Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] is a 1990 platform game developed by Sega and released for the Mega Drive/Genesis. An 8-bit version of the game was later released for the Master System and Game Gear. The game follows Mickey Mouse on a quest to save Minnie Mouse from the evil witch Mizrabel. It is the first game in Sega's Illusion video game series starring Mickey.

This article is about the 1990 video game. For the 2013 remake, see Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013 video game).
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
North American Genesis cover art
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Emiko Yamamoto
(Mega Drive/Genesis)
Yoshio Yoshida
(Master System, Game Gear)
Producer(s)Stephan L. Butler
Designer(s)Emiko Yamamoto
Yoshio Yoshida (Mega Drive/Genesis)
Tomozō Endō
Michel Koba
Emiko Yamamoto
(Master System, Game Gear)
Artist(s)Takashi Yuda
Mikarin Nishida (Mega Drive/Genesis)
Takako Kawaguchi
Kyuuzou F.
(Master System, Game Gear)
Composer(s)Tokuhiko Uwabo
Shigenori Kamiya
SeriesIllusion
Platform(s)Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, Saturn
Release
November 21, 1990
  • Mega Drive/Genesis
    Master System
    Game Gear
    Saturn
    • JP: October 15, 1998
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Castle of Illusion was very well received by critics, especially the original 16-bit version. It was re-released in 1998 in Japan as part of Sega Ages: Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck for the Sega Saturn, which features both Castle of Illusion and QuackShot. A remake of the game by Sega Studios Australia was released for PlayStation Network, Windows, and Xbox Live Arcade in September 2013.[7] The game was also included on the Sega Genesis Mini in 2019.

Plot

Castle of Illusion is a side-scrolling platformer in which the player takes control of Mickey Mouse as he goes inside the Castle of Illusion in order to rescue Minnie Mouse from an evil witch named Mizrabel, who wants to steal Minnie's youth and beauty. Upon meeting and conversing with the castle's true owner and king, Mickey is told that in order to defeat Mizrabel he must find the Seven Gems of the Rainbow. The majority of the seven gems are kept within various illusion-filled worlds (known in the game as levels) and are being guarded by Mizrabel's henchmen – which are known as the Masters of Illusion. Alongside the Masters of Illusion is Mizrabel's army. The army consists of bizarre creatures, such as enchanted mushrooms, toy soldiers, ball-juggling, unicycle-riding clowns, spiders, and armored knights. After thanking the castellan and hurrying into the castle hallway, Mickey begins to search through five doors that each leads to a different level. The levels are The Enchanted Forest, Toyland, The Storm, Dessert Factory, The Library, and finally, The Castle.

Gameplay
Mickey Mouse in Level 2: Toyland

Mickey's main method of attack is to perform a 'bounce' whilst jumping, which can be used to defeat enemies or to bounce upwards towards higher areas. Mickey can collect projectiles such as apples and marbles to throw at his opponents. There are various items that earn bonus points, increase the player's health and grant extra tries.

Every level ends in a boss battle against each Master of Illusion (Mizrabel's henchmen) where Mickey can earn a gem, although the final two levels award a gem halfway through. After clearing all five levels, obtaining all gems will open up the route to the witch's tower. There, the player faces the final boss: a giant and youthful version of Mizrabel. There is an easy mode available where players play through truncated versions of the first three levels, with no boss fights.

The Master System and Game Gear versions of the game have different game mechanics, enemies, items, levels, and graphics.

Release

The game was included on a cartridge entitled Disney Collection, bundled with QuackShot, in 1996.[8] An emulated version of Castle of Illusion was included in a bundle for those who preordered its remake on PSN;[9] this bundle was offered again for PlayStation Plus subscribers in April 2014.[10]

An 8-bit version of the game was released in 1991 for the Master System and Game Gear.

Reception

Mega Drive/Genesis

At the time of its release, Castle of Illusion received positive reviews. Mean Machines gave the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version of the game a positive review, awarding it a score of 95% while specifically praising the game's graphics and playability.[16] Console XS gave an overall score of 96% and praised the graphics, sound, gameplay and the dynamic gameplay.[19] Mega Action gave a review score 90% and described the game as "A classic game with a massive playing area", they also praised the graphics and sound concluding: "We guarantee that you will be not disappointed".[20] MegaTech opined the game is one of the best platform games on the MegaDrive and praised the game that it combines superlative graphics and excellent gameplay making Castle of Illusion addictive and an enjoyable challenge.[17]

Entertainment Weekly picked the game as the #19 greatest game available in 1991, saying: "Perfect for younger players, but challenging enough to satisfy adults, too. A superbly animated Mickey bops through three different worlds—the Enchanted Forest, Toyland, and the Dessert Factory—in a quest to save Minnie from the evil witch Mizrabel".[21]

Mega placed it at the 21st spot on their 1992 list of top Mega Drive games of all time.[22]

According to GameSpot in 2010, "it wasn't just the levels that made this game so good. The music, the controls, and Mickey's superb animation all contributed to one of the very best Disney games that would heavily influence those to follow".[23] In 2017, Gamesradar placed the game 35th on its "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time".[24]

Master System/Game Gear

The Master System version also received positive reviews. Sega Power magazine in 1991 rated it the best Master System game of all time.[18]

ACE called the Game Gear version "basically an unadulterated Mario clone—and not a bad one at that", giving it a score of eight out of ten.[25] Console XS called the Castle of Illusion one of best games on the Master System writing: "Brilliant animation and sprite definition make this a joy to watch".[29] They also praised the game gear version saying it’s the best version of the game since it contains most of the levels from the other versions and Mickey looking superb because of the shrunken graphics.[27]

Legacy
Main article: Illusion (series)

A sequel, Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, was released for the Master System in 1992 and for the Game Gear in 1993. World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck followed for the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1992. In 1994, Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse was released for the Game Gear, with a Master System port following in 1998 in Brazil.

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, developed by DreamRift, was released in November 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS and serves as a spiritual successor to Castle of Illusion.[30] In it, Mizrabel from Castle of Illusion returns as the main villain, but redesigned to resemble Maleficent.

Remake
Main article: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013 video game)

A remake of the game, developed by Sega Studios Australia, was released for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and PC in September 2013.[31] The game features 2.5D gameplay with 3D graphics and was developed under the supervision of the original game's director, Emiko Yamamoto,[32][33] with a reimagined soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope.[34] The original game was made available as a pre-order bonus for the PSN version.[35]

See also

Notes
  1. Mega Drive version is known in Japan as I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken (アイラブミッキーマウス ふしぎのお城大冒険, Ai Rabu Mikkī Mausu: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken, I Love Mickey Mouse: Mysterious Castle Great Adventure).
  2. Game Gear version is known in Japan as Mickey Mouse no Castle Illusion (ミッキーマウスのキャッスル・イリュージョン, Mikkī Mausu no Kyassuru Irūjon, Mickey Mouse's Castle Illusion).

References
  1. "Electronic Gaming Monthly #17 pg. 20". Sega Retro. December 1990. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "Mean Machines No 5 pg. 19". Sega Retro. February 1991. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. "Electronic Gaming Monthly Number 19 pg. 104". Sega Retro. February 1991. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. "Mean Machines No 4 pg. 82". Sega Retro. January 1991. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. "Electronic Gaming Monthly #23 pg. 24". Sega Retro. June 1991. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  6. "Sega Power Issue 20 pg. 20". Sega Retro. July 1991. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. "Mickey's Castle of Illusion Remake Dated For September". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  8. "The Disney Collection for Genesis (1996) - Mobygames". Moby Games. Sciere. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  9. Purchese, Robert (16 August 2013). "Castle of Illusion remaster out 4th September for £10". Eurogamer. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. Steimer, Kirstine (April 14, 2014). "PlayStation Plus: Castle of Illusion Free for Members". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  11. Richard Leadbetter (February 1991). "Review: Mickey Mouse". Computer and Video Games. pp. 84–85.
  12. "Review Crew: Mickey Mouse" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. December 1990. p. 20.
  13. The Bohemian (February 1991). "Genesis ProView: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse" (PDF). GamePro. pp. 66–67.
  14. Les Ellis (March 1991). "Stop Press Review: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse". Raze. pp. 6–7.
  15. "Castle of Illusion Review". Arcade County. February 14, 2016. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  16. "Castle of Illusion - Sega Review" (PDF). Mean Machines. No. 5. February 1991. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  17. MegaTech rating, MegaTech, EMAP, issue 5, page 78, May 1992
  18. "Readers top 10". Sega Power. No. 18. May 1991. pp. 6–7.
  19. "A-Z Software". Console XS (1): 128. June 1992. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  20. "Mega Library". Mega Action (1): 65. May 1993. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  21. "Video Games Guide". EW.com.
  22. Mega magazine issue #1, page 76, Future Publishing, Oct 1992
  23. "Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Sega Genesis) - Mickey Through The Years". GameSpot. 2010-11-24. Archived from the original on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  24. GamesRadar Staff (2017-06-21). "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  25. Whitta, Gary (August 1991). "Castle of Illusion - Game Gear Review". ACE. No. 47. EMAP. p. 72.
  26. "Software A-Z: Master System". Console XS. No. 1 (June/July 1992). United Kingdom: Paragon Publishing. 23 April 1992. pp. 137–47.
  27. "A-Z Software". Console XS. Paragon Publishing (1): 147. June 1992. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  28. "Mickey Mouse - Sega Review" (PDF). Mean Machines. No. 4. January 1991. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-03.
  29. "Software A-Z: Master System". Console XS. No. 1 (June/July 1992). United Kingdom: Paragon Publishing. 23 April 1992. pp. 137–47.
  30. "Epic Mickey: Power Of Illusion 3DS Release Date Confirmed". My Nintendo News. 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  31. 4/11/13 12:25pm Thursday 12:25pm (11 April 2013). "The Gamer's Guide". Kotaku. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  32. 4/15/13 1:00pm Yesterday 1:00pm (15 April 2013). "HD Re-Make of Castle of Illusion Mickey Mouse Game Coming This Summer". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  33. Matulef, Jeffrey (15 April 2013). "Castle of Illusion remake unveiled for PSN, XBLA and PC • News • PlayStation 3 •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  34. "Twitter / grantkirkhope: Sega announce Mickey's Castle". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  35. "SEGA Blog | Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse Gets Release Date, Price, and Pre-Order Special". Blogs.sega.com. 2013-08-16. Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
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