iPhone App: AliceX
= 3 stars
iPhone version of the old-school Apple game Through The Looking Glass, developed for the original Macintosh computer.
The Good
- Simple, straightforward game play:“eat” all the opposing chess pieces as quickly as possible. On the first level, you (the Alice character) starts out with the moves of a queen, and each subsequent level reduces your moving ability until you reach the hobbled ability of a pawn. Adding to the challenge: the moves happen in real time, as opposed to merely alternating in standard chess.
- Some variety is added through different game speeds which add difficulty, and different game piece designs, displaying some irreverence — you get hip hop and “Bush memorial pieces” where your opponents are caricatures of the former administration, and the sound effect each time one of them is removed is an Obama “Yes we can.”
- The nostalgia element is pretty high for those of us that remember the original Mac. The story of the original game’s development is on Folklore.org, as written by original developer Steve Capps which resulted in the cool book, Revolution In The Valley.
The Bad
- Lacks variety in the form of special power ups or crazy graphics, and hence will likely lack appeal to a modern audience with no nostalgia for the original Mac.
Conclusion
If you have any interest in the early days of the Mac as I do, this game has a lot of quirky, retro appeal. But otherwise, I don’t think modern casual gamers will find much to like. As a result, AliceX is an appealing novelty for Mac nerds — but not much else — hence a three star rating.
Anyhow, check out the video below and see if it’s something you’d be into:
iPhone App Store Link: 