‘Epic Mickey 2’ Release Date 2012: New Games For 3DS & Wii, XBox, PS3 [VIDEO TRAILER]

The original game was highly underrated, and received harsh criticism for a poorly chosen camera angle that impaired the player's ability to enjoy or complete the game. Hopefully the new titles will solve this easily fixable problem and improve upon what was already good about Epic Mickey as well. Both games are modeled after the original, in which players controlled Mickey as he moved through Disney world's drawing items he needed and erasing obstacles with his magic paintbrush, but the new titles differ drastically from one another.

Power of Illusion

The new mobile game is being developed by DreamRift, the studio behind Monster Tale (2011) for the DS. 3DS game will be a side-scrolling platform game. Power of Illusion is also a follow up to castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, a game from the 1990s released on the Sega Genesis.

The game will make heavy use of the 3DS's stylus pen. Tapping item icons in each level will allow you to paint (trace) those items, bringing them into existence to be used by Mickey. Among the things you can create of out of thin air are cliffs, cannons and floating platforms. The more precise your drawings are the better Mickey can use them. For example: a perfectly drawn canon will only hurt your enemies, but mess up your tracing and the canon will affect everyone surrounding it, including you. You can also erase objects in the game, by spreading thinner with the stylus.

The side-scrolling game makes great use of the 3DS by creating a real sense of space between background foreground, and also beautifully renders the hand-drawn sprites. Every level in the game is based on animated Disney films, from Sleeping Beauty to Tangled, Every Disney character you save as Mickey will move into Mickey's fortress.

The Power of Two

The new Epic Mickey game for home consoles returns to the same gameplay as the original with the addition of a new character, Oswlad the Lucky Rabbit (the first cartoon character Walt Disney ever created) in his first speaking role. The game is being developed by Warren Spector and Junction Point.

The story is set in an alternate world of forgotten Disney characters and theme park rides. Unlike the original where Mickey flew solo, Mickey and Oswald will partner together. The player will have to combine Mickey's magical paintbrush with Oswald's electricity and other talents to solve new puzzles and overcome obstacles.

Another innovation in the new game is the music. Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two aims to be the first video game musical, and characters will burst into song and dance at certain moments. Hopefully it will turn out to be more than just a gimmick. The music is being composed by award-winner James Dooley and lyricist Mike Himelstein.

Watch the trailer for Power of Two