Again within the days of the Sega Genesis, Disney video games like Fortress of Phantasm and World of Phantasm provided a few of the greatest platforming motion you would get your arms on that didn’t contain a really quick blue mammal. Nevertheless, the Phantasm collection by no means continued past that console era, and although Disney Phantasm Island is technically not a part of that basic collection, its affect is felt in all places in Dlala Studios’ new launch. Whether or not you need to take into account it an official Phantasm sequel or not, Disney Phantasm Island is indisputably a superb new platformer starring the famed mouse, and we’d extremely advocate you give it a go.
Phantasm Island picks up with Mickey and buddies arriving on the titular island to have a picnic collectively, however as soon as they get there they notice that every one of them have been duped. The letters they obtained, supposedly from one another, have been really despatched by a rabbit-thing named Toku, who desperately wants the heroes’ assist to retrieve three magical books which might be essential to the continued existence of the island. Although they’re a bit skeptical at first, the good-natured group shortly agrees to assist out the island’s inhabitants, setting out on an journey into the harmful realms of Monoth to get the books again.
The narrative feels just like the plot of an episode of a cartoon in the perfect methods, and that is helped tremendously by the handful of animated sequences that might simply be mistaken as snippets from The Great World of Mickey Mouse. Every of those cutscenes is totally voice-acted and options an ideal mix of motion, humor, and motion, but none of them overstays their welcome. You’re given simply sufficient of a present to know a brand new plot improvement or the place the group must go subsequent, after which the controller is handed again to you so you can begin exploring once more.
All 4 characters within the core forged are simply as likeable and distinct as you’d count on, and the interaction between them in short dialogue sequences with different NPCs is on level. Donald, for instance, at all times performs the ill-tempered sailor who will get pushed round by the others, whereas Goofy is simply as airheaded as you’d count on and almost at all times has his thoughts on meals. Although most of your time with Phantasm Island is spent platforming, Dlala Studios did an awesome job of sprinkling in simply sufficient character interplay to maintain issues from feeling stale.
As for its gameplay, in contrast to its retro predecessors, Phantasm Island is structured like a Metroidvania. Ranges seamlessly join to one another, checkpoints are generously unfold in every single place, and after selecting out your playable character, you’re let free on a sprawling, interconnected map rife with collectibles, aspect paths, and loads of ability-gated sections that you simply’ll should return to later. Although there’s nothing right here notably modern when it comes to the upgrades you get—it’s simply commonplace stuff like a double bounce or a floor pound—we have been happy with how properly the extent design makes use of your increasing equipment. As you radiate outwards from the beginning areas, you’ll come throughout extra difficult sections that demand superior methods, and although the issue by no means will get to the purpose of being difficult, that is the sort of recreation that feels prefer it simply retains getting higher as you go on.
It is essential to notice that regardless of the massive map and Metroidvania construction, Phantasm Island continues to be firmly targeted on platforming antics at the start. There’s no fight to talk of right here—even the boss fights are simply more durable, self-contained platforming challenges—and the upgrades you get are all finally targeted on including to your motion capabilities. All of the playable characters have precisely the identical moveset; everybody has their very own software they use to do one thing, similar to utilizing a fork or a bathroom plunger to cling to a wall, however the upgrades throughout all 4 characters are functionally similar. So what’s the purpose of exploring, then? Effectively, as a substitute of discovering one thing like missile expansions or a brand new Allure, all of the collectibles listed here are enjoyable beauty trophies that add to the general attraction.
Glimts are dotted throughout the island and act because the ‘cash’ of Phantasm Island, and hitting ever-higher thresholds as you accumulate them will unlock parts of idea artwork work. There are additionally ‘Tokuns’ which element the backstories of assorted characters and enemies and memorabilia items which might be based mostly on basic cartoons like Steamboat Willie and Via the Mirror. These normally require a pointy eye to seek out the hidden pathways resulting in them, and also you’ll usually have to beat a barely tougher-than-usual platforming gauntlet to nab the prize on the finish. In a while, you additionally unlock a digital camera for taking footage of the well-known ‘hidden Mickeys’ cleverly hiding in plain sight within the background.
Even when there are not any direct gameplay advantages from it, we appreciated the reward system used right here. Collectibles are by no means pushed on you or used as a way of gating progress, however there’s virtually at all times one thing attention-grabbing to seek out in the event you’re keen to step off the crushed path. It feels good to get a bit of idea artwork or related as a trophy for overcoming a problem room, although we’d argue that the actual reward is the enjoyment of the platforming itself.
Dlala Studios completely nailed motion on this recreation—characters are barely floaty, but responsive, and it feels constantly nice to place them via the paces. Phantasm Island is the sort of recreation the place you possibly can’t assist however continually pull off jumps as you’re shifting from one place to a different, just because it simply feels good to manage these characters. There’s a sort of freedom in bouncing off partitions or crusing over enemies that by no means outstay its welcome, although it does have to be stated that these nice controls really feel a tad wasted by the issue.
For all its attraction and real enjoyable, Phantasm Island’s largest downside is that it’s a bit too simple. That is comprehensible provided that Disney likely needed this to have broad attraction, and you can also make issues more durable on your self by opting to offer your self just one well being, nevertheless it felt like we have been continually ready for the sport to get out of first gear. There are treasured few cases the place it feels such as you’re in real hazard of even taking harm, not to mention being despatched again to the final checkpoint. There’s nothing fallacious with a chill platformer the place you possibly can simply mindlessly accumulate issues, certain off trampolines, and chuckle on the odd “Gawrsh!” right here and there, however we couldn’t assist however suppose that Phantasm Island can be just a bit higher if it wasn’t afraid of placing up extra of a struggle from time to time.
Although it feels full when taking part in solo, Phantasm Island can be performed with as much as 4 gamers regionally if co-op is extra your factor. Everybody shares the identical display right here, so there must be some coordination, however characters don’t stumble upon one another or get in the way in which like in New Tremendous Mario Bros. As a substitute, collaboration is highlighted via a few methods you possibly can enhance one another. If somebody is low on well being, you possibly can adorably hug them to grant each gamers an additional coronary heart. And if someone misses a bounce, their accomplice on the next platform can drop them a rope to allow them to clamber again up. We appreciated this deal with a frictionless co-op expertise, as talent gaps between gamers really feel like they will simply be bridged right here.
Visually, Phantasm Island sticks very carefully to the artwork fashion that debuted with The Great World of Mickey Mouse, and each inch is stuffed to bursting with that timeless, zany Disney attraction that’s captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands everywhere in the world. Whether or not you’re going via a trippy forest or a wacky workshop, every biome has distinctive coloration palettes, obstacles, and theming to set it aside. What actually units Phantasm Island larger than the typical platformer, nevertheless, is the element within the background and foreground. Issues like singing leaves and sock puppets enhance the fringes of each body, which matches a good distance in the direction of promoting the magical feeling of a bizarre, dreamlike world. Each display seems prefer it jumped proper off a web page of an idea artist’s pocket book in the perfect methods, and this visible splendor is an enormous a part of what makes Phantasm Island such an alluring expertise.
In the meantime, the music sticks with a largely symphonic assortment of playful and lighthearted tunes that do an awesome job of contributing to the upbeat tone. The soundtrack right here is kind of paying homage to the sort of music that will play within the outdated Mickey Mouse shorts, punctuating the motion and holding issues shifting. It’s not precisely a soundtrack that feels memorable, nevertheless it matches the general aesthetic like a glove.
Conclusion
Disney Phantasm Island is a powerful return to type for Mickey and buddies. Although we want that it was a bit more difficult, the wonderful controls, enjoyable vibes, whimsical world, and oodles of collectibles all come collectively to make for a comfortable and gratifying expertise you received’t need to miss. We strongly advocate you choose up Phantasm Island in the event you’re searching for one other high quality 2D platformer so as to add to your library, it’s stuffed with that elusive Disney magic and is among the greatest platformers to launch on the Change this yr.