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Computer Times
Editors' Choice Game Alice: Madness Returns Review by Angie Kibiloski
Alice: Madness Returns (Retail $49.99 for PC, $59.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3), from Electronic Arts and Spicy Horse Games, is the sequel to the much-acclaimed Alice, which was released in 2000. You needn’t have played the original though, as this new title presents a stand-alone story which will grip fans and newcomers alike. Starting in the insane asylum she’s been living in, you’ll join Alice 10 years after the end of the original story’s end, and journey with her back to Wonderland for a whole new adventure. Traumatized by the death of her parents, and suffering from the loss of important childhood memories, Alice is still plagued with guilt and uncertainty. Delve into her disturbed psyche and discover the roots of her madness as well as its influence on her Wonderland. This dark twist on the classic tale will take you into the heart of that bizarre world, once a safe haven for Alice, but now corrupted by an unknown evil, and will test your skills and fortitude against many strange and dangerous foes. At times, even the landscape itself will put Alice’s life in danger. Can you help Alice save Wonderland from the darkness that has taken it over, retrieve her lost memories, and put an end to her madness?
While traversing the beautifully weird environments, you’ll need to hone your skills of jumping, dodging, floating, and navigating the various ledges, chasms, and secret passages. Once you gain the power to shrink, you’ll be able to access even more pathways, and unlock bonus areas and rewards. If you keep a keen eye out, you will find Alice’s lost memories scattered throughout the world, and be treated to a viewing of each one, slowly rebuilding a picture of her past. You’ll come across familiar characters, like the Duchess and the Cheshire Cat, but they may be a little different from how you remember them. Odd though they may appear, they can be helpful, so pay attention and learn from their instructions. Other creatures will be out to do you harm, like the Bolterflies and the Slithering Ruin. They will take away some of your health when they attack, so you’ll have to find ways to kill them first. Luckily, you’ll acquire the use of the Vorpal Blade and the Pepper Grinder early in the game, two of the very useful weapons that you’ll collect to use against all manner of Wonderland enemy. The Vorpal Blade is a super powerful butcher’s knife, deadly and efficient if used correctly. The Pepper Grinder, which you get once you find the Duchess, is the perfect ranged weapon, and will not only help you defeat flying enemies, it will also let you activate Snouts, giant flying pig noses which will reveal hidden paths along your route.
The controls are easy to learn, with helpful on-screen prompts to get you started. The dark visuals are striking, really creating a unique setting, and making the bizarre world of Wonderland a delight to explore. You can adjust the difficulty level, so your trip into Wonderland can be as casual or as insanely hard as you like. It’s part platform game, part shooter, part 3rd person action-adventure, and one hundred percent fun. You’ll love joining Alice on her return trip to Wonderland, experiencing first hand all the weird, wicked, and wonderful people and places. Alice: Madness Returns is available for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Console players have the option to download the original title with a special code, and PC players can download the original if they purchase the new title from the EA online store. Everyone has the option to access downloadable content, to add extra enjoyment to an already awesome game. Have you met any mad people lately? Maybe its time you should.
System Requirements:
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