Game Review: World Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck

Game: World Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
Console: Sega Mega Drive
Developer: Sega
Release Date: 1992

While Disney games are usually of high quality on the Mega Drive, I never seem to be particularly motivated to give them a go. However, once this had been recommended to me as a friend's fondest Mega Drive memory there was far more reason to try it out. World of Illusion is the sequel to Castle of Illusion and the first in the Illusion game series not to have a Master System/Game Gear port. The game offers single or two player mode, with a few differences between the two as players make their way through the World of Illusion, collecting magical spells to aid Donald and Mickey's escape.

The intro to the game explains that the two main characters have found a box, belonging to an evil magician who sends Donald and Mickey to the World of Illusion. Each level has several sections before its boss battle, after which a new magical skill is learned. The magical skills are appropriate to each area of the map, for example conjuring air bubbles allows players to breathe underwater, and a magic carpet allows for travel through the clouds.

Both Mickey and Donald have the exact same single attack which is their only real line of defense against the various enemies that appear in the game. A sheet is spread from the attacking character, and some magic dust is produced either damaging or stunning the enemy depending on how far away Mickey or Donald is from them. Any other contact with enemies will damage the player and reduce their life meter in the top left of the screen which consists of cards, to go along with the general magic theme in the game. Scattered throughout levels are sweets and cakes which can replenish player's health after being damaged.

The levels featured in the game have a variety of themes, though they're based more on outdoor areas like forest, sky, mountain and underwater than actual themes. The only level with a strong theme outside of this is the final level which has somewhat of an Alice in Wonderland feel to it. In single player mode the game is fairly uninteresting, with easy levels and very little innovation for a platform game of the time. With 2 players, there's some co-operative parts to levels which an enhance the fun a little, but the game is still incredibly easy to beat if you have around an hour to spare.

Graphically the game exudes the Disney style in its visuals and is probably one of the best looking Disney games on the Mega Drive. There's some memorable touches in some levels such as jumping on staplers to get a height boost or the piano in the sky (pictured above) which gives out power-ups. Soundwise the game isn't overly memorable, but the music provided fits well with the visuals and Disney theme.

Overall World of Illusion can be fun if you have a friend to complete it with, and a little time to spare, but as a Mega Drive game it's nothing particularly spectacular or boundary-pushing. The visuals and overall gameplay are enjoyable, but without any real challenge as far as beating the final boss of the game goes, there's little replay value or real variation in the game.

Rating: 70/100
Grade: C