14 DAY TRIAL // Epic Mickey may be revealed once again at this year's E3. After the cold reception of screenshots that were released last year, Disney entered radio silence, while the developers were creating a new look. Lining up more with the original concept art, this new version should boast more of a steampunk feel for the game.
Epic Mickey's lead designer is the legendary Warren Spector, the figure behind Deus Ex and Thief: The Dark Project. This and the interesting concept art made this reboot of the Mickey Mouse character look very alluring and bold. However, Disney released some in-game screenshots that did a lot to convince the press that the original idea had been lost and a more classical and conservative approach was chosen by the company, in spite of Spector.
A recent report obtained by Gamekyo shows that Disney has changed its mind and is trying to rebrand Mickey Mouse, giving him a more retro look and his animation the feel from the old cartoons drawn by Walt Disney. The story is also darker in this installment, as he must fight rejected cartoon characters jealous of his life and fame that seek to destroy his world by taking the color out of it. He uses a paintbrush to create or repair new things in it and a paint thinner to destroy his enemies.
In an unexpected twist for a Disney game, Spector also introduces a morality meter that will measure Mickey's actions, giving the player the choice to be a Hero or a Scrapper and opening up different quests, items or narratives. Another announced feature is the addition of 2D side-scrolling levels that must be completed if players want to travel between parts of the Cartoon Wasteland, the setting of the game. The title will be released on the Nintendo Wii this year, on the 16th of September in North America. Other launch dates have not been announced yet by Disney Interactive Studios.