American McGee's Alice

American McGee's Alice

Systems:

• Windows PC
• Mac OS
• Mac OSX
• PlayStation 3
• Xbox
• Releases:
  • Original Release: 2000

Publisher:

• Electronic Arts

Developer:

• Rogue Entertainment

ESRB Rating:

• Mature (M)
• Reasoning:
  • Blood and Gore
  • Violence

American McGee's Alice is a platform/adventure game that presents a twisted version of the Lewis Caroll book. Alice Liddel is in a coma after the trauma of seeing her family burn alive in a fire. After several years she re-enters Wonderland to find it warped beyond recognition. She embarks on an adventure to uncover the reason for Wonderland's destruction. As she does so it becomes clear that she must save Wonderland to save her own shattered mind. It is the prequel to the game Alice: Madness Returns.

General Comments

Though the graphics would be considered old by current standards, all insect/spider/etc. enemies are realistically rendered.

Unless otherwise noted all enemies mentioned appear throughout the game.

Alcohol

Once the player reaches the Duchess’s house in the Vale of Tears, they will meet a lizard Non-Player Character that is clearly an alcoholic. He begs the Player Character for alcohol.

Animal Abuse

In the Hatter’s Domain the Door Mouse and the Marsh Hare are brutally tortured by the Hatter. This is shown on screen in graphic detail. They beg the Player Character to save them.

Animal Death

After the Wonderland Wood section the White Rabbit is killed on screen in a cutscene by being stamped on.

The griffin character that Alice befriends is murdered by the Jabberwock in a cutscene immediately after completing Queen of Heartsland.

The Cheshire Cat is murdered very, very suddenly with a loud noise in the final part of Queensland in a cutscene.

In the end all murdered denizens of Wonderland come back to life.

Aquatic Violence

In the Vale of Tears, if the Player Character falls into the water after the leaf surfing section they will be attacked by fish.

After the leaf surfing section in the Vale of Tears, if the Player Character falls in the water they will be eaten by a giant fish.

After the player defeats the Duchess character, there is a swimming section where the Player Character will be attacked by fish.

After the second Maze section there are several underwater sections where there are fish that will attack the Player Character.

Blood

Blood is an unavoidable side effect of fighting enemies. A pool of blood is left behind after killing an enemy.

If the Player Character is harmed they bleed.

Blood is used to write messages in the Hatter’s Domain.

The Castle Keep part of Queensland has rivers and fountains of blood.

The Red Queen boss’s final form spurts blood constantly.

Body Horror

After the player defeats the Duchess boss, she will sneeze until her head explodes. Blood spurts when this happens.

The boss in the asylum level will purposefully split himself in half. There is no blood.

The Hatter’s head explodes after he is defeated.

Parts of Queensland appear to be made out of flesh.

The Red Queen boss is grotesquely twisted made of blood, flesh, and tentacles. She makes squishy noises as she moves.

The Red Queen boss’s final form has several different heads nested in each others’ mouths. The final form is just as grotesquely twisted as the first.

When the player defeats the Red Queen boss for good she explodes and it rains flesh.

Bones

Boojum enemies (beginning in the Fortress of Doors) burst into flame when they die and become skeletons. They disappear immediately after this.

The croquet mallet weapon appears to be made out of bone.

After the ladybug enemies attack with a marble, the Player Character must run through a giant ribcage.

Player Character must run through a giant ribcage in Queensland.

Brainwashing

It is revealed in the Hatter’s Domain level that the robot enemies the player has been fighting are actually tortured children brainwashed into attacking.

Cannibalism

The Duchess character in the Vale of Tears (immediately after Alice becomes small) is a cannibal. The player must confront and fight her as a boss and she tries to eat the Player Character.

In the Fungiferous Forest section there are mushroom that will eat the Player Character if they get too close.

Dead Bodies

In the chess section after the player activates the water wheel there is a plaza that is littered with the dead bodies of chess pieces.

The griffin character that Alice befriends is murdered by the Jabberwock in a cutscene immediately after completing Queen of Hearts Land. His dead body does not disappear and is on the field during the ensuing fight.

Death of Family/Friends

In the opening cinematic Alice’s entire family burns to death off screen. However, the player can hear their screams.

After the Wonderland Wood section the White Rabbit is killed on screen in a cutscene by being stamped on.

In the game Alice befriends white chess pieces. The White Queen is murdered on screen after the player goes to the red part of the chess level.

The griffin character that Alice befriends is murdered by the Jabberwock in a cutscene immediately after completing Queen of Heartsland.

The Cheshire Cat is murdered very, very suddenly with a loud noise in the final part of Queensland in a cutscene.

In the end all murdered denizens of Wonderland come back to life.

Dehumanization

The Mad Hatter clearly dehumanizes all denizens of Wonderland in his realm, trying to turn them into automatons.

Depiction of War

The chess pieces in the chess level function like a military and fight one another at several points in the game.

The griffon Non-Player Character puts together an army to storm the Red Queen's palace. After the Player Character enters the castle, the chess piece forces are shown battling with the Red Queen's forces.

Dolls

The Player Character has a stuffed rabbit doll that features heavily in beginning cutscenes. The doll is not animate.

Drowning

In the Vale of Tears the Player Character can drown if they fall in the water and stay there too long.

After the player defeats the Duchess character, there is a swimming section where the player must stay very close to the Mock Turtle. If the Player Character loses the Turtle, they will drown on screen.

After the second Maze section there are several underwater sections where the Player Character spends a long time underwater and can easily drown.

Electrocution

The croquet mallet weapon electrocutes enemies when they are hit with it. The enemies twitch slightly after being defeated before they disappear. It will also pulse with electricity while the Player Character is holding it. This can be avoided by not using the weapon.

One of the demons summoned with the dice weapon attacks with bolts of electricity. The demons are randomly generated so it is only avoidable if you do not use the dice.

Lizard enemies beginning in the Land of Fire and Brimstone use lightning to attack.

Emotional Abuse

The centipede enemy that is found in the Fungiferous Forest constantly verbally abuses the other enemies.

It is implied in the asylum level that Alice has been emotionally abused by the staff. They call her things like “lunatic” etc. during the boss fight.

Existential Despair

After the White Rabbit dies, Alice questions the meaning of life and whether or not it’s worth going on. She also briefly contemplates suicide due to this.

Explosions

In the Duchess’s house the Player Character receives a Jack-in-the-Box grenade weapon. The weapon explodes into fire. To defeat the Duchess boss the player must use this weapon. This weapon is also required to get optional powerups in the chess level.

The Jabberwock Eye Staff functions like a shotgun and creates an explosion. It is required once to complete the game.

Multiple enemies use explosions and fire to fight:

• Lady Bug enemies drop explosive dung bombs (Vale of Tears)
• Ant enemies will use explosive guns (Vale of Tears)
• Robot enemies use grenades (Asylum)
• Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb boss uses explosives (Asylum)
• Mad Hatter boss uses explosives (Hatter's Domain)
• Card guards start throwing grenades after the player receives the Jabberwock staff

Eye Horror/Eye Trauma

To complete the Jabberwock Staff the Player Character takes an eye from the Jabberwock via battle. The eye is a drop item from the Jabberwock fight; its removal is not shown.

Felines

The Player Character can summon the Cheshire Cat to give hints during the game. The cat will appear during the beginning of the game. He is not hostile but he is always very close to the Player Character. During parts of the game he can be avoided by not pushing the hint button when it appears.

Fire

The opening cinematic shows Alice’s house burning down.

Boojum enemies (beginning in the Fortress of Doors) burst into flame when they die.

In the Duchess’s house the fireplace will spit out sparks and flames. They will not harm the Player Character.

In the Duchess’s house the Player Character receives a new Jack-in-the-Box weapon that functions like a grenade. The weapon explodes into fire. To defeat the Duchess boss the player must use this weapon to set the boss on fire. The Player Character can also get set on fire.

The Land of Fire and Brimstone level is fire themed with lava and fire enemies. If the Player Character falls into lava they are set on fire.

The level where the player confronts the Jabberwock is completely on fire and shows houses burning. Some screams of people burning inside of the houses can be heard.

Multiple enemies fight with fire:

• Ant enemies will use explosive guns (Vale of Tears)
• Lava monsters appear and will set the Player Character on fire (Land of Fire and Brimstone)
• Fish enemies attack with fire and set the player on fire (Land of Fire and Brimstone)
• Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb boss uses explosives and fire (Asylum)
• Mad Hatter boss uses explosives and fire (Hatter's Domain)
• The Jabberwock boss breathes fire
• Card guards start throwing grenades after the player receives the Jabberwock staff
• The Red Queen’s final form boss fights with fire (Queensland)
• One of the demons that can be summoned by the dice weapon fights with fire. The summons are random so this can only be avoided by not using the dice.

Note: All bug enemies disappear from the game after Alice goes back to her normal size.

Gore

The White Queen is beheaded in the red section of the chess level.

Graphic Violence

When fighting enemies blood will spurt out of them when they die with a spurting sound.

The Card Guard enemies will lose their heads or be cut in half and blood will gush forth when they are defeated.

Several characters are murdered throughout the game and all murders are graphically rendered.

Guns

The card weapon fires projectiles similar to a gun. There are no gun sounds.

The ant enemies that appear in the Vale of Tears and beyond use muskets to fight.

The pepper grinder weapon the Duchess boss character uses functions like a gun. It does not make noise.

The Jabberwock Eye Staff functions like a shotgun. It is required once to complete the game.

The Bludnerbuss weapon is a gun.

Note: All bug enemies disappear from the game after Alice goes back to her normal size.

Heights

Platforming is an essential part of the game and most platforming sections are extremely high and the Player Character can fall off of them and die. Generally the platforms are over swirling nothingness. When Alice is small, the platforms are over other parts of the level.

Insects

There are giant ant enemies that the player must fight immediately Alice becomes small. They walk as though human and wear clothes.

There are giant ladybug enemies that the player must fight immediately Alice becomes small.

In the forest section there are new ant enemies that walk like ants not people.

After the fire section the Player Character meets a giant caterpillar. He is not hostile.

In the Fungiferous Forest there is a giant centipede enemy. He is a boss and must be fought. He will vomit other small insects at the player.

Note: All insect enemies disappear after Alice gets big again.

The grasshopper tea powerup causes the Player Character to become a humanoid grasshopper. This is not required to complete the game and can be completely avoided.

Note: All insect enemies disappear from the game after Alice goes back to her normal size.

Jump Scares

Spider monsters in the Asylum level will suddenly drop from the ceiling.

The Cheshire Cat is murdered very, very suddenly with a loud noise in the final part of Queensland in a cutscene.

Kidnapping

The White Queen is kidnapped by red chess pieces in the chess section.

The Player Character is kidnapped by the Mad Hatter after defeating the Red King chess piece.

Medical Malpractice

The game implies that Alice has been abused greatly by the staff at the asylum she is in. This is particularly clear during the boss fight in the asylum level.

Mental Health Institutions

The game begins showing Alice in a mental institution. She is implied to hae been there for quite some time and she is implied to have been abused by the staff.

There is a nightmare asylum level immediately after the chess level. All the patients in this level are obviously abused and mistreated.

Murder

All enemies are sentient so killing them constitutes murder.

After the Wonderland Wood section the White Rabbit is killed on screen in a cutscene by being stamped on.

The White Queen is murdered on screen via beheading after the player goes to the red part of the chess level.

The griffin character that Alice befriends is murdered by the Jabberwock in a cutscene immediately after completing Queen of Heartsland.

The Cheshire Cat is murdered very, very suddenly with a loud noise in the final part of Queensland in a cutscene.

Mutilation

The Marsh Hare and the Door Mouse found in Hatter’s Domain are mutilated.

Needles

There are needles that come down from the ceiling and the floor in the chess level that will impale the Player Character if they get too close.

Offensive Language

The Elder character in the mine level swears once.

Psychological Trauma

It is revealed that this trip to Wonderland is Alice working through the psychological trauma of losing her family and being the only survivor of the fire.

Rats/Rodents

The Door Mouse is found in the Hatter’s Domain. He is not hostile.

Reptiles

In the Valley of Tears the player meets a half cow/half turtle Non-Player Character. He is not hostile.

Once the player reaches the Duchess’s house in the Vale of Tears, they will meet a lizard Non-Player Character. He is not hostile.

There are lizard enemies in the Land of Fire and Brimstone.

Slavery

The goblins in the first area (the mine) are slaves to the Red Queen. They often lament their fate and are clearly treated poorly.

Snakes

One of the demons that can be summoned by the dice weapon is snake-like. The summons are random so this can only be avoided by not using the dice.

Spiders

There are spider monsters that drop from the ceiling in the asylum level. They are stylized but still look like and move like spiders.

Substance Abuse

Once the player reaches the Duchess’s house in the Vale of Tears, they will meet a lizard Non-Player Character that is clearly an alcoholic. He begs the Player Character for alcohol.

The caterpillar character is smoking opium. He blows some at the Player Character and the Player Character briefly gets high.

Suicide

Alice briefly contemplates suicide.

Supernatural Evil

The Rage power-up causes the Player Character to turn into a demonic form of herself. It is required to be used only once in the game in the Fortress of Doors.

The dice weapon summons demons to fight for the Player Character. The demons will sometimes attack the Player Character instead.

There are several demons that the player encounters in the level immediately after the Fungiferous Forest.

The Jabberwock boss appears to be some sort of demon.

The Red Queen boss seems to be some sort of demon. This is also true for the boss’s final form.

Torture

In the Hatter’s Domain there is a room where the player can see children being tortured and turned into robot enemies.

In the Hatter’s Domain the Door Mouse and the Marsh Hare are brutally tortured by the Hatter. This is shown on screen in graphic detail. They beg the Player Character to save them.

Unreality

The events of the game are Alice working through her mental illness. They don’t technically count as real, considering Alice is in a coma during the events of the game. As such, the lines between the real world and Alice’s mind become blurred. This is ever-present throughout the game and made clear from the opening scene on.

Victim Blaming

In the Hatter’s Domain the Door Mouse and the Marsh Hare are brutally tortured by the Hatter. Alice at first blames them for being tortured by stating that they probably had bad manners.

The Jabberwock blames Alice for her family’s death. It is revealed via this that Alice also blames herself for her family’s death.

Violence Against Children

The Player Character Alice is a young teenager during the events of the game and she can be harmed.

In the Skool level in the Fortress of Doors there are children that are clearly being abused and experimented on. They have nails in their head, vices around their ears, etc. This is also true in the asylum level after the chess level.

It is revealed in the Hatter’s Domain level that the robot enemies the player has been fighting are actually tortured children forced to attack.

Vomiting

The Centipede boss in the Fungiferous Forest will vomit other small insects at the player.

Weapons

The Player Character uses a variety of weapons throughout the game and enemies will also use weapons. These include guns, knives, clubs, etc.

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