Summary

Release Year: 2000
Genres: Adventure, Platform, Puzzle
Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developers: Rogue Entertainment, Westlake Interactive
Publishers: Aspyr Media, Electronic Arts

American McGee’s Alice (2000)

American McGee’s Alice is a dark and twisted take on the classic story of Alice in Wonderland. Developed by Rogue Entertainment and released in 2000, the game follows Alice as she returns to Wonderland ten years after her first adventure, only to find it has been transformed into a nightmarish realm by the Queen of Hearts.

The game is a third-person action-adventure with a heavy focus on combat. Alice is armed with a variety of weapons, including a knife, a pepper grinder, and a croquet mallet, and she must use them to fight her way through hordes of enemies. The game also features a number of puzzles that must be solved in order to progress.

American McGee’s Alice was a critical and commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. It was praised for its dark and atmospheric visuals, its challenging gameplay, and its unique take on the Alice in Wonderland story. The game has since been ported to a number of platforms, including the PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.

Story

American McGee’s Alice begins ten years after the events of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alice is now a young woman, and she has been institutionalized in Rutledge Asylum after the death of her family in a house fire. While at the asylum, Alice is visited by the White Rabbit, who tells her that Wonderland is in danger and that she must return to save it.

Alice follows the White Rabbit back to Wonderland, only to find that it has been transformed into a dark and twisted realm. The once-bright colors are now muted, and the once-familiar creatures are now grotesque and terrifying. Alice soon learns that the Queen of Hearts has taken over Wonderland and that she is using her power to enslave its inhabitants.

Alice sets out on a journey to defeat the Queen of Hearts and restore Wonderland to its former glory. Along the way, she meets a number of allies, including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare. She also faces a number of challenges, including hordes of enemies and deadly traps.

In the end, Alice is able to defeat the Queen of Hearts and restore Wonderland to its former glory. However, she is unable to return to her own world, and she is forced to remain in Wonderland forever.

Gameplay

American McGee’s Alice is a third-person action-adventure game with a heavy focus on combat. Alice is armed with a variety of weapons, including a knife, a pepper grinder, and a croquet mallet, and she must use them to fight her way through hordes of enemies. The game also features a number of puzzles that must be solved in order to progress.

The combat in American McGee’s Alice is fast-paced and challenging. Alice must use a variety of attacks and combos to defeat her enemies. She can also use her environment to her advantage, such as by using objects to block attacks or by knocking enemies into hazards.

The puzzles in American McGee’s Alice are varied and challenging. Some puzzles require Alice to use her wits, while others require her to use her combat skills. The puzzles are well-integrated into the game world, and they help to create a sense of atmosphere and immersion.

Visuals

American McGee’s Alice is known for its dark and atmospheric visuals. The game’s world is rendered in a muted color palette, and the characters and creatures are designed to be grotesque and terrifying. The game’s environments are also very detailed and immersive, and they help to create a sense of place and atmosphere.

The visuals in American McGee’s Alice are not for everyone. Some players may find the game’s dark and twisted imagery to be too disturbing. However, for those who can stomach it, the game’s visuals are a major part of its appeal.

Music

The music in American McGee’s Alice is composed by Chris Vrenna. The soundtrack is a mix of ambient and industrial music, and it helps to create a dark and atmospheric tone for the game. The soundtrack is also very well-composed, and it features a number of memorable tracks.

Reception

American McGee’s Alice was a critical and commercial success. The game sold over 1 million copies worldwide, and it received positive reviews from critics. The game was praised for its dark and atmospheric visuals, its challenging gameplay, and its unique take on the Alice in Wonderland story.

American McGee’s Alice has since been ported to a number of platforms, including the PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. The game has also been re-released on GOG.com and Steam.

Legacy

American McGee’s Alice is considered to be one of the best Alice in Wonderland video games ever made. The game’s dark and twisted take on the classic story has made it a cult classic among fans of the genre. The game has also been cited as an influence on a number of other video games, including the Batman: Arkham series and the Darksiders series.

In 2011, a sequel to American McGee’s Alice was released, titled Alice: Madness Returns. The sequel was also a critical and commercial success, and it further cemented the legacy of the Alice in Wonderland video game series.