Partnering Walt Disney’s most iconic creation, Mickey Mouse, with his very first, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, Disney Epic Mickey 2 is a loveable, if frustrating, action adventure that is impossible not to like, but very difficult to totally fall for, writes John Walshe.
Our intrepid ‘Toon duo team up for a mission to save Wasteland, the world of forgotten Disney characters, from destruction. Even the Mad Doctor has seemingly given up his power-hungry past and decided to help save the land that Walt forgot. So far: so cute. And there is lots to love about this game. The animation is rich and detailed, with beautifully created characters and environments; the sound is terrific, with a host of original songs written and recorded just for this game; and the plot will suck you in to its saccharine embrace.
Unfortunately, it’s let down a little by some clunky game mechanics, which will frustrate most players and turn younger gamers off completely. This is mostly down to two factors: firstly, jumps, the lifeblood of the platforming genre, are intolerably hard to judge; and secondly, the interaction between the two main characters, who must combine their talents to complete missions, is supremely irritating.
Mickey uses the paintbrush to bring parts of Wasteland back to life, while his paint thinner is vital for erasing some less-than-important elements (removing obstacles allows you to access secret areas etc). As for Oswald, well, he can fly, using his ears like helicopter rotors, and Mickey can grab a lift over crevices by hanging onto his feet.
Our rabbit hero also has a talent for electrical work, apparently, although it’s not always clear, especially when you’re playing on your own, with a computer-controlled Oswald. As often as not, when you want him to zap something back to life, you end up tossing him into the air, and when you’re embroiled in a battle, he manages to be a hindrance more than a help. Of course, the entire game is playable in co-op mode, so if you have a like-minded human ally, it can make all the difference.
Epic Mickey 2 looks gorgeous, with beautifully designed levels – even the 2D platforming aspects are fabulous – and a lot of good work has gone into enveloping you into the Disney universe – the nostalgia factor alone, as you encounter fellow Toons while going about your missions, is incredible.
In the end, however, these positive aspects are made all the more frustrating by the game’s failure at its most basic level, because it allows you to realise just what could have been.
John Walshe
Platform: PS3, X360
Publisher: Disney
Age Rating: U
Score: 3/5
