This 2024 version allows all players to (re)discover the basic story in the best conditions, thanks to even better-oiled game mechanics, significantly improved environments and characters, added animations and/or or carefully reworked, sound effects revised and defects corrected.
Without forgetting the many other small additions, in terms of detail, which allow the community to explore a game that is pushed to its full potential.
Mickey Mouse’s good brushstrokes
One sleepless night, Mickey passed through a magic mirror taking him straight behind the scenes. Discovering a table where a brush was placed, he had the good idea to play with paint and attempt magical artistic creations. Far from being as talented as his creator, he painted dark creatures that he tried to erase in vain before returning to his bed. A few months later, Disney’s favorite mascot finds himself forced to confront his nightly mistakes by confronting the partially depicted world of Desolation… where the forgotten toons reside.
In order to once again help Mickey in his quest to rectify this world of painting and imagination, here is a list of the main changes made between the original version and this remake restoring the glory days of the game:
1. First of all, all the mechanics have been revised to match the controllers of current consoles. Players can therefore progress in the adventure by aiming like an FPS with the joysticks, as is the case in the second opus released in 2012. But for those who would like to relive the game as it was Originally thought, it is possible for Switch and PS5 players to manage the brush on movement.
2. As for the gameplay itself, it is faithful to the original. Mickey must have fun painting or erasing elements to advance in the adventure, while solving puzzles and facing a range of not too virulent enemies. In order to save the world from Desolation, he must always explore 3D worlds and 2D passages in the form of animated film reels. To achieve his goals, Mickey has stocked up on supers by benefiting from new abilities: he can now sprint, jump while pounding the ground, perform dashes, as well as perform a rotation combined with paint or thinner. These little skills energize the game, giving it more intensity and nervousness during each move.
3. The evolution of the graphics is significant between the two versions. Where the 2010 game was technically limited by the console and the know-how of the time, it can now fully express all its art. Whether in the 3D levels or in the 2D films, the environments are splendid in every way and very varied. The textures, the interactions with the painting, the lighting effects, the atmosphere, the animations of the different protagonists are candy for the eyes in a cartoonish style which totally respects the work of Disney. In addition, the entire interface has been revised to be visually better integrated into the game, from the general UI, through the menus, to the various dialogues.
4. The cutscenes have also been reworked. The one at the beginning, in 3D, has many small details in addition to its 2010 version. It also gives the impression of being a real cartoon just produced by the animation studio. And all the 2D mini-cutscenes in a sketch style have also been recreated while retaining the original style, intentions and humor.
5. Given the beauty of the game, the studio had the good idea of adding a photo mode. This allows Mickey to take magnificent photos, which he can personalize by purchasing different filters provided for this purpose from merchants.
6. Purple Lamp Studios has also spoiled players who want to lose themselves for many hours in this imaginary world where the forgotten heroes from Walt Disney’s first creations reside, by adding numerous hidden collectibles. Among these, the player will be able to reconstruct a much more comprehensive artbook than before on the design of the game, recover tons of pins depicting moments from the game, reels to recreate cartoon films, etc. It’s just a shame that it’s not possible to naturally obtain all of Mickey’s costumes within the game… because there are three of them that are part of a mini-DLC.
7. The sound effects have been updated, as has the music. However, it is regrettable to still not have VF for the different characters during key moments. They all just talk through sound effects and a subtitled tape. This little detail could have been the icing on the cake of a perfectly accomplished game.
8. In addition, the studio has made a plethora of small modifications in order to perfect the visuals of its game. Among this immensity of small modifications, here are a few as examples: the color of the e-tickets has been modified; the logo on the tickets became that of Mickey instead of Oswald; the interior of the buildings is entirely modeled in 3D; the player can pay to avoid portals when returning to an already explored area (which was only the case in the Japanese version of the 2010 game); loading screens are no longer postcards; a sparkling track as a GPS has been integrated; entry into buildings is fluid and interaction-free; the player no longer has any limit of e-tickets to be able to carry on him…
“Rebrushed”, the canvas that allows Mickey to express all his art
As you will have understood from the rave comments throughout this test, “Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed” is a success from A to Z which results in a real favorite.
The work carried out by Purple Lamp Studios was both pharaonic, but just as meticulous and ingenious to offer a second lease of life to this title, neglected in the abyss of video games since the Wii was discontinued.
Like titles such as “Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Triology”, “Mafia”, “Spyro Reignited Trilogy”, this game is a remake worthy of the name for which the teams have put their heart into the work, and this is felt in the slightest drop of paint poured by Mickey throughout his journey.
With its readapted and fluid gameplay, its graphics worthy of the name and its array of very tasty little additions, this single-player adventure game promises great hours of play for all fans of the famous mouse, its animated works and its park… whether they are small or large.
