You know, for me it is sometimes impossible to fight back the urge to snatch an old CD from my shelf, relax and do some retro-gaming. It's just because that several years ago and earlier there were some gems of game industry released, that are crafted with talent and inspiration yet unmatched. I consider "American McGee's Alice" to be one of such undeniable masterpieces.
Everything about this game gets me enraptured. Firstly, it is a third-person shooter based upon the novels by Lewis Carroll: "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" & "Behind The Looking-Glass". They have been creatively... altered to fit the gameplay process one usually expects from a TPS - lots of action, challenging tasks, brutality and absorbing atmosphere. Impressive? Sure it is. "Alice" will throw you into the world of madness only the mind of a dedicated mushroom-eater (or a game designer like American McGee) could have invented.
Continuing the plot of original novels, American McGee produced a story of little Alice Liddel, who lost her home and parents in a fire and went mad with grief. In the asylum she is re-visited by the White Rabbit and thus she plunders once more into once beautiful Wonderland - now a horrible, dangerous, agonizing realm.
Design and atmosphere are the strongest features of this game. While playing, you will never be rid of the feeling that this IS actually Wonderland... or Nightmareland. All the major and minor characters and locations were brought to life in a very inventive and exquisite way so you could enjoy. Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Tweedle-de-dee and Tweedle-de-dum, Queen Of Hearts and many other - they are all there, as your allies and foes.
Graphics of "Alice" is quite good, taking into account the year of release - far-far 2000. If millenium starts with a game like this one, it is surely going to be quite surreal. Texturing, animation and modelling are performed very well, the picture is quite pleasant to look at, so the prominent design received quite an attractive graphical realization thanks to Quake 3 engine. This oldie can still deliver good visual effects.
Gameplay is out-and-out simple, like any shooter has. Though entourage and atmosphere make it addictingly superb, and it is capable of making you drift away for several hours or even till morning. I wonder what excuse you would make up for your boss. :)
Sountrack is another powerful instrument that contributes to the overall morbidly enchanting atmosphere. Composed by Chris Vrenna, it is a masterpiece of psychedelic ambient that can fall into your brain quite well even separately from the game itself.
In the main, I recommend this game to anyone fond of Lewis Carroll's books (but not too fond :)), of surreal games and great third-person-shooters. The overall score is 10/10.
If I managed to draw your attention and you have any suggestions/questions/curses/jokes to play on me/punches in the face to give me, send those here: korol_ondatra@yahoo.com
You can also visit my blog and find something interesting there: http://argentumvivum.blogspot.com
Dying to see you burst in critics,
Oleg Starko
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