Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed review - Re-painting a classic in a new light

First released on the Nintendo Wii, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed returns with a new coat of paint on modern platforms. Developed by Purple Lamp, the Austrian team behind the recent SpongeBob SquarePants titles, this remake should give the underrated hidden gem another chance at success, as the 2010 title didn't do particularly well in terms of sales and popularity.

Read on to find out how Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed improves upon the original, and if it still suffers from ink-blotched problems. Here's our full review.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is the best way to relive the forgotten classic

The story cutscenes are told using attractive 2D animation (Image via THQ Nordic)

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For those unaware, the original Nintendo Wii release was directed by Warren Spector of Ultima and Deus Ex fame. Purple Lamp brings the same core game to Unreal Engine 4 untouched while updating its mechanics for modern platforms with Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. It is a 3D platformer where Disney's iconic mascot Mickey Mouse finds himself in a predicament.

After visiting Yen Sid's place, Mickey learns that the wizard has created a diorama-esque magical world where forgotten Disney characters can live in peace. In the sorcerer's absence, Mickey messes around with Yen Sid's magical paintbrush's paint and thinner powers, unleashing a dark entity called the Blot, onto this world.

Decades later, Mickey is kidnapped by the ink monster and into the same world that he inadvertently helped unleash havoc upon. Now known as the Wasteland, he must traverse its depths and fix everything using the magical paintbrush acquired before being dragged to this realm.

His adventures will see him encounter various obscure Disney characters, with the key one being Oswald the Rabbit - Mickey's predecessor. The bulk of the adventure will see Mickey track down Oswald while also saving the Gremlins from dangerous situations.

Overall, it is a darker tale than what many Disney fans have come to expect of the media giant. The environment also looks the part, with decayed statues, and rides that are falling apart, all encased in a dark, moody aesthetic. Overall, a unique formula that makes this game worth checking out, outside of its unique mechanics.

To paint, or to erase?

With the paintbrush in hand, Mickey will explore various worlds in third-person, many of which are a throwback to iconic Disney locations and themes. During these adventures, the paintbrush will prove to be an invaluable tool to either help or hurt denizens of the Wasteland. Mickey can use paint or thinner with his brush, with both having dedicated gauges on each side of the screen.

Paint helps fill up spaces in the world scrubbed clean by the thinner, while the latter helps refill gaps to make objects in the environment whole. For example, the paint will help Mickey mend broken bridges and other platformer elements while the thinner can help unveil hidden areas. This yin-yang mantra is what much of the gameplay foundation of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is based around.

Depending on whether players choose to help revitalize the Wasteland using paint or destroy using thinner, and whether they help or pose a hurdle to the Wasteland's denizens, they will be treated differently by the NPCs in the game. This is a sort of morality system in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Furthermore, this also goes a way towards helping Mickey obtain different endings.

A joyride of platformer action and puzzles

The black and white sidescroller segments are a neat throwback (Image via THQ Nordic)

Mickey retains all his basic moves from the Nintendo Wii game. However, Purple Lamp has made him far more adept, thanks to the addition of new movements. Mickey can not just run, but also perform a dash and a ground-pound now. He can also perform a spin attack: destroying objects allows collecting canisters to fill up paint/thinner and e-tickets, the game's main currency.

The Blot has unleashed a variety of enemies across the Wasteland on top of other baddies and bosses, so Mickey will have to contend with them on his adventures. He can use paint to turn blot creatures friendly, while thinner will wipe them from existence. While this does not work on other enemies, it and the paintbrushes' use in platforming still keep things from getting stale.

Encounter different foes and challenges across the Wasteland (Image via THQ Nordic)

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed also features various quests to undertake, all recorded under a quest log. These generally consist of finding something for an NPC, and Mickey will be rewarded with Power Sparks and Pins. The latter is in Bronze, Silver, and Gold variants, while the former is used to power up various non-functioning projector screens across the Wasteland.

These are the primary means for Mickey to travel across the realm, though Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a linear game with linear level design. Many projector screens also lead to 2D sidescroller levels, which further helps spice up the gameplay. In addition to collectible artwork found across both modes, the 2D segments also feature collectible Film Reels.

A blemish on fine artwork

Complete quests to obtain rewards (Image via THQ Nordic)

However, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is not without its problems. The key problem is the illusion of choice. Given how big of a selling point the morality system is, the outcomes do not have any significant or long-term effect on the world. Certain small-scale interactions aside, like how a side quest is resolved, it feels half-baked.

Then there is the quest system. While the log keeps a record of things and players have a map of each area on the pause screen, some missions can often feel convoluted. The worst among them are the fetch quests that see Mickey go back and forth between areas. With no fast travel system in place, he has to use the projectors to move between levels, which can be needlessly time-consuming.

Graphics, performance, and sound

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed looks pretty in action (Image via THQ Nordic)

This is a straight-up remake built from the ground up for all platforms. As such, all 3D environments and even the sidescroller segments have much higher fidelity than the Wii game. A shift to a modern engine like Unreal Engine 4 over the dated Gamebryo of the original ensures players can enjoy it in high resolutions on PC.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed looks gorgeous all around, thanks to a cel-shaded art style and the performance is also great. Players can expect over 100 FPS easily even at High settings if they have a modern rig. The game's controls and camera have been adapted to dual stick and keyboard/mouse for modern systems.

It all functions well since the original Wiimote controls were notorious for being clunky in that regard. The sound is also good, with adventurous orchestral tunes expected from a Disney product.

In conclusion

A world of ruin - save it or destroy it further (Image via THQ Nordic)

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a commendable remake of a cult classic title that fixes many issues of the original, making it the definitive way to relive Mickey's dark adventure through the wasteland. However, old problems like a half-baked morality system devoid of significant impact on player choice and uninteresting quest design rear their head often.

The basic platforming and a lack of challenge make for a remake that while perfectly fine on paper, will not blow you away like other 3D platformer hits of the modern era. Still, returning fans will be more than delighted to revisit the ruins of the Wasteland and experience Mickey's story in a new light.