7.0

Disney's Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

One of the world's most influential gaming creators returns with Disney’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two, the sequel to the highly popular Nintendo Wii game. This time the title has made the transition to the XBox 360 and the PS3, giving us a return to Mickey Mouse and the twisted mind of Warren Spector with comic legend Marv Wolfman being his co-writer. Unfortunately many of the flaws of the original game have been passed onto the sequel that although makes the game relatively enjoyable, it can also be a frustrating experience at the same time.

In the sequel Mickey Mouse teams up with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit and if you played the first game, you will remember this villainous character. Putting their differences aside, the two must investigate a mystery together as they delve into the Wasteland which is being threatened by a series of powerful earthquakes.

Interestingly enough, The Power of Two is not as dark as the first game but given that, there are plenty of dark moments in the game that still borders on a game that can be played by all ages. The dialogue behind the story assists in progressing the story along (especially the voice acting) and the relationship between Mickey and Oswald is bordering on toxic which is a strange mix for a Disney approved title.

At its core, The Power of Two is an arcade game that requires the player to explore a variety of strange environments, solve puzzles and engage in the enemy. Mickey once again uses his paint and thinner to build and destroy the world that he is exploring. It's also fun that you have an AI partner in the form of Oswald who actually does help at times but for the majority it is up to the player to defeat the enemies. There are also some "epic" boss battles, especially with the larger creatures that you face.

The game is also oozing with hidden items and collectables in The Power of Two,  from costumes to film reels and even items that boost your abilities are littered through this world. If you want to get the most value out of the game, I do suggest that exploration is a key element in uncovering the goodies.

There are a few changes to the sequel in terms of abilities such as invisible ink to help you sneak around to Oswald's amusing remote control to take on enemies or power machines thanks to his control of electricity. I also like the ability to create a TV in order to distract enemies.

The problem with the single-player game is the frustration that Oswald brings to the table, especially when he is required to work in tandem with Mickey. Unfortunately it doesn't work very well that does at times border on controller rage because you have nudge him in the right direction.

Controls work well on the DualShock Controller, however if you have a Move Controller, it does streamline certain aspects of the game such as using this tool to aim your paint and thinner to some decent degree of accuracy. Is it necessary? If you enjoyed the Wii version, it does in some parts play better than the DualShock Controller, especially if you need speed to succeed.

Graphics/Audio

Graphically, The Power of Two does look a little dated on the PS3 and may be due to the fact that this game was originally a Wii title. Nonetheless, there are some well designed environments and some great elements used to draw the player in. More importantly, the camera has been fixed since the Wii installment but at times is a little flaky. The musical score, although perfectly suiting the title lacks any originality and thus becomes another forgettable musical score, even the new Disney lyrics. Sound effects work well, especially with surround sound enabled.

Final Thoughts

In the end, Disney’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two is not a bad game per se but it's also not a great arcade experience. The game itself feels a little too Wii-like in not just the presentation but also the way it has been programmed on the PS3. It just doesn't feel complete. Not being negative, there are still some great moments in the game and exploring the strange stages of The Wasteland is a joy. Unfortunately the frustrations of the game, especially when it comes to your AI component and the controls does become a chore in the end.