History VideoGame / AmericanMcGeesAlice

* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: Possibly justified, since American [=McGee=]'s Alice is very different from Creator/LewisCarroll's, but even so it has been said of the game that if you're going to put your own name in the title, it's better if people actually know who you are. The game had amazing graphics for its time, and it was heavily publicized that it was built on the then-cutting edge id Tech 3 UsefulNotes/GameEngine that powered ''VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena''. American [=McGee=] had been a designer for Creator/IdSoftware and worked on the earlier ''VideoGame/Quake'' games, as well as its predecessor franchise ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''. A good portion of the target audience - 3D action gamers - were well aware of who he was. (American [=McGee=] was actually ''not'' a fan of having his name in the title - he wanted to call the game just ''Alice''. According to him, it was the publishers who wanted to put his name in the title, since "made by one of the masterminds behind Doom" would carry more weight with gamers than "a dark version of Alice in Wonderland". He got his wish with the second game, which is ''not'' called ''American [=McGee=]'s VideoGame/AliceMadnessReturns''. It still has "An American [=McGee=] Game" in smaller letters at the bottom of the case.)

[[{{Understatement}} One of the most disturbing video games ever released]], ''American [=McGee=]'s Alice'' stars the titular character of the ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' series. Released in late 2000 by Creator/ElectronicArts, and helmed by Creator/IdSoftware alumnus American [=McGee=] (obviously), a former level designer for the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' franchises, in his first role as project lead.

* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: Possibly justified, since American [=McGee=]'s Alice is very different from Creator/LewisCarroll's, but even so it has been said of the game that if you're going to put your own name in the title, it's better if people actually know who you are. The game had amazing graphics for its time, and it was heavily publicized that it was built on the then-cutting edge ''VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena'' engine. American [=McGee=] had been a designer for id Software and worked on the earlier ''Quake'' games, as well as its predecessor franchise ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''. A good portion of the target audience - 3D action gamers - were well aware of who he was. (American [=McGee=] was actually ''not'' a fan of having his name in the title - he wanted to call the game just ''Alice''. According to him, it was the publishers who wanted to put his name in the title, since "made by one of the masterminds behind Doom" would carry more weight with gamers than "a dark version of Alice in Wonderland". He got his wish with the second game, which is ''not'' called ''American [=McGee=]'s VideoGame/AliceMadnessReturns''. It still has "An American [=McGee=] Game" in smaller letters at the bottom of the case.)

* FanSequel: what the game is, technically.

* DeadpanSnarker: the Cheshire Cat.

* BiggerOnTheInside: the Skool

One of the most disturbing video games ever released, ''American [=McGee=]'s Alice'' stars the titular character of the ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' series. Released in late 2000 by Creator/ElectronicArts, and helmed by Creator/IdSoftware alumnus Creator/AmericanMcGee, a former level designer for the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' franchises, in his first role as project lead.

One of the most disturbing video games ever released, ''American [=McGee=]'s Alice'' stars the titular character of the ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' series. Released in late 2000 by Creator/ElectronicArts, and helmed by Creator/IdSoftware alumnus American [=McGee=], a former level designer for the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' franchises, in his first role as project lead.

* UpdatedRerelease: The PC version had an updated version of the first ''Alice'' as a pre-order bonus for ''Alice: Madness Returns'' and was bundled bundled as part of the ''Complete Collection'', which touched up some of the game's textures, added compatibility fixes for modern systems, Xbox 360 controller support, and native widescreen options. Unfortunately, this updated version of the game as well as the ''Complete Collection'' was pulled from all digital distribution platforms. American [[=McGee=]] himself has stated his intent to rerelease all the ''Alice'' games on PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch, though time will tell if this happens.

* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: Some of the Cheshire Cat's clues are cryptic to the point of being false. For example, he implies the Jacks are dangerous to Alice if she uses them without enemies around, like the Dice, when in fact they're perfectly harmless.

In February 2009, roughly eight or so years after the game was released, EA announced that American [=McGee=] got the band back together, so to speak, and the sequel, entitled ''VideoGame/AliceMadnessReturns'' was released on June 14, 2011.

* UpdatedRerelease: The PC version had an updated version of the first ''Alice'' as a pre-order bonus for ''Alice: Madness Returns'' and was bundled bundled as part of the ''Complete Collection'', which touched up some of the game's textures, added compatibility fixes for modern systems, Xbox 360 controller support, and native widescreen options. Unfortunately, this updated version of the game as well as the ''Complete Collection'' was pulled from all digital distribution platforms.

* BoringButPractical: The Flamingo club/mallet. Hits harder than the Vorpal Blade, has a ranged projectile that uses only moderate amount of will. The 52 Deck Cards also count mainly for its high hit probability, if not damage. Both are found early in-game.

* ClockworkCreature: The automatons are made from random spare clockwork parts and insane children. Oddly enough, the bomb-dropping ladybugs look to be mechanical too. [[spoiler: The Mad Hatter turns out to be one of these as well, to go along with the [[ClockPunk clockwork theme]] of his level. To top it all off, the March Hare and Dormouse are at least halfway this.]]
* ClownCarBase: the Skool

* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: A lot, but a notable example is the Skool, which is much larger on the inside than outside.

* CompositeCharacter: The game combines the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts into the same person, in line with a popular misconception. Somewhat justified in this case, since the shattering of Wonderland has drastically altered many of the inhabitants.
* TheComputerIsALyingBastard: Some of the Cheshire Cat's clues are cryptic to the point of being false. For example, he implies the Jacks are dangerous to Alice if she uses them without enemies around, like the Dice, when in fact they're perfectly harmless.

* DeadpanSnarker: Both Alice and the Cheshire Cat. Other characters have their moments, too.

[[quoteright:318:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Alice_cover_art.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:318:Killing makes her ''more'' sane.]]

* AdaptedOut: Alice's older sister, who was a character in the original book, does not appear alongside Alice's parents in the opening cinematic, nor is she mentioned as a part of their family.
** She turns up in the sequel, however.

* SaveScumming: One way to ensure you don't redo frustrating sections of platforming or to-and-fro tedium just because of a mis-step later on.

* InfinityPlusOneSword: Blunderbuss and Jabberwock's Eye Staff. Blunderbuss simply annihilates everything non-boss in a pretty wide area while draining your full Will bar. Eye Staff is more gradual in its use, but just as deadly.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, character page material * ActionGirl: Alice.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, Administrivia/TypeLabelsAreNotExamples * AttackOfTheMonsterAppendage: The tentacles of the Queen of Hearts, making it Type 2.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * {{BFG}}: The Blunderbuss.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, character page material * EldritchAbomination: The Queen Of Hearts, especially her final form.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * EternalEngine: Beneath Queensland.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * {{Grimmification}}: One of the more famous examples.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, Administrivia/NotASubversion * HappyPlace: Subverted. This is what Wonderland ''used'' to be.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * IronicNurseryTune

One of the most disturbing video games ever released, ''American [=McGee=]'s Alice'' stars the titular character of the ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' series. Released in late 2000 by Creator/ElectronicArts, and helmed by IdSoftware alumnus American [=McGee=], a former level designer for the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' franchises, in his first role as project lead.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, TypeLabelsAreNotExamples * AttackOfTheMonsterAppendage: The tentacles of the Queen of Hearts, making it Type 2.

One of the most disturbing video games ever released, ''American [=McGee=]'s Alice'' stars the titular character of the ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'' series. Released in late 2000 by ElectronicArts, and helmed by IdSoftware alumnus American [=McGee=], a former level designer for the ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' franchises, in his first role as project lead.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, NotASubversion * HappyPlace: Subverted. This is what Wonderland ''used'' to be.

* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: Possibly justified, since American [=McGee=]'s Alice is very different from Creator/LewisCarroll's, but even so it has been said of the game that if you're going to put your own name in the title, it's better if people actually know who you are. The game had amazing graphics for its time, and it was heavily publicized that it was built on the then-cutting edge ''VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena'' engine. American [=McGee=] had been a designer for id Software and worked on the earlier ''Quake'' games, as well as its predecessor franchise ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''. A good portion of the target audience - 3D action gamers - were well aware of who he was. (American [=McGee=] was actually ''not'' a fan of having his name in the title - he wanted to call the game just ''Alice''. According to him, it was the publishers who wanted to put his name in the title, since "made by one of the masterminds behind Doom" would carry more weight with gamers than "a dark version of Alice in Wonderland". He got his wish with the second game, which is ''not'' called ''American [=McGee=]'s AliceMadnessReturns''. It still has "An American [=McGee=] Game" in smaller letters at the bottom of the case.)

* BreakingSpeech: Alice carries a lot of SurvivorGuilt due to being the only one who escaped from the house-fire. Her enemies in Wonderland, such as the Jabberwock, The Mad Hatter, and the Queen Of Hearts all remind her of this guilt viciously.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * DarkWorld: The Twisted Wonderland definitely qualifies.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * DreamLand:

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * GuiltBasedGaming: The Quit screen.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * AttackItsWeakPoint: The Voracious Centipede.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, character page material * AxCrazy: Everyone in the game, really, Alice included, although her ultimate goal is to ''win'' her sanity back.
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: Solving Alice's problems tends to involve StuffBlowingUp.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * BodyHorror:
%% cont. commented out as ZeroContextExample ** Various deformed children running around, some of whom have the ''tops of their skulls'' sawed off.
%% cont. commented out as ZeroContextExample ** The [[spoiler: March Hare and the Dormouse]]. Good ''God''.
%% cont. commented out as ZeroContextExample ** The Queen of Hearts' appearance and [[spoiler: her true form]] are horrific.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * BreakingSpeech: The Jabberwock, The Mad Hatter, and the Queen Of Hearts especially.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, dual-trope entry * DownTheDrain / UnderTheSea: The Vale of Tears, complete with a few UnderwaterRuins. For some, ThatOneLevel.

** To some, have such a long firing delay(Eyestaff) or completely exhausting what is essentially ammunition in one shot(Blunderbuss) brings it straight into AwesomeButImpractical territory.

--> '''I''' rule wonderland alone. Your interference will not be tolerated. This realm is for grown-ups. Raw, well-ordered, ruthless, careening on the jagged edge of reality. Self-pitying ''dreamers'' are not wanted here. They cannot survive here. You fear the truth. You live in shadows. Your pathetic attempts to reclaim your sanity have failed. Retreat to the sterile safety of your self-delusions or risk inevitable annihilation. If you destroy me, you destroy yourself. Leave now and some hollow part of you ''may'' survive. Stay, and I will break you ''down''. You will lose yourself. '''FOREVER'''.