Disney’s Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is coming in 2024 to the Nintendo Change, Ps 4/5, Xbox, and Home windows. This can be a remake of the fan-favorite online game completely for the Wii, which was launched over a decade in the past. This submit shares particulars, pictures & trailer, why I’m so excited to see this concept return from the lifeless, plus potential implications for Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Nintendo introduced Epic Mickey: Rebrushed through the sport firm’s Direct Companion Showcase on February 21, and gave no launch date past a obscure ‘later in 2024’ timeframe. Not many particulars got about Epic: Mickey Rebrushed, besides that it’d be a “devoted remake of the beloved basic” with enhanced visuals. Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is from THQ Nordic along with Disney Video games, and is powered by Unreal Engine.
In Epic Mickey, you play as Mickey Mouse after he will get himself into just a little little bit of bother. Sneaking into Yen Sid’s workshop, he picks up a magic paintbrush and by accident creates the Shadow Blot. In an try to erase it, Mickey is sucked into one other world that’s stuffed with rejected Disney characters.
The remake will function new abilities for Mickey Mouse, equivalent to sprint, floor pound and sprinting. Gamers will encounter varied basic characters like Oswald the Fortunate Rabbit, Yen Sid, Pete, and extra as you journey between lands in Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. Accumulate digital Disney pins, sort out artistic challenges, and uncover secrets and techniques, all whereas exploring basic platforming ranges impressed by animated movies, cartoon shorts, and the Disney theme parks.
As Mickey, you’ll dive right into a fantastical world, and armed with paint and thinner, form your journey and the destiny of this alternate world. Use paint to revive magnificence and concord or thinner to change your surroundings and uncover hidden secrets and techniques. Your selections affect Mickey’s future and alter the end result of this creative odyssey.
Right here’s the trailer, which is nicely price watching–Mickey Mouse followers will see loads of nods to the enduring character, and there’s loads of park followers, too:
The unique Epic Mickey was a major launch, as a part of an initiative by Disney to rebrand and reintroduce Mickey Mouse to up to date audiences. It was one among a number of efforts on the time to showcase the extra mischievous and adventurous sides of his character, and fewer as a superficial company mascot. The Mickey Mouse shorts that just lately concluded their run have been likewise a part of this push.
So in a method, you can say that Epic Mickey walked painted so Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway may run drive recklessly. It could look like a stretch, and I doubt Imagineering was utilizing the idea artwork from Epic Mickey as inspiration, nevertheless it’s all an outgrowth of the identical inner initiative.
What was most putting about Epic Mickey is simply how completely different and darkish it was. It was a dramatic departure from what Disney had been doing with Mickey Mouse–like the corporate ping-ponged from one excessive to a different. Epic Mickey was directed by legendary sport designer Warren Spector, who collaborated with Walt Disney Animation Studios on the mission and produced the sport by way of Junction Studios.
Epic Mickey was launched in November 2010, receiving blended critiques from critics, who praised its visuals, storytelling, and gameplay–however criticized its digital camera and controls. The sport carried out nicely sufficient to spawn sequels–Epic Mickey 2: The Energy of Two and Epic Mickey: Energy of Phantasm.
I used to be actually excited for the primary Epic Mickey. It was the uncommon sport that I preordered, and even purchased the collector’s version that got here with a Mickey Mouse determine and paintbrush controller. The sport had a hype cycle and was the uncommon weighty online game launch from Disney. For individuals who didn’t play it, Epic Mickey was not like newer releases that may be enjoyable however are pretty senseless.
Epic Mickey was artwork. I do know these of you who’re dismissive of video video games as a medium would possibly scoff at that, nevertheless it actually was. The design, themes, and story have been all improbable–they even launched an ‘Artwork of Epic Mickey‘ espresso desk ebook! It additionally was not what you’d essentially anticipate of Disney.
One of the best factor I can equate it to is one other Disney launch across the similar time: Wall-E. To make certain, Epic Mickey was no Wall-E. Nevertheless it prompted an identical response: How did this get made by DISNEY, of all corporations?! Epic Mickey felt like an aberration, the kind of factor that slipped by the cracks and someway acquired authorised. The kind of factor about which individuals say, “this might by no means get made at the moment.” However I believe they might’ve mentioned that then, too–and it did get made then, and is being remade at the moment.
Sadly, Epic Mickey was a little bit of a disappointment to me. Not the substance and even the fashion, that met and even exceeded my expectations. It was the controls and digital camera. A part of that is in all probability a ‘abilities subject.’ Despite the fact that I like them, I’m not precisely good at video video games, so issues like poor controls and digital camera are killers for me. As a lot as I loved the flashes of brilliance within the sport, I simply couldn’t play in additional than 30 minute increments earlier than getting annoyed. Principally, I beloved the concept of Epic Mickey greater than really enjoying the sport.
In any case, I’m actually wanting ahead to Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Hopefully these digital camera and management points are corrected, in order that it’s enjoyable to play. (The latter virtually actually shall be, because it’s being ported from the Wii.) Whereas I believe it’s in all probability a distinct segment title as a remake, I’m holding out a sliver of hope that this might go from ‘cult favourite’ to being an enormous crucial and business success if the problems are mounted. The storytelling and visuals in Epic Mickey are improbable, as is among the moment-to-moment gameplay. There was already a lot to love; with just a few tweaks, there could possibly be lots to like.
The optimist in me hopes that, between this and the latest ‘concession’ by CEO Bob Iger (and $1.5 billion Fortnite stake) that Disney is lacking alternatives in gaming, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed could possibly be the beginning of one thing greater.
Epic Mickey additionally got here out across the time of Toy Story Mania, and any theme park fan who performed the Wii sport in all probability noticed the apparent crossover attraction. Epic Mickey revolved round a paint and thinner idea, permitting gamers to create (or erase!) environments. It was a intelligent mechanic, and labored fairly nicely.
The paint idea was additionally one thing that might work in an attraction at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. And in reality, Epic Mickey did (seemingly) encourage a theme park attraction, as Goofy’s Paint ‘n’ Play Home opened in Toontown at Tokyo Disneyland just a few years later. In that attraction, friends use Toontone Splat Grasp paint applicators to assist Goofy redecorate his room. That is basically a shooter attraction, as you level your Splat Grasp spray gadget on the wall or furnishings you wish to paint, after which activate.
Goofy’s Paint ‘n’ Play Home is a cute attraction, however one geared toward youthful youngsters. It’s a walk-through of types, is unscored, and extra collaborative in nature. The identical idea may very simply be placed on wheels as a Toy Story Mania fashion sport the place you compete or collaborate with different friends to each paint and skinny environments.
If the resurrection of Epic Mickey proves to be a hit, I may simply see this kind of attraction being constructed. It’d supply synergy and crossover attraction with the online game, and the Disney Parks undoubtedly want extra of that. The gameplay is pitch-perfect for a theme park and can be straightforward to select up for all friends. It’s additionally an addictive and enjoyable idea with a ton of repeatability.
Lastly, and maybe most significantly, this kind of gamified attraction can be excellent as a quick-fix addition in between growth cycles. For individuals who don’t keep in mind, that’s precisely what Toy Story Mania was upon opening.
That trip got here at a time when Walt Disney World had been languishing post-9/11, and followers have been starved for brand new additions. That is notable, as a result of Disney is in the very same place now–needing new additions, however not fairly prepared for the game-changing new lands and sights. So it’s both reimaginings, or new rides that don’t require a ton of staging and may be constructed shortly in present areas.
For reference, Toy Story Mania was introduced in early 2007 and opened simply over a 12 months later in 2008. On the time, it certain appeared like a stopgap answer–a mid-tier addition earlier than the actual enlargement plans ramped up. However because it turned out, Toy Story Mania was a smash success. It grew to become the most well-liked trip in all of Walt Disney World, and friends would rope drop the FastPass machines (keep in mind free line-skipping by way of slips of paper?!).
I keep in mind this as a result of I used to be our designated “runner” again in 2008-2012, and I spent many a morning power-walking to these FastPass machines. (That 9:45 a.m. return time above was an incredible achievement, a minimum of to me!) Toy Story Mania proved so widespread on the home parks that it acquired a Wii sport spin-off, one other observe at Walt Disney World to assist with crowds (plus a land), and was cloned to Tokyo DisneySea.
Toy Story Mania stays extremely widespread to today at DHS, DCA, and TDS. Given the large reputation of such a easy idea, it really astounds me that Disney hasn’t finished a remake of its personal, making a second interactive attraction on this fashion. It makes full sense, and simply assume how good it could possibly be–take a look at the leap from Soarin’ to Avatar Flight of Passage. Similar concept right here.
Finally, I’m excited to play Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and hopeful that the digital camera and management points that made an excellent idea just about unplayable are resolved with the remake. As excited as I’m for that, I’m much more (foolishly) optimistic that this can spawn one other synergistic gamified attraction at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Hopefully Epic Mickey: Rebrushed shall be a chance for Imagineering to dip again into the inkwell of the interactive shooter.
I’m additionally actually completely satisfied to see one other transfer (all in lower than a month!) that addresses our criticisms in Disney’s Greatest Weak spot: Why Mickey Mouse Ought to Be Extra Like Mario. That was an article advocating for Disney to get extra critical about gaming and use Mickey Mouse in furtherance of that, since time spent with video video games and mindshare is a extremely massive deal for youthful youngsters.
Between Iger’s latest feedback and his strikes, it’s virtually like he reads the weblog. After all, I don’t really assume that’s true…it’s in all probability simply fortunate/coincidental timing. However simply in case, please sit up for a dozen articles coming quickly about how the one factor that may save Disney’s share worth and battle off company raiders is a reimagining of Journey into Creativeness! I additionally assume we are able to all agree {that a} big-budget redo of Journey into Creativeness would cement Iger’s legacy as a really cool dude and nice CEO.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Epic Mickey: Rebrushed? If you happen to performed the unique, are you excited for the remake? Assume the success of this Nintendo Change title may spawn one other gamified attraction at Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Is the corporate investing assets into video video games a wise transfer? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
