Title: Disney Epic Mickey

Developer: Junction Point

Publisher: Disney Interactive

System: Wii

Few games are as appropriately titled as Disney Epic Mickey. Developed by Junction Point Studios and personally overseen by legendary developer Warren Spector, Epic Mickey aims to install Mickey in the platform hero pantheon alongside Mario and Sonic. The game also has a secondary establishment: the re-establishment of Walt Disney’s first cartoon star: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who Disney regained the rights to in 2003. Spector jumped at the chance to mastermind Oswald’s first appearance in a Disney production in over 65 years. So, the question I know you’re asking is: is it worth my time and money? I could wait until the end of the review to tell you. But, I won’t.

The answer is YES! I have played very few games this year that are quite as much fun as Epic Mickey. In face, I have played very few games ever which are this much fun. There was a smile on my face from the very first opening movie and it never left throughout the entire game.

The game opens in the workshop of Yen Sid (The Sorcerer from Fantasia). He has just completed working on a world for forgotten Disney creation modeled after Disneyland and called The Wasteland. After retiring to his chamber, Mickey is lured to his workshop by Yen Sid’s mirror. Arriving in the workshop, Mickey spies the magic paintbrush on the table. Being a little mischievous, Mickey begins fooling around with paint and thinner, accidentally creating the Shadow Blot. Thinner spills all over the center of the world and the Blot escapes into Wasteland. Mickey runs from the workshop and retreats back through the mirror. Many years pass, Mickey becomes the enormous animated star we know him as today. One day, Mickey is lying in bed when ink begins dripping on him. Suddenly, the Blot’s hands reach though the mirror and drag Mickey back though and into Wasteland. He lands in a Castle and is quickly captured. When he awakes, he has been captured, and is being tormented by a villain from classic Disney Animation, The Mad Doctor. During this introductory level, you will meet two other characters who will play major roles in the game: Oswald and Gus, the first of many Gremlins you will meet over the course of the game. In keeping with the game’s theme of using forgotten Disney characters, the Gremlins play a prominent role. The Gremlins were characters from an animated movie that was never released.

The game has a whimsical look and style that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has ever experienced a Disney animated short or film. Mickey himself looks more like he did in the olden days, with a white face and a thinner body. The game is divided into levels that are twisted takes on some of the most popular rides at Disneyland. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean becomes Pirate Voyage and Space Mountain becomes Space Voyage. The hub world is Mean Street, a twisted version of Main Street. In each level, you will meet forgotten characters, some more recognizable than others. All of the lands have their own personality which permeates the entire area. And, some of Mickey’s famous friends make appearances in an unusual manner. In addition, there are several original locations created for the game. My favorite is Mickeyjunk Mountain, an area created entirely for abandoned Mickey Mouse memorabilia. In addition, travel between levels is accomplished through projector screens. Each projector screen contains a “transition level”, a 2d side-scrolling level based on a classic Disney cartoon, such as Steamboat Willie.

Controls are very tight and responsive. This is not a surprise as the Wiimote practically screams paintbrush. You use the Wiimote to aim the targeting reticule, the A button to jump and the B button to fire a stream of paint. The directional pad is also used to control the camera. On the nunchuk, the Z button is used to fire a stream of thinner, the analog stick is used for movement. In addition to those controls, the C button centers teh camera when pushed, pushing A twice will make Mickey double jump and shaking the Wiimote will cause Mickey to do a spin move.

The aforementioned paint and thinner are your primary means of setting things right in Wasteland. Your use of paint and thinner and your choices of which to use in certain critical situations known as Junction Points will affect the way your game turns out, which quests you are and are not able to undertake and how the inhabitants of the world perceive you. This is the cornerstone of the game’s central principle, which is “Playstyle Matters.” Because of this, the game will require multiple playthroughs if you wish to achieve 100%. Replay value is added by the many collectibles available in the game. The main collectibles in the game are pins, much like the ones traded and sold at the Disney parks. Also available are concept art and even two classic Disney cartoons.

In the end, the whole package comes together better than many would expect. It is a love letter to Mickey Mouse, Disneyland and Classic Disney animation. If you are even a small Disney fan, you will enjoy this game. If you are a major Disney fan, you should already be playing it. I hope there are more Disney games like this to come from Warren Spector and the very talented Junction Point crew.Make sure you don’t let this one pass you by.

Disney Epic Mickey gets a 5 out of 5

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