Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
- September 24, 2024
- Purple Lamp
- 12h median play time
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a wonderful remake that looks gorgeous in many different ways, with simple yet fun platforming at its core.
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Get on PS Store"Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed" is a remake of the classic game, now available on PS4 and PS5. This reimagining offers enhanced graphics, gameplay features, and the same beloved Disney storyline. Players join Mickey Mouse as he explores a paint-and-thinner world, interacting with iconic Disney characters to complete missions and save the day. Experience this classic adventure with modern upgrades and get ready to create your own epic story.
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Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and improved controls, making it a joy to play compared to the original.
- The nostalgic elements and story remain intact, providing a heartfelt experience for fans of the original game.
- Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to skip certain projector levels and the addition of new movement mechanics, enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- The game suffers from bugs and crashes, particularly when transitioning between certain areas, which can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players have reported issues with audio, including missing tracks and incorrect music cues during gameplay.
- The price point of the game is considered high by some, especially given the relatively short playtime and the need for multiple playthroughs to achieve 100% completion.
- graphics146 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades and artistic design, significantly enhancing the original's aesthetic while maintaining its charm. Many reviewers noted the vibrant environments and improved character models, although some expressed disappointment over the loss of the original's darker tones. Overall, the remaster is praised for its beautiful visuals and modernized graphics, making it a standout experience for both new players and fans of the original.
“First off, the new version is gorgeous; they did a fantastic job updating the visuals.”
“By far its greatest strength is its aesthetic, which the artistry team went all out to revamp entirely while still being true to the original tone.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, the enemies and bosses look really great too, and the new moves added are a really great addition.”
“It's a great remake of the original, though it fails to capture the 'depressed' look of the original Wii game, and the new graphics make a very grim game look a lot less grim.”
“The visuals I do have some gripes with; the cutscenes are beautiful, from 2D to 3D, they look wonderful, but the in-game visual style is significantly different. Everything feels brighter and lighter, some darker tones have left.”
“Yes, I do miss the more eerie, darker look of the original, but the graphic step up was needed; I could actually see where I was going.”
- story121 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Epic Mickey: Rebrushed" is generally well-received, praised for its nostalgic charm and engaging narrative that explores the darker aspects of the Mickey Mouse universe, particularly through the character of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. While the main plot is compelling and features a unique morality system that influences gameplay, some players find the quests repetitive and the overall story somewhat predictable. Despite minor glitches and issues with quest progression, the game's visuals and character depth contribute to a memorable experience, making it a recommended title for both new players and fans of the original.
“The visuals are beautifully updated, and the engaging story retains its charm, making it a perfect choice for families and longtime Disney fans.”
“I found the story to be really fun and love how it explores the older Mickey Mouse era and I loved the inclusion of having Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as a jealous rival to Mickey.”
“Warren Spector's dedication to making a story about a forgotten cartoon rabbit led astray by his own hatred, and a cartoon mouse just trying to get home is genuinely interesting and will never cease to amaze me.”
“The quests quickly lose their sense of adventure and become repetitive fetch tasks, draining the excitement from the game.”
“While the story feels like the weakest aspect, lacking any real depth, longtime Mickey fans will appreciate the references to the old comics and characters, despite not fulfilling its full potential.”
“Next to that, the repetitive and often dull quests quickly become tiresome, and with general enemies you encounter that offer little challenge, there’s not enough content to justify the game’s price.”
- gameplay98 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Epic Mickey: Rebrushed" is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the paint and thinner system, which allows for creative interaction with the environment. While the remake improves upon the original with new abilities like dashing and ground pounding, some players note that the gameplay can feel simplistic and repetitive, with occasional camera issues and a lack of challenge. Overall, it offers a nostalgic yet refreshed experience that balances accessibility with fun, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and fans of the original.
“This is a proper remake that takes the gameplay of the original and improves upon it by making it more balanced and less buggy, while adding greater quality of life choices that, while not being huge changes, really help the overall experience.”
“The new abilities to dash and ground pound add new gameplay dynamics, and small additions like the ability to skip hub projectors for 10 e-tickets helps take a lot of the tedious tasks much more bearable.”
“The brush mechanics are a highlight, offering a creative and interactive way to explore and reshape the environment.”
“The game still suffers from some smaller gameplay issues, notably camera troubles and infrequently getting stuck on terrain.”
“The art style is nice, but the gameplay is simple, repetitive, and wears off quickly.”
“I also would have liked to see some more changes with the actual gameplay, particularly the stale combat, as it's more or less the exact same with a couple of new cool but ineffective additions.”
- music37 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many tracks being memorable and well-composed. However, there are notable issues, including missing tracks, incorrect timings, and a lack of the dynamic layering system present in the original game, which has led to some disappointment among fans. Overall, while the soundtrack captures the game's whimsical tone, technical flaws detract from the experience.
“The art design and music are both excellent and really capture the tone that the game is going for.”
“The soundtrack deserves a mention, too—each note perfectly complements the whimsical tone of the game, enhancing every moment from epic boss battles to quieter exploration.”
“The atmosphere and music of this game are truly something special.”
“The music is quite messed up, with many tracks completely missing and/or playing at the wrong times; which is a shame given the care the original game's dynamic music system had.”
“Bog Easy's main hub music doesn't play at all; instead, it's the Lonesome Manor's music for some reason.”
“The only real issues I had were with missing audio, incorrect area music, and the thinner disaster sequence being the censored version, rather than the original.”
- stability28 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience and minimal bugs, while others have encountered significant glitches, particularly in later stages and during specific quests. Many users noted that while initial issues have been addressed through patches, some bugs remain, affecting gameplay and causing crashes. Overall, the game is seen as a solid remake with improvements, but it still requires further updates to enhance stability.
“Runs great on the deck out of the box.”
“Again, it's fun, runs great, and looks good.”
“Most of this game is well done but the farther you get into the game, the more glitches there are with quests, even after the latest patch.”
“It is quite buggy and at its worst hard-locked me out of progress mid-playthrough while trying to do the thinner route because characters would not talk to me anymore, despite efforts to fix it.”
“Buggy as heck, I can't get out of the first hub world without it crashing on me.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it features improved graphics and sound, many players report sporadic stuttering, frame drops, and occasional crashes, particularly during intense moments. Most users find it runs smoothly on mid-range PCs and the Steam Deck, but some experience significant performance issues that detract from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the remaster is generally praised for its polish and accessibility, with hopes for future patches to address the remaining performance concerns.
“It's like playing the original game with better graphics, better sound quality, and better performance all around.”
“It’s polished and runs smoothly on mid-range PCs or the Steam Deck, making it accessible for most players.”
“More enjoyable than ever with updated controls, fantastic optimization, and perfect Steam Deck support.”
“While the Unreal Engine provides some visual polish, it also causes occasional stuttering during certain effects, disrupting the flow of gameplay.”
“There are still a lot of performance issues, but if you overlook them, which is a mixed bag—some people have them, some people don’t—it’s still a great game. Honestly, I’ve had some performance issues with FPS dropping as low as 4 here on PC. However, I’ve also had some crashes recently during a speedrun at around an hour in, right as I was going into the projector of Ventureland. So, there are still some kinks to work out, but game development is hard, and making the game from scratch again can you blame them for a few performance bugs, especially in the current day.”
“The framerate dips often, there's tons of stuttering at certain points, some of the enemy AI is bugged, and it feels like they made the game a good bit easier than I remember it.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of gothic elements and old-school Disney charm, creating an eerie yet visually stunning experience. Users appreciate the moody, dark shadows and the option to adjust gamma settings, which enhance the game's immersive quality. Overall, the art style, music, and dynamic environments contribute to a captivating atmosphere that resonates with both platformer enthusiasts and fans of visually rich storytelling.
“The gothic atmosphere gives the game its own unique identity, setting it apart from other 3D platformers.”
“It masterfully blends its eerie atmosphere with the charm of Disney’s old-school animation, making it feel as though you’ve stepped into a cartoon book.”
“The atmosphere and music of this game are truly something special.”
“The shadows dance across the landscapes, creating a dynamic atmosphere that draws you deeper into the experience.”
“Safe to say, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed has fixed the problems of a hard to navigate camera, as well as polishing the atmosphere of the original game by remaking all the original assets on Unreal Engine.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a moderate to high level of replayability, enhanced by features like a new game + option, multiple endings, and varied approaches to quests and challenges. While some players appreciate the added collectibles and flexibility in gameplay, others feel that the limited outcomes reduce the incentive to replay. However, the improvements over the original and engaging story contribute positively to the replay experience, making it worthwhile for achievement hunters and those seeking different playthroughs.
“Rebrushed improves on the original in every way possible, and the new collectibles add a fun challenge that definitely made it replayable!”
“It took me just over 10 hours to finish, and there is replayability to go back and play through again with a new game + option, and some quests and boss fights can be done in different ways depending on how you tackle them.”
“Additionally, tasks and challenges can be completed in multiple ways, allowing for some flexibility and player choice, which enhances replayability.”
“As a result, the replayability feels limited where there’s little incentive to go back and make different choices since the outcome is mostly the same.”
“The idea is to include replayability and challenge to the game, and some of it pays off for the better, but a large majority of it is arbitrary.”
“With a medium level of difficulty, the gameplay is satisfying without being overly demanding, and the game offers moderate replayability, especially for achievement hunters.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic connection to Disney, evoking strong feelings, especially for fans of the franchise. Players appreciate the game's ability to deliver a poignant experience, despite some criticisms regarding the lack of voice acting and story depth. Overall, it is described as a memorable and touching journey that resonates deeply with those who cherish Disney's legacy.
“Absolutely wonderful, stunning game, especially as someone whose first video game I ever played was Epic Mickey 2; this is quite the emotional experience.”
“Epic Mickey represents the best of what Disney used to be: heartfelt and earnest -- if the name 'Disney' has ever meant anything to you growing up, Epic Mickey's conclusion (depending on the choices you make) is bound to elicit some strong emotions.”
“A true masterpiece with a heartbreaking story of Mickey's lost brother, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the new abilities and fast travel options that alleviate tedium, others feel that the game still suffers from excessive animations and the need to replay levels for completion. Despite these issues, many players still enjoy the gameplay and the abundance of secrets and collectibles.
“I played the second one as a kid, and thought it would be a good time to play the first, but it is so tedious and boring, with so much of the game being animations, cutscenes, or dialogue that you are forced to watch.”
“Some of the levels can be a little tedious for anyone wanting to 100% the game, and the fact you'll have to play through the game a few times to get all the achievements is a little annoying, but it is what it is.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game to be enjoyable, highlighting moments like Mickey's exaggerated gestures during tutorials and amusing typos, such as "firends" in item descriptions. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the game's replayability and entertainment value.
“I just thought that was funny.”
“Mickey waving his hands wildly during the guardian tutorial is extremely funny.”
“I don't know how long it takes for them to notice stuff like this, but the 'just friends' pin says 'firends' in the description, which is pretty funny.”
Critic Reviews
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed review
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a wonderful remake that looks gorgeous in many different ways, with simple yet fun platforming at its core.
80%Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Review
Once upon a time, legendary game director Warren Spector asked Disney to help him make a science fiction game. The house of mouse wasn't interested in his pitch, but it gave him the keys to the forgotten magic kingdom instead. Spector's Junction Point Studios was given unfettered access to archival materials and tasked with spinning a tale focusing on Walt Disney's earliest work. Epic Mickey was admirable as an attempt to bring those formative IPs back into the public interest. Oswald the Rabbit appeared in his first original story since 1928. His lost landscape of unused ideas was an artistic triumph for Spector's team. The game debuted to generally positive critical reception but failed to make the financial impact Disney expected. After a weaker and even less successful sequel, Junction Point was closed and the world of Epic Mickey didn't live happily ever after. Now it's back, in an on-brand Disney reboot dubbed Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Purple Lamp Games hasn't just given this title a texture polish, it's brought enough mechanical and aesthetic additions to qualify it as a semi-remake. 15 years after its original release, Mickey and Oswald's tale remains a fascinating and flawed adventure. From the outset, the story almost frames the titular mouse as a villain. While Yen Sid is busy working on a model to commemorate the forgotten members of past fables, his magic mirror decides to open up a portal into Mickey's bedroom. The pre-fame mouse proceeds to invade, cause chaos, and unleash a monster called The Blot. Thinking nothing of his catastrophic clumsiness, Mickey returns home to a flourishing career as a brand icon. Much time passes, but eventually the Blot returns and pulls him into a world called The Wasteland. Mickey must use Yen Sid's magic paintbrush to repair this kingdom, defeat The Blot, and figure out why Oswald, ruler of Wasteland, hates him so much. This is a 3D collectathon platformer at heart, but Mickey also wields environment manipulation abilities that contribute to some light puzzling. His magic brush can paint objects into the world around him, while his thinner can remove those same objects. Not everything can be created/erased, but the function of this ability is persistent throughout. As he transitions between areas of the Wasteland, Mickey leaps into projector screens showing his old movies. These 2D sections are the game's highlight, lovingly recreated versions of iconic shorts. Running around in classics like Steamboat Willy, Mickey's Mechanical Man, and Alpine Climbers feels like a precursor to Studio MDHR's Cuphead. Back in the three-dimensional Wasteland, Mickey's brush also serves as a weapon. It's useful for smacking Blot's army into submission and flipping switches throughout the world. His art skills work on enemies too. Thinner is the only thing that can defeat them, and paint can hypnotise them into fighting by your side. Painting missing aspects of the world also adds to a guardian meter. Once filled, you’ll be joined by little sprites that have different effects on enemies once deployed. There's a decent amount of variation to Blot's army, though attack patterns and methods to defeat them don't change. Some larger monsters need a combo of thinner and attacks to down. Later in the game, you'll encounter Slobbers, which require some sneaking to avoid waking them up (complete with little orchestral squeaks from Mickey's feet). Other than that, enemies become a repetitive chore to deal with from mid-game onwards. The combat isn't the only repetitive aspect of Epic Mickey. General exploration and puzzling boils down to the same paint/thin actions throughout your time in Wasteland. Erasing walls to find goodies gets tedious after a while, no matter how pretty the collectible concept art is. There's a nice freedom of choice offered by rescuing Gremlins (no, not that kind) scattered around levels. These little mechanics will solve puzzles for you instantly if you go out of your way to find them. This flexibility extends to longer chain quests in the semi-open world, which can often be fast-tracked by purchasing key items from shops. These shortcuts serve to partially balance out the volume of fetch quests on your way to the next main story level. So what about the fresh coat of paint this Rebrushed edition offers? The most surprising additions here are the improved traversal abilities for Mickey. The original game was made painfully slow by having a locked walking speed. That's now gone and Mickey can sprint (well, jog) as well as dash in both 3D and 2D areas. The side-scrolling levels themselves have been much expanded on, treated more like standalone stages with secrets to uncover. In combat, a ground pound has been added, which helps scatter large groups of enemies and smash clusters of breakable objects to get the goodies inside. Away from the gameplay tweaks, the visual upgrade is nothing short of magical. The work of the design team is pretty much the main selling point of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and at 4K and 60 frames-per-second, its efforts shine. There's a darker edge to this depiction of Disney's creations that came off as murky in the original release. Here, even the grim detritus of Mickeyjunk Mountain, feels vibrant. Back in 2010, Epic Mickey felt like a unique, beautifully designed spin on the traditional platformer. In 2024, Rebrushed presents that same enjoyable, IP-driven experience, alongside meaningful gameplay tweaks and a gorgeous visual upgrade. Its general lack of variety means that it won't challenge the likes of Astro Bot, but Disney and platformer fans alike should give this a look. Epic Mickey is still an enjoyable platformer with impeccable artistic talent driving it. The repetitive combat and exploration remains, but the Rebrushed updates go some way to remedying those shortcomings.
70%Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed review – "A detailed and lovingly made recreation of a 2010s classic"
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed updates a 2010 Wii classic for a new generation, somehow packing in even more nostalgia and twisted Disney references than ever before. An engaging story, gorgeous visuals, and bags of charm make it well worth the wait, despite some technical hitches and gameplay frustrations that detract from its undeniable potential.
70%
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