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Alice: Madness Returns |OT|
- Thread starter The M.O.B
- Start date
Rahxephon91
Banned
So I just thought I'd chime in since I've been playing it. As someone who doesn't like platfourmers I'm finding the game really enjoyable. The jumping is actually pretty solid and easy, even if it doesn't have auto catch or something.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
No, it doesn't. Origin had a limited time offer where you got the Complete Collection (Alice 1 HD and Alice 2 incl. DLC), but the offer only lasted until June 18th.
Ok I've played this game quite a bit and at this point I don't understand what was supposed to be wrong with this game.
I never was a fan of the first game but imo this game is vastly superior to that one. Most importantly, the platforming mechanics feel extremely solid, which is something I'm pretty critical in with a genre like this. It obviously doesn't have the brilliant level design of a Nintendo platformer, but it makes up for some of the general deficiencies of its mediocre combat and its hit-or-miss level design with great variety in both art and challenges.
This is actually a pretty GREAT game. The music is solid, the art is ranges from a bit too Hot Topic to amazing, and the controls/platforming physics are really rock solid. It's a 8/10 game really, easy.
I can't believe this is a game I'm on board with. Complete surprise.
I never was a fan of the first game but imo this game is vastly superior to that one. Most importantly, the platforming mechanics feel extremely solid, which is something I'm pretty critical in with a genre like this. It obviously doesn't have the brilliant level design of a Nintendo platformer, but it makes up for some of the general deficiencies of its mediocre combat and its hit-or-miss level design with great variety in both art and challenges.
This is actually a pretty GREAT game. The music is solid, the art is ranges from a bit too Hot Topic to amazing, and the controls/platforming physics are really rock solid. It's a 8/10 game really, easy.
I can't believe this is a game I'm on board with. Complete surprise.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
The game runs fine on consoles too, but to be honest, even if I like the first game a lot, it has very clunky controls, which haven't aged very well at all. Besides, you don't really need to play Alice 1 to get the hang of what's going on in Alice 2.
JRW
Member
hlhbk said:
What are your PC specs? If you have an Nvidia card you can benefit from the added PhysX effects which you wont see in the console versions, you can also make PC version run at 60fps by editing one of the .ini files. (console versions are locked @ 30fps).
This video shows off some of the PhysX effects in Alice2
Also the first Alice was designed for mouse + keyboard and feels a little off with a gamepad according to reviews. (On the other hand Alice 2 feels best with a gamepad lol, Im using my PS3 controller with PC version).
I want the soundtrack on a CD, the soundtrack is available in Amazon but just digital it's too good to be just digital download, it's too good to be digital only, I want it on a CD and to put it next to Alice 1 soundtrack.
on other hand, my coworker ( movie buff, play sometimes and own a PS3) bought the game after a little talk about how crazy and twisted the game is ( just spoiled the first game , nothing from Madness Return) and she said it's what she was hoping to see in the awful Tim Burton movie, now I wonder if there is a market and EA didn't even thought about it.
No one know what is going on with the reviewers on this games especially the " trusted" magazines and sites that gave it 5/10 scores.
I think it's mostly because the 3D platforming and puzzle solving and the not so shallow easy-automatic combat( that classic old structure), new generation of reviewers can't handles old school stuff like that,which is completely sad.
on other hand, my coworker ( movie buff, play sometimes and own a PS3) bought the game after a little talk about how crazy and twisted the game is ( just spoiled the first game , nothing from Madness Return) and she said it's what she was hoping to see in the awful Tim Burton movie, now I wonder if there is a market and EA didn't even thought about it.
Amir0x said:
No one know what is going on with the reviewers on this games especially the " trusted" magazines and sites that gave it 5/10 scores.
I think it's mostly because the 3D platforming and puzzle solving and the not so shallow easy-automatic combat( that classic old structure), new generation of reviewers can't handles old school stuff like that,which is completely sad.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
PC version it is then
Probably already answered, but:
1) Is the downloadable American McGee's Alice on XBLA and PSN playable without the Alice disc release or not? I've been hearing conflicting reports.
2) If so, which version should I get - XBLA or PSN? Any differences?
3) Actually, any differences between the Xbox and PS3 versions of Madness Returns? Sorry, but I ain't gonna wade through thirty-odd pages to find my answer.
If they've already been answered, just link me to the post/s.
1) Is the downloadable American McGee's Alice on XBLA and PSN playable without the Alice disc release or not? I've been hearing conflicting reports.
2) If so, which version should I get - XBLA or PSN? Any differences?
3) Actually, any differences between the Xbox and PS3 versions of Madness Returns? Sorry, but I ain't gonna wade through thirty-odd pages to find my answer.
If they've already been answered, just link me to the post/s.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Dambrosi said:
1) No, you need the Alice 2 disc.
2) I think they are the same, really.
3) Not any major differences AFAIK, the 360 version has some ground layer texture thing in the first level that the PS3 version lacks, while the PS3 version has some AA going on that I think the 360 version lacks (but don't quote me on that last one, as I'm not 100% sure)
Amir0x said:
How far in? A couple of the later chapters wind up feeling overlong to some, and given that there's only five full chapters, it can kind of dampen the overall impression of the game. While there's variety from chapter to chapter, at points in chapters three and five I was pretty much over the individual chapters but they refused to end. I imagine this was more in the forefront of reviewers' minds, since they have a limited time to get through the game and get the review out, and so they couldn't just call it a day when they were sick of a particular chapter.
I'm okay with Alice being ranked a 7/10 game, but it's the rare one that I think could actually easily rank higher with nothing changed beyond editing out some sections. And, going a step further, with more chapters of shorter length (although leaving chapter 4 alone, since it's freaking perfect), this probably wouldn't have had any competition for my GOTY.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
I had fun with the game all the way through. If anything I'm 'disappointed' that there wasn't a fully featured sixth chapter.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
It's still a good game, but the combat and platforming hasn't aged well (it was pretty clunky back then too, really).
plagiarize
Banned
warms the cockles of my heart to see you on board with it.Amir0x said:
it's definately my sleeper of the year so far.
Totobeni said:
Man is it really that hard to them?
I started the game on Nightmare and am breezing through it.
I mean relative to MARIO it's hard, but enough to 5/10 this game? Especially with such solid mechanics? The actual gameplay is really, really... I dunno, polished. It was clearly playtested well. It's so easy to fuck up platforming mechanics in a platformer, but they didn't. I never miss my jumps and I feel the way they handle the old "double/triple" jump stand by works well here with the added float modifier, since it really matters WHEN you press the double jump more than most other games I've played. This adds an element of skill I didn't expect.
It's really just a sweet game. It's not the game of the year but it is certainly for my money the surprise of the year.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
I approve of the thread title change. The game is easily an 8/10 for me. Maybe even a 8.5/10.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
Not sure, but I would think so. At least Win 7 32-bit.
Amir0x said:
Very truly sad if this is the case. As far as platformer games go, this is one of the easiest I've ever played (I'm on chapter 4). The jumping is just so forgiving and it never feels like you just barely made it. It's incredibly accessible. In the first game, within 20 minutes you encounter puzzles and jumps that are far beyond a majority of Madness Returns.
I do kind of wish the game had more of those frustrating segments. I started on nightmare mode as well but I'm finding it to be a breeze. You spend most of your time exploring and difficulty is the same for that no matter what. Would have been neat if they had maybe toned down your jumping ability on higher difficulty levels.
I still really enjoy this game. For this first playthrough it's fairly balanced. Beautiful visuals, solid mechanics, interesting story. I don't know how it will hold up a second time around though.
EDIT: I'm not sure which I prefer at this point. Getting back into older games has never been an issue for me. The only real part I think Madness Returns does better is combat. Everything else is scaled back. I certainly know that an Alice 1 game on this new engine would be the best thing ever though.
hlhbk said:
Well there is a Face-Off on Eurogamer here if you'd like to know of the differences:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-alice-madness-returns-face-off
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
hlhbk said:
Superior Hatter Race version
I got both the PS3 and PC version (PS3 for comfy couch and trophies, PC for graphics whoring)
badcrumble
Member
Sounds like I need to pick this up, and I'm pissed off that reviews were so discouraging and dissuaded me from picking it up day 1.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
When will my Alice and Vorpal Blade t-shirt and my signed artbook ship, EA
And I'm sooo tempted to order that Vorpal Blade replica; http://www.epicweapons.com/alice-mrvb.php
And I'm sooo tempted to order that Vorpal Blade replica; http://www.epicweapons.com/alice-mrvb.php
Vampire On Titus
Member
Amir0x said:
Chapter 5
The Dollhouse
Wow, this did not deserve a 69 on Meta.
Usually I don't comment on scores but tis a bit sad.
I think many critics have just lost the knack for timing a sequence of jumps to overcome obstacles. It's sad that 3D platformers are falling enough out of favor to be getting the same kind of misunderstood criticisms that JRPG's will often often. But I think that's what's going on.
I've said it before, but the platforming in Madness Returns is some of the best in class. I would make it to platforms that you're supposed to activate air-jets or whatever to be able to reach, just with a well enough understanding of the jump & twirl mechanics.
You can get almost as much variable distance and height out of a jump as a Mario game. Most platformers opt for a much more static jump because it's easier to plot that trajectory of platforms for one. In Alice you have so much control over your jumping, and it's so smooth, that it feels like a treat in itself, to just jump around.
Netrunner2k2
Member
Combichristoffersen said:
I want to order that so bad I can taste it. Knowing myself, I'll order it within two weeks.
Besides my comments in an earlier post regarding why I think the reviews are what they are - I think it may also just be effect of the rushed nature of reviews. Personally, I don't think this is the type of game you would want to blast through in just a few sessions of play. Almost all the reviews say how each chapter is too long or the gameplay drags.
These are fair criticisms if you're playing the game in abnormally long sessions to rush a review out. I think if I had sat through entire chapters at a time, I'd probably like this game a bit less than I do too.
I normally don't care about scores either, but this will undoubtedly affect sales... I don't want to wait an additional 10 years for another good American McGee game.
These are fair criticisms if you're playing the game in abnormally long sessions to rush a review out. I think if I had sat through entire chapters at a time, I'd probably like this game a bit less than I do too.
I normally don't care about scores either, but this will undoubtedly affect sales... I don't want to wait an additional 10 years for another good American McGee game.
Lost Fragment
Obsessed with 4chan
This game is awesome. Fuck reviewers for shitting up gaming. That is all.
ConradCervantes
Banned
Looks I'll finally be picking this up tomorrow after the ball and chain gets off work. I'm shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, that the critics were actually extremely off base with this game.
Vampire On Titus
Member
frequency said:
I cant currently think of a game that I wouldn't respond to more negatively if I kept playing past the point of wanting to anymore for the current session. Except for Mario Galaxy 2, since I'm always in the mood to play Mario Galaxy 2.
It would especially make me prone to hating Open-World games since the majority of them are designed around doing the same 4 or so very specific things over and over. (that's of course a tad reductionist)
Amir0x said:
There are some glitches but they are few and far between.
One is checkpoint fuck ups, last night I made it within a hair of finishing up a long set of tasks but missed a jump. I'd done it before and it reset me to right near the end. This time however it actually kicked me out of the sub world I was in and forced me to do a boss fight again as well as all the pain in the ass platforming after that.
Second one is the camera. It can be finicky but I had some major trouble with the timers you have to shoot in chapter 2. It wouldn't give me back control as soon as the camera stopped panning to show me the timer coming up. It forced me to platform while I couldn't even see Alice. It got pretty frustrating.
FrenchMovieTheme
Member
EchosMyron1 said:
this is a really good point. i guess it's the nature of the beast with these reviews that have to be out on a timeline. i don't even think i could play a sports game for 4-8 hours over the course of a few days and not be sick of it.
this kind of sucks in that i have a pretty big backlog of games but i just can't really stand playing a game for hours and hours in a row, no matter how good the game is