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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. wesker2012
    Jun 13, 2012
    5
    Average game.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Iky009
    May 31, 2015
    7
    Despite a promising plot fails game in its gameplay, which becomes a repetitive EXPERIENCE, cloying, boring and even annoying. .
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. 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.

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.
    Read full review
  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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