Epic Mickey: Rebrushed goes a long way in making this underrated gem into the game it was always meant to be, even if a few of the original flaws still remain. Overall, though, Rebrushed is a pleasantly improved trip to the weird side of DIsney’s extensive animated catalog.
Credit: Disney & Purple Lamp
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Developer: Purple Lamp
Price: $60
Platforms: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
I was a big fan of the original Epic Mickey after receiving it as a Christmas present the year it came out. I thought the surprisingly bizarre concept and creepy visuals were delightful, and though there were plenty of problems with the gameplay, the positives outweighed the negatives for me. When Epic Mickey: Rebrushed was announced, I was thrilled at the idea of a fixed-up remaster of the game. The new release mostly fulfills its potential in that regard, making it a real treat for anyone with an enthusiasm for Disney’s older cartoons.
The first major improvement comes from the camera, which is now easily controlled with the right stick on your controller. Platforming and shooting paint and thinner with the triggers become so much easier with this new camera system, and I found myself dying or taking damage due to unseen obstacles and enemies far less than in the original. Being able to dash makes each area quicker to navigate too, which is a huge boon.
Credit: Disney & Purple Lamp
Another big fix is the ability to play without motion controls. While they were novel on the Nintendo Wii, I’m glad I can now just use analog sticks, buttons, and triggers to play Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, as it makes for a far more satisfying and less finicky trip through the Wasteland. You can even skip the side-scrolling transition levels after you’ve completed them once, which saves lots of time and tedium this time around.
“The entire Mickeyjunk Mountain stage, made entirely of damaged and freakily rotted Mickey Mouse merchandise, is a highlight and shows off the astounding creativity of the game’s entire concept.“
Painting and thinning the environment and enemies are as unique and fun as it was all those years ago, and the peaceful solutions to all of the boss battles can be pretty enjoyable and creative. The stages are colorful and intriguing to explore, with neat little details that reference the classic films and Disney park areas they’re based on.
Credit: Disney & Purple Lamp
The biggest positive of Epic Mickey: Rebrushed remains the coolest part of the original game: the strange and eerie versions of classic Disney cartoon characters. From bringing back the very charming Oswald to having disassembled animatronic versions of characters like Goofy and Donald, I’m still delightfully surprised that Disney is so willing to embrace such distorted versions of iconic figures. The entire Mickeyjunk Mountain stage, made entirely of damaged and freakily rotted Mickey Mouse merchandise, is a highlight and shows off the astounding creativity of the game’s entire concept.
I did notice a couple of problems I had with the original game are still around in Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. A major one comes from the morality system, which goes between being very clear and hard to decipher. I accidentally performed some “bad” actions and, due to an inability to save wherever you want, was stuck with a non-perfect playthrough due to unclear instructions. I had hoped this would be resolved, as the (at times) confusing quest solutions made my version of Mickey different than I intended.
Credit: Disney & Purple Lamp
I also wish the nicely animated cutscenes were given full voice-acting for this rerelease, as hearing simple grunts as characters say entire sentences is a bit jarring. I didn’t mind on the Wii, but with the amount of pleasant changes that were made to Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, I had hoped this would be an upcoming addition.
The Final Word
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed fixes many of the issues the original game had to craft a much-improved version of the hidden gem. A few irritating issues persist, but for the most part, this is the way Epic Mickey was always meant to be experienced.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
