It’s been a pretty good year for Disney video games, tell you what. Disney Dreamlight Valley has its fair share of fans; and Disney Speedstorm is building up a heavy dose of momentum, even with its free-to-play structure being in question. No matter, it’s still enjoyable.
But now we have Disney Illusion Island, a complete surprise out of left field from the developers of the Battletoads reboot, Dlala Studios. The game has Mickey and his friends attempting to recover magical tomes that have been taken, while avoiding enemies, solving puzzles and finding secrets. It’s like a Metroidvania, but without combat – an interesting approach, to say the least.
That said, it works. Incredibly well. And it’s enough to push aside the “kids game” mantra, as Illusion Islandoffers magic for all ages.
Welcome To the Island
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy all find themselves invited to the island as a ruse put on by Toku, a magical creature that asks them to recover the missing Tomes. Of course, Donald is hesitant, because he just wants to picnic. But the gang eventually agrees and sets out on the journey.
Dlala Studios did something neat with the gameplay. It’s got Metroidvania vibes, and there’s a lot of platforming and puzzle solving – but no combat. Instead, you dodge enemies and move on to the next part of the level. That may turn off those that were expecting a Rayman Legends-style approach, but don’t be fooled. There’s a lot of fun to be had here.
That’s because the level design is innovative and tricky, with the kind of flair we didn’t see coming from Dlala. There’s a lot to explore here, including a ton of secret areas. It’ll keep you busy for hours, and with three difficulty settings and tons of collectibles (like memorabilia – it is Disney, after all), there’s a lot here.
Oh, and yes, the local co-op is a blast. While there aren’t online options, this is more than enough of an excuse to get the family together and just have a good time. It’s awesome for friends as well.
Gosh, A Swell Looking Adventure
While Disney games have looked pretty good in the past, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with a presentation as good as Illusion Island’s.
The visuals represent the new animation style we’ve seen from Mickey Mouse shorts, and it’s done exceptionally well. Each character has their own little perks as they get around (like Donald Duck flapping his arms when he jumps), and even the enemies have charming little moments, like the wall crawlers that squeal when they begin to move. The game runs incredibly smooth and doesn’t lose track of the four characters that are on-screen at any time. It’s done quite well, and looks good in portable mode, too.
As for the music, it includes symphonic melodies that, while repeating here and there, fit in to the island-themed mood of the game. They’re fun to listen to, along with the neat little sound effects in each stage. It’s also a treat to hear the Disney-style voice acting in the cutscenes, as Dlala was able to get the talent from the cartoons. Fans are sure to love this.
It’s the Journey, Not the Destination
Although some may see it on the easy side (again, it’s built for family play), Disney Illusion Island is a wonderful surprise. Dlala Studios excels yet again with its hand-drawn style and design, making a game that’s a blast to play – even without combat. Plus, if you’ve got family or friends that are into Disney, they need to check this out.
Just like the Illusion games from Sega before it, Island does a fine job of whisking familiar heroes into a danger-filled world of sense and wonder. We certainly wouldn’t mind a sequel.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 1/2 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
