Castle of Illusion is one of the most beloved 16-bit Genesis games of all time. Nostalgia being as bankable as it is, it was no surprise to see Sega team up with Disney Interactive Studios to revamp the game and bring it to consoles earlier this year. Despite mixed reviews at launch, the game's now available to download from the App Store. Thankfully, the touchscreen version is better, and while it's short, it's also full of imaginative levels from forests, to toy-filled kids rooms, and other locations brimming with enemies and secrets.
The Good
Castle of Illusion benefits from an upbeat atmosphere throughout, regardless of the peril at hand, and this mood carries over into the soundtrack. Gamers can also expect quality visuals that really bring each environment to life, especially when it comes to the variety of enemies wandering about, from toy soldiers and planes, to feisty mushrooms and ghosts. As for the gameplay, there's plenty to like, particularly when it comes to exploring every inch to track down a variety of hidden items, like treasure chests, diamonds and apples - the latter of which Mickey can throw at enemies.
The Bad
You can forget about a big console-to-mobile discount. Castle of Illusion currently sells for $9.99, putting it at the higher end of the iOS pricing spectrum. On top of that, the floaty controls take some getting used to. The game responds quite well to touchscreen taps, but it's too easy to miss a jump and then have to restart Mickey's journey through a particularly tricky area.
The Verdict
While by no means perfect, Castle of Illusion is a good enough platformer that pays worthy homage to the Genesis classic. That said, its high cost makes it too expensive to be an impulse buy, and we can only suggest waiting for the inevitable price drop.
The Good
Castle of Illusion benefits from an upbeat atmosphere throughout, regardless of the peril at hand, and this mood carries over into the soundtrack. Gamers can also expect quality visuals that really bring each environment to life, especially when it comes to the variety of enemies wandering about, from toy soldiers and planes, to feisty mushrooms and ghosts. As for the gameplay, there's plenty to like, particularly when it comes to exploring every inch to track down a variety of hidden items, like treasure chests, diamonds and apples - the latter of which Mickey can throw at enemies.
The Bad
You can forget about a big console-to-mobile discount. Castle of Illusion currently sells for $9.99, putting it at the higher end of the iOS pricing spectrum. On top of that, the floaty controls take some getting used to. The game responds quite well to touchscreen taps, but it's too easy to miss a jump and then have to restart Mickey's journey through a particularly tricky area.
The Verdict
While by no means perfect, Castle of Illusion is a good enough platformer that pays worthy homage to the Genesis classic. That said, its high cost makes it too expensive to be an impulse buy, and we can only suggest waiting for the inevitable price drop.
