Alice’s Patchwork 2 is a sequel of the jigsaw game Alice’s Patchwork. This game is based upon the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Alice and the Looking-Glass story. Originally this game was first available on the app store. However, this game has since been ported to various internet platforms. I am basing my review on the steam version of this game. As this is the version of the game I have played on.
Content wise with regards to what the port offers. There have been some additions to the game these being the achievements and trading cards. However the only changes to the game made have been in the removal of microtransactions. Since the appstore version gives you have the option to pay for coins rather than earn them in game. Technically however there are no changes between the 2 versions as far as I can find out.
The game’s title implies that it is heavily focused on the story that is referenced in the title. I was hoping that the developers would have actually made the game an interactive story game. That included a variety of patchwork puzzles to depict the story in question. But when it comes to how the game incorporates the Alice in Wonderland plot.
The narrative is rarely used as the game’s theme. Which putting some of the more popular references/icons in levels (such as Alice and the door that she needs to shrink down to enter). There is no reference of the story in game.
Putting the visual references featured in game aside. The only other mention of the Alice’s adventures in wonderland story is at the beginning of the game. In which the game shows a comic book style display of Alice returning to wonderland via a mirror in her family house. There are a lot of lost opportunities of things that the game could have added to make it significantly better. I think the game would be more interesting story wise as it could have included slides of artwork during the start and end of every level with animated cutscenes. That is related to what is going on in the story and even read directly to you. With a cutscene going through what is happening in the story by each level or chapter. This could be carried out in a manner reminiscent to that of educational games.
However limited the games story is. The game play on the other hand is great. In game it easy to decide which (out of a choice of 5 pieces.). That I want to put into the jigsaw with no trouble in placing them or deciding which piece I wanted. Which I thought might have caused some trouble in later levels. Since the puzzles on later levels do have more pieces in them. However the difficulty is fair as it starts off with only a few pieces in them. Over time the difficulty goes up incrementally as you go further in the game.
However on some levels I did notice that some pieces are symmetric and/or repeating. On these level if you pick the wrong piece that goes in the correct location according to the game. You should either use a hint. As guessing before finishing the puzzle will mean restarting the puzzle. Which is frustrating for many and it wasn’t in the last game.
Although I do think that for a casual game some of the level requirements maybe a bit difficult. Primarily because of goals set in the game. Such as finishing puzzles in under a certain time, whilst not making any mistakes. I feel that for some audiences they would struggle with some of the levels on the main game. However they would benefit from playing the game on the free play levels. As the free play mode does have a laid back approach. I like the free play mode as it is a gentler mode to the game. This mode provides an option to those who struggle on the main game.
I also feel that this game is very much a copy/pasted sequel. As the user interface in the menu’s, going through the levels etc is the exact same as the previous game. The only difference is the images used in the games are different. Even the music in the game is the same as the previous game. I feel that this game is too familiar and whilst for some it may be ok. However I think that it provides a sense of déjà vu. If this game didn’t use the same music. As well as changing some of the assets such as the doors on the level selection. Then it would have been ok as there would be more content. However, too much content is reused for it not to be noticed.
Overall I would generally avoid Alice’s Patchwork 2. As it is a port of a free to play game with little to no changes made. I don’t think too much of the game as it skips the story of Alice in wonderland. This is a missed opportunity on their behalf. So the final product rather than the game being a jigsaw based story game. The game instead is a collection of patchwork style jigsaws. With puzzles having some to no relevance to the story it’s based on.
Also there is no unlockable content in the game. After you have completed all the levels available you have seen everything that is on offer. I also think that this game feels that it is too much of a copy/paste. The only differences are in the artwork and the levels provided. However, if this game is being bought in a sale. Particularly for someone wanted more levels to the previous game. Or even if you wanted a gentle Alice’s adventures in wonderland themed jigsaw game it is worth looking at.
