Epic Mickey is darker and more complicated than previous Mickey games. In the opening cinematic, Mickey wanders unknowingly into a wizard's workshop through the enchanted mirror in his bedroom. There he discovers a wondrous creation: a miniature world created with a magical paintbrush and inhabited by the lesser known and oft forget Disney characters, cartoons, and attractions. Mickey makes some mistakes, including spilling magical paint thinner on the miniature world and accidentally creating an inky, evil-looking blot of paint. He escapes from the workshop, but the damage is done. Years later, Mickey is drawn back to the workshop and into the miniature world where he must finally repair the damage he caused so many years before.
It's difficult to precisely identify Epic Mickey. It's one part platform game, one part action-adventure, one part role-playing game. Mickey explores Wasteland – the world he damaged with thinner – solving puzzles, jumping across platforms, completing quests, and using the magical paintbrush he found in the wizard's workshop. At first it seems like a traditional platform game with a very non-traditional mechanic, i.e. the paintbrush, which can restore thinned out buildings, windows, and treasure chests, or erase locks, walls, and support beams. But as the game progresses, it becomes clear that exploration, puzzle-solving, and NPCs (non-playable characters) are a big part of Epic Mickey.
There are also RPG elements, most notably a morality system and Mickey's ability to take on side-quests from the residents of Wasteland. Depending on Mickey's actions, certain quests and items will be made available to him. Moreover, the cartoon denizens of the Wasteland worlds will react favorably or unfavorably to him based on how he handles certain scenarios. For example, enemies can be destroyed with thinner or turned friendly with paint. What makes Epic Mickey even more provocative is the fact that some of the choices Mickey must make on the spot have unintended consequences. Sometimes it's easy to see the final outcome, other times it's much more cloudy. So Mickey and, by extension, the player have to choose carefully.
Regardless of its genre, Epic Mickey is fun to play. Controls are tight, the mechanics are bold and innovative (although they borrow heavily from Super Mario Sunshine), and the art direction is breathtaking. The biggest drawback – and this has been noted my many reviewers – is the camera. Many times it is difficult or impossible to move the camera to a good angle, and the result is often accidental death. But it's not a deal-breaker. Epic Mickey more than makes up for a sub-par camera with an excellent story, diverse levels, and what amounts to a virtual encyclopedia of Disney animated films, cartoon characters, and memorabilia.
Epic Mickey is a love letter to Disney. It is overflowing with Walt Disney creations, including cartoon characters, theme park rides, theme music, along with countless inside jokes and references. Take, for example, Mickeyjunk Mountain, one area of Wasteland that's just a huge heap of Mickey the Mouse memorabilia: Mickey Mouse Club buttons, posters, comic books, thermoses, even old NES cartridges. Then there are projectors, which serve as portals between areas of Wasteland. When a projector is activated, Mickey can literally jump into old cartoons, including several based on the adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who has a big part to play in Epic Mickey. Projector stages are 2 1/2D side-scrolling platform stages modeled after cartoon shorts like Steamboat Willie and major motion pictures like Fantasia. Even the animated cut-scenes are a nod to Disney tradition. They are constructed based on the artwork of Mary Blair, who drew concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
Epic Mickey is a beautiful tribute to the world of Walt Disney. It's a perfect vehicle to rekindle interest in Mickey Mouse, and some of the forgotten characters in the Disney universe. But it's not solely for fans. Epic Mickey is an excellent and inventive platformer with terrific art direction, a great sense of humor, and a moving, involving story that will appeal to gamers of all stripes and ages.
It's difficult to precisely identify Epic Mickey. It's one part platform game, one part action-adventure, one part role-playing game. Mickey explores Wasteland – the world he damaged with thinner – solving puzzles, jumping across platforms, completing quests, and using the magical paintbrush he found in the wizard's workshop. At first it seems like a traditional platform game with a very non-traditional mechanic, i.e. the paintbrush, which can restore thinned out buildings, windows, and treasure chests, or erase locks, walls, and support beams. But as the game progresses, it becomes clear that exploration, puzzle-solving, and NPCs (non-playable characters) are a big part of Epic Mickey.
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| One of dozens of quests. |
There are also RPG elements, most notably a morality system and Mickey's ability to take on side-quests from the residents of Wasteland. Depending on Mickey's actions, certain quests and items will be made available to him. Moreover, the cartoon denizens of the Wasteland worlds will react favorably or unfavorably to him based on how he handles certain scenarios. For example, enemies can be destroyed with thinner or turned friendly with paint. What makes Epic Mickey even more provocative is the fact that some of the choices Mickey must make on the spot have unintended consequences. Sometimes it's easy to see the final outcome, other times it's much more cloudy. So Mickey and, by extension, the player have to choose carefully.
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| Skull Island never looked so good. |
Regardless of its genre, Epic Mickey is fun to play. Controls are tight, the mechanics are bold and innovative (although they borrow heavily from Super Mario Sunshine), and the art direction is breathtaking. The biggest drawback – and this has been noted my many reviewers – is the camera. Many times it is difficult or impossible to move the camera to a good angle, and the result is often accidental death. But it's not a deal-breaker. Epic Mickey more than makes up for a sub-par camera with an excellent story, diverse levels, and what amounts to a virtual encyclopedia of Disney animated films, cartoon characters, and memorabilia.
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| Mickey jumps through a projector stage based on Oh What a Knight. |
Epic Mickey is a love letter to Disney. It is overflowing with Walt Disney creations, including cartoon characters, theme park rides, theme music, along with countless inside jokes and references. Take, for example, Mickeyjunk Mountain, one area of Wasteland that's just a huge heap of Mickey the Mouse memorabilia: Mickey Mouse Club buttons, posters, comic books, thermoses, even old NES cartridges. Then there are projectors, which serve as portals between areas of Wasteland. When a projector is activated, Mickey can literally jump into old cartoons, including several based on the adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who has a big part to play in Epic Mickey. Projector stages are 2 1/2D side-scrolling platform stages modeled after cartoon shorts like Steamboat Willie and major motion pictures like Fantasia. Even the animated cut-scenes are a nod to Disney tradition. They are constructed based on the artwork of Mary Blair, who drew concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
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| Cut-scenes like this are based on artwork by Mary Blair. |
Epic Mickey is a beautiful tribute to the world of Walt Disney. It's a perfect vehicle to rekindle interest in Mickey Mouse, and some of the forgotten characters in the Disney universe. But it's not solely for fans. Epic Mickey is an excellent and inventive platformer with terrific art direction, a great sense of humor, and a moving, involving story that will appeal to gamers of all stripes and ages.
Score: 9.0
Editor's note: Epic Mickey has two announced sequels: Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, and Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.
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