16th, June

SG E3 2010: Epic Mickey isn’t an epic win

I’d first like to start my article by saying… YAY E3! I’m actually HERE!! #@%*&!!!!

Now that, that’s out of the way, the first game I got my hands on after sitting through a “riveting” Sony conference *cough*was Disney’s Epic Mickey. Epic Mickey revolves around the lovable overgrown mouse who lets his curiosity get the best of him when he stumbles upon Yen Sid’s Cartoon Wasteland of rejected creations (aka Detroit).

After Mickey spills some paint and paint thinner on the mirror in which the land exists in, a Phantom Blot overthrows the ruler of the wasteland, Mr. Mouse’s older half-brother, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit – an ironic name for an ironic game.  Everything warps into a dark version of itself (the vice-versa of Michael Jackson) and Oswald goes on a mission for revenge on Mickey who is pulled into the Wasteland through his own mirror.

The game plays like a platformer with some RPG elements. By wielding the power of paint and paint thinner, you’re able to alter the environment around you, including NPCs, which literally melt. If you paint an enemy, he/she turns into an ally. Conversely, paint thinner erases and destroys them. How you use your taint paint influences the different puzzles you can solve, how the other toons react to you, and even changes Mickey’s look (Botox was never easier). These concepts alone make Epic Mickey something to look forward to.

However, controls are where it loses some of its “epic” flavor. There is a substantial learning cure to the pointer-based painting. Granted, you’re just spraying the paint, so you can aim above the object you’re trying to hit and still make it work, but it was a bit frustrating at times.

Jumping around wasn’t as much of a challenge as painting, but the camera wasn’t always a big help. Some of the perspectives were a bit troublesome, as I would land in a deadly pit of swamp ink instead of on a strip of land, despite my seemingly certain trajectory.

The game looks decent enough for the Wii, but I was expecting a bit more considering the incredible promotional art present at the convention.  But again, it is on the Wii. When this title hits stores during this holiday season, it’ll be a worthwhile purchase for your children.  Considering I left childhood mere months ago – I’m actually 9 years old! – it may be a rental at best.