Epic Mickey: A Review

Hello again Mousekateers!

Happy 2011! I hope everyone had a fabulous start to the new year. There will be many changes coming our way in the new year: a move, *hopefully* a Disney vacation at some point, but we're looking forward to that "great big beautiful tomorrow" and we hope you'll be there to share it with us! If you wern't able to do so, I hope you enjoy the video below of the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks from the Magic Kingdom this New Years Eve- it was truly spectacular!



Today I wanted to do a brief review on one of my favorite Christmas gifts from this year (thanks to my awesome hubby): Epic Mickey. This game is available on the Wii format.

I originally wanted this game because I had followed the development of the game and was completely intrigued by the story line and of the use of the Magic Kingdom- my hands down favorite place in the world. Now, this is modeled after the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland for all you WDW lovers out there. Much is the same, but there are notable differences including the absence of Frontierland and Critter Country.



Epic Mickey follows our hero (Mickey) after uncovering "Wasteland"- a world filled with the Disney characters the public forgot about. You'll get a chance to see Horace, Clarabelle, and most interestingly, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. You'll meet them all in world molded in the Magic Kingdom's image, but slightly askew. You'll get a chance to see Dark Beauty Castle (Sleeping Beauty Castle), Mean Street (Main Street USA), OsTown (Oswald's version of Toon Town), Tomorrow City (Tomorrowland), Ventureland (Adventureland), and Bog Easy (New Orleans Square). Even the music takes our favorite songs and slightly twists them so that they're just recognizable.

I don't want to give a lot away because there's a LOT of game here. Each player chooses the way they play. I'll admit, I'm horrible at video games. I'm the person who repeatedly walks into walls. So, my hubby is playing for me, while I watch and offer suggestions. There are really only two lands that I did on my own; Ventureland and Bog Easy (though Chad helped me out on the boss fight.)

The game itself is pretty challenging. There are lots of very odd camera angles. Thank goodness for my gamer husband because I can barely jump correctly in this dang game. There are some times when you just have no idea what you're looking for, either. It is then that I suggest the game walk through on YouTube. These are almost necessary in some points because the characters are rarely given any information on how to actually beat the bosses.

In all, the game is extremely entertaining. I've really enjoyed both playing and watching, and as an avid Disney lover, I've really enjoyed watching this second world created for the forgotten characters. The triangle between Walt, Mickey and Oswald is a very interesting one, and it almost makes you want to run out and buy the nearest Oswald plush you can find.

In short: buy it. play it. watch it. Do whatever you'd like, but certainly enjoy it.

(One last side note: I'm really hoping that with the popularity of this game will come some changes at the Magic Kingdom. It would be great to see Horace, Clarabelle and the others out for meet and greets again. They were the pride and joy of Walt himself at one point, and are truly enjoyable characters. I hope that with the younger audience connecting with them through Epic Mickey and the release of the old Mickey cartoons on DVD, that kids will be lined up to see the residents of Wasteland, too!)