C&VG


Mickey Mouse
By Gremlin
Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #83

Mickey Mouse

Not one to boast or drop names or anything but I have actually been to Disneyland - the original California-based one - and have spent considerable time in deep conversation with Mickey Mouse about his new computer game.

So when I tell you that Disneyland is the most fun you can have on this planet, I am talking from personal experience - not spouting from a travel brochure.

Because Disneyland is so mega-brill, Mickey and I thought you would like the chance to mosey round for yourself. You can too, should you be one of two lucky winners to land the top prize in the Gremlin/C&VG Disneyland Competition.

Mickey Mouse The Computer Game

Before I tell you about that though - let me describe the game. The Magic Kingdom is in mortal peril. One of those evil so-and-so's that seem to cause so much hassle in computer games has made off with Merlin's Magic wand, broken it into four pieces, and hidden them throughout the Disney Castle.

Your enemy is the Evil Ogre King who has posted his monsters and a wicked witch in each of the four towers of the castle. Mickey must defeat all of these nasties to restore the wand and save Disneyland.

Each tower is made up of several circular platforms linked by wooden ladders. There is only one direction to travel - upwards. But Mickey must defeat the ghoulish guardians in each tower to proceed.

Mickey Mouse The Computer Game

Armed with a water pistol with a limited supply of water our hero must be accurate in his aim if he is to succeed. If the liquid connects with a target it will turn into a bonus. Many of these are little blue bottles of water to restore Mickey's water pistol level.

Other bonuses to be picked up are 'keys' which enable Mickey to get through the heavy wooden doors into the sub games - where certain items are located that he will need in the quest.

A birds head is another useful item to acquire as it will enable Mickey to survive, should he fall off one of the platforms. Glue sticks monsters to the spot, lightning bolts make Mickey move faster. A 'Repulsiveness' power-up makes Mickey so disgusting that not even the Ogre King's ghouls want to have anything to do with him, bombs blow up anything nasty on screen at the moment when they are picked up and shields protect out hero's water supply.

Mickey Mouse The Computer Game

The water pistol will not dispatch all of the monsters so Mickey sometimes has to press the space bar to wield his mallet.

The graphics are superb in all versions of Mickey - full of detail and extremely well animated. One of the best bits is when Mickey swings his mallet at an Ogre - causing it to mutate into two tiny Ogres who scurry around the tower and are difficult to finish off.

When Mickey gets to the top of the fourth tower, the Ogre King knows that he is going to have to fight it out with the super rodent in person.

Mickey Mouse The Computer Game

To destroy the ugly, web-winged, huge-jawed nasty - Mickey must score fifteen direct hits with his water pistol. Only three attempts are allowed per go and should he fail it's right back to the foot of the first tower.

Things are more difficult than this for ST and Amiga owners as they have to defeat a wicked witch at the top of each individual tower before going on to meet the Ogre King. Whichever version you play, one piece of the stolen wand is to be found at the top of each tower - and Mickey must have the wand complete before he faces the Ogre King. At first glance, Mickey looks like a game for children. This impression is created by the pretty graphics and the character of Mickey himself - who is seen as a kids hero. When you get down to trying to solve the game though, you soon realise that there is nothing sprog-like about the game design. Believe me, it is no pushover. It requires good arcade skills, persistence, and patience.

The sub games provide welcome light relief from the main business of saving the Magic Kingdom from the Ogre. Mickey reaches these through the back doors of the tower. In the first two towers he comes up against the Puddle Maze which he has to explore - picking up the magical items as he travels and lobbing his trusty mallet at the monsters.

Mickey Mouse The Computer Game

The Bubble Machine is my favourite sub game. It places Mickey on a moving platform which he must bash holes in so that he can puncture the giant bubbles emanating from a leaky pipe. Ghouls fly across screen attempting to deplete our hero's energy as he struggles against the giant bubbles.

In towers three and four he comes up against the Dripping Taps that have to be switched off in the right order to proceed. In the Pump Room several little monsters are causing havoc by pulling the corks out of the leaking pipe. Mickey must get past the force field and take his mallet to the giant monster who is orchestrating the mischievous work of his little monster minions.

Disney are known for being real sticklers when it comes to the representation of their characters in other media. I can't think that there will be any complaints from across the pond about this one. Gremlin have made a first class job of turning Mickey into good-looking and fun to play computer game.

Eugene Lacey

Other Spectrum 48K/128K Game Reviews By Eugene Lacey


  • Road Blasters Front Cover
    Road Blasters
  • A Question Of Sport Front Cover
    A Question Of Sport