View source for Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion

{{short description|2012 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
| image = Epic Mickey Power of Illusion.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[DreamRift]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.n-europe.com/news-archive/news-epic-mickey-2-3ds-confirmed |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129115519/http://www.n-europe.com/news-archive/news-epic-mickey-2-3ds-confirmed |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=News: ''Epic Mickey 2'' 3DS Confirmed |publisher=N-Europe |date= |access-date=2013-11-01 }}</ref>
| publisher = [[Disney Interactive Studios]]{{vgrelease|JP|[[Spike Chunsoft]]}}
| director = Peter Ong
| programmer = Ryan Pijai
| designer = Ara Shirinian<br />Mark Vargas<br />Jason Behr
| writer = Peter Ong<br />Mark Vargas
| artist = Michael Veroni
| composer = Sean Beeson<br />[[James Dooley (composer)|James Dooley]]
| engine = 
| released = {{Video game release|NA|November 18, 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mickey.disney.com/#/video_games/disney_epic_mickey2/about |title=Mickey Mouse & Friends |publisher=Disney.go.com |date= |access-date=2023-08-24 |archive-date=2013-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613115921/http://disney.go.com/mickey/#/video_games/disney_epic_mickey2/about |url-status=dead }}</ref>|AU|November 22, 2012|EU|November 23, 2012|JP|September 26, 2013<ref name="JPrelease">{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/epic-mickey-2-is-a-nintendo-exclusive-in-japan/ |title=''Epic Mickey 2'' Is A Nintendo Exclusive In Japan |publisher=Siliconera |author=Spencer |date=2013-06-19 |access-date=2013-06-20 |archive-date=2013-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622082237/http://www.siliconera.com/2013/06/19/epic-mickey-2-is-a-nintendo-exclusive-in-japan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Platformer|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Nintendo 3DS]]
}}

'''''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion''''' is a 2012 [[Platformer|platform game]] developed by [[DreamRift]] and published by [[Disney Interactive Studios]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. It is the third part of the ''[[Epic Mickey]]'' series, released alongside ''[[Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two]]'', and is touted as a tribute to [[Sega]]'s ''[[Illusion (video game series)|Illusion]]'' series of [[Mickey Mouse]] games, particularly ''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse]]''.

==Gameplay==
With players taking control of [[Mickey Mouse]], the game mixes side-scrolling gameplay from games such as ''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse|Castle of Illusion]]'' with the paint and thinner mechanics from ''[[Epic Mickey]]''. Using the 3DS touch-screen, the player will be able to bring items scattered throughout each stage into existence. How well the player traces these items will affect their performance. For example, tracing a cannon perfectly will ensure that it only harms enemies, but an imperfect cannon could be a danger to everyone in the area, including Mickey himself.<ref name="siliconera1">{{cite web |author=Ishaan. March 27, 2012. 11:30am |url=https://www.siliconera.com/epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion-has-hand-drawn-sprites-scrolling-backgrounds/ |title=''Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion'' Has Hand Drawn Sprites, Scrolling Backgrounds |publisher=Siliconera |date=2012-03-27 |access-date=2012-07-04 |archive-date=2012-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618200943/http://www.siliconera.com/2012/03/27/epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion-has-hand-drawn-sprites-scrolling-backgrounds/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Plot==
Some time after the first two games, Mickey is contacted once more by Oswald; he says that a strange castle has appeared in Wasteland and that he saw Minnie trapped inside. Mickey sneaks into Yen Sid's study and takes the magic brush once more before jumping into the portal to Wasteland in his television. However, Minnie arrives shortly afterwards, looking for Mickey.

Meeting up with Oswald, Mickey examines the castle, remembering it as the [[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse|Castle of Illusion]] ruled by the evil witch Mizrabel. They end up trapped inside, deciding to split up. Mickey meets [[Jiminy Cricket]], who acts as his guide through the castle. Mickey comes face to face with Mizrabel, who now looks like Maleficent, taunting him to try saving the characters she trapped. Mickey reaches a safe haven, which Jiminy calls the Fortress. Oswald arrives and explains that Mizrabel is draining the paint of popular characters, hoping to use their accumulated Heart Power to escape Wasteland. Mickey sets out to save the characters; however, Mizrabel impedes his path with her ghoulish army. When enough Heart Power is accumulated from rescuing characters, it breaks the witch's illusions, revealing new areas of the castle.

Mickey fights his way through the east hall, which Mizrabel's illusionary magic has made look like [[London]] and [[Neverland]]. He comes across a copy of the ''Jolly Roger'', where Captain Hook confronts him. Having been put under [[hypnosis|a spell]] by Mizrabel, Hook thinks Mickey is an enemy working for Peter Pan. Mickey defeats him and breaks the trance, sending Hook to the Fortress with the promise of not harming the other characters.

After Mickey's fight through the west hall, which looked like [[Agrabah]] and the Cave of Wonders, he arrives in a replica of the Sultan's room. Inside, Jafar has captured Jasmine and awaits Mickey. Jafar says that Mizrabel has made him the most powerful sorcerer in the world, and that she warned him that Mickey would arrive. Jafar turns into a giant cobra to attack, but is swiftly defeated. Jafar then realises that Mizrabel lied to him and agrees to go to Fortress to await being returned home.

Mickey fights his way through the southern hall, which looks like [[Atlantica]] and the shore by Prince Eric's castle, ending up in Mizrabel's chambers. The room is a replica of the Forbidden Mountain, Maleficent's home. Mizrabel turns into Dragon Maleficent to fight Mickey, but he defeats her and frees Minnie, forcing Mizrabel to escape. In the core of the Fortress, Mickey and Oswald send everyone back home, imparting advice to both the heroes and the villains. When Mickey returns home, he tries telling Minnie about his adventure, but finds that she knows about them as a dream since her paint was in the Castle of Illusion as well, much to his shock.

==Development==
Rumors began to circulate about a new game in the ''Epic Mickey'' series titled ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' coming to the Nintendo 3DS in March 2012, after a member of the official French Nintendo magazine leaked the game's title onto Twitter. The game was in development for Nintendo 3DS. Each stage in ''Power of Illusion'' was based on a different [[Disney]] animated feature, including ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'', ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''<ref name="siliconera1"/> and ''[[Tangled]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_l3L3zCUhg |title=Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power Of Illusion'' - Trailer |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-06-11 |access-date=2012-07-04 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063718/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_l3L3zCUhg |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Power of Illusion'' uses hand-drawn sprites and scrolling parallax backgrounds, according to developer Warren Spector.<ref name="siliconera1"/>

On the ''Epic Mickey'' Facebook page, fans were asked to vote for their preferred cover art for the game. One features Mickey Mouse surrounded by several Disney villains like [[Jafar (Aladdin)|Jafar]], [[Ursula (The Little Mermaid)|Ursula]], [[Captain Hook]], and The [[Queen of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Queen of Hearts]]; the other only features Mickey Mouse while the villains are absent. After a vote, the first cover (featuring the villains) was chosen as the final cover for the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamingbolt.com/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-boxart-to-be-chosen-by-fans|title=''Epic Mickey Power'' of Illusion boxart to be chosen by fans|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=2019-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231195329/https://gamingbolt.com/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-boxart-to-be-chosen-by-fans|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release==
''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' was released alongside ''[[Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two]]'' on November 18, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/two-big-3ds-games-get-release-dates-or-close-enough-5916437 |title=Two Big 3DS Games Get Release Dates (or, Close Enough) |publisher=Kotaku.com |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=2012-07-04 |archive-date=2012-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711113103/http://kotaku.com/5916437/two-big-3ds-games-get-release-dates-or-close-enough |url-status=live }}</ref> The game is one of the first third-party retail titles outside Japan to be available as a [[Nintendo eShop]] downloadable, and the first to be available digitally simultaneously as the retail version.<ref name="eShop">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/10/epic_mickey_power_of_illusion_will_make_its_way_to_the_eshop |title=''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' Will Make Its Way To The eShop |first=Orla |last=Madden |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=2012-10-10 |access-date=2012-10-10 |archive-date=2012-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012011259/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/10/epic_mickey_power_of_illusion_will_make_its_way_to_the_eshop |url-status=live }}</ref> In Japan, the game was named {{nihongo|''Epic Mickey: Mickey's Marvelous Adventure''|ディズニー エピックミッキー ミッキーのふしぎな冒険|Dizunī epikkumikkī mikkī no fushigina bōken}}.<ref name="JPrelease"/> The Japanese version was published by [[Spike Chunsoft]] alongside its home console companion.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators -->| GR = 64.70%<ref name="metacritic.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds|title=Disney ''Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion''|website=Metacritic|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=2019-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202004407/https://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/disney-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion|url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC = 63/100<ref name="metacritic.com"/>
<!-- Reviewers -->|1UP = C<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/epic-mickey-power-illusion-review |title=Epic Mickey Power of Illusion Review: Cartoon Follies |date=November 16, 2012 |author=Jeremy Parish |publisher=[[1Up.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119082801/http://www.1up.com/reviews/epic-mickey-power-illusion-review |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>
| IGN = 7/10<ref name="youtube.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDIaz6-4IRc|title=IGN Reviews - Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' Review - IGN Review|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=2014-03-29|archive-date=2014-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423023029/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDIaz6-4IRc|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Destruct = 6/10<ref name="destructoid.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-239231.phtml|title=Review: Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion''|website=Destructoid|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=2015-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907035044/http://www.destructoid.com/review-disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-239231.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EuroG = 4/10<ref name="eurogamer.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-05-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion-review|title=''Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion'' review|first=Ellie|last=Gibson|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=2019-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231195323/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-05-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusion-review|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="gamespot.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review/1900-6400618/|title=Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' Review|access-date=2017-11-17|archive-date=2016-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105144650/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review/1900-6400618/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GI = 5/10<ref name="Game Informer">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/epic_mickey_power_of_illusion/b/3ds/archive/2012/11/16/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119082436/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/epic_mickey_power_of_illusion/b/3ds/archive/2012/11/16/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2012|title=''Epic Mickey: Power Of Illusion'' Review – Tracing And Erasing Trips Up Mickey's Platforming Rhythm|first=Bryan|last=Vore|magazine=Game Informer}}</ref>
| NLife = {{Rating|4|10}}<ref name="nintendolife.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/disney_epic_mickey_power_of_illusion|title=Review: Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' (3DS)|date=December 14, 2012|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927092452/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/disney_epic_mickey_power_of_illusion|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GRadar = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="gamesradar.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review/|title=''Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion'' review|first=Kevin|last=Knezevic 2012-11-19T22:15:00.323Z|website=gamesradar|date=19 November 2012|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=2019-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231195326/https://www.gamesradar.com/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ONM = 60%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/44147/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-3ds-review/|title=Epic Mickey: The Power Of Illusion ONM Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007235341/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/44147/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-3ds-review/|archive-date=2014-10-07}}</ref>
| Joystiq = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review-uneven-strokes/ |title=Epic Mickey: The Power Of Illusion Joystiq Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131114119if_/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-review-uneven-strokes/ |archive-date=31 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| NWR = 7.5/10<ref name="nintendoworldreport.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/32515/disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-nintendo-3ds|title=Disney ''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' Review - Review|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=2017-12-13|archive-date=2018-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219065436/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/32515/disney-epic-mickey-power-of-illusion-nintendo-3ds|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Fam = 31/40
}}
''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' received mixed reviews, holding a Metacritic score of 63 based on 40 reviews.<ref name="metacritic.com"/> [[GameTrailers]] gave the game a score of 7/10, praising some unique ideas and presentation, but criticising slow gameplay mechanics and copious amounts of backtracking.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/vn0lik/epic-mickey--power-of-illusion-review |title=''Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion'' Review |publisher=GameTrailers |date= |access-date=2013-11-01 |archive-date=2013-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031132858/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/vn0lik/epic-mickey--power-of-illusion-review |url-status=live }}</ref> [[IGN]] also gave it a 7/10.<ref name="youtube.com"/> [[Destructoid]] gave it a 6/10, stating: "The building blocks of the ultimate Mickey Mouse game are here, but we'll have to wait yet another day to see that vision become reality".<ref name="destructoid.com"/> [[Eurogamer]] gave a highly critical review, saying that "''Power of Illusion'' is unlikely to entertain fans of the Mega Drive game beyond the initial buzz of nostalgia, and kids of today won't fancy trekking all the way back through the Neverland jungle to find Wendy's needle when they could be watching the ''Power Rangers'' kick space robots to death".<ref name="eurogamer.net"/> However, [[GameSpot]] gave a positive review, stating that ''Power of Illusion'' is "Mickey's best adventure in years", awarding the game an 8/10.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Epic Mickey series}}
{{Illusion series}}
{{Mickey Mouse games}}
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[[Category:Crossover video games]]
[[Category:2012 video games]]
[[Category:DreamRift games]]
[[Category:Epic Mickey]]
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