You know, I've always wanted to play this, the original had a gimmick of using the Wii controls allowing players to create or break down any points of texture for gameplay purposes. It's an ingenius design from Warren Spector, the guy behind Deus Ex and System Shock.
There's quite a lot of charm in it, especially when remade with UE to fit as a simple third-person platformer without Wii controls, and it doesn't diminish quality either. But the best part comes with moral dilemmas and choices I get to make. I mean, Warren Spencer left that part as well, and it's one of those open world platforms that makes two of those aspects work.
Unfortunately, this game also sort of plays outdated. Like, when it comes to fundamental game design, loop, exploration, quests, it's got the nauseating bore of early 2010 games. That was also the time Super Mario Galaxy came out. Then right after Super Mario Odyssey.
Mickey got too curious after coming across the magician's magical mirror, which takes him to a Wonderland of sorts, but also where the latter disposes things he doesn't need. Mickey also decided to smash with his paintbrush, leaving him to create a monster version of himself.
Escaping through the mirror while dragging Mickey along, now he has no choice but to go through several hurdles in order to fix his mess. Starting with almost being dissected by a mad scientist. But not before a Gremlin came in to save the day. Said Gremlin also leads him to use the paintbrush for bridges to cross, platforms to fix, and so on. It's pretty handy.
How it works is simple, the left analog shoots thinner, and the right shoots paint. Both in limited quantity. It's neat to create this large open-world levels to explore, fiddle around with this mechanic, the more I use it, the more it does seem majestic to use as well as the implementations.
It's also useful for doing side quests, solving puzzles, exploring unreachable areas, and so on. This is the most used tool of the game, even more so for combat. Thinner dissolves them, and shooting paint repeatedly makes them friendly. This part is, sadly barebones. Maybe mixing the friendly and enemy types, but in large numbers, more fun. Creating these crazy playing fields, it makes sense, especially considering how it plays like Ratchet n Clank and Crash Bandicoot.
This is something Specter didn't think through, but the guys who remade it could have sort of done so. I know it's a 1 on 1, but most of the combat encounters are just something that gets on the way. Never making use of this highly creative tool. Which I'm hoping with the sequel they rectify that. Seriously, just go out of the walls with this. Otherwise, it's repetitive.
But, when it comes to platforming, it really soars, jumping around, getting to places, it's not fine-tuned to a contemporary standard, but when it works taking me interesting places to explore, definitely. The remake did a great job of making the art feel alive, very in the authentic Disney way.
Retains the charm of the older games, including with the sound, music, and even tho voice acting has no place here, it's not a terrible thing to read texts all the time. What feels missing, is compensated with the charm and appeal you find all around. I can't criticize much since...no wait. It's 60 USD? Hell no, that is not absolutely right at all. This isn't even to standard today.
Yes, you can make choices here. My first one was saving a Gremlin locked in a cage, but a puzzle involving pushing plates across the level were the only ways to save him. Or I could just take this chest of rewards, it'll push the plate up, and trebuchet the other Gremlin to nowhere.
Moral decisions, but that's nothing to Small Pete. He told me to help him get his ship logbook that the Gremlins crashed. But, I was also presented the choice of giving it to them or him. Crossing him meant a boss battle, which yeah, I would love to exchange pummels with that guy. Though, the plot is more twisted here, and leaves me to consider his role in the whole thing.
And there's more, like entering projection screens of Mickey's old toons leads me to these 2D platforming sections, but with overdose of great art style and visual fidelity. Honestly, they could make an entire game of their own like this. Wonderfully done, especially for collectible hunting. Like, if there are creative exercises of their own here, kudos. We need more of that.
It's a really fun game. I mean, sure, there's more that should have been done for it. Heck, it's like begging for it. That 60 dollar price, the boring fetch quests, repetitive combat, some parts of like the ticket currency and pins not having much in use, overall lackluster feeling. Wait for sale.
