Warren Spector’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Announced (also some 3DS game)
As mentioned by WtF Dragon last week, Warren Spector would be announcing what was believed to be the next title in his Epic Mickey franchise today, March 27th. There were actually two Epic Mickey 2 games announced this week.
Anybody think Warren randomly pulled today’s date out of the hat to announce this, given what game was released 20 years ago? Especially given that he was the producer of the Ultima Underworlds?
The game announced today is called Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, and it’s coming to all three game consoles in October. It’s got quite a few new features and expands upon its predecessor (including cooperative play between two players):
All in-game characters – most notably Oswald The Lucky Rabbit whose voice will be heard for the first time ever – are fully voiced by the official voice actors of those characters
Players will experience Disney’s forgotten characters and attractions in all-new levels and further explore levels from the original Disney Epic Mickey game, but now changed, impacted by world-changing events that have shaken Wasteland apart.
New 2D levels based on classic Disney animated films and shorts will offer compelling puzzle-based, platforming gameplay
Players will enjoy an original game story co-written by award-winning American comic book writer, Marv Wolfman, and Junction Point
The storyline will feature a variety of new and returning characters that will further immerse players in Disney’s rich history while adversaries familiar and new will challenge players.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBRKRrPPA4c&w=635&h=353]
Quoting Nintendo Power:
“The response from fans has been overwhelming,” says Spector while looking back on the original Epic Mickey. “I’ve never received so much heartfelt fan mail about a game.” That’s impressive given the veteran developer’s extensive body of work, which includes such all-time greats as System Shock and Deus Ex.
The Power of Two retains those core elements and adds what Spector tell us was the number-one things fan wanted from a sequel: cooperative play.
It’s already up on Amazon.com for a pre-order that ships October 1, 2012 for the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony Playstation 3
Click on the pic below for a link to a huge two-page spread at Nintendo Power (once there, select the ‘Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two & Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion‘ title):
As for his previous Epic Mickey, Game Informer is reporting that Warren ‘desperately’ wants to port the original Epic Mickey to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
I enjoyed the first Epic Mickey – I know some people had problems with the camera work and a few other things. I’m glad Warren is getting a chance to expand his audience, and besides his love of Disney’s older materials, he’s still got a thing for Dungeons and Dragons – he helped launch Spelljammer (which I would love to see properly done as a modern video game).
Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion (3DS)
Now I said two Epic Mickey 2 games, and I wasn’t lying. Apparently there is also an Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion for the handheld Nintendo 3DS, complete with support for the 3DS’ stylus. It’s considered a sequel to the 1990 ‘Castle of Illusion’ game, but it’s not being developed by Warren Spector. Rather it’s being developed by Dreamrift, who has released other handheld/DS games. So I don’t really care about it as much. Plus it’s on the 3DS, which I will never own. But if you want to read more about the 3DS Epic Mickey 2, there is a preview from Nintendo Power
