I think the last time I enjoyed a Disney title was Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse on the Sega Genesis. That game was a visually entertaining and challenging adventure. It was one of the best titles on that system in 1990. I remember when EGM gave it huge marks. Deserved.
Well, 35 years have passed since that platformer was released, and now, we have a new one called Disney Illusion Island. It’s an easy-going Metroidvania that features a big map to platform through, a simple quest system that has you going back and forth through that map, and sprinkles in some addictive gameplay that is driven by hidden items and the need to collect everything Disney-related. While this game does offer quite a bit for the average gamer, the pointed demographic is skewing toward a younger audience. Now, that doesn’t mean the adventure isn’t worth trying if you’re a seasoned, older gamer, but it might not offer quite as much meat and potatoes as you might be akin to having with games of this genre.
So, let’s get our mouse ears on, have some light-hearted adventuring fun, and get platforming on an illusion island.
Story and Presentation
While the story in Disney Illusion Island isn’t going beyond a typical Disney adventure, it’s still good fun having a purpose for said adventure. That purpose is for Mickey and his friends to find three magical books and save a land from certain doom. Nothing about the story is too deep or feels too urgent, rather, it’s just a good reason to go save a land and have some fun along the way.
Now, although the story is built for a simple multi-act purpose, which is very Disney in its construct, the presentation that goes along with that story helps to sell the world. One of the most ‘wow’ parts of Disney Illusion Island is how it looks and feels. Using the art from the more modern Mickey Mouse (and friends), the game provides a colorful world with spectacular animation that is close to its television animated show counterpart. From jumping off walls to gliding in the air, there is so much expression and magic that echoes how much of a Disney game this is and how much love was put into it visually. The models and animation are just out-of-this-world gorgeous.
Beyond character models, the game does feature a rather large platforming world. I’m talking about something the size of a Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Super Metroid. It’s incredible how big the levels are in this game and how they complement the Disney flavor that the presentation exudes. The levels are huge, colorful, and full of good secrets that will have you exploring every nook and cranny of the game. Visually, the levels are outstanding, although there is some slight repetitiveness in sections of the levels (to be expected).
In addition to the visuals, the game also features a beautiful soundtrack that is similar to something you might find playing while wandering through Disney World. It’s a happy, yet somewhat magical composition that uses its orchestrated backbone well. It plays perfectly with the gameplay and gives off a pure Disney vibe the entire way through. I love what it adds and how much it emulates a Disney experience.
Overall, the story and presentation of Disney Illusion Island are good. The story is a simple Disney structure that doesn’t have many twists and turns in it. It serves you with a purpose to do some good, and then gives you some direction to get it done. It’s not a bad story at all. On the presentation side, you’re getting an outstanding-looking game that will make you appreciate the amount of passion and love that went into visually building it. It’s impressive, as is the audio that comes with it.
Jump around!
Disney Illusion Island is a simple platformer. The maximum amount of complication is through its large levels that require you to go back and forth, accomplishing tiny quests. Along the way, Mickey and the crew gain items that help them overcome obstacles and keep bouncing back and forth with each accomplished goal.
That’s the main crux of the gameplay. It’s not complicated at all, which might make it too easy for more seasoned gamers out there. I certainly found Disney Illusion Island to be a relaxing jaunt through simple obstacles, and a great break from deeper and more difficult review material that requires me to lock in more than not. Honestly, games like that can get exhausting to review and generally have a gazillion different pieces and parts that make the whole feel heavy. I know you won’t believe this, but reviewing sometimes can be actual work. Go figure. Anyway, with Disney Illusion Island, it didn’t bring that necessity to pay attention. It was just plain fun without much challenge. But, again, I’m a seasoned gamer, and this was to be expected, as the game was designed for a younger audience.
While the game may not be an enormous challenge, there is still some good gaming to be had here. The gameplay design has you going from place to place collecting items and helping cartoon characters with problems they might be having. For example, there is a level where a shark has closed a section of the game you need to access, and requests that you find his four hidden kids before he’ll let you through. You must scour a certain section of the ocean-themed level to find his kids hiding in certain hidden areas. Once you complete his quest, you move forward to the next one. That’s how this game works on paper, and that’s how most modern-day platformers work. It’s just obstacle after obstacle that adds to a more complicated, bigger picture.
Now, that is a good design for this type of game. It does a great job of keeping those quests short, while providing plenty of quests to keep that gaming appetite tamed. Because of this simple design that is divided into small portions, the game never feels boring, even for seasoned gamers like me. There is something different going on constantly throughout the gameplay.
To help push this further into good gameplay, Disney Illusion Island has a gradual tool system that it implemented. This means that you’ll run into levels you can’t quite access because you don’t have a certain tool to get you there. For example, later in the game, you’ll come across vertical and visual streams of wind. You’ll pass through them with ease but wonder what their purpose might be. You’ll find out later that you need a glider to get lifted by those winds, which will allow you to access new pieces of the level. The only way to get that glider is to complete quests. There are a lot of tools in this game, and that type of gameplay is a pure Metroid design, where you come across inaccessible parts that require you to obtain a special tool to get through them. It’s another motivating factor to keep you playing the game. Again, there are a lot of tools to find and use in this game. Sure, the gameplay is linear because of this tool and quest construct, but it still makes it fun to keep pushing forward to obtain whatever tool you need to get to the ‘next’ part of the level.
Outside of completing quests, finding items, and opening large levels that will keep the gameplay fresh, the game also features a hefty number of collectibles. The collectibles might be the biggest reason you keep playing the game. For me, who has a ‘need’ to find all items in a game, it was a pleasant feature of the gameplay that kept me hooked. There are quite a few different categories of collectibles. Let’s break those down.
The first noticeable collectible in the game is called glimts. These are star-like items that are all over the place. If you collect enough, they unlock art in the game that provides you with rewards for your character. For example, if you collect over 1000, and there are plenty to find, then you will gain an additional heart for your character. Those stupid things are a ‘must-have’ when you play. Upgrading your Disney character with more hearts helps to encourage taking chances, not that there are any real tough parts that you’ll lose a lot because of said chance. Anyway, you’ll enjoy those collectibles right out of the gate.
In addition to glimts, the game also features Tokun Cards that break down and describe enemies in the game. They’re akin to character cards you would find with any Mario game instruction manual from the 80s. Giving backgrounds to characters in the game, even minor ones, just adds more girth to the gameplay lore.
You also have Mickey Memorabilia, which are small bags lying around that feature Mickey-related items and characters. You’ll find these mostly in hidden areas, and they will translate to jarred characters with names/descriptions. They’re extra goodies at best.
To round everything out, the game does feature accomplishments that act as minor trophies for certain achievements. These may not be great bait to hook seasoned gamers, but these categories of collectibles will certainly catch the attention of a younger gaming crowd. At the very least, they will have all gamers of all ages looking for hidden items, which will send the exploration of this game through the roof. If you’re into collectibles, then you’ll love this aspect of the gameplay.
Before we wrap up this section of the review, I must give kudos to the devs at Dlala Studios for how the controls feel. They’re as simple as the game and thoughtless when being executed. I mean that as a compliment when I say ‘thoughtless’. Anytime you can play a platformer and not think about which button you should be pressing, then those are some good control schemes/mechanics. They made the game easy to pick up and go, an aspect of gameplay design you want with every game.
Anyway, overall, the gameplay is simple, it’s big, it’s given in short stints, and it’s light and fun. You can’t ask much more than this when you’re playing a platformer geared towards a younger audience. It does a good job of keeping an older audience engaged, but the younger gaming crowd will probably adore it far more.
On that sweet note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Disney Illusion Island from Dlala Studios is a fantastic platformer that features some gorgeous animation, a decent story, and short stints of good gameplay that will keep gamers hooked. While it may not completely satisfy more seasoned gamers, it should entertain those who adore the mouse house.
