Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for the Nintendo 3DS, brings the fun and wonder of Epic Mickey to a different console, while paying tribute to a classic Sega Genesis title, “Castle of Illusion Staring Mickey Mouse.” At first, I thought the game was going to be the same as the other Epic Mickey games, with twists only for the 3DS. It turns out that this is an entirely different story and our hero goes on a very different adventure. This time, he is out to save not only forgotten characters, and theme park attractions, but also forgotten video games as well.
While the game might look all cutesy and child-like, the game itself is a force to be reckoned with. My seven-year-old son has already given up on trying to beat it, so my husband has taken over and is currently doing his best to overcome the challenges and obstacles standing in the way of Mickey’s victory.
Similar to Epic Mickey, Oswald summons Mickey to the Wasteland to help fight off the evil witch Mizrabel and her Castle of Illusion. Characters all over the Wasteland are disappearing and it’s up to Mickey to search the castle for the missing residents and once again save Wasteland from evil.
The art is very similar to the other Epic Mickey games, and that’s nice to see, because the art alone is worth checking the game out.
Something interesting about this game is that each room of the castle is based on a classic Disney movie and, for the most part, the characters from each movie have no idea who Mickey Mouse is. There’s also a few special features, including the ability to develop your own fortress, that will keep players busy when they don’t necessarily want to beat a level but still want to enjoy the game.
Overall, this game is a great addition to the Epic Mickey series. You get to visit some of the classic Disney films such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, and test your battle skills against classic Disney villains. Here’s a friendly gamer tip: Pay attention to both of the screens on the 3DS, because you could easily overlook a character. Some of the characters are hidden and you can only see them to paint them in on the bottom screen.
This game is rated E for Everyone (with mild cartoon violence), but that doesn’t mean everyone will have an easy time with it. My husband and son enjoy taking turns with the game so they each get to play levels they can master or be challenged on.
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is available for the Nintendo 3DS on Amazon and at select retailers.
