Alice Escaped!

How many incarnations of the wonderland story must be before it gets tiresome? If you're hanging in the balance, prepare for one more. 'Alice Escaped!' is a cutesy anime version of the famous fairytale that dives into the ethereal yet weird and wonderful. But in contrast to other games with the same narrative, what will this one offer that's different?

This upcoming title incorporates the wonderland tale into a Metroidvania genre, combining adorable visuals with intense combat mechanics. The whole idea is intriguing, but we haven't been treated to any gameplay just yet. However, we have enough on display that we can make a good preview of what to expect for 'Alice Escaped!'

Wonderland Redefined

So from what we can gather, 'Alice Escaped!' isn't precisely a replicated narrative of the original wonderland story. However, it's more of an homage to the world's lore, adding its Japanese flavor with the two protagonists, Usada and Kotora. Their friend Alice has gone missing in a strange land, and it's up to them to find her uncovering the mysteries of this bizarre locale.

Exploring the wonderland world is a treat, with gorgeous 2D visuals dominating every corner of the screen and intriguing characters adding to the esoteric aesthetic of the world. But how is the gameplay compared to an oversaturated market with Metroidvania games? 'Alice Escaped!' promises some intense battle action, but does it deliver on its mission?

It feels the developers are prioritizing the combat, curating an intricate battle system that's easy to learn yet hard to master. While we haven't got a feel for it, the concept of working with dual characters and a battle gauge system gives the idea that fighting foes and bosses will be the most exciting part of the game.

'Alice Escaped!' will grab interest among seasoned Metroidvania fans as being something slightly outside the box in terms of visuals and combat prowess. It's probably something the genre needs after the vast series of games that seem to follow the same formula. But again, we haven't played it yet, and a complete gameplay analysis is yet to be seen!

Living Next Door to Alice

'Alice Escaped!' gives Cuphead vibes purely because it's a game that one wouldn't expect mechanically against the visual style it holds. But that's not bad, considering that we'd argue the Metroidvania genre has become slightly stale with a constant stream of repetitive releases. So do we think this title could captivate even the wariest of players?

The game's style might look like an elementary children's platformer. But that feels like it's the whole point. It ironically incorporates high-octane battle mechanics to make things a little different - and downright humorous in place.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Beautifully crafted and colorful visuals
• It looks to be a game pushing the boundaries of Metroidvania mechanics
• Combat looks exhilarating

Cons:

• No release date yet