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American McGee's Alice Game Guide
Introduction
Chapter 1 - General Strategies
Chapter 2 - Toys
Chapter 3 - Combat and Boss Strategies
Chapter 4 - Level Walk-Throughs
Appendix - Cheat Codes
Guide Contents
Title
American McGee's Alice Game Guide
Chapter 3 - Combat and Boss Strategies

This section covers specific combat strategies to help survive Alice's greatest enemy dangers. Here you will also find specific tips for battling the game's boss creatures.

  • Take note of which weapon you currently hold and if it requires a targeting ring around your enemy. For instance, using the ranged vorpal blade doesn't require a targeting reticle. The blade is simply tossed straight at Alice's crosshairs, and it will inflict damage on any enemy standing in the blade's path. The croquet mallet's secondary attack, though, is much more effective if you acquire a target first. If you launch the secondary attack without acquiring a target, the croquet ball normally just ricochets off the wall wildly and has little chance of hitting or causing damage to a target.
  • Don't stand still when using melee weapons! Don't simply run up to an enemy and expect to pound away with a melee weapon without being attacked by that enemy. Instead, circle-strafe around the target as you pound away with the melee weapon. This means using the sidestep keys - either left or right - to stay out of the enemy's line of attack. Also, don't hesitate to back off quickly to avoid enemy attacks. It's better to attack efficiently than to take a lot of damage in each battle.
  • Be patient with ranged attacks. If you're relatively safe from enemy attacks and standing at a distance, line up ranged attacks carefully and make every shot count. If you're not in immediate danger, don't run around like mad dodging attacks that aren't there. Maintain your position and make each ranged attack count.
  • Don't forget attack combos. For instance, lay down the ice wand's wall defense then use the croquet mallet, jacks, deck of cards, or eye staff's primary fire mode to attack the enemies from behind the safety of the wall. Another combo: Toss the jacks and use a different weapon while the jacks inflict damage upon the enemy.
The Duchess

The first step in defeating the Duchess is staying away from her. Don't get close, or she can use her pepper shaker against Alice. Use the room layout to your advantage. Keep the circular table between you and the Duchess. If she runs left around the table to reach you, start running around the table to the right. Force her to remain at a distance, then drop jackbombs and lure her into the explosions.

Centipede

Counter the centipede's little insect attack with the ice wand, which freezes the little insects in a matter of milliseconds. The little insects produce meta essence, which will keep your ice wand almost always completely charged with strength of will. As soon as the insects aren't a concern, you can turn your attention to the centipede itself. The centipede's weak spot can be found underneath its belly - locate the red spot when the centipede rises up on its hind legs. Attack this red spot with the ice wand (or any weapon); it takes several successful blasts to take down the centipede.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

The Cheshire Cat offers the best clue before the fight - the bigger they are, the harder they fall. This is your cue to attack the large Tweedles first. The Tweedles will open their bellies and pull out smaller versions of themselves. If you attack the small versions, you will gain meta essence power-ups, but the larger Tweedles will simply re-create the smaller version. This can go on forever if you don't focus your attack on the larger Tweedles.

Mad Hatter

As with most of the game's late bosses, circle-strafing is essential. While keeping your crosshairs firmly planted on the Mad Hatter, sidestep to the left or right. This helps you avoid the Mad Hatter's attacks while making sure most of your own connect. Be prepared to dodge the Hatter's missile and projectile attacks. Stick around the perimeter of the arena to collect the meta essence power-ups.

The Red King

Stay back from the red king and employ circle-strafe techniques to avoid his attacks. Scour the arena for meta essence to keep your better weapons powered with Alice's will.

Jabberwock

You encounter the Jabberwock twice, and the second battle is definitely the tougher of the two. In the second encounter, soften the Jabberwock up with a blunderbuss shot when it misses a melee attack and falls to the ground. Collect meta essence and use the jacks until you can restore Alice's will supply. You can then use the blunderbuss again or use the eye staff's primary fire mode to attack the Jabberwock when it's high in the air.

The Queen of Hearts

Stay back from the Queen and take cover behind the pillars (where the meta essence appears). Use the eye staff from a distance and even consider getting in a blunderbuss shot if you have full strength of will. In the final boss encounter, pick up the blunderbuss to the right if you didn't pick up the weapon during the Caterpillar's Plot, Part 2 stage. Be wary of the small platforms and stick close to meta essence power-ups so you always have long-range weaponry available.

 
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