Epic Mickey always had a strange allure. A Disney game that traded in its usual shine and sparkle for something darker and more mature. When it originally launched, it tried to mix the magic of Mickey Mouse with a platformer full of choices, consequences, and cartoon mischief. It didn’t always stick the landing, but it had enough charm to stick in the hearts of its players. Enter Epic Mickey Rebrushed, a loving remaster that attempts to refine the brushstrokes of the original, adding a few extra dabs of color along the way.
The first question on everyone’s mind when hearing about Rebrushed might be: Is this a simple remaster or a full-blown reimagining? In reality, it’s a bit of both. While the core experience remains intact, the new secrets, collectibles, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements make it feel like much more than just a visual upgrade. Let’s dive into why Epic Mickey Rebrushed might just be the definitive way to experience the forgotten world of Wasteland.
An artistic overhaul
Let’s get the obvious out of the way, Epic Mickey Rebrushed looks so much better. The original had its charm, for sure, but let’s face it: those jagged edges and murky textures felt more haunted house than Mickey Mouse. Now, the game truly embraces its potential as an interactive painting.
Rebrushed features entirely retextured environments, giving new life to forgotten corners of Disney’s past. The lighting has seen a massive upgrade, and it really makes Wasteland pop in ways the original couldn’t. The lands of Oz, Mickeyjunk Mountain, and Mean Street now have the visual flair that they deserved all along. The world feels more lived-in, more authentic; like an old cartoon short found in a dusty attic, lovingly restored. Disney’s talent for atmosphere shines brightest in the areas where paint and thinner mix, with glorious, fluid transitions from vibrant, painted scenes to eerily blank areas, reminding players why this concept was so cool in the first place.
The character models also got a touch-up. Mickey looks more expressive, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit has a new sheen that highlights his quirky charm and makes him feel like a fully-fledged protagonist rather than a sidekick. The animation is smoother, retaining that classic 1920s style without the awkward stiffness plaguing the original.
New secrets
Where Epic Mickey Rebrushed really shines is in its new additions. This isn’t just a visual overhaul; it’s an expanded adventure. Most notable are the new secrets and collectibles scattered throughout Wasteland. The original felt a little empty at times. In Rebrushed, the collectibles are much more integrated into the story, and they’re used as an incentive to explore all the hidden nooks and crannies of the twisted world.
The new items range from classic Disney memorabilia to hidden sketches that deepen the lore behind Wasteland. They don’t just feel like collectibles either, many of them reveal cool Easter eggs or give additional context to the worlds and characters. Plus, they add a sense of discovery that was slightly undercooked in the first iteration. For Disney fans, it’s like a treasure hunt of nostalgia.
Rebrushed also adds new playable segments in the projector levels, those 2D platforming intermissions that serve as transitions between different parts of the map. These additions are, for the most part, a great success. They blend seamlessly with the old-school shorts already present in the game and give these segments a bit more meat. There are even a couple of new film references thrown in, which will definitely make classic Disney fans smile. It’s a perfect example of how this version manages to add content without detracting from what worked in the original.
The Switch version
Now, here’s where things get a little murky, much like the areas in Wasteland you haven’t painted yet. Playing on the Nintendo Switch has its fair share of both magic and mischief.
First, let’s talk about the good: Rebrushed integrates the Switch’s motion controls beautifully. The core mechanic, using Mickey’s paintbrush to restore the world or erase it with thinner, always begged for a more interactive experience, and the Joy-Cons rose to the occasion. Swiping and pointing feels intuitive, and it’s genuinely satisfying to physically “paint” in the vibrant color while watching the world rebuild before your eyes. There’s a tactile pleasure to it that makes the game feel more immersive, much like the original Wii version but with better precision.
However, this magic comes at a price. While the Joy-Cons are an improvement over the old Wii-mote, there are times when the gameplay becomes a bit of a struggle. The Switch can have issues keeping up with all the action, leading to some choppy framerates and laggy controls, particularly when the screen is busy with multiple enemies or a lot of environmental effects. The camera, which was already a notorious sore spot in the original, has been improved but still occasionally has a mind of its own, often getting stuck at the most inconvenient times during platforming sections. It’s a frustrating reminder that even with a fresh coat of paint, some of those old design flaws are still hanging around.
Portability is a lovely feature, of course, and Rebrushed is a joy in handheld mode when you want a quick dive into the whimsical world of Wasteland on the go. Yet, the resolution does take a noticeable dip, and in the more detailed environments, it can get a bit murky, especially during more chaotic sequences. It’s not game-breaking, but it is a little disappointing for a remaster that otherwise does such a good job of breathing new visual life into the original.
Paint or thin
One of the key elements of Epic Mickey that always stood out was the “Paint or Thin” mechanic, the idea that players could choose to restore beauty or cause chaos. Rebrushed makes sure that this duality remains at the heart of the experience. Many of the moral choices feel a bit less binary thanks to a few more nuanced outcomes added in this version. They have also tweaked some of the rewards and punishments, meaning that each decision feels a little more weighty and impactful.
These choices, whether to ally with a character or turn against them, are still what gives Rebrushed its distinct personality. The additions and small changes make for a richer experience, and you genuinely feel that your actions are shaping Wasteland, for better or worse. It’s a clever twist on a morality system that just makes you consider the implications of your brushstrokes. Disney-fied consequences, sure, but consequences nonetheless.
Conclusion:
Epic Mickey Rebrushed is an ambitious update that paints over many of the original’s flaws, though a few rough patches remain. It’s a must-play for Disney fans and anyone who missed out on this quirky, atmospheric adventure the first time around. It might not be a masterpiece, but it’s a beautiful canvas worth exploring; a tribute to forgotten magic that still has a lot of charm to share. Grab your paintbrush, and see for yourself.
