Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] is a 1990 platform game developed by Sega and released for the Sega Genesis. An 8-bit version of the game was later released for the Master System and Game Gear. The game follows Mickey Mouse on a quest to save Minnie Mouse from the evil witch Mizrabel. It was the first game in Sega's long-running Illusion video game series starring Mickey and was also a part of the second wave of games initially released for the Sega Genesis which helped seal the console's reputation within the period until the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991.

This article is about the original 1990 video game. For the 2013 remake, see Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013 video game).
Castle of Illusion
Starring Mickey Mouse
North American Genesis cover art
Developer(s)Sega (AM7)
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Emiko Yamamoto
(Sega Genesis)
Yoshio Yoshida
(Master System and Game Gear)
Producer(s)Stephan L. Butler
Designer(s)Emiko Yamamoto
Yoshio Yoshida (Sega Genesis)
Tomozō Endō
Michel Koba
Emiko Yamamoto
(Master System and Game Gear)
Artist(s)Takashi Yuda
Mikarin Nishida (Sega Genesis)
Takako Kawaguchi
Kyuuzou F.
(Master System and Game Gear)
Composer(s)Tokuhiko Uwabo
Shigenori Kamiya
SeriesIllusion
Platform(s)Sega Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, Sega Saturn
ReleaseSega Genesis
Master System
Game Gear
Sega Saturn
  • JP: October 15, 1998
Genre(s)Platforming
Mode(s)Single-player

Castle of Illusion was very well received by critics, especially the original 16-bit version. It was re-released in 1998 in Japan as part of the Sega Ages: Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck for the Sega Saturn, which features both Castle of Illusion and QuackShot. A remake of the game by Sega Studios Australia was released for PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and PC in September 2013.[7] The game was also included on the Sega Genesis Mini in 2019.

Story

Castle of Illusion is a side-scrolling platformer in which the player takes control of Mickey Mouse as he goes inside the Castle of Illusion in order to rescue Minnie Mouse from an evil witch named Mizrabel, who wants to steal Minnie's youth. Upon meeting and conversing with the castle's true owner and king, Mickey is told that in order to defeat Mizrabel he must find the Seven Gems of the Rainbow. Majority of the seven gems are kept within various illusion-filled worlds (known in the game as levels), and are being guarded by Mizrabel's henchmen – which are known as the Masters of Illusion. Alongside the Masters of Illusion are bizarre creatures - such as enchanted mushrooms, toy soldiers, ball-juggling unicycle-riding clowns, and armored knights that Mickey must face. After thanking the castellan and hurrying into the castle hallway, Mickey begins to search through five doors that each lead to a different level. The levels are The Enchanted Forest, Toyland, The Storm, Dessert Factory, The Library, and finally, The Castle.

Gameplay
Mickey Mouse in Level 2: Toyland

Mickey's main method of attack is to perform a 'bounce' whilst jumping, which can be used to defeat enemies, or to bounce upwards towards higher areas. Mickey can also collect projectiles such as apples and marbles to throw at his opponents. There are various items that earn bonus points, increase the player's health and grant extra tries.

Every level ends in a boss battle against each Master of Illusion (Mizrabel's henchmen) where Mickey can earn a gem, although the final two levels award a gem half-way through. After clearing all five levels, obtaining all gems will open up the route to the witch's tower. There, the player faces the final boss: a giant and youthful version of Mizrabel (resembling a cross between the Queen and Maleficent). There is also an easy mode available where players simply play through truncated versions of the first three levels, with no boss fights.

The Master System and Game Gear versions of the game feature different game mechanics, enemies, items, levels and graphics.

Release

The game was also included on a cartridge entitled Disney Collection, bundled with QuackShot, in 1996.[8] An emulated version of Castle of Illusion was also included in a bundle for those who preordered its remake on PSN;[9] this bundle was offered again for PlayStation Plus subscribers in April 2014.[10]

An 8-bit version of the game was released in 1991 for the Master System and Game Gear.

Reception

At the time of Castle of Illusion's release, Mean Machines gave the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version of the game a positive review, awarding it a score of 95%, specifically praising the game's graphics and playability.[13] Mega placed it at 21st spot in their 1992 list of top Mega Drive games of all time.[16] According to GameSpot in 2010, "it wasn't just the levels that made this game so good. The music, the controls, and Mickey's superb animation all contributed to one of the very best Disney games that would heavily influence those to follow."[17]

ACE called the Game Gear version "basically an unadulterated Mario clone—and not a bad one at that", giving it a score of eight out of 10.[15]

Entertainment Weekly picked the game as the #19 greatest game available in 1991, saying: "Perfect for younger players, but challenging enough to satisfy adults, too. A superbly animated Mickey bops through three different worlds—the Enchanted Forest, Toyland, and the Dessert Factory—in a quest to save Minnie from the evil witch Mizrabel."[18]

Legacy
Main article: Illusion (series)

A sequel, Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, was released for the Master System in 1992 and for the Game Gear in 1993. World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck followed for the Genesis in 1992. In 1994, Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse was released for the Game Gear, with a Master System port following in 1998 exclusively in Brazil.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, developed by DreamRift, was released in November 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS and serves as a spiritual successor to Castle of Illusion.[19] In it, Mizrabel from Castle of Illusion returns as the main villain, but redesigned to resemble Maleficent.

Remake
Main article: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013 video game)

A remake of the game, developed by Sega Studios Australia, was released for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and PC in September 2013.[20] The game features 2.5D gameplay with 3D graphics and was developed under the supervision of the original game's director, Emiko Yamamoto,[21][22] with a reimagined soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope.[23] The original game was made available as a pre-order bonus for the PSN version.[24]

See also

Notes
  1. Mega Drive version known in Japan as I Love Mickey Mouse: Mysterious Castle Great Adventure (アイラブミッキーマウス ふしぎのお城大冒険, Ai Rabu Mikkī Mausu: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken)
  2. Game Gear version known in Japan as Mickey Mouse's Castle Illusion (ミッキーマウスのキャッスル・イリュージョン, Mikkī Mausu no Kyassuru Irūjon)

References
  1. "Electronic Gaming Monthly #17 pg. 20". Sega Retro. December 1990. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "Mean Machines No 5 pg. 19". Sega Retro. February 1991. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. "Electronic Gaming Monthly Number 19 pg. 104". Sega Retro. February 1991. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. "Mean Machines No 4 pg. 82". Sega Retro. January 1991. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. "Electronic Gaming Monthly #23 pg. 24". Sega Retro. June 1991. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  6. "Sega Power Issue 20 pg. 20". Sega Retro. July 1991. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. "Mickey's Castle of Illusion Remake Dated For September". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  8. "The Disney Collection for Genesis (1996) - Mobygames". Moby Games. Sciere. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  9. Purchese, Robert (16 August 2013). "Castle of Illusion remaster out 4th September for £10". Eurogamer. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. Steimer, Kirstine (April 14, 2014). "PlayStation Plus: Castle of Illusion Free for Members". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  11. MegaTech rating, EMAP, issue 5, page 78, May 1992
  12. "Mickey Mouse - Sega Review" (PDF). Mean Machines. No. 4. January 1991. p. 82.
  13. "Castle of Illusion - Sega Review" (PDF). Mean Machines. No. 5. February 1991. p. 19.
  14. "Castle of Illusion Review". arcadecounty.com. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  15. Whitta, Gary (August 1991). "Castle of Illusion - Game Gear Review". ACE. No. 47. EMAP. p. 72.
  16. Mega magazine issue 1, page 76, Future Publishing, Oct 1992
  17. "Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Sega Genesis) - Mickey Through The Years on GameSpot". Gamespot.com. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  18. "Video Games Guide". EW.com.
  19. "Epic Mickey: Power Of Illusion 3DS Release Date Confirmed". My Nintendo News. 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  20. 4/11/13 12:25pm Thursday 12:25pm. "The Gamer's Guide". Kotaku. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  21. 4/15/13 1:00pm Yesterday 1:00pm. "HD Re-Make of Castle of Illusion Mickey Mouse Game Coming This Summer". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  22. Matulef, Jeffrey. "Castle of Illusion remake unveiled for PSN, XBLA and PC • News • PlayStation 3 •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  23. "Twitter / grantkirkhope: Sega announce Mickey's Castle". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  24. "SEGA Blog | Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse Gets Release Date, Price, and Pre-Order Special". Blogs.sega.com. 2013-08-16. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
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