Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion

There was a lot of wasted potential here. To its credit though, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion looks fantastic.

Polished, thoughtful, and joyful. [Feb 2013, p.79]

Power of Illusion comes together brilliantly; the modern additions to the classic action are intelligent ones that invite you to explore, to replay, and to enjoy every last bit of this great platformer.

A delightful tribute to not one, but two classic Mickey Mouse games. The platform game isn't just a simple but good successor to the Mega Drive game Castle of Illusion, but also offers Disney nostalgia as we know it from the last Epic Mickey-game. With beautiful, detailed graphics and amazing music, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is one of the best 3DS games this year.

Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion combines traditional jump'n'run gameplay and the Disney-air to form a great 3DS game.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion must not be overlooked; it may be marketed towards today's youth, but it's adult gamers who grew up in the '90s that will truly appreciate it.

You will get a bitter taste in your mouth of wanting more.

Power of Illusion finds its roots in a classic platformer, and its gameplay lives up to that legacy. Unfortunately, the other gameplay elements really break up the action; object manipulation by painting is novel but awkward, and the side quests are just pure filler. Despite those slowdowns, it's a lot of fun to play. For fans of the original, it's a walk down memory lane, but it's also an excellent platformer that stands on its own.

Power of Illusion is a game for Disney fans, specifically those with fond memories of playing the Disney games made by Capcom and Sega on Super Nintendo and Genesis. It has ample amounts of fan service and finely tuned platforming, but some of its periphery elements, such as the paint and thinner mechanics, just fall short. In a way, the game is oddly similar to the first Epic Mickey on Wii: a rock-solid concept hampered by a few stifled gameplay ideas.

Is it an easy game for kids, or a tough game for seasoned players? It offers some great level design, top notch fan service, and a decent challenge, but that challenge arrives a little too late.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is a very competent platform adventure, yet sadly falls short of the excellence many would have expected from the otherwise superb DreamRift. That is not to say it comes without any merit, since the -- admittedly shorter than expected -- adventure is filled with smart platform antics, lovely colourful retro visuals and a delightful soundtrack.

High quality platform action wrapped in beautiful graphics and sound. If the game had only been longer and its original ideas a bit more polished, this could potentially have been one of the best games for the format.

Classic platforming mechanics and painting with the stylus aren't compatible actions in Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion. We value the nostalgic approach, but the interesting rhythm in the platform sections is damaged by the paint and thinner situations.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is a fun, albeit short, romp through the games of yesterday that can be rushed through in a few hours. But it ultimately stands as a game with tons of untapped potential. I could dream up what I would like to have seen with Oswald, with minor characters, the unlocking of other abilities, and different powers, from what's been done in Power of Illusion. Sadly, this is just going to be another slightly-above-average, retro-embracing title that blends into the pack.

Breathtaking to behold and controls beautifully, with well-designed levels and fun platforming. It's really too bad the experience is hampered by its unacceptably short length, as well as by the fact that the painting mechanic gets repetitive.

While Power of Illusion doesn't quite live up to the Genesis classic it references, it proves to be another solid addition to the 3DS's library. The main quest is a fun romp through beautiful, Disney-inspired stages, marred only by its short length and a few underutilized gameplay ideas.

A charmer that's far too short and packed with pace-ruining touchscreen moments. [Jan 2013, p.83]

We wanted a Castle of Illusion for 3DS, and this game is definitely not that. Drawing on the touch screen is painful and slows the jumps and collecting items. Many of Disney's names are its best attraction.

Power of Illusion could be a fantastic jump & run, the foundation for a dignified successor to Castle of Illusion (one of my all-time favorites) is there. But the constant change between digipad and stylus for the sake of redundant drawings is disappointing.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion looks great and controls well, boasting some inspiring Disney stages, but there just aren't enough of them. Overall, the title struggles to find its stride but also possesses a unique charm that demands attention.

The Power of Magic is a platform game with some interesting ideas, placed in a structure that seems to squeeze more often an eye to younger gamers.

Every month you find new indie games, better, funnier, longer and cheaper. We were very excited about the new Mickey Mouse classic adventure, but it's just an average title.

A beautifully crafted game on the surface but is ultimately crippled by its core gameplay mechanics and short length.

The idea of celebrating a tribute to Castle of Illusion while applying the Epic Mickey formula is nice, but the execution leaves too much to be desired.

Beautiful to look at. It's also quite obviously unfinished. The building blocks of the ultimate Mickey Mouse game are here, but we'll have to wait yet another day to see that vision become reality.

Mechanics get tired quickly, the extra content feels tacked-on and even the best element - its presentation - is short-lived. A disappointment.

The result is a mixed bag that suffers from pacing issues as well as a difficulty jump halfway through that many will find infuriating. Disney fans will find the story fun, even when the action becomes a slog, but others will likely lose interest midway through.

Disney games from the '90s weren't just great because they featured characters we'd all seen on the big screen - they also had a unique weight and gameplay loop to them, a feeling Power of Illusion recreates perfectly. But its misguided desire to also be an Epic Mickey game betrays that earnestness around every corner.

Mickey should be an epic game. Unfortunately that doesn't count for this handheld version. It's too old school. People who are searching for a decent Mickey game: buy the console or PC-version (Power of Two) instead.

Needless to say, I found Power of Illusion to be an incredibly disappointing game. There's nothing fun about the experience and any warm, fuzzy feelings of nostalgia brought upon by the design, soundtrack and concept are ruined by clunky and infuriating gameplay. Instead of spending the money on this game, my advice is to go pick up a Sega Genesis from eBay and a copy of Castle of Illusion. You'll have a lot more fun.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion had the potential to be a neo-old skool classic, but the elements taken from the Epic Mickey series stale those from its Castle of Illusion pedigree, leading to a game that's slower than Toby Tortoise.

As it is, the game ends far to quickly and seems like it might have been rushed to market.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is visually a great sequel to the famous Castle of Illusion, with its beautiful 2D graphics and its great references to the Disney universe. However, in terms of gameplay, the title is not as good as its big brother. Being forced to jump between the use of the touch pen and the usual game controls is not intuitive and won't make you enjoy this short experience that lasts four hours.

Epic Mickey: Mysterious World does not do justice to the Disney platformers of the 90s. The premise of a spiritual sequel to Castle of Illusion was promising and enthusiastic, but in the end proved to be a killjoy.

It looks and sounds the part, and it's definitely a better game than The Power Of 2, but this disappointing 2D platformer isn't half the game Castle Of Illusion was.

While its gorgeous visuals and 90's platforming gameplay throwback promises much, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion ends up being no more than a simple nostalgia trip down memory lane. The paint/thinner mechanic from previous games are haphazardly implemented and completely ruins what sluggish flow the game already had.

I wish I could warp back to the time when Power of Illusion was full of mysterious promise.

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion dripped with potential upon announcement, but the final result is a more smudged affair. A fun, if basic, platformer lies at its heart, yet it's coated with unbalanced difficulty and drawing mechanics that interrupt its flow regularly, while the number of worlds is very disheartening. Disney fans will get a kick out of seeing which characters turn up, but if you're expecting another Castle of Illusion, you're going to be disappointed.