QuaaaackQuackkwaquackwaquackaquackaquackkwaaaaak – Or so would Donald welcome you to our review of Disney Illusion Island, the newest Moustrovania game to be added to the Nintendo Switch library. Does this mean our mouse and friends will slay vampires, monsters, and Metroids? No, it’s a classic Mickey game with little to no viewable violence and just a lot of sugarcoated, hand-drawn adventure madness in the style of Metroidvania’s and more modern Rayman games. Let’s dive in!
Picnic Illusion
The story revolves around Donald’s desire for a picnic simply because he feels like it. However, it quickly becomes an adventure where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy set out to find three magical books and save the mysterious island of Monoth. The adventure in Disney Illusion Island is presented in a classical, hand-drawn art style that harks back to the early days of Disney’s animation. This still is peek animation and art, so I was happy to see this art choice (just like with Cuphead). Nevertheless, its humorous and self-aware tone feels contemporary. Although most of the interactions with the peculiar cast of island locals are text-based, except for a few major cutscenes, Disney Illusion Island still manages to bring regular chuckles to my daughter and me as we explore its ever-expanding world and complete its growing list of upbeat story quests.
Gameplay
So, what do you get? Well, our famous protagonists, of course:
- Mickey Mouse – When you think “plucky, brave, daring cartoon mouse,” what’s the first name that comes to mind? It’s Mickey Mouse! No danger is too big and no obstacle so insurmouse-able that this courageous fellow can’t tackle it!
- Minnie Mouse – Taking part in astounding adventures isn’t easy, but Minnie Mouse is up to the task, all while rocking polka dots! Her ingenuity and heroism have gotten the Fab Four out of many tricky situations, and she keeps cool in the hottest circumstances!
- Donald Duck – Getting himself in trouble is Donald’s specialty—and getting OUT is his other one! Gifted with a temper ranging from BLAZING to INFERNO, Donald is happiest when he’s angry. His tantrums can often be channeled into saving the day!
- Goofy – With a stomach as big as his heart (okay, slightly bigger), Goofy can blunder into success. Innocent, gullible, and clumsy aren’t usually ways you would describe a winner, yet somehow, Goofy pulls it off!
Each character in Disney Illusion Island’s quartet is easy to control, with responsive inputs and the flexibility to make quick adjustments midair. New abilities are unlocked regularly, granting access to previously gated areas, from wall jumps to earth-shattering ground pounds and grappling hook swings. While these abilities are not unique to the platforming genre, their smooth implementation makes performing a series of leaps, swings, and slides in quick succession a joy. Each playable character has the same expanded move set, presumably to avoid arguments during character selection, but they are presented in a uniquely entertaining way; Mickey uses a pedal-powered gyro-copter to glide down to earth, while Goofy slows his descent with a spluttering squirt of giant mustard due to his love of food. To gain these upgrades, the game shines in comedic story writing, but I’ll let you find those out for yourselves.
Moustrovania
I love Metroidvania games. It’s like they were made for me when. So when I encounter challenging obstacles and barriers that block my path, you could say I’m in my element. Disney Illusion Island is a prime example of this genre, with a 2D map that can get intricate and complex. But fear not; this game is not designed to keep you stuck for long periods. There are numerous checkpoints, clear directions to specific areas with in-game signs, and even teleportation devices to help you skip backtracking and get straight to the next mission marker. I completed the story in just eight hours, with little time wasted retracing my steps or figuring out where to go next. The game’s smooth movements and great sense of forward momentum kept me fully absorbed from start to finish. If you want to complete this game to 100%, you probably need to add another six to eight hours to find all the secrets, cards, memorabilia, and photo ops.
Another thing that makes it different from the standard Metroidvania games is its non-violent approach. The special abilities that can be unlocked in Disney Illusion Island are unrelated to combat. While the island is full of mischievous and ill-tempered cartoon characters, it’s best to avoid them altogether as you lack fighting skills. The enemies have spiky exteriors, and some don’t even wear pants (like Donald Duck, quack-quack), so it’s better to focus on passive platforming instead. A few boss encounters are more about using your skills to complete tasks than engaging in direct combat. For example, in one encounter, you have to jump on a sequence of buttons to drop giant capsule toys on a robotic thief’s head, while in another, you have to swing off perches to shake acorns loose on a feathered foe. These boss battles can be easy for hardcore platformers or Metroidvania players but are worth playing through with your kid (or a friend).
Co-op
The cooperative play in Disney Illusion Island is excellent. In addition to being able to hug it out whenever you need an extra heart for your health bar, the game provides each player with various assistance methods to ensure that everyone can keep up. For example, if someone has trouble reaching a higher platform, you can drop a rope to give them a shortcut. Or, if they’re too scared to swim through a group of enemy fish, you can drop a marker and teleport them to safety. These features are beneficial if someone in your group is struggling and needs extra support. Even if you’re an experienced platformer, having these support measures is still lovely to ensure everyone can enjoy the game together. As I stated, I played this game with my almost four-year-old, and we were both having a blast.
Conclusion
So to conclude! While Disney Illusion Island’s platforming is well-polished, it lacks a bit of originality and may not appeal to those who prefer combat-focused Metroidvania games. Its enemies are meant to be avoided rather than defeated, and its boss fights may be underwhelming for those who play many of these games. However, the game provides a cooperative and enjoyable experience for families, making it an excellent choice for parents and children or siblings of different ages. It allows everyone to have fun without feeling like a burden. Suppose you’re looking for a family-friendly platforming adventure that’s easygoing and full of char. In that case, Disney Illusion Island is the perfect choice,e and I highly recommend it as a starter Metroidvania game.
