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Among the many enemies that the Queen sends her way are fire imps, red and black card guards, and some nasty ants armed with shotguns. As in most adventure games of this type, many levels have a “boss character” — such as the infamous Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the Mad Hatter — who is tougher than the rest of the enemies and who must be defeated before you can continue the story.
The Queen has really made Wonderland suffer since the last time she was there, so you will have to guide Alice through many hardships before she can finally end her tyranny. As Alice takes on opponents, two meters — one red and one blue — track her sanity and her will to survive, respectively. Remember that everything in this game takes place in Alice’s mind: if she loses that little bit of sanity locked away in the back of her brain or if she completely loses the will to live, the game is over.
Ready for the adventure?
Don’t worry, though: Alice can refill those meters with something called “meta-essence,” and she’ll find some of that left behind every time she defeats an enemy. It’s wise to stock up on meta-essence as much as you can, especially before taking on the bosses (and don’t forget to save the game frequently, so that you can pick up where you left off if you die).
And if she’s in a tight spot, she can also summon the sly — and now emaciated — Cheshire Cat for some advice, which he’s happy to give in cryptic terms. His rapport with Alice in the cut scenes is often humorous, a touch that gives the game a fanciful air that counter-balances the grisly parts.
Standing Out in the Crowd
Rogers says that Alice completes what he calls “our most varied product line ever… including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 and Tomb Raider Chronicles, and Escape From Monkey Island.”
Like Aspyr’s other recent releases, Alice was designed for play on both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. And Rogers says that it “definitely stands out on the shelf with its unique packaging and central character. A game like Alice has its place in the market: it’s fun, provides hours of gameplay, and has some of the best artwork ever seen in a videogame.”
Hangin' with Alice.
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Wondering how you will make it all the way to the Queen of Heart’s castle without losing Alice’s marbles? Read on for a few tips. Alice’s Toys Vorpal Blade (AKA the knife): Alice’s first toy, it is named after the knife used to kill the Jabberwock in Carroll’s original poem. She can slash with it or throw it. Cards: The deck of deadly playing cards is useful for taking on enemies who are in hard-to-reach places. Alice can throw two cards at a time with it or heave a 16-card burst. Croquet Mallet: Alice can smack her enemies on the head with this or fling electrified croquet balls. Jack Bomb: Alice can throw this to make big explosions or use it as a flame-thrower. Ice Wand: Take your pick: an ice beam or a wall of ice from this toy, which is useful with some of the boss characters. Jacks: Remember playing jacks as a kid? Using these jacks in Alice isn’t the same, but it will take care of many of the most common enemies. Demon Dice: Make a good roll with these and summon a small, medium or large demon, each deadlier than the last and guaranteed to wipe out many of the Queen’s henchmen. Jabberwock’s Eye Staff: Zap the bad guys with an eye beam or a meteor shower. Blunderbuss: The most powerful toy at your disposal, this one will drill through enemies with a burst of will. Deadtime Watch: Need some time to catch your breath? You can freeze time for 20 seconds once per level with this toy. Be warned: Many of these toys, such as the demon dice and the ice wand, will sap your will meter every time you use them, so be careful. Other Items In addition to various sizes of meta-essence, there are three power-ups that Alice can grab. Demon Vial: for about 15 seconds, Alice has increased strength. Mirror of Invisibility: for about 20 seconds, Alice is invisible. Cricket Tea: for about 15 seconds, Alice has enhanced speed and jumping ability |
 
Who knows what Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) would have thought of this game. Born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, he was a mathematician who taught at Christ Church College in Oxford for 26 years. He also became a photographer in 1856; at the time it was a new art form.
That same year he also published his first work, a poem called “Solitude,” under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. In 1862, he first came up with the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The main character was based on Alice Liddell, one of the daughters of the new dean at Christ Church. He published the book in 1865 and followed it up with Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There in 1872. |
Minimum System Requirements:  Mac OS 8.6 or higher (including Mac OS X) 400MHz processor or faster 128 MB of RAM 4X CD-ROM Hardware 3D Acceleration required (ATI 128 or later)
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