Epic Mickey is back and it’s better than ever! The Gamescom demo showcased that this remaster is far more than just a touch up, it looks like the best possible version of one of my favorite Wii games. Let’s grab some paint!
Honoring the classic
Let’s start with the obvious: this isn’t just a simple upscaling of the original. Epic Mickey Rebrushed is a complete rebuild, staying faithful to the charm and creativity of the first game while enhancing it in every way. The developers have taken great care to preserve the charm of the original. The levels, the characters, the story; t’s all there, just as you remember it. Oswald is still his mischievous self, and Mickey’s paint and thinner mechanics are as important to the gameplay as ever. But this time around, everything feels a little bit more… beautiful.
The team behind this remake didn’t just slap a new coat of paint on the old game (pun intended). Instead, they’ve treated Epic Mickey Rebrushed with the respect it deserves, keeping its core while layering in modern enhancements. The levels, for instance, have been completely redone. They’re instantly recognizable to fans of the original, but now they’re bursting with more detail, life, and interactivity than ever before. Textures are sharper, colors pop more vibrantly, and the world feels more alive.
Modern mechanics
One of the most impressive aspects of Epic Mickey Rebrushed is how it manages to blend old and new mechanics. The game is primarily a third-person platformer, just like the original, but now it features first-person elements that give you more control over the environment.
For those worried about losing the joys of the Wii’s motion controls, fear not! Both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions support gyro controls, letting you relive the original experience by aiming with motion just like in the good old days.
However, Epic Mickey Rebrushed is also fully playable with standard analog sticks. The developers have refined the controls so that even without motion input, painting and thinning are precise and enjoyable. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes the game accessible to a wider audience, though I suspect many will opt for the gyro controls for that authentic experience.
The boss battles in Epic Mickey Rebrushed have been given a significant overhaul. While they retain the core mechanic of using paint and thinner to influence the outcome the way you control these battles has been modernized. You can now use the sticks to control your aim during these encounters on consoles that don’t have motion controls. That said, based on my playtime, I’m inclined to say that motion controls might still be the superior option for these segments.
No, it’s not an interactive loading screen
One of the standout features of the original Epic Mickey was its 2D projection levels, short segments that paid homage to classic Disney cartoons. In Rebrushed, these levels have been reworked to feel more like full-fledged 2D games rather than mere interludes. The controls are tighter, the environments more interactive, and the challenges more varied. These aren’t just fancy loading screens; they’re a love letter to Disney’s rich history, hence the developers.
Early conclusion:
Epic Mickey Rebrushed looks like a masterclass in how to remake a beloved game. It stays true to what made the original great while bringing it up to date for a new generation of consoles and gamers.
