Alice: Madness Returns

[winds]

The original game does come with it free. On the back of the case it will say "Online Pass: Activate your Online Pass to access a bonus download of the original American Mcgee's Alice." with a tiny picture of the game. Though it should be mentioned the game is only accessible from the menu of Alice Madness Returns, so it's considered add-on instead of a standalone game since you need AMR to play it right now.

I'm not sure if it's only the first batch of the games shipped that will have this or not. But make sure your copy has that part on the back mentioning the free game.

[noiseredux]

The original game does come with it free. On the back of the case it will say "Online Pass: Activate your Online Pass to access a bonus download of the original American Mcgee's Alice." with a tiny picture of the game. Though it should be mentioned the game is only accessible from the menu of Alice Madness Returns, so it's considered add-on instead of a standalone game since you need AMR to play it right now.

I'm not sure if it's only the first batch of the games shipped that will have this or not. But make sure your copy has that part on the back mentioning the free game.

which version are you talking about? Does the PS3 version come with the original too???

[MrPopo]

As I understand it the console versions both come with it, as well as the special DL-only edition of the PC version.

[noiseredux]

As I understand it the console versions both come with it, as well as the special DL-only edition of the PC version.

I was on the fence, but now I really want it.

[Bradtemple87]

Wow my girlfriend will freak out for this one

[winds]

Yeah I can confirm the console versions both come with the original. I bought the ps3 version today and it came with the DLC for the original game. I am hearing a lot of people saying it (the original game, not madness returns) has random glitches/freezing though . At least on the ps3 version, not sure about 360's port.

Also, as for right now the original can't be downloaded at all on the PSN or Xbox live without Madness Returns. Right now getting that DLC is the only way to get it on the consoles.

[Gamerforlife]

I wonder which console version will be the best. I'll be waiting on digital foundry and lens of truth to cover this game

[winds]

I think lens of truth already did. There wasnt a huge difference in the 2 console ports, however 360 did seem a little better, especially ps3 is missing one of the grassy textures outside that somehow was forgotten to be added. Anti-aliasing is much improved on the ps3 though.

http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head-al ... omparison/

[Gamerforlife]

Well I finished the first chapter and here's an idea what the game is like for anyone curious.

The game feels like a very old school game. It feels like a throwback to the past in the rather simplistic way the platforming and combat is done. Platforming is like an old school third person platformer from the Playstation and Playstation 2 era before Prince of Persia Sands of Time brought the new platforming paradigm. It's your basic stuff like jumping on moving platforms, riding air vents, avoiding timed obstacles, etc. Standard platform stuff. You can glide at any time and can triple jump, which is like double jumping but you can do it up to three times. You actually have to do this in some parts to get enough distance to get over a gap

The combat so far consists of blocking(which can deflect some projectiles back at enemies), a three hit melee combo and the ability to lock on to enemies and shoot them. However, the gun jams up if you shoot it too many times. You can dash around to avoid attacks and you seem to be invulnerable while doing so. I also aquired a bomb item which has two different uses to help you get through a level, but can also be used in combat to distract enemies like a decoy(it blows up in their face when they go after it). Different enemies have different weakness or patterns. One guy has a shield and you can't hit him unless you dodge his attack(which happens in slow mo to give you time to react)and then attack him while his weapon is stuck in the ground. Another enemy fires projectiles you can deflect back at him. One enemy is a bug and they'll swarm you and keep respawning if you don't destroy the nest. The game is not shy about throwing a bunch of enemies at you and usually mixing up the types. Every enemy I just mentioned I had to fight simultaneously in some parts of the first chappter. Oh, and when you're low on health you can activate hysteria mode, which I haven't used yet out of pride. You go invincible for a brief time according to what the game says if you use it

There's puzzle solving, but it's been pretty easy stuff so far. You can find collectibles in each stage too. The game sometimes clues you in on where they are with sounds or visual clues. You have to shrink Alice to get to some of them as well as for level progression. When you shrink she gets this sort of Spider sense and notices clues in the environment, which usually are weird drawings on walls like in Portal. She also becomes aware of invisible platforms that you need to walk or jump on. It kind of freaks you out when you jump onto a platform after leaving shrink mode and see it disappear beneath you, sometimes before you land on it. Apparently, shrinking also frees you from enemy grabs though I haven't had a chance to try that yet. There's also currency you can use to upgrade either your knife or gun. I've been focusing solely on the gun so far

Visually, the game looks great sometimes and just okay at others. You go back and forth between Alice's real world and the game's twisted version of Wonderland. Just based on the first chapter I played, the game looks its best in the real world. I don't why, but the graphics just seem a bit nicer compared to the Wonderland stage I just played through. Like they are enhanced. You do see some odd things in Wonderland though. The real world feels like hub areas. You walk around and listen to people talk to Alice or eachother or just see other random stuff like a fight breaking out in a bar. Voices are solid, no complaints. The music is okay so far. Nothing really grabbing my intention, but nothing offensive to my ears either. It just sort of fades into the background for me and usually fits the mood. The first stage was primarily really ominous, kind of twisted sounding music

Overall, the game seems decent so far, it a bit dated with its gameplay mechanics. It feels like a last gen game, like this lost game that was actually completed years ago but just got released now. There's nothing really innovative about it, but it's solidly put together. I've not found anything particularly frustrating about it. I have to point out that the game controls like a dream. Alice moves very fluidly. I'd say this would be a great budget title, but I didn't mind paying full price as I''m getting the original game too

EDIT: Just acquired a new item for using in traversing stage 2 and for use in combat. Looks like this will be the game's pattern, a new item each stage. That's pretty cool

[Gamerforlife]

I don't know if anyone cares, but I just realized there's a few achievements for playing through the original Alice. That's pretty cool. There's DLC for Madness Returns too I just found out. Apparently, it's some new weapon upgrades and outfits with special abilities or so I've heard. I haven't used any of it yet

I just played around with my gamma settings and I'm finding the game to look much nicer than I originally thought.