Tag Archives: alice in wonderland

Review – Card Guard – Alice: Madness Returns, Diamond Select Toys

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Alice: Madness Returns Card Guard Action Figure, Diamond Select Toys

When American McGee created his vision for Alice in Wonderland with his first game in 2000, it quickly became a cult hit amongst gamers. The sequel was highly anticipated amongst fans, and features a lot of character design changes, since Wonderland is meant to represent Alice’s state of mind, and in the second game, Alice: Madness Returns, it’s deteriorated even more. I recently reviewed the Diamond Select Toys Alice: Madness Returns action figure. That was not the only figure made in that line though, and today I’ll be taking a look at the Alice: Madness Returns Card Guard action figure. So join me as I see if this figure is worthy of a spot on your toy shelf.

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Review – Alice – Alice: Madness Returns, Diamond Select Toys

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This is a sponsored review. This sample has been provided by BigBadToyStore.

American McGee's Alice: Madness Returns 7" Video Game Action Figure by Diamond Select Toys

Back in the year 2000, video game designer American McGee released a game simply called “American McGee’s Alice”. The game was his version of a sequel to the Lewis Carroll Alice novels. The story took place not too long after the second Alice novel, “Through the Looking Glass”. In the game, her house is burnt down by an accidental fire, killing her parents, but leaving her alive. This even was so traumatic that she had to be has to be committed to a mental asylum. For years, she is stuck in the asylum, all the while losing her grip on reality more and more. The only thing she has that reminds her of her past life is a stuffed rabbit.

One day, much to Alice’s surprise, the White Rabbit shows up and tells Alice that Wonderland is in trouble and they need her help. Wanting to leave the asylum, Alice gladly goes with the rabbit to help him. However, instead of Wonderland being…well, a place of wonder, it’s now a twisted, demented version of itself. This was a brilliant idea by American McGee, since Wonderland was supposed to be a part of Alice’s imagination, and her mind was now itself, twisted and demented. Many parts of this new Wonderland even have visual aesthetics that link back to an insane asylum, helping drive the notion home that it’s all in her head.

Cut to 2011, and a sequel to the game is released, under the name “Alice: Madness Returns”. In it, Alice tries to cope with being released from the insane asylum, believing herself to be cured. Even so, she keeps getting visions of Wonderland, and seeks help from a psychiatrist. Throughout the game, you shift back and forth through reality and Wonderland, all the while learning of the truth behind the fire that consumed your home and your family many years before.

So in honor of the new game, Diamond Select Toys released a small line of figures based on the “Madness Returns” game. There are two versions of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, and a Card Guard. Today, I’ll be looking at the normal version of Alice. So won’t you step with me through the looking glass (I apologize for that), as I see if this figure is worth your time, or if it should be thrown to the Jabberwock for decimation.
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