Parents' Guide to

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion

By Christy Matte, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Clever cartoon platformer has some tedious elements.

Game Nintendo 3DS 2012
Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Game: Screenshot #1
  • Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Game: Screenshot #2
  • Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Game: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

DISNEY EPIC MICKEY: POWER OF ILLUSION begins with a call to Mickey Mouse from Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald has found a castle where several of Mickey's friends are being held captive by the evil MIZRABEL (a character from an older Mickey Mouse video game, Castle of Illusion), including Minnie. It turns out that all is not as it seems, as the captives are just the illusions of the friends. Mickey and Oswald discover that if the illusions remain in the castle for too long, they will become the real thing. Mickey sets out to free the illusions and defeat MIZRABEL. Along the way, he meets and frees a variety of Disney characters, including Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Simba, Ariel, Aladdin, and Goofy. There are three main areas corresponding to the movies Peter Pan, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Each one houses several themed levels and a final boss battle. On the side, the characters move into the Fortress, which slowly evolves over time into a decorated castle as you complete mini-quests for the inhabitants.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion has a great premise. It's a platformer with a twist. In a nod to the original Disney Epic Mickey, players are equipped with a paintbrush with paint and a paintbrush with thinner. As you travel through the game, you can paint certain objects into place and remove others. This allows you to add/remove platforms, other characters, and other items. Mickey can shoot his enemies with paint or thinner, but you must choose wisely so you don't run out. The paint/paint thinner addition makes for an interesting change to the old standard. Unfortunately, it becomes more of a chore than a treat as the game progresses. It's tedious to keep drawing objects, especially while battling foes.

The game's difficulty ranges widely from simple to devious; and players should expect to spend extra time if they want to complete the full set of tasks as they require replaying completed levels. So why play Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion? The characters, of course. It's fun to stumble across Cinderella or Jafar as you travel along. The game also receives bonus points for some really snazzy graphics, something you don't always see on the 3DS platform. This isn't your 5-year-old's Disney game, but if you're up for the challenge, it could be worth checking out.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role of the villains in the game. Why might they choose to help Mickey? Should he trust them?

  • Families can also talk about how this game is a form of marketing to kids.

Game Details

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