When I found out there was going to be a sequel to American McGee's Alice, I was ecstatic. Even better was when I found out there would be figures made of the restyled characters, (I missed out on the original games figures since I would have been about ten at the time they came out and we didn't even have a computer then). So of course I was going to get every Alice they came out with.
I pre-ordered Royal Suit Alice back in November from Forbidden Planet, and after a long wait she finally arrived! So less waffle and on with the review!
Okay, so here she is, shiny and new and still in the (quite unnecessary) over sized packaging. I don't really get why the packaging needed to be so huge, Alice looks rather swamped and it makes the whole bundle look a bit unimpressive, like there isn't much in the box. But I don't keep my figures in the box so it really makes no difference.
On the cardboard backing there is a short paragraph explaining the dress and the relationship it has to the game, which I think is a nice little feature. The Hysteria Alice figure also had a paragraph about the Hysteria mode in the game, whereas the Blue Dress Alice figure just had a bit of information about the actual story of the game.
Full length image of the figure. This is the same as the image on the back of the box. Both the Blue Dress and Hysteria figures had an image of the Blue Dress figure on the side of the box.
Alice in her plastic prison. Everything in the package had that horrible 'new toy grease' over it . The poor girl looked a bit sweaty and in need of some shampoo.
The first thing I noticed about this figure was how much better she stood up when on the stand in comparison to the other two. There was no flopping about at the knees, or and awkward feet positioning to get her to stand up straight, she just did.
The detail on her dress is amazing. While the shape of parts of it differ from the game (for example, her apron in the game is diamond shaped, while here is is square cut), it doesn't distract any on how well done the design has been adapted for the mould of the figure.
The skirt is made from the same soft squishy plastic as the other two, but it is shaped slightly differently. The Blue and Hysteria skirts are more squashed down, and flatter at the front and back, but the Royal skirt is a full bell shape.
The very first thing that struck me about this figure, even before I took her out the package, was how completely different her face was to the Blue Alice. It is a very different skin tone, and the shape of her head has changed also. Not to mention how crazy her eyes look. You aren't fooling anyone with those eyes miss. I think you and Mr Caterpillar have been taking more than just mushrooms.
Royal Alice has a yellow tint to her skin, while Blue Alice is very pink. This is more to do with the fact that Royal Alice's skin colour is painted on, whereas Blue Alice's skin is the colour of the plastic she is made from. Also you can see how different their head moulds are. Royal Alice has been at the jam tarts by the looks of it.
Royal Alice has a bigger head in general. Blue Alice looks more 'Alice Madness Returns', while Royal Alice looks more 'American McGee's Alice'. Not sure who I prefer. I do love Royal Alice's eye colour though, they stand out well against her outfit.
Other than the head and the skirt, they are the same.
Hysteria Alice joins the fun. My Blue Alice has a lump of blutack on her foot because she her ankle and knee joins are terrible. You can see how much she is leaning forwards thanks to her double jointed knees. Girl got issues.
They do look great lined up together. Its fun seeing how different the same figure can look with another paint job.
The Hobby Horse is my absolute favourite weapon in the game. There was something so satisfying about the enormous SMASH it made as it pummelled everything to tiny bits. So imagine my disappointment to find out we only get one variation of the figure version. The actual figure is great, it is heavy and has many intricate details. The downside is that many of these details are lots due to the solid colour, leaving it a large and cumbersome accessory that gets in the way more than anything, which is a shame as it's such a nice piece.
Hysteria Alice joins the fun. My Blue Alice has a lump of blutack on her foot because she her ankle and knee joins are terrible. You can see how much she is leaning forwards thanks to her double jointed knees. Girl got issues.
They do look great lined up together. Its fun seeing how different the same figure can look with another paint job.
Moulded onto Royal Alice's skirt is '2013' confirming a new mould. The other two both have '2012' on theirs. The same goes for the bottom of the stands.
Now for the weapons! I'm not going to lie about this. The weapons are the biggest let down for these figures. Not that the weapons themselves are unimpressive, that's far from true, it is the fact that each figure comes with the exact same weapon.
Anyone who has played the Alice Madness Returns game will know that the weapons change during the course of the game, be it through upgrades or downloadable content.
The figures weapons in the pictures below are in the order of which Alice they came with;
Blue, Hysteria, Royal.
The Hobby Horse is my absolute favourite weapon in the game. There was something so satisfying about the enormous SMASH it made as it pummelled everything to tiny bits. So imagine my disappointment to find out we only get one variation of the figure version. The actual figure is great, it is heavy and has many intricate details. The downside is that many of these details are lots due to the solid colour, leaving it a large and cumbersome accessory that gets in the way more than anything, which is a shame as it's such a nice piece.
The Pepper Grinder is a really fun accessory. The handle rotates for realism, and it is just so ridiculous as a weapon you simply can't not like it. The same goes for the Hobby Horse though, in that every figure comes with the same variation. The only difference here being the Royal one has a black handle rather than silver.
I have considered taking the hysteria weapons and trying to make them look more like the game versions, which are covered in bloody bandages, but I don't want to risk it and ruin them . . .
You might have noticed the Royal weapons look slightly darker, and you would be right. Yet I don't count this as a variation, as it seems that the paint used in the Royal figure is darker on not only the weapons, but Alice herself. Her hair and boots are darker, and the weapons are for the most part the same colour as the previous. The paint is much glossier on the Royal figures.
There is one exception to the 'no weapon variants' rule, and that is Hysteria Alice's Vorpal Blade is considerably bloodier than the other two. So how can it make sense for them to go to extra trouble making the tiniest knife extra bloody, but leave the other two larger, more noticeable weapons, as they are?
Whatever the reason, I am just happy to have all three of these figures. They are a welcomed addition to my Alice merchandise collection. Now if only a second series of figures was made, including the other lands dresses, along with the downloadable ones . . .
Siren dress and a Misstitched dress would be amazing, but I think the ultimate would be the meaty marvel that is the Fleshmaiden dress. Squishy!!
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