Disney planning Epic Mickey 2 - report

By Fred Dutton Published 29 August, 2011

Mooted sequel for Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Disney Interactive is considering a sequel to ambitious Wii platformer Epic Mickey, judging by online marketing materials procured by Destructoid.

A survey sent out by Disney to gauge consumer interest in a follow-up, which it states would be on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as well as Wii, lists a number of potential gameplay features.

Firstly, a two player split screen mode is mentioned, in which one user plays as Mickey and the other as his brother Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who'll be able to "fly like a helicopter" and use electricity to "fight or friend" enemies.

A number of potential titles are offered, including Epic Mickey 2: Return of the Mad Doctor, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two and Epic Mickey 2: Mystery on Mean Street.

The survey also asks participants to choose their favourite of four potential box-arts, all shown below.

Developed by Warren Spector's Junction Point studio, the original Epic Mickey launched on Wii last November. Reviews were middling but the game sold well, shifting 1.3 million copies in the US alone in the month following launch.

1
Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (21) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • riceNpea #1 9 months ago

    I don't like Mickey Mouse at the best of times but i would love to see the Mickey Mouse from South Park in the game. Parker and Stone hit the nail on the head.

  • Rens11 #2 9 months ago

    I'd buy it not nearly enough platformers this gen!

  • spongebob #3 9 months ago

    I think the fourth cover from left is best.

  • dfunked #4 9 months ago

    As an Irishman, the title "Epic Mickey" never ceases to amuse me. The world needs more Mickey, just so that I can continue getting my juvenile lols...

  • WinterSnowblind #5 9 months ago

    The first game had a lot of potential but was stunted by the Wii. I'd be interested to see what they can do with a sequel.

  • Donaldthescotishtwin #6 9 months ago

    The first game was already boring depressing and broken I always get tired of it after 5 or 6 minutes it doesn't deserve a sequel

  • Daeltaja #7 9 months ago

    Well it certainly has potential, it's just a shame Epic Mickey was bogged down by uninspired game design and wonkey third person controls.

  • Mister-Wario #8 9 months ago

    A mouse has a rabbit for a brother? I won't inquire too closely into the mechanics.

    On another note, I don't think I'd buy this. Unfortunately I went right off the first game as soon as I found out they wouldn't be going with the creepy rundown steampunk aesthetic in the concept art. And the initial footage seemd to present the game as a rather unremarkable platformer with Mickey in it.

  • doragonpawwa #9 9 months ago

    Wait? Mickey as a Brother in law? a Rabbit??? what the hell??

  • Daikon #10 9 months ago

    They're planning a sequel after laying off most of the people who worked on the original?
    How bitter-sweet.

  • man.the.king #11 9 months ago

    riceNpea

    "I don't like Mickey Mouse at the best of times..."

    Me too. I don't mind Mickey Mouse, but my favorite Disney character is Donald Duck. Actually, a game with D Duck, complete with his irascible nature and temper tantrums, would be great!

  • Rangerwave #12 9 months ago

    I actually really liked the original. Sure, it was frustrating at times, and there were a couple of levels with really bad game design, but on the whole I enjoyed the whole experience, and I can't fault the developer for trying an art style that was a bit more original for a change.

  • kangarootoo #13 9 months ago

    Going to rehire the team you laid off then?



    "no point in a ps3 version as no one would buy it."

    Badum tish! You are on FIRE!

    Seriously, I know it is a bit early in the day, but that was truly pityful.

  • metalangel #14 9 months ago

    Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who'll be able to "fly like a helicopter"

    I can't help but laugh at this... he'll be spinning his ears, what a fucking unoriginal idea!

    As for Mickey, in the early days he was a sassy, somewhat violent protagonist. Then they turned him into a goody goody with almost no personality to speak of otherwise and that was it... he was mostly there to be the 'straight man' to Donald or Goofy, and the straight man is never the star!

  • kangarootoo #15 9 months ago

    "I can't help but laugh at this... he'll be spinning his ears, what a fucking unoriginal idea!"

    Well it probably wasn't that unoriginal in 1927, when he was created. When dealing with vintage material, you surely have a get-out-of-jail-free card when it comes to peer-compared originality. Its like complaining that everyone in RDR is riding round on a horse instead of a set of tilt sensor controlled jet skates.

    True about the straight man thing though. Mickey Mouse was never my favourite character as a kid, 'cos he never really DID anything funny.
    Edited by kangarootoo at 30/08/11 @ 11:41

  • metalangel #16 9 months ago

    In a game context (which this is) it's not original at all. He's spinning along through the air with his ears, next to Tails' tails and Earthworm Jim's head.

    Meh if they want to do it, but it's somewhat bizarre thing to highlight in your marketing.

    EDIT: I've seen it in plenty of cartoons too, even Bugs Bunny has sufered that indignity of having his ears wound like a rubber band... I dunno, I think it's more the way they've thrust it to the forefront as some new and amazing ability that they just have to tell you about.
    Edited by metalangel at 30/08/11 @ 12:18

  • Geowolf #17 9 months ago

    As suggested by someone else, I'd rather have an Epic Donald. The duck was always more interesting due to his realistic flaws.

  • kangarootoo #18 9 months ago

    @metalangel

    I was under the impression that he flew that way in the original cartoon. Perhaps not. Regardless, your bugs bunny comment suggests that twirled ear flying is cartoon canon. Perhaps they chose to do it that way as an homage to flying cartoon rabbits everywhere. If we were original all the time, we would never have running jokes or 'nods to the fans' and so on. Maybe they were coming at it from that angle - almomst saying "rabbits in cartoons always fly this way, ahahaha haha ha etc".

  • metalangel #19 9 months ago

    @kangarootoo: or perhaps this is slightly wonky EG "journalism", latching onto a bizarre point and giving it undue emphasis?

    *shrug*

  • kangarootoo #20 9 months ago

    The original press release doesn't say much, and when it comes to Oswald the quoted sections are pretty much everything it does say. So not sure we can blame EG on this one.

    To be honest, fighting stuff with electricity isn't that original either, and I bet the 30s cartoon had none of that kafuffle. Not that it harmed Infamous any.

  • man.the.king #21 9 months ago

    @Geowolf

    "...I'd rather have an Epic Donald. The duck was always more interesting due to his realistic flaws."

    And it was always irritating to see Donald Duck get battered by those pesky chipmunks :D . Now, if Epic Donald had giant versions of those two chipmunks as antagonists or something like that, that would be great!

    I know that Disney wouldn't let that happen though. They are only happy when protagonists are syrupy-sweet.