it's breath-taking at times) that somehow manages to both stay true to author Lewis Carroll's vision and be a kick-ass shooter at the same time. And once you beat it the first time, you unlock a variety of options that make it even more fun.

    Yeah, presenting a dark, grim version of a classic literary fairy tale wasn't exactly innovative when Tim Burton first started doing it -- or for that matter, when Terry Gilliam was doing it -- but it still suits the materiel. And the game's take on Alice is actually a really compelling heroine. She's not an over-sexualized fantasy object. She's not a cutesy moppet. She's not a walking feminist lecture either. She's just a tough, plucky kid in a (literally) insane world. A kid who gets get to smash things with giant hammer.    … Expand
  60. KayVen17
    Dec 28, 2021
    8
    Ein Spiel, was mir im Gedächtnis bleibt. Zwar hat es klare Schwächen. Über die kann ich aber gut hinweg sehen, da ich leider nirgendswo sonst eine so schöne Videospiel-Interpretation zu "Alice im Wunderland" bekomme. Sehr zu empfehlen!
  61. Bernak1000
    Aug 19, 2021
    8
    Aunque hablo inglés quiero dejar mi reseña para todos los latinos que lleguen por acá. Alice Madness Returns es un excelente juego no tanto por lo divertido o su jugabilidad la cual es sencilla. Esto es por la magia de su entorno, sus diseños, su historia retorcida y los escenarios que te volarán la cabeza y más si crees que Alicia estaba loca. Esta nota de 8 es por estos factores queAunque hablo inglés quiero dejar mi reseña para todos los latinos que lleguen por acá. Alice Madness Returns es un excelente juego no tanto por lo divertido o su jugabilidad la cual es sencilla. Esto es por la magia de su entorno, sus diseños, su historia retorcida y los escenarios que te volarán la cabeza y más si crees que Alicia estaba loca. Esta nota de 8 es por estos factores que disfrute mucho !!!! Si te gusto mi reseña sigue mis redes en Freak World Mx en todas las redes !!!!… Expand
  62. VaaskyVeldt
    May 18, 2022
    7
    For a game made in 2011, graphically this game holds up really well. The character designs both in London and Wonderland are imaginative, the level designs are weird in a good way and overall it’s a treat to look at.

    The story is dark and interesting. The game surprised me multiple times, I won’t spoil anything so you can experience it for yourself. What makes the story great as well is    For a game made in 2011, graphically this game holds up really well. The character designs both in London and Wonderland are imaginative, the level designs are weird in a good way and overall it’s a treat to look at.

    The story is dark and interesting. The game surprised me multiple times, I won’t spoil anything so you can experience it for yourself. What makes the story great as well is that in the levels you can find memory fragments. At first these feel like fragmented memories, however that’s the point. These make the world feel more alive, which benefits this game greatly.

    Fighting is intuitive but can becomes repetitive very quickly. It’s a shame Spicy Horse didn’t employ more enemy types in a battle, really keeping you on your toes. This probably has to do with that they wanted unique enemies per chapter and didn’t want to recycle old enemies. It’s a shame they went this route, because combat could’ve been much more varied then it currently is. The game teased me a couple times with awesome bosses, just to let the cutscenes kill them for me, which is lame.

    What is inexcusable though, is the extremely shallow platforming. The problem is Alice jump is way too powerful. Even when the platform you have to jump to is on the outer side of it’s cycle, Alice can 90% of the time make that jump with a little effort. This is a problem obviously, because it trivializes more than 80% what you’re doing in the game. Because of this, even though what I was looking at is extremely interesting, I was bored out of my mind and levels felt longer than they actually were. Not only is Alice’s jump too powerful, Spicy Horse’s concept of challenge is to constantly throw invincible platforms your way. You can see them when you use Alice’s shrink ability. It wouldn’t be a problem if it was used for secrets or the occasional challenge. Especially in later stages these are so overused I rolled my eyes every time I saw one of them. Despite this, I did want to continue on.

    I recommend this game to anyone that's seeking for a game that drips atmosphere and doesn't mind shallow platforming and doesn't think too much about combat.    … Expand
  63. Bloodnes
    Sep 10, 2020
    8
    Вполне достойная игра для своего времени, прошел на одном дыхании, заслуживает внимания 8/10
  64. lelbro
    Jan 3, 2022
    10
    Fantastic Retelling.
    I haven't played this game in a while, but I remember loving everything about it. Knowing the story of Alice in Wonderland reminds me of how brilliant this dark retelling is. The story is not hard to follow, but the way and speed at which it is delivered keeps it intriguing the whole way through. The gameplay consists of platforming, combat, and puzzles that all mesh    Fantastic Retelling.
    I haven't played this game in a while, but I remember loving everything about it. Knowing the story of Alice in Wonderland reminds me of how brilliant this dark retelling is. The story is not hard to follow, but the way and speed at which it is delivered keeps it intriguing the whole way through. The gameplay consists of platforming, combat, and puzzles that all mesh together perfectly. The design in this game follows the trend of being perfect, along with gritty. Every world is so unique when compared to other platformers. There is also this nice touch where Alice is befitted with a dress that matches the environment for each world. The character designs, especially for characters like Alice and the Cheshire Cat, are sublime. The enemies are both original and interesting. The tools you are given for combat gives you many options. The game length is neither too long nor too short. This game is not ground-breaking in terms of gameplay, but it is masterful in most of the genres it undertakes.    … Expand
  65. Legalidiomas
    Apr 9, 2020
    9
    I'm playing this game in the year 2020 on Xbox 360 and it's awesome, I thought it would be a garbage but it's not.

    The good: Amazing story-line, well-detailed stages, great weapons, awesome to explore this fantastic world, some enemies requires different strategies to beat them, a little of terror and suspense. The bad: 1st You need to be patient because you are going to fall a    I'm playing this game in the year 2020 on Xbox 360 and it's awesome, I thought it would be a garbage but it's not.

    The good:
    Amazing story-line, well-detailed stages, great weapons, awesome to explore this fantastic world, some enemies requires different strategies to beat them, a little of terror and suspense.

    The bad:
    1st You need to be patient because you are going to fall a lot, I mean, thousand of times.
    2nd There's a little delay (2 sec) when changing weapons.    … Expand
  66. Thejodjeremie
    Mar 29, 2021
    6
    The game has nice graphics, music, and voice acting but the game was very slow at times. The combat, story, and customization were all just ok for me.
  67. JustFlaxen
    Feb 18, 2022
    9
    I absolutely love this game, This game is extremely underrated and good. I love the art-style and the whole concept of the game. It's a very interesting game with an awesome storyline, and the first game (American McGee's Alice) is even inside this game for free! I absolutely love Alice: Madness Returns and it is my comfort game, it's even one of my favorite games. It's great in many ways,I absolutely love this game, This game is extremely underrated and good. I love the art-style and the whole concept of the game. It's a very interesting game with an awesome storyline, and the first game (American McGee's Alice) is even inside this game for free! I absolutely love Alice: Madness Returns and it is my comfort game, it's even one of my favorite games. It's great in many ways, but it has tiny flaws though, but they aren't hard to ignore and it doesn't affect the game a lot. Its still great and i definitely can recommend this game.… Expand
  68. Zanza92
    Aug 29, 2022
    10
    This game is a gem, in its time it did not receive the attention it deserved and I still do not understand why the "critics" have given it low marks, its artistic section is great, Alice's design and her clothing are the best, it has good music and its story is quite gloomy and dark but quite good, if you like hack and slash and plat-formers you should play it.
  69. Shonjeto
    Nov 26, 2022
    10
    لعبة حلوة قصة خيالية لكن جيدة جيم بلي حلو احب قصص أليس في بلاد عجائب واحب العابها ايضا

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
35
#35 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 67
  3. Negative: 1 out of 67
  1. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    The levels are creative and artistic direction is solid, but the actual gameplay suffers from a lack of diversity and being clumped into big chunks.
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  2. GamingTrend
    Sep 14, 2011
    82
    All in all it's a decent game with only a few nagging issues to prevent it from being great. Comparatively, I think that the original did it better, but Spicy Horse has done a respectable job with the sequel.
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  3. Armchair Empire
    Aug 2, 2011
    70
    Had Madness Returns cut its length by half and tossed in a few more gameplay mechanics, it could have easily been one of the best titles released this year.
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