Review: Epic Mickey

Sometimes writing a review can be a very difficult thing to do, especially in a situation such as this. What I mean by that is when a game combines a multitude of genres together in such a unique and creative way, it becomes hard to define exactly what it was that you just played. Creating an experience that actually lives up to the hype is a rare thing to see in this industry nowadays, but the team over at Junction Point has accomplished this feat and then some. Mickey Mouse is a hero in a different way this time around, but that’s not a bad thing at all.

Disney Epic Mickey (Nintendo Wii)
Developer: Junction Point Studios
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Released: November 30, 2010

Our little loveable disney mascot is up to no good, again. Usually, his shortcomings have no long term effects on the world, but this time, he may have bitten off a little bit more than he can chew. After watching the magical wizard Yensid use his paintbrush to bring a magical world to life, Mickey decides to get in on the fun. By accident, he brings a monster to life, and turns this otherwise beautiful world into a pile of rubbish. Time goes by, and the monster decides to punish Mickey by bringing him into the world he just destroyed. The story goes much deeper than that, and deals with a brotherly conflict between Oswald and Mr. Mouse, which makes for a compelling tale that alot of people can identify with.



Overwhelming charm and creativity is the best way to describe the overall presentation in Epic Mickey. Storybook, as the well as the CGI cutscenes are done with such personality and flair that you really begin to feel for each character on a much more personal level. Environments look like they were literally taken right from Disney Land’s blueprints, because they are simply amazing to look at. What steals the show for me, at least in terms of visual style, are the 2D sidescrolling levels based off specific cartoons, they just add a certain amount of nostalgia that brings back so many memories of my childhood. Intense background music really sets an overall eerie mood for the game as well. Character interactions and animations are nothing to sniff at either, they are extremely believeable and lifelike.

Making certain decisions such as who to help, and what to do will ultimately determine the final outcome here. Everything is centered around creating and destroying objects, places, and people through the usage of paint and thinner. Can’t get through a locked door?, destroy the supports around it, need to cross a large gap?, create a bridge, you get the idea. Where things get interesting are when characters ask you to complete quests for them, it really turns the concept of being a hero upside down. Depending on what you do, the end result may turn out in your favor, and then again, maybe it won’t. This is especially true during the boss fights, because in order to require a specific object, Mickey might have to befriend an enemy instead of destroying him or her.

As great of a concept as all of this is, some major control issues tend to set back alot of these fantastic ideas. The main problem here is with the camera, as it just seems to have a mind of its own, and will tend to wander around at the most inappropriate times. Having a button to center it on Mickey was a nice touch, but it doesn’t seem to work all of the time, adding a level of frustration that simply isn’t necessary. This also affects the judging of distance with the platforming mechanics as well. Other than that though, the pointer tool for the paint and thinner is responsive for the most part, and motion controls for attacking enemies works just fine.



Let me put it this way, I finished Epic Mickey in 15 hours by playing it all the way through in a linear manner, so a limited amount of replayability is not the case here. Multiple endings, mixed with a large amount of side quests, will give players a reason to relive this adventure more than once. There are also tickets that can be collected in every world, which can be used to obtain a larger health meter, unlock specific items needed for a certain stage, etc. Don’t forget about those secret pins and film reels either, because they may come in handy later on.

Disney Epic Mickey is a wonderful experience, from beginning to end, that will capture the hearts and minds of gamers around the world. Passing on this one would be a mistake that cannot simply be erased with green liquid. (A-)

 - Matt H.