Way back in 2010, Epic Mickey was released on the Nintendo Wii. The console exclusive release was met with high praise. However, having never owned a Nintendo Wii, this is one game that I never knew existed. That is, until I received the opportunity to play the 2024 remake of the same game. Only this time, it was made available on multiple platforms. Titled Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, I was excited to how this classic would hold up. For the purposes of this review, I played on the PlayStation 5.
Developed by Purple Lamp and published by THQ Nordic, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a classic platforming game centred around the titular character, Mickey Mouse. Who, after waking up one night, discovers that his bedroom mirror is a portal. Curious, Mickey enters and finds himself in sorcerer Yen Sid’s workshop. This mysterious and ominous figure is using a magic paintbrush to create a world for forgotten characters.
After Yen Sid leaves for the evening, Mickey picks up the paint brush. Not knowing what he is doing, Mickey inadvertently creates a monster. Hearing the commotion, Yen Sid can be heard approaching and, in an attempt, to undo what he has created, Mickey knocks over a bottle of paint thinner. In a state of panic, Mickey returns home through the mirror, leaving the scary ink monster behind.
Decades later, back in Mickey’s bedroom, the Ink Monster enters through the portal in the mirror and drags him back through to Yen Sid’s workshop and into a world of forgotten characters, now known as the Wasteland. Mickey escapes from the clutches of the Ink Monster and arms himself with the Magic Paintbrush. Giving Mickey the ability to repair objects with Paint or destroy them with Paint Thinner, Mickey must use his newfound power to repair the Wasteland and return it to the world it once was.
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed isn’t a difficult game, and this isn’t a bad thing. I found it relatively simple to play and it has all the mechanics of your classic platformer. Run, Jump, Double-Jump, Spin and Dash. But what sets this game apart from other platformers is the brush. It gives you the ability to repair bridges, walls, paths and objects throughout the world. Enabling Mickey to get to where he otherwise couldn’t get to.
It also has the ability to destroy. Using the Paint Thinner, Mickey can reverse the effects of the paint to open up passages, clear obstructions and even reveal secret pathways. A mechanic I have never seen used before, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I even found myself running around just clearing and repairing parts of the world for fun.
There are enemies throughout the game, and they can be taken out by your brush. Some respond to thinner, and some respond to paint. But I found them scarce, or at least, I didn’t encounter many in the time that I played it. You can also spin to take out the enemies too, should you wish. You can even spin to break boxes, destroy plants and other objects to reveal hidden tickets. These are important, as they form the currency in-game and can be used to buy various items including quest items, concept art, pins and more. These items can also be discovered throughout the game.
The one thing that really surprised me was the side-quests. I love a good side-quest but what I loved about these ones is the game switches from a three-dimensional world to a two-dimensional classic side-scroll style type of platformer. The side-quests are discovered by jumping into a projection of a classic Mickey cartoon. For example, Steamboat Willie. Being able to run through this iconic cartoon was pretty cool!
There are several bosses throughout the game, including Clock Tower with two large mechanical arms. Slobber, a giant Ink Monster, Petetronic from Tomorrow City and even Captain Hook, just to name a few. Each have their own unique version of platforming that you need to master to overcome and succeed, all combined with the skills you have harnessed from the paint brush.
Overall, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a fun and chill adventure platformer game, and I can see the care taken to remaster this classic. Rebuilt using Unreal Engine 4, this version of the game only enhances what was already a visually stunning game. Having never played the original, I did look up some clips online and I can see the enhancements they have made, whilst maintaining the game’s heart and soul. I also cannot forget the music that is just as stunning as the visuals.
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a blast from the past that will surely delight players young and young at heart. This remake will bring joy to those that loved the original, and those like me that are discovering its beauty for the very first time.
Epic Mikey: Rebrushed is available now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.