Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Alice in Wonderland is an adventure platformer that shifts the focus away from role‐playing elements and squarely onto puzzle solving. Built with the same engine as Below the Root, the game places you in whimsical environments inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tales. Here, you’ll navigate varied landscapes by jumping across platforms, manipulating objects, and alternating Alice’s size using special inventory items. The platforming mechanics feel tight, giving just enough precision to make each leap and landing rewarding.

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Puzzle design is at the heart of Alice in Wonderland’s gameplay. You’ll encounter traditional inventory‐based challenges—combining items or using them in creative ways—as well as intellectually playful riddles that recall Carroll’s original sense of whimsy. Some puzzles require careful observation of your surroundings, while others hinge on trial and error with Alice’s ever‐changing dimensions. Together, these elements form a cohesive blend of physical dexterity and mental acuity.

The dialogue system further enriches the gameplay loop. Rather than typing responses, you select Alice’s emotions to guide conversations with NPCs. This approach can lead to unexpected consequences: offend a character, and they might stalk off until a certain hour, forcing you to strategize when and how to engage. Managing time is crucial, as you must finish the game before the Red King awakens—though frequent save points and the ability to save at any moment minimize the frustration of retracing your steps.

Graphics

The visual style of Alice in Wonderland channels the surreal charm of Carroll’s universe while embracing the technical constraints of its era. Hand‐drawn backgrounds evoke a storybook aesthetic, with warped perspectives and vibrant color palettes that capture the dreamlike quality of Wonderland. Subtle animations—fluttering butterflies, rippling water, and dancing willows—lend life to each screen, ensuring that every area feels dynamic rather than static.

Character sprites are compact but expressive. Alice’s animations for walking, jumping, and size‐changing are smooth, and distinguishing NPCs by their exaggerated features makes interactions both clear and amusing. Even minor elements, like shifting shadows and blinking eyes, contribute to the world’s immersive feel. Though the resolution and color depth reflect the hardware limitations of its time, careful art direction ensures the visuals remain charming rather than dated.

Level design also benefits from thoughtful graphic cues. Hidden doors and invisible platforms often blend seamlessly with scenery until discovered, encouraging players to explore. Clocks, a motif used to indicate the Red King’s impending awakening, are cleverly integrated into the environment—tower faces, mantel clocks, and even disembodied clock hands that spin ominously in the background. These visual details reinforce the game’s thematic tension without overwhelming the senses.

Story

Rather than strictly retelling Alice’s adventures from the two classic Lewis Carroll books, this game opts for an original narrative that honors Carroll’s penchant for wordplay and absurdity. Quips, rhymes, and puns pepper the dialogue, delivering humor that feels authentic to the source material. Though you’ll recognize familiar characters—the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and others—their motivations and interactions often take surprising turns.

The emotional dialogue system deepens the narrative stakes. By choosing Alice’s emotional responses, you can flatten tensions or spark conflicts. If a Queen or Duchess grows angry, they might refuse to help until the clock chimes again, weaving the in‐game time mechanic directly into story progression. This approach gives players a sense of agency in how the tale unfolds, encouraging multiple playthroughs to see all possible conversational outcomes.

Underlying the whimsy is a subtle layer of urgency: the Red King’s slumber looms as a narrative timer. While the game’s generous save system means you’re unlikely to be caught off‐guard, there’s a persistent reminder that Wonderland is not boundless. You’re racing against time in a land where logic is fluid, which adds an undercurrent of tension to what might otherwise be a purely leisurely exploration.

Overall Experience

Alice in Wonderland balances platforming, puzzle solving, and narrative experimentation in a way that feels cohesive and fresh—even today. The mix of inventory puzzles, riddles, and skill‐based sequences keeps gameplay varied, while the ability to save at will ensures frustration never outweighs fun. Whether you’re leapfrogging across floating platforms or unraveling a linguistic conundrum from the Cheshire Cat, there’s a steady sense of discovery that propels you forward.

The game’s presentation, from its storybook‐inspired art to its playful dialogue system, ensures that every moment feels rooted in Carroll’s spirit. Though some puzzles can be obtuse and require backtracking, the game provides enough clues—through clocks, NPC hints, and environmental details—to keep you engaged rather than stuck. The sense of humor is consistently charming, and the emotional response mechanic offers a novel twist on player choice.

Ultimately, Alice in Wonderland is a memorable adventure that will appeal to fans of classic literature, retro gaming enthusiasts, and puzzle‐platformer devotees alike. Its blend of atmospheric graphics, clever game design, and whimsical storytelling creates an experience that stands on its own merits, making it a delightful journey through a Wonderland reimagined for the interactive medium. For those seeking a game that rewards both mental acuity and a taste for the absurd, Alice in Wonderland delivers in spades.

Retro Replay Score

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