Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013 video game)
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a 2.5D platform game developed by Sega Studios Australia and published by Sega. The game is a remake of the original 1990 Sega Genesis/Sega Mega Drive video game of the same name, which was the first title in the Illusion series of Mickey Mouse video games. The game was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows in September 2013,[2] and later for iOS, Windows Phone, Android, and OS X.[1]
Castle of Illusion: Starring Mickey Mouse | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Sega Studios Australia |
Publisher(s) | Sega Disney Interactive Studios Feral Interactive[1] (OS X) |
Composer(s) | Shigenori Kamiya, Grant Kirkhope (arranger and additional music) |
Series | Illusion |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Windows Phone, Android, OS X, Xbox One, (Backward Compatible with the Xbox 360) Xbox Series X (Backward Compatible with the Xbox 360) |
Release | September 3, 2013
|
Genre(s) | Platform |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
Following the same style of gameplay as the original Mega Drive/Genesis title. Presented in high-definition 3D graphics, the game is largely played as a side-scrolling platformer like its predecessor, although some sections allow Mickey Mouse to move in multiple directions, such as puzzle segments. Mickey's main offensive ability is his bounce attack, which he can use to bounce on enemies and reach higher areas. He can also collect projectiles which he can throw at long distance enemies. Levels are re-envisioned versions of the original game's levels now separated into three acts, featuring new layouts, puzzles and enemies, as well as enhanced boss fights. The castle itself, which was merely a transition in the original game, can now be fully explored, with new areas opened up by collecting numerous gems littered around each level. Throughout the game, players can find playing cards and chilli peppers that can be used to unlock various outfits for Mickey.[3]
Plot
As in the 1990 original, the game casts players in the role of Mickey Mouse who must fight his way through the Castle of Illusion to rescue Minnie Mouse from an evil witch Mizrabel who wants to steal her beauty.
Obstacles include enchanted forests, rebellious toys and mazes of living books.[4]
Development and release
The Castle of Illusion remake was teased by Sega in April 2013[5] and was announced later that month.[6] The game was developed by Sega Studios Australia, their last game before the studio was shut down,[7] under the supervision of the original game's director, Emiko Yamamoto.[8][9] The game features a remastered soundtrack arranged by Grant Kirkhope, as well as an option to listen to the original soundtrack composed by Shigenori Kamiya.[10] The game also features full voice acting for Mickey, as well as narration by Richard McGonagle.[3] From September 2016 until March 2017, the game was delisted from the Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network stores.[11][12]
Players who pre-ordered the game on PlayStation Network were able to download the original Genesis game, as well as a theme and custom avatars.[13]
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
iOS | PC | PS3 | Xbox 360 | |
Metacritic | 81/100[14] | 69/100[15] | 72/100[16] | 67/100[17] |
Publication | Score | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
iOS | PC | PS3 | Xbox 360 | |
Game Informer | N/A | N/A | 7/10[18] | N/A |
GameSpot | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7/10[19] |
GamesRadar+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | [20] |
IGN | N/A | 6.7/10[21] | N/A | 6.7/10[21] |
Joystiq | N/A | N/A | N/A | [22] |
OXM (US) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8/10[23] |
Castle of Illusion received generally positive reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[17][14][15] IGN gave the game a score of 6.7, praising its presentation while critiquing its slippery controls and a short length.[21] Joystiq gave the game 4/5 stars, calling it "both a great remake and a showcase for the key elements that make a great platformer".[22] GameSpot gave the game a score of 7.0, praising its fun platforming while lamenting unskippable cutscenes.[19] Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a score of 8.0, calling it "a fun update to yesteryear’s classic, but also a solid platformer in its own right".[23] GamesRadar gave the game 3.5/5 stars, praising its presentation while noting some issues with controls on account of input lag for some televisions.[20]
References
- "Disney's Castle of Illusion lowers the bridge for Mac this week". Joystiq.com. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- "SEGA Blog | Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse Gets Release Date, Price, and Pre-Order Special". Blogs.sega.com. 2013-08-16. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
- "Test Chamber – Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse - Features". www.GameInformer.com. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
- Disney LOL
- "Is SEGA Teasing a Castle of Illusion Remake? - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2013-04-12. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
- "SEGA Blog | Announcing Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse". Blogs.sega.com. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
- Phillips, Tom (2013-04-05). "Sega to shut down Medieval 2: Total War developer Sega Studios Australia • News •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
- "HD Re-Make of Castle of Illusion Mickey Mouse Game Coming This Summer". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
- Matulef, Jeffrey. "Castle of Illusion remake unveiled for PSN, XBLA and PC • News • PlayStation 3 •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
- "Banjo-Kazooie composer is doing Castle of Illusion's OST". Destructoid. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
- Futter, Mike (August 30, 2016). "Castle Of Illusion Now Backwards Compatible On Xbox One, To Be Delisted On September 2". Game Informer. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- Madan, Asher (March 31, 2017). "Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse's remake returns to the Xbox Store after delisting". MSPowerUser. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- "Castle of Illusion remake releasing Sept 4, pre-orders include Mega Drive original". VG247. 2013-08-16. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "Disney Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse for iPhone/iPad Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Disney Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse for PC Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Disney Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse for PlayStation 3 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- "Disney Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse for Xbox 360 Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- Turi, Tim (September 3, 2013). "Game Informer PS3 review". Game Informer. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Disney Castle of Illusion HD Review - GameSpot.com". Uk.gamespot.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-07. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
- Mike Suskie on September 5, 2013 (2013-09-05). "Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse review". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- Richard Cobbett 3 Sep 2013 (2013-07-22). "Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
- Cowan, Danny. "Castle of Illusion review: Once upon a mouse". Joystiq. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
- "Official XBOX Magazine | Castle of Illusion review". Oxmonline.com. Retrieved 2013-09-05.