Quite possibly my favorite Disney game from the 16-bit era. Everything from the feel of the game to its presentation and sound design just hits right for me, but I also have a lot of nostalgia for this one and it's no doubt clouding my judgment. It's one of those games that's simply impossible to separate from specific moments in time. I remember playing this game on the morning of the 1993 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, shutting it off after the spider boss to watch the Sonic float careen off course and pop. These moments are intrinsically linked, I cannot think about one without recalling the other.
I also have really good memories of playing this with my dad when he came to visit. My father never took much interest in my hobbies, so connecting over games is something he was really only willing to do when I was very little. Although I did put him up to playing Sonic Shuffle with me years later, but that was an act of calculated malice.
Point is, I like World of Illusion a whole lot for very sappy sentimental reasons, but I think it's just a solid game too.
Gameplay feels more polished than Castle of Illusion, appropriately so for a sequel releasing two years after its predicessor. Levels are more intricately designed and there's more unique stage gimmicks to keep you invested, and while most games by 1992 were more expressive than Castle of Illusion, World does an excellent job at capturing that "Disney charm." The whole magician motif in particular is just great, and I really love the way Mickey and Donald transform enemies into things like doves and cards using their magic capes.
However, the most interesting thing about World of Illusion is how it's structured. The game is five levels long, with each level having three sets of sub-stages. Playing as Mickey will take you through one unique route, and playing as Donald will take you through another. Doing a co-op run will then take you through a third. I'd compare the level of replayability here to Sonic & Knuckles in how the character's inherent differences significantly change progression. Co-op is perhaps the most ideal way to play, though, and it's pretty clear even in single player that the game is really designed with two players in mind.
World of Illusion is one of my favorite games on the Genesis, and one of my favorite games from my childhood bar none. I totally recognize that this is a case of nostalgia overpowering critical thought, but even when I try my hardest to look past all my fond memories of this game, I still see it as being a solid Disney platformer that's well worth your time, especially if you can find someone to play it with.
I also have really good memories of playing this with my dad when he came to visit. My father never took much interest in my hobbies, so connecting over games is something he was really only willing to do when I was very little. Although I did put him up to playing Sonic Shuffle with me years later, but that was an act of calculated malice.
Point is, I like World of Illusion a whole lot for very sappy sentimental reasons, but I think it's just a solid game too.
Gameplay feels more polished than Castle of Illusion, appropriately so for a sequel releasing two years after its predicessor. Levels are more intricately designed and there's more unique stage gimmicks to keep you invested, and while most games by 1992 were more expressive than Castle of Illusion, World does an excellent job at capturing that "Disney charm." The whole magician motif in particular is just great, and I really love the way Mickey and Donald transform enemies into things like doves and cards using their magic capes.
However, the most interesting thing about World of Illusion is how it's structured. The game is five levels long, with each level having three sets of sub-stages. Playing as Mickey will take you through one unique route, and playing as Donald will take you through another. Doing a co-op run will then take you through a third. I'd compare the level of replayability here to Sonic & Knuckles in how the character's inherent differences significantly change progression. Co-op is perhaps the most ideal way to play, though, and it's pretty clear even in single player that the game is really designed with two players in mind.
World of Illusion is one of my favorite games on the Genesis, and one of my favorite games from my childhood bar none. I totally recognize that this is a case of nostalgia overpowering critical thought, but even when I try my hardest to look past all my fond memories of this game, I still see it as being a solid Disney platformer that's well worth your time, especially if you can find someone to play it with.