Epic Mickey - Wii Previews - The Armchair Empire


	Platform Wii Genre Platformer Publisher Disney Interactive Developer Junction Point ETA Holiday 2010
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Epic Mickey

When it was demonstrated by Junction Point's Warren Spector (Deus Ex, Thief: the Dark Project) on-stage during Nintendo's E3 presentation, Epic Mickey made an impression on me that continues to endure. While Spector stated and re-stated that "Play style matters!" during his explanation of Epic Mickey, I found my mind running just a little wild with the possibilities. I can't even imagine what kind of calisthenics

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were happening in Spector's mind who seems to have been given carte blanche to dive into Disney's massive archive to mine forgotten characters out of Obscurity.

From my understanding, the general setup is that Mickey Mouse is dropped into a place called the Wasteland, the resting place for forgotten characters and Disneyland theme park rides, which is

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ruled by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Oswald was Walt Disney's first well-known anthropomorphic creation but he lost the rights to the character in the late 1920s. Eventually Disney managed to grab the rights back close to 80 years later. Walt whipped up Mickey Mouse as a replacement for Oswald and the rest is history. During that time Oswald has stewed in the Wasteland, angry at Mickey for living a life that he should have had. So, basically Epic Mickey is a story about revenge, animated though it may be.

The demonstration showed a very thin slice of the overall game, with only one main area and one transition level shown. Besides the standard platforming and general adventuring, Mickey was shown using paint to create things and paint thinner to erase objects or "change" characters. It was all very well animated and the area was packed with references to Disney films. (Smee was one of the first characters Mickey interacted with.)

Then we were shown a transition area set in the classic Steamboat Willie cartoon. I actually let out an audible gasp. Screenshots don't do it justice! The level was arranged as a traditional 2D platformer and it was straightforward, but the detail and imagery made it very impressive. There was no painting/thinning going on during this part so that just might be something for the 3D parts.

To further provide epic fan service, the game will included collectible "virtual Disney pins" and though Hidden Mickeys (if you've ever been to a Disney theme park you know what I'm writing about) weren't specifically mentioned, it would be a giant oversight if they weren't. (On my own wish list, I'm hoping a raging mad Donald Duck makes an appearance.)

There was also a phrase uttered that instantly made me sceptical that they'll pull it off: "Your choices will affect the outcome of the game." Typically this has meant you'll get a marginally different cutscene before the credits roll.

The only point that deflects my scepticism is that Warren Spector is involved but we'll have to wait a few more months to see if choices really will make a difference.

- Aaron Simmer

(July 7, 2010)