Mickey Mouse is one of the hardest cartoon characters to write for. He may be the most iconic character in animation history, but he’s also the face of a multi-billion-dollar company. That means Disney is extremely cautious about how he’s portrayed. Any attempt to make Mickey more complex or edgy usually gets shut down quickly, or buried, like the fantastic 1995 short Runaway Brain, which Disney has all but forgotten. (Seriously, if you can find it, watch it, it’s brilliant.)
That’s why Epic Mickey was such a surprise back in 2010. Originally released exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, the game dared to give Mickey a darker, more heroic role while still respecting his legacy. It also reintroduced audiences to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first breakout character. Add in the choice-driven narrative, and you have something very different for both Disney and video games.
When Epic Mickey Rebrushed was announced, I was immediately sold. This wasn’t just nostalgia; it was a chance to revisit a flawed but ambitious classic, this time with improvements that might finally let it shine.
What I Loved
- Better camera controls – The biggest flaw of the original Wii has been noticeably improved. It’s still not perfect, but it’s far more manageable.
- Visual upgrades – The remaster polishes the original’s look into something vibrant and beautiful, while still retaining its slightly darker tone.
- Oswald the Lucky Rabbit – This game was my introduction to Oswald, and he remains one of my favorite Disney characters. Seeing him again in HD was a joy.
- Tone & story – A Mickey Mouse game with atmosphere, stakes, and player choice is still a rare treat.
What I Didn’t Love
- Bugs & technical issues – For a remaster, it’s surprising how many glitches still slipped through. However, I want to note that I haven’t played Epic Mickey Rebrushed on the Nintendo Switch 2 yet, so I can’t say for sure if these problems have improved there. From what little research I did, most Switch games do get some enhancements on Switch 2, and that seems to be the case here, but take that with a grain of salt.
- Loading times – The Switch version suffers from some long load screens that break the pacing.
- Disney’s wasted potential – My biggest gripe isn’t with the game itself, but with Disney. The Epic Mickey series had so much potential, but the franchise was abandoned too quickly.
Final Thoughts
Epic Mickey Rebrushed takes an already ambitious game and makes it better. It’s not flawless, but it’s still one of the most unique Disney games ever made, and a must-play for Disney fans and gamers alike.
Sadly, sales for the remaster have been mixed: physical copies did well, but digital sales lagged. I can only hope this doesn’t discourage Disney from revisiting the world of Epic Mickey. It deserves more than to be swept under the rug like Runaway Brain.
Backlog Status: ✅ Completed
Would I recommend? Yes, especially if you’re a Disney fan who missed this gem the first time.
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