american mcgee's alice

I've had this game for ages but am just now seriously attempting to play it. (Dabbled with it years ago.)

Played for an hour and a half that flew by. Playing in Easy Mode as I have never actually played a Darkside game yet. I have to keep looking at the booklet to see what key/mouse I should be using. So far, fun but nerve wracking. I had to exit the game after several attempts trying to get from one portal doorway to another.

That's it. Not asking for any suggestions or helpful hints/info at the moment (although they would be welcome). Just making conversation!

And a great conversation it is! American McGee's Alice is one of my all time favorites - I think I've played it 3 times. It can get frustrating, but if you persevere, it's worth it. I remember trying to get from one place to another by jumping across a checkerboard that appeared and disappeared and it taking me at least 3 days!

I know you like it and was surprised that neither it nor Zanzarah show up on your top 13 list.

Even though I had never played this game (Alice)and didn't know if I ever really would, I did purchase the sequel (Madness Returns) when it came out also.

I needed a Top 20 list to include several of my other favorites like The Hobbit!

This game is going to make me crazy! I was only able to play for 20 minutes so far today and had to get out. I did get past the place where I was yesterday but not much further. Am now in the Fortress of Doors (or trying to get there I guess).

for making some progress! Each step is a victory

Well 30 more minutes and not any progress to speak of. I am getting motion sick. I killed somebody and went up the stairs and jumped across the boards (whatever) but am not sure what I am supposed to do next. I tried unsuccesfully to try another jump several times to a bridge with a revolving portal door that doesn't actually look like it leads anywhere. Is that where I need to go? I wish the game would actually let me save where I want to save. I will have to start that section over and kill that flying thing again!

Shoot. I am so dumb! I think I could have saved where I was but forgot to click on a save slot. I saw the pic of the beginning of that section and thought that was what would save. ARGH!!! I don't know if I can kill that flying thing again.

oldbroad, let me load up the game and see if I can figure out where you are. In the meantime, try these video walkthroughs to help you out.

Alice Video Walkthrough

Thanks for that link Draclvr. I am in Part 2 and I see that yes, I do have to make the jump that I had been trying unsuccesfully to do. It's about at 6:33 into the video.

Well, good luck! The first time I played this one, it really tried my patience!

Ah, I just played this game a few weeks ago.

For that jump, you want to wait for the board to tilt as far back/upward as possible, then run forward and jump just as you're hitting the end. If the board is too far down, she'll miss.

Also, for those flying banshee things, I use the cards--about 3-4 throws gets them, I think.

Later on in the game, the jacks are very effective, FYI.

The game does get rather frustrating. I save very often, every other minute or so, even less if I'm in a very hard platforming area.

Have fun!

Thanks Dreamer1990. I didn't make it into the game today but will use your suggestions when I play tomorrow.

Okay, I cannot make the jump into the skool. Any helpful suggestions?

Oldbroad, I haven't played this. I know that several of our members have.

Well, I managed to get in the Skool. I was in the wrong place for jumping. Somehow I had jumped over the wall so I had to climb back up onto the wall and make my way over to the window.

I think I was supposed to pick up a billy club somewhere but I missed that and got the dice, however, I then was killed and don't have them anymore. I've played all I can for tonight!

You sound exactly like me the first time I played this game!

Oldbroad Onward and Upward?

Perseverance is the key!

Well, I picked up the mallet/club thing but have no idea where the dice are and keep getting killed. I'm about to give up on this game. I can't get past this level in the skool. I find it very annoying to have to start it over every time. I thought the booklet said you can save but you can't! It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't getting dizzy. Then to top it all off, I also started playing URU last week. Didn't realize it has jumping in it. Might be giving up on that game too!

Some of those Uru jumps are hard, but I did them so I know you can too.

Thanks for the vote of confidence looney4labs. I will keep trying with both games but I think they will not be the only games I'm playing. I will have to just go back to them for short periods of time. I do like both games but the motion sickness and frustration just don't make me have that "I can't wait to get home and play" feeling.

OK... finally had some time and loaded up this game on my Windows 8. Just got to the place where I have to jump across the moving checkerboard to get to the other side. Think I've died at least 10 times already!

EDIT: And you can save any time.. not sure why you're having problems there. Finally got through to the other side... Hopefully, I will get to the Skool soon!

Well, what am I doing wrong with the save? I escape to the save/load menu, then what? Am I supposed to be pressing the save button and then the picture will change to show where I'm at? It is the picture I think that keeps confusing me. It shows where I started and I think it is just going to save at that same place if I hit save. It seems to have done that to me a couple of times. Saving will help with some of the frustration.

And thank you for loading up your game to help me out. As I stated in my first post I am only playing in easy mode. What mode/modes have you played in Drac?

Just escape and then click on the S for save. It will make a new save with a new picture. Plus, it keeps all the old ones so you can load up a previous save if you want. I am a chronic "saver" when it comes to games like this and have dozens of them.

I'm playing on the hard setting right now, but I remember not being able to get through the big boss fights in the easy setting the first time I played unless I used cheats!

Some day I'll get up the nerve to play it on the nightmare setting!

I have a gazillion saves, so let me know if you're having any problems in a sticky place.

Thanks Drac Oldbroad

I did it! I did it! I got out of the skool and into the pool of tears (and then out of the game for tonight). Thanks Dracl and looney. I don't know why I keep forgetting how to save. Several posts up I was having that same problem and figured out what I was doing wrong then forgot again.

The game is pretty nerve wracking but I do like it. I like watching the wt videos you linked me to after completing a part because then I can see stuff I missed. When you're fighting for your life, you can't take everything around you in.

Yay! I'm in the pool of tears not too. I'd forgotten how hard this part can be. I dearly love the voice acting in this game and Alice's
"cheeky" dialogue.

you guys!