Disney has a long and storied history of bringing magic to life, from timeless animated classics to beloved characters who have stood the test of time. Mickey Mouse and his friends are perhaps the most iconic of them all, and their latest adventure, Disney Illusion Island, takes them on a whimsical quest that is both nostalgic and fresh. Developed by Dlala Studios, a small indie team based in Essex, England, and published by Disney Electronic Content, this charming platformer is a Nintendo Switch exclusive aiming to capture the magic of classic Disney games while offering something new.
From the moment the game begins, players are treated to a delightful animated cutscene where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy arrive on the island of Monoth. What was supposed to be a relaxing picnic quickly turns into a quest to recover three stolen Tomes of Knowledge, each guarded by dangerous bosses across various biomes. The story is straightforward yet endearing, with a colourful cast of characters and plenty of humour paying homage to Disney’s long history of animated storytelling.
At its core, Disney Illusion Island is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with Metroidvania-inspired mechanics. Players can choose to control Mickey, Minnie, Donald, or Goofy, each with their own unique animations and voice lines capturing their personalities perfectly. Gameplay focuses on exploration and platforming, with no direct combat – an unusual yet welcome design choice keeping the experience accessible. Instead, players will jump, swing, and glide their way through the island’s beautifully hand-drawn environments, collecting Glimts, Tokuns, and hidden Mickey memorabilia along the way.
One of the game’s strongest features is its local co-op multiplayer, allowing up to four players to team up and explore the island together. Simple mechanics, such as hugging to heal or dropping ropes to help each other, add a sense of camaraderie that is perfect for family gaming sessions. The game’s difficulty is also fully adjustable, with options to set the number of lives or activate an invincibility mode, ensuring players of all ages can enjoy the experience.
Visually, Disney Illusion Island is a feast for the eyes. The game’s hand-drawn art style is reminiscent of classic animation, filled with vibrant colours and fluid character animations. Each of the island’s three main biomes – the Forest of Illusions, Desert of Dreams, and Sky of Wonders – has a distinct aesthetic and atmosphere, each of which is packed with charming details fans of Disney’s animated heritage will adore.
The game’s sound design is another highlight. The voice cast brings the beloved characters to life with familiar voices, and the musical score by David Housden (Thomas Was Alone, Lost Words: Beyond the Page) perfectly complements the magical tone of the adventure. It is a delightful audio-visual experience capturing the whimsy of Disney while delivering a sense of grand adventure.
However, Disney Illusion Island is not without its flaws. Despite its beautiful presentation and charming characters, the game is relatively short, with the main story taking around six hours to complete. The platforming mechanics, while accessible, are also overly simplistic, which may leave experienced players wanting more of a challenge. The boss encounters, although visually impressive, lack the creativity and complexity seen in other Metroidvania titles.
Furthermore, the game’s technical performance is not flawless. Occasional frame rate drops and minor glitches can break the immersion, and the game’s voice acting is disappointingly limited to cutscenes, with much of the dialogue presented as text. These issues do not ruin the experience, but they do prevent Disney Illusion Island from achieving its full potential.
Overall, Disney Illusion Island is a charming and heartfelt platformer that will delight fans of Mickey Mouse and his friends. It offers a nostalgic adventure perfect for younger players or those seeking a lighthearted experience. While it may not reach the heights of other modern Metroidvania titles, its charming art style, delightful characters, and accessible gameplay make it a worthy addition to the Disney game library. It may not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it is a warm and joyful journey capturing the magic of Disney in a way only the House of Mouse can deliver.
Verdict:
GOOD
| PROS | CONS |
| Nostalgic Disney magic | Not super challenging |
| Great for all ages | |
| Fantastic co-op |
Title reviewed on Nintendo Switch with code supplied by Nintendo.
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Owner, founder and editor-in-chief at Vamers, Hans has a vested interest in geek culture and the interactive entertainment industry. With a Masters degree in Communications and Ludology, he is well read and versed in matters relating to video games and communication media, among many other topics of interest.