Going into this, I had the expectations of a typical retro modern "remake" of the era. You know the type, where it is fairly faithful to the game it is recreating, but uses ugly 3D models for a 2D platformer that strips the original soul the game had while also not getting the controls and physics exactly right thus somehow still not making it the best version to play.
I am happy to say that Castle of Illusion is not that type of remake, but something closer to a remake that takes advantage of the eras Tech to truly make something that enhances the original experience, but also gives it it's own identity to not replace the originals. Something akin to the Resident Evil 2/4 remakes.

Right off the bat, the game is gorgeous. I did not expect a remake from the PS3/360 era to have this much detail, effort and soul in it's artstyle. The original game on the Genesis has some of the best backgrounds and sprites on that system, and somehow the team at Sega Australia lived up to it using their own modern style. As you platform your way through the colourful levels, everything is oozing charm. Even the backgrounds have things happening such a seeing the boss of the level sneaking around, doing their thing. It feels like an alive world and that is very impressive for a 2D platformer.

While mentioning this is a 2D platformer, the game brings it's own unique spin by having 3D platforming sections that work just as great as the 2D sections switching seamlessly between both perspectives like a modern Sonic game. The levels are not a 1-to-1 of the original, but something a bit more remixed while retaining all the aspects that made the original levels memorable.

The gameplay itself retains that fun bouncy Ducktales-like gameplay the original had, yet somehow made it even tighter to play.
All the setpieces from the original are here, such as the part where you need to run away from the giant apple. But this time these set pieces are now remixed into their own big budget cinematic parts of the levels.
Bosses get the same treatment, where in the original they were fairly quick and easy to beat; here they have their own big segments now that make them so fun to fight. They are closer to a boss from something like crash bandicoot.

It is a short game, but feels like biggest budget short game ive played, and I highly recommend you play it if you are a fan of platformers. Get it on steam if you see it on sale, because you'll definitely get a bang for your back. I wish Sega continued remaking these with the other Illusion titles because if they kept this quality up, it could have been the best bunch of remakes we have seen in gaming.

Cute game from a begone era of Disney. I think the art style isn't nearly as charming as the original. Despite that, I think it still holds up visually even being a 3D 7th-gen game from a smaller team. It's clear they put a lot of effort into cultivating "Disney" vibes, from the music, to the voice acting, to the animations. Mickey feels good to control and it was a pleasant experience overall. The game is pretty basic outside of that but not all games have to be particularly groundbreaking to be an enjoyable time, especially for what is a remake of a licensed game. It's unfortunate Sega Studios Australia closed after this because I would have liked to see how they would tackled other classic Disney games.

An extremely charming, polished, and varied little platformer, paying tribute to the original 1990 games in the right ways (do we need a more complicated story than "Minnie has been kidnapped by an evil witch?" No. Does it make any sense that a bottle in the library level would lead to a world where everything is made of candy and desserts? Also no, but that's how Sega did it in 1990 so that's what we're doing) while having the confidence to completely reimagine the level designs in ways that would never have been possible on 8- or 16-bit hardware (I generally enjoyed the 3D sections, though I know not everyone agrees). Extremely short, even more so than I had remembered (I wish that every gem had at least gotten its own set of levels, even if that's not how the original game did it either), but that makes it a good one- or two-sitting play. A damn shame that Sega Studios Australia was shut down just before this game was released; would have liked to see them do more remakes in this vein.

QUE MITADA DO CARALHOOOOO!!!
Não joguei muito do jogo original pra ter um comparativo de quão bom como remake esse jogo é, mas como um jogo standalone? MUITO BOM!

Realmente curti muito o level design, principalmente a forma como bem o 2.5D e o 3D. Só deixou a desejar mais sessões de 3D (afinal, fizeram um controle ÓTIMO pro 3D mas usaram pouco durante o jogo).
Tenho certeza que vou ficar triste por não ter mais conteudo desse jogo ou de algo relacionado a ele.

Talvez eu volte para fazer 100%, faltou só umas 30 gemas no jogo inteiro, de resto acabei pegando tudo.


Alias, preciso adicionar algo que eu pensei bastante enquanto jogava.
Esse jogo é feito pela Sega, e me deixou extremamente triste por ter lançado na mesma época do Sonic 4, e ser infinitamente superior.
Queria que Sonic 4 tivesse sido produzido por esse MESMO time, minha vida teria sido melhor.

É uma experiência muito interessante terminar esse jogo logo após ter terminado o original de Mega Drive, é quase como uma demonstração do que o jogo de 1990 poderia ser com ferramentas diferentes à disposição de gente tão talentosa quanto a equipe do original.

Esse remake é perfeito em tudo que se propõe, explora e avança muito dos conceitos que fizeram o antigo ser tão bom. As fases são lindas, os controles são ótimos, a música foi bem retrabalhada e percebe-se o quanto de homenagem tem em cada canto do jogo. Destaque pra narração, não presente no primeiro, e pra dublagem da Mizrabel, deu muito mais personalidade à antagonista. Imperdível, quem amou o original provavelmente vai amar muito esse daqui.

Last May, I played Castle of Illusion for the Sega Genesis: a cute, whimsical and wholly inoffensive platformer. It was very comfortable save-scumming my way through the game with the magic of emulation, talking to a friend and thinking little about the future.

It was one of the last few games I got to play with the comfort and peace of mind that defined that winter for me. While pining for that same kind of ease today, I decided to give the remake a shot - gifted to me by a very dear friend. I'm glad I did. 2013's Castle of Illusion is a delightful platformer that's sure to be a fun romp for children and grown-ups alike.
 
I love a certain type of video game remake: that which fully modernizes a classic while retaining - or enhancing - its original spirit. Easy examples include the Resident Evil remake, Tomb Raider Anniversary and Yakuza Kiwami. Castle of Illusion is one such remake. The original game already had imaginative designs, but here they've been given new life. The colours are vivid; the backgrounds lively. The gameplay overhaul is superb, incorporating 2.5D and 3D platforming into a balanced, seamless experience that serves as a showcase of what a good platformer is like. And with a wealth of new dialogue, narration and reorchestrated music, the game feels bigger and better than its 1990 counterpart in every way.

All this for an experience that lasts just over 2 hours; this is a very short adventure. In my view, that's a good thing. It keeps the game from wearing out its welcome. Castle of Illusion is not a perfect or even a great game. What it is is a lovely little pick-me-up that served as a source of comfort in a trying time.

Just make sure to get it on sale. Or have a friend who'll gift it to you.

Pretty faithful remake of the original, down to its limited and super simple design. Visuals get a nice update, with a lot of the reimagined levels feeling alive. Still retains the weird pacing choices of having five levels for seven MacGuffins. Mizrabel's completely overhauled fight is a neat change of pace.

NONE OF THAT MATTERS. You play this game for the added narrator. Holy moly, does the narrator add so much to this experience. It's so simple yet so inspired, having this guy throw in fun little lines describing what Mickey's doing or thinking at each given moment. You might think that that's redundant or messing with the original's tonality or something, but I don't think so! Talking about Mickey having to be brave or the illusory monsters he has to fight or whatever is exactly the sort of thing that would've pulled me into this game as a kid. This is the sort of thing I want to see added to this endless conga line of remakes we're getting these days.

My very favorite line (paraphrased, since it's been a bit)- "Mickey remembered the advice his friend Donald gave him on adventures: never have them."

A remake of the 1990 original, Castle of Illusion was full of colour and whimsy. Each set of levels were split into three parts and unlocked through collecting diamonds, with varying themes and bosses. Everything was visually stunning and the controls were responsive; it felt great to move through levels, the platforming satisfying if a little challenging for the inexperienced (me). There were even a few cute outfits for Mickey, and I do like myself some outfits.

I’m pretty indifferent to anything Disney these days, but I can’t deny it played a big part in my childhood. It's not the powerhouse it used to be and obviously isn't a good company, but by goodness there's still a spark of magic.

Among the first 'reimagined' games that come to mind, this one is truly impressive. They've managed to develop the original ideas and themes without resorting to repetition or filler. A clear example of this can be seen in the boss battles. While the transitions to 3D movement are few, they're quite welcoming, prompting me to wonder what a full 3D platformer starring Mickey from this team would be like.

The only downside to this game is the occasional unclear platform collision, though these instances aren't too frequent. The new OST by Grant Kirkhope retains the charm of the original, but I sometimes find it too 'epic,' perhaps missing the chiptune sounds.

A simple yet effective addition is the free roam inside the castle, creating a nice atmosphere and giving more meaning to the collectibles in the stages.

It's a product of a bygone era when big companies took risks by producing small and bite-sized games. While some argue that indie games now fulfill this role, I still long for the days when companies with better budgets, know-how, and resources could venture beyond the AAA, Games as a Service-oriented, Open World format.