There’s one thing… effectively… magical about 2010’s Wii-exclusive Epic Mickey getting a remake in 2024. As those that performed the unique know, the sport itself is a quest by way of a realm of forgotten Disney characters and sights known as the Wasteland and, after enjoying a demo of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed at D23, I’m extra assured than ever that this journey with a formidable new coat of paint will fortunately not be misplaced to the unforgiving arms of time, like some that sadly got here earlier than it.
What impressed me probably the most about Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is how a lot it seems to be and, maybe most significantly, appears like a 2024 sport. In our authentic Epic Mickey evaluate, we gave it an 8/10 and mentioned that this ‘Nice’ sport was held again by a digital camera and management system that have been “flawed to a degree the place the bigger expertise turns into broken.” None of these points have been current in what I performed of the remake and it felt like an absolute pleasure to play. Oh, and it operating at a clean 60FPS didn’t damage its case both.
Mickey himself has additionally improved in the 14 years since he first entered the Wasteland, as he can now dash, sprint, and floor pound across the gorgeous-yet-dark world that could be very very like a twisted model of Disneyland. These new traversal additions are the Minnie to Mickey’s paint brush talents, they usually dance in a method that’s simply as lovely as Disney Parks’ finest nighttime spectaculars.
I simply had the largest smile on my face as I jumped across the opening stage of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and didn’t need to cope with the irritating movement and digital camera controls of the Wii model, leaving me to color and skinny with ease whereas feeling a lot extra agile. The very best remakes implement adjustments that appear virtually preposterous to suppose they have been by no means there, and these match that invoice.
A Remake in Each Sense of the Phrase
As for the visuals of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, they’re one other spotlight in massive half to remake developer Purple Lamp’s choice to not solely rebuild the entire sport with the unique belongings so it was playable from begin to end, however to then remake each asset from scratch and do it yet again. This dedication seems to have been price it, as the Wasteland is now a spot I want I may discover eternally.
From the inky black paint-like blot floating off Mickey as he runs and jumps to the colours and sharpness of the alternate flying elephant and tea cup sights, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed takes place in a world that I can simply watch and hearken to a delicate and haunting model of ‘As soon as Upon a Dream’ and nonetheless really feel like I had a worthy play session.
The side-scrolling, 2D projector levels that take Mickey from one stage to a different additionally look so significantly better and, in one of many new additions to Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, you possibly can return and play by way of them once more as you want in the sport’s Foremost Avenue Cinema. This implies you possibly can replay ranges primarily based on such traditional Mickey cartoons as Steamboat Willie, Mickey and the Beanstalk, and extra as you please.
Now, there isn’t a ton new in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed as it’s a very devoted remake, however followers will be capable to stay up for 3 times as many collectibles to search out, from pins to movie reels to paintings and a lot extra. The crew additionally advised me there will likely be some new puzzles to resolve, however that’s actually about it.
So, in case you didn’t love the story or portray gameplay or the primary interplay between Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Fortunate Rabbit, these trendy upgrades might not be sufficient to sway you. Nevertheless, like me, in case you noticed in the unique one thing that was held again from greatness on the Wii – otherwise you by no means had a Wii and simply love Disney and Mickey – that is one journey you must keep watch over.
I’ll be very curious to see how the remainder of the sport holds up, as I used to be solely capable of play that opening stage, however what I skilled left such an impression on me that it’s making September 24 a complete lot tougher to attend for.
To finish, I simply needed to share a number of phrases from my chat with sport design legend Warren Spector, the inventive director on the unique who additionally consulted on Rebrushed, as he sums up why Epic Mickey is one the video games he’s “most happy with.” Excessive reward from the creator of Deus Ex and System Shock.
“The factor that I really like probably the most about this sport is that it touched individuals emotionally,” Spector mentioned. “I needed to make a sport for households that folks and youngsters may play collectively, that youngsters may educate their mother and father play as a result of that is the best way it will work, not the opposite method round.
“Moreover, one of many issues that characterizes Disney is that issues final. They’ve lasting worth. What number of 1937 movies are individuals nonetheless watching as we speak that weren’t made by Walt Disney? So, the concept that a sport had that type of impression and longevity is admittedly particular. However the greatest factor, actually the largest factor, is when individuals come as much as me as they’ve at D23 and say, ‘I performed this sport as a baby and now I get to play it with my youngster.’ That brings tears to my eyes. It simply exhibits the true energy and potential of video games to do greater than I believe most of us understand.”