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 beautifully captures the nostalgia of the original while enhancing graphics and gameplay mechanics.
- New features like sprinting, dashing, and the ability to skip previously completed projector levels significantly improve the overall experience.
- The remaster stays true to the original's charm, with a captivating story and vibrant environments that evoke fond memories.
- Some players experience crashes and performance issues, particularly when entering certain areas or projectors.
- The absence of voice acting in cutscenes, which was present in the sequel, detracts from the overall immersion.
- Certain collectibles and quests can be easily missed, leading to frustration for completionists.
- graphics134 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this remastered version of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades and vibrant art style, significantly enhancing the overall experience compared to the original Wii version. While some players noted a loss of the original's darker tones, the improved visuals and modernized controls have revitalized the gameplay, making it feel fresh and immersive. Overall, the remaster is praised for its beautiful graphics, which successfully blend nostalgia with modern aesthetics.
“The graphics are gorgeous, the enemies/bosses look really great too, there's a gamma meter to make the game a bit brighter if you're having trouble seeing where things are/if you prefer the darker atmosphere of the wasteland like me, the new moves added are a really great addition if people wish to speedrun this game/make the game feel a bit more fresh including looking back at the cut scenes in the pause menu and giving you the option to put a costume on Mickey, and the camera is a huge improvement compared to the Wii version.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the sound is amazing.”
“The redesigned visuals are amazing and there's so much detail.”
“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 way the paint was sort of embedded into objects felt better than when the paint seems to splat and droop off of buildings and floor, and everything feels a lot less sharp. This doesn't match completely with a world in absolute distraught.”
“While some might complain about the loading times and the minor graphical glitches, that is it with the problems this game has.”
- story92 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, praised for its nostalgic elements, emotional depth, and engaging characters, particularly the relationship between Mickey and Oswald. However, some players find the plot predictable and the quests repetitive, which can detract from the overall experience. While the remake stays true to the original narrative, it has been noted that the lack of voice acting and some gameplay mechanics could have enhanced the storytelling further.
“The story is quite beautiful, and the way in which your decisions are reflected in it makes the overall experience feel more personal.”
“A true masterpiece with a heartbreaking story of Mickey's lost brother Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.”
“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.”
- gameplay82 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Epic Mickey: Rebrushed" has been praised for its smooth controls, engaging mechanics, and the introduction of new features like sprinting and ground pounds, enhancing the overall experience. While the game retains its whimsical charm and offers a variety of puzzles and collectibles, some players noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant challenge. Overall, the remake successfully revitalizes the original's mechanics while providing a nostalgic yet fresh experience for both new and returning players.
“The mechanics of the game are very easy to learn whether you're playing on keyboard or mouse.”
“It has unique mechanics that allow for player expression and a surprising amount of freedom of choice in quests and puzzles.”
“The brush mechanics are a highlight, offering a creative and interactive way to explore and reshape the environment.”
“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.”
“The core gameplay loop can become repetitive, especially for those seeking a highly challenging experience.”
- music35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic and memorable qualities, particularly the soundtrack's ability to enhance the atmosphere. However, several users noted issues such as missing tracks, incorrect timing, and a lack of dynamic layering compared to the original game, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack remains a highlight for many players, showcasing the work of composer Jim Dooley.
“The music is wonderful and memorable.”
“The atmosphere and music of this game are truly something special.”
“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 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.”
“Some music tracks are not matching the correct timings, (e.g. bog easy just plays the generic lonesome manor music rather than its special track, oswald's room in mickeyjunk mountain plays the generic ambience rather than his theme, the music timing for raising smee's boat and the cutscene to the jolly roger is off, etc.)”
“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.”
- stability24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly during key moments like boss fights and hub transitions, leading to crashes and save file issues. However, others have noted a smoother experience with minimal bugs, praising the overall performance and enjoyment despite some minor technical flaws. Overall, while the game shows promise and improvements over the original, it still requires further updates to address the stability concerns.
“Runs great on the deck out-of-the-box.”
“Again, it's fun, runs great, and looks good.”
“The mad doctor fight needs work as the whole fight glitches upon death.”
“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.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as frame drops and stuttering, particularly during intense moments or specific effects. While many appreciate the improvements over previous versions and commend the overall visual quality, others report crashes and inconsistent performance across different systems. Overall, while the game shows promise with its optimization efforts, further refinements are needed to enhance stability and performance for all players.
“More enjoyable than ever with updated controls, fantastic optimization, and perfect Steam Deck support.”
“It seems completely fixed now, and the game runs smoothly on Unreal Engine.”
“I'm grateful that Purple Lamp didn't leave out optimization.”
“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; some people have them, some people don’t. I’ve had performance issues with FPS dropping as low as 4 on PC, and I’ve also experienced crashes during a speedrun. There are still some kinks to work out, but game development is hard, especially when making the game from scratch again.”
“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.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, characterized by a unique blend of gothic elements and the charm of classic Disney animation, creating an immersive experience that feels like stepping into a cartoon book. Reviewers appreciate the art style, music, and the mature, dark undertones that evoke feelings of hopelessness, enhancing the overall dreary ambiance. The improved graphics and dynamic environments further enrich the atmosphere, making it a compelling choice for both platformer enthusiasts and fans of visually striking games.
“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.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Epic Mickey evokes strong emotions through its heartfelt narrative and nostalgic connection to Disney's legacy, particularly in its poignant conclusion influenced by player choices. While some reviewers note the lack of voice acting as a missed opportunity, the game's beautiful scenery and touching story, including themes of loss and creativity, create a memorable and emotional experience for players. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a casual yet impactful journey.
“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.”
“And me being such a fan, when I saw the first trailer of this game, I cried from happiness at this game finally seeing the light.”
“A true masterpiece with a heartbreaking story of Mickey's lost brother, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it limited due to similar outcomes from different choices, others appreciate the flexibility in completing tasks and the inclusion of multiple endings and a New Game+ mode. Many users highlight the engaging story and setting, contributing to a satisfying replay experience, with some even deeming it significantly more replayable than its predecessor.
“Additionally, tasks and challenges can be completed in multiple ways, allowing for some flexibility and player choice, which enhances replayability.”
“It has really good replayability (it probably took me about 12 hours to finish when not counting restarts) and has a fascinating (and surprisingly creepy) story and setting for a game about Mickey Mouse.”
“Heavy replayability with multiple endings and added New Game + mode.”
“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.”
“They stepped in the right direction when they made the cinema have replayable projector levels because you can easily mess up on collectibles in the original.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some levels can feel tedious, especially for completionists, improvements like fast travel and a wealth of secrets and collectibles help alleviate the monotony. Overall, the game offers smoother controls and enjoyable gameplay, though the necessity to replay for achievements can be frustrating.
“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.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“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.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing details, such as the extra tombstones outside Lonesome Manor and the typo in the "just friends" pin description. Players also find comedic moments in character animations, like Mickey's exaggerated gestures during tutorials, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The extra tombstones outside Lonesome Manor are hilarious.”
“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.”
“(However, Mickey waving his hands wildly during the guardian tutorial is extremely 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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