Spunky graphics that get you going "aww! Isn't that cute!?" and other snazzy features that bulge excellence!
After a few beers together while catching up on old times, they decide to get back to doing their famous magical show again. While upon stage they tried one trick too many and went into an indefinite disappearing act! You see Donald found an old magical trunk and ventured inside but didn't return. So the foolish Mickey went in after him. Now they have no idea where they are and the locals don't carry a Gregory’s in stock at all!
So armed only with a magic cape each, they take to the task of getting back home again. But on their way some big sod interrupts their journey by saying that they must prove their magical worthiness in a test against this strange world's best! Then they must challenge this big duff himself in an all out magical show down. So with a mission in mind the rodent and duck set off in a slight hurry!
I'll start the review of World of illusion by saying this is no run of the mill 8 mega cart! The work gone into this game is evident in the artwork and playability! When Sega and Disney rub heads together you can expect humungous results, and this is no exception. There are almost three games in one here, with Mickey alone, Donald alone or the two playing together being quite separate experiences. With two players, rather than beating the stuffing out of each other, you must lend your mate a hand of help to successfully get through the game.
There are a total of 6 levels and ail of those rounds are as big as the rounds in Sonic, with sub-levels in each! From the very start you will notice the exceptionally brill colours used and the water smooth animation, as in the caterpillar used in the foreground in round one! The caterpillar would have used at least 10 frames of animation and it has no bearing on the game at all so you can see the effort that's gone towards detail!
You must wander through the rounds from platform to platform using your cape to transform nasties into beautiful butterflies or something generally less harmful! in the two player game, Mickey may have to lend Donald a hand by giving him a boost to get to a high platform or lift him up from below by offering a rope to help him. The players move slowly but then again this isn't supposed to be another Sonic title. Gone is the bounce attack, but the new cape attack is actually more effective!
A lot of influences from other games have been placed in this huge title. Here are some examples of this. Some of the rounds used totally spun out type graphics, such as the underwater scene with the wave effect as used in the Thunder Force series. In this round, you'll see Mickey or Donald swimming in a bubble like Sonic does in Sonic 2 on the 8 bit systems. One round worth a mention in World of Illusion is the scene with our heroes wandering through the dining room dodging plates and holes and other nasties. The floor's parallax scrolling has been stolen from Street Fighter II. Bur there are also a lot of new ideas present as well, like in the mine cart where two players must keep pushing the lever to stay in motion. Also the shadow effects in round 5 are excellent. This has Mickey or Donald walking behind curtains showing nothing but a shadow of their bods!
In Castle of illusion I always thought that Mickey looked as if he'd just been swimming in a pool with too much chlorine, because of the way his eyes looked! But in World of Illusion Mickey has a better look to him with more frames of animation. However I think Mickey on Castle of Illusion looked more cheerful as he bopped to the music!
The music in World of illusion takes the Mega Drive to new limits. With a whole array of instruments being synthesised - organs, harmonicas, guitars, drums and more. Ail of the tunes suit the mood well, especially the underwater scenes music which leaves you ail soothed and relaxed. The country music is totally realistic and some of the Alice in Wonderland round's music are really catchy.
Mickey and Donald is very playable from the word go. I found myself staying up stupidly late to get more out of it as it leaves you wanting more! It will be a gigantic hit with younger players but older gameheads will also get into this in a big way. It isn't extraordinarily hard, but the size of the rounds and
the different games in one and two player mode will have you stuck at the Mega Drive for some time. In fact some of the rounds will get you scratching your head trying to work out where to go next!
The start sequence is typical of a Disney cartoon with a story line demo explains the whole situation like a story book. Yes, justice has been done to the Disney series and even more than justice is handed out on a platter with World of Illusion, Spunky graphics that get you going "aww! Isn't that cute!?" and other snazzy features that bulge excellence!
This title is the definite answer for those who loved Castle of Illusion and for those few who weren't happy with Mickey's first outing then I strongly recommend you have a gander at what possibly could be the most heavily detailed title since Sonic 2! World Of illusion is this summer's big hit along side Streets of Rage 2! A definite classic!
Brian Costelloe
As printed in Megazone Feb/ Mar ‘93