Further details on Warren Spector's Epic Mickey have emerged, from the pages of US mag Game Informer.
The game has you (Mickey Mouse) exploring a pen-and-paper world of forgotten Disney creations, the mag reveals, described by Spector as "the bastard child of Tim Burton and Disney".
Gameplay, described as a mix of platforming, exploration and role-playing, is based around Mickey's magic paintbrush - funnily enough, just as we revealed this summer. You can use the brush to paint in buildings, swipe away enemies and create/destroy the world as you explore, says GI.
Along his journey Mickey will also find 'sketches' and bring them to life with his tool. From then on you can activate them to use special powers, such as slowing down time or generating a TV to distract enemies.
Spector says you can play the game as you like, taking the hero's rout or destroying everything in sight, and how you decide to play the game will affect Mickey's stance and appearance.
Mickey's generally looking a lot closer to his original 1920s design and you'll even be able to play through some of his classic cartoons via movie screen transitions, which teleport you from location to location.
The world itself - corrupted by the chief villain, The Phantom Blot - is based on the Walt Disney World theme park, with tons of visual parallels to the It's a Small World attraction and various rides.
Developer Junction Point says it's taken "hundreds" of photos while at Disney World in order to try and translate some of the park's essence over to the game. On his travels Mickey will get among the cogs and gears of some of the rides, and even collect 'E-Tickets' to go for spin on them.
It sounds brilliant - even more so from the fact we know Spector's in charge. The first scan was also posted here.
This does sound pretty good (although i wonder where they got the paintbrush idea from ). Sounds like a different spin on things though and should be worth a look.
Sounds interesting. Might this not be precisely the sort of game that could benefit, and adequately support, motion control schemes such as Natal, Wii Plus, Sony's whachmacallit, etc.?
Burton was a Disney animator, so its not surprising that it fits so well. IT just a shame 'Burton' is used to signify anything dark.
Disney suits dark and surreal. if you know your Disney history, there's plenty to draw from. Fr9om elephants on parade, to working with a Salvador dali, this fits perfectly.
the only thing i'd say is i'd like to see the real genius be the game mechanics. Spector is fantastic, and i want equal amounts of both.
Burton was a Disney animator, so its not surprising that it fits so well. IT just a shame 'Burton' is used to signify anything dark.
Disney suits dark and surreal. if you know your Disney history, there's plenty to draw from. Fr9om elephants on parade, to working with a Salvador dali, this fits perfectly.
the only thing i'd say is i'd like to see the real genius be the game mechanics. Spector is fantastic, and i want equal amounts of both.
Wierdly enough, I stumbled across this old Mickey Mouse annual on the internet (not sure what year it was, but it was early - 'Steamboat Willy' was 1929, right?) - but, it was recalled due to it containing some really bad racist material.
This game is breaking my heart every time it's mentioned somewhere. Spector is a genius and my hero (Deus Ex is the best game ever for me) but DAMMIT I don't have Wii!
Why are they making it Wii exclusive FFS?! And don't tell me it's because of the painting system... Okami did that on PS2 and it worked GREAT!
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