To the delight of original fans, the “Epic Mickey” franchise has returned this fall with a faithful rendition to the original enemies-to-friends story of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Developed by
Junction Point Studios and published by Disney Interactive, the original 2010 Wii game “Epic Mickey” brings Disney animated classics into the darker, 3D-platforming world of Wasteland, a world for forgotten Disney characters. Connecting the famous cartoons, “Through the Looking Glass” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” Mickey enters through the mirror to an other-worldly lab, stumbling upon a strange map and escaping back to his home. A while later, a black sludge (revealed to be The Blot) pulls Mickey into Wasteland. The player adventures through to save Wasteland from The Blot and Mad Doctor by either “thinning” or “painting” the land to its destiny.
“Epic Mickey” is a gritty twist on the typical Disney aesthetic, swapping out bright, happy colors for moody shadows and chipped paint, even including mangled robot depictions of classic characters like Daisy, Goofy, and Donald. The game ventures back to the first characterizations of Mickey, portraying him as playful, mischievous, and a little short-sided, rather than the kind, upbeat mouse seen at Disney parks.
“Epic Mickey: Rebrushed” rejuvenates the dated graphics and controls while maintaining the heart of the original game. Though it was highly praised for its unique story and excellent visuals, many criticized the unreliable controls and camera. Now armed with high-quality transitions and motion in “Rebrushed”, the player can battle the enemies of Wasteland with ease.
Sadly, Mickey’s 2024 adventures are brought down by the steep price tag of $60 and an additional $5 costume pack DLC, which are just updated costumes from the original’s sequel, “Epic Mickey 2: the Power of Two”, resulting in complaints that it may be too faithful to the original. Mickey’s attacks and abilities show no significant progression, and as one nears the end game, it becomes easy to simply ignore enemies instead of going through the repetitive, long process to befriend or thin them.
Despite these flaws, it’s difficult to ignore the game’s breathtaking quality. From the score to the concept art, everything has impeccable artistic talent, making gamers wish to replay it over and over.
