Mickey Mouse is a lot of things. He is a beloved cartoon character and an icon for a media empire. Yet as popular as the mouse is, he is not a huge name in the video game industry. He has had several guest appearances, such as in the successful Kingdom Hearts series, but he has never really been a successful main character. Disney Interactive Studios and Junction Point hope to change that this week with the release of Epic Mickey.
Based on his resume, Warren Specter may not be the first person you would expect to be in charge of a video game based on Disney’s most cherished character. Specter is most notable for designing the legendary Deus Ex, a cyberpunk first-person shooter. That universe is a far cry from the happier, more kid friendly world of Mickey Mouse. On the other hand, Specter is also a Mickey Mouse fanboy extraordinaire with a giant collection of Mickey merch.
But enough about the creation of the game. What exactly is it about? The mischievous Mickey Mouse starts the game messing around with the art book of the sorcerer Yen Sid. That’s “Disney” spelled backwards for those keeping track at home. Yen Sid long ago created a land for forgotten and rejected characters. Mickey accidentally created a shadow blot which starts to ravage this land. Epic Mickey will follow Mickey’s adventures as he attempts to right his wrongs. Mickey will use a combination of paint and paint thinner to draw and erase objects and obstacles during his journey.
In addition to exploring the character of Mickey in a rare video game role, players will also get to see Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was one of Walt Disney’s first characters, but Walt never owned the rights to Oswald and a contract dispute made sure he would never work on the character again. He later went on to create Mickey, and Oswald faded into obscurity. In 2006 Oswald finally returned to Disney in a trade with NBC Universal that included legendary sportscaster Al Michaels among other things.
There are several reasons to be excited about Epic Mickey. Hardcore Wii gamers and Disney fans alike should enjoy this adventure, and gamers of all ages will experience Mickey in a whole new light.
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