Today I tried out a demo of a 3DS game, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion. As Mickey, you journey into the Castle of Illusion, where the evil witch Mizrabel has seemingly trapped Minnie Mouse and others. The game is a side-scrolling 2D platformer, but with a twist. Mickey uses his magic paintbrush to help him out at various points. Using the stylus and the bottom screen, certain objects can be added to the main (top) screen by tracing their outlines on the bottom screen. Similarly, certain objects can be removed from the main screen by erasing their shapes on the bottom screen. For example, if a gap is too large for Mickey to jump across, you can switch focus to the bottom screen, where there may be an outline of a bridge. Trace it, and it will appear on the top screen.
Many Disney characters make cameos: Scrooge McDuck, Rapunzel, the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Tinkerbell, and Peter Pan all make appearances in the demo. Each character that you rescue waits in a separate room of a fortress (where they’re safe from Mizrabel) until you complete your journey. But between levels, there are sidequests you can use to help them out further by retrieving an item for them or upgrading their rooms. For example, Rapunzel needs a comb for her long hair; you can get one from the Beast. And Scrooge is missing his “Number One Dime;” you can find it in a treasure chest in one of the levels.
The drawing aspect of the game is gimmicky and seems to be used far too often. The focus should be on the platforming, not tracing shapes. But having said that, the game is still moderately fun. Based on the demo, I wouldn’t recommend buying the game at full price, but it would make a good choice if you ever see it in the bargain bin for $10 or so.
