Looks Great, Plays Poorly
Mickey Mania is a game that has plenty to like. The visuals are detailed, the aura and atmosphere of the surrounding past of Mickey Mouse is prevalent, and the music is quite superb as well. However, the total execution of the game as a whole is rather shallow and frustrating. While the underlying charm and appeal of Disney's titular mega star are included, a tight and concise platformer is not.
As stated before, the graphics in Mickey Mania leave little to be desired. The game implements the same artwork from the cartoons and many cameos from past iterations of Mickey's escapades are included. From the beginning Steam Boat Willie stage to The Mad Doctor, and Lonesome Ghosts, and Mickey and the Beanstalk; an eclectic coalition of Mickey's earlier films are given the chance to be seen by newer audiences and remains faithful to the whimsical and fantasy elements of Mickey's heritage. With so many prior works on display here, the spirit of Mickey Mouse is captured wholly and is executed to its fullest extent. The score included in the game is vibrant and adds to the overall canvas the game paints. Above all the attention to detail creatively is prevalent in spades and should be commended.
But how for well Mickey Mania executes itself in presentation, it fails miserably in gameplay. Mickey's control is stiff and at times feels chunky and a bit too heavy. With a limited arsenal Mickey can jump on enemies and throw baseballs to damage enemies. The platforming is the biggest gripe I have against this game and it pails in comparison to some of the other heavyweights on the SNES such as Super Mario World, and Donkey Kong Country. Jumps are notably imprecise and jerky, and I felt like I was fighting with the game as well as playing it most of the time.
Mickey Mania is a challenging game in its own right, janky gameplay put aside. Enemies are prevalent and the sprites take up a large deal of the screen. One enemy in particular, the skeletons in The Mad Doctor Level, are particularly a nuisance. When the you throw a baseball at the skeleton it will explode and in turn send a barrage of bones across the screen. It's easy enough to dodge, but when there are two or more skeletons there is no place to hide. Tackle on the stiff controls and you're left with just a flashy, average game.
Mickey Mania delivers in all aspects you would expect it to visually, but the mechanics and gameplay fall short . Some will see it as a great 2-D sidescroller that is great fun, but others will appreciate the art and nothing more. If you're a fan of Disney and it's mascot, it may just be enough to satisfy you, but for most us watching a Mickey Mouse movie would be much more enjoyable and leave a better taste in our mouths.