Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a side-scrolling platformer developed by SEGA and released in 1990 for the Genesis/Mega Drive. It was also converted to 8-bit and ported to the SEGA Master System.

In Castle of Illusion, you take on the role of Mickey Mouse on a quest to rescue Minnie Mouse from the clutches of the evil witch Mizrabel. The game features a series of side-scrolling levels set within a magical castle, each with its own unique theme and challenges. Mickey must navigate through platforms, defeat enemies, and solve puzzles to progress through the game. Enemies can be defeated by jumping on them or throwing apples. It's clearly a non-violent game perfect for kids but good for adults too.

The graphics in Castle of Illusion are impressive for their time, utilizing the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive capabilities to create a perfect Disney scenario. The character sprites are well-animated and capture the essence of Mickey Mouse. The number of frames used to animate Mickey Mouse is incredible, and our hero can show different emotions and performs several actions. Some of them are totally automatic, for example, when he is going to fall from the edge of a platform. The game really tries to be like a Disney cartoon, and the result is perfect. The music is also excellent and changes at each level. The sounds can be better, but there are nice touches, for example, when Mickey's head hits the ceiling.

Each level is distinct, with its own set of obstacles, enemies, and gameplay mechanics. For example, one level might have Mickey navigating through oversized books, while another might involve underwater exploration. The difficulty is well-balanced, probably easier than other platformers of the '90s, but this is a good thing: games at that time were too hard! Instead, Castle of Illusions is fun and not frustrating.

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a delightful platformer that captures the essence of Mickey's world and delivers an enjoyable gameplay experience. Its imaginative levels, vibrant graphics, and accessible yet engaging mechanics make it a game that holds up well even decades after its initial release. It's no coincidence that this is one of the most beloved Genesis games. Some people even say this is the best Genesis game ever. Well, try it and see for yourself!