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PS Vita Controls Don’t Add Much
There are touch screen controls added to this PS Vita version of Epic Mickey 2, but they don’t add much to the overall gameplay. You can paint in the game by swiping the front touch screen. This is supposed to make it easier for you to paint objects in the game. I actually found it easier to paint by aiming with the right stick instead. This is how I played on the PS3 version, and I felt the touch screen controls were added just for the sake of it. There are also some sections where you’ll tilt PS Vita when Mickey and Oswald are riding in a vehicle. Again, this is nothing more than a cheap gimmick to exploit the PS Vita’s controls, but it doesn’t really add anything new or innovative to the gameplay if you’ve already played the console version of Epic Mickey 2.
Co-op Is A Must Because A.I. Is Dumb
The advantage of the console version of Epic Mickey 2 is that I could play the game with my brother using only an additional controller. In this game, co-op is only through ad-hoc connection so you need to buy another PS Vita console plus another copy of the game too. You’ll be lucky to find someone that owns both things. I don’t know why they couldn’t have added online co-op as well.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can only play as Mickey in the single player campaign. You cannot swap to become Oswald. This may not have been a problem, but the A.I. is so stupid in this game. There have been several times I would ask the A.I. to help me push a button, but he would be out of position. Oswald can also jump and glide unlike Mickey, so you’ll need to tell him to jump in certain sections of the game too. Again, this can become a frustrating experience because Oswald is never in the position you want him to go in. Sometimes he’s jump too high for Mickey to grab onto his feet.
I played though the PS3 version with my brother and it was still annoying, but without him, this PS Vita version is even worse. Relying on the A.I. to do things is near to impossible to achieve unless you somehow have patience for a game with terrible gameplay.
PS2 Graphics And Annoying Boss Battles
When I played the PS3 version last year, I described the game as looking like Kingdom Hearts II on the PS2. Since this is a direct port, the PS Vita version has exactly the same mediocre graphics. You could say some parts of the game look a little better since the game is on a smaller screen, but I did not notice too many differences anyway.
The worst thing I found about Epic Mickey 2 is the frustrating boss battles. Much like with most other video games, each boss has a certain pattern you need to follow that exposes a weak point. The weak point however is only exposed for a fraction of a second. If you miss the spot, you have to repeat the pattern all over again. Boss battles became the longest and most repetitive thing I ever did. The PS Vita version was worse because my A.I. Oswald was utterly useless during most of the battles.
Verdict
Epic Mickey 2 is sadly a missed opportunity. There are many things that could have been great about the game, but sadly the many flaws ruin it from being a fun experience. The gameplay is broken and the A.I. is the dumbest I have ever encountered in a video game. The PS Vita controls add nothing new and if you’ve played this horrible game already, there’s no reason for you to play it again. Only consider playing this game if you happen to be a very hardcore fan of Disney and Mickey Mouse.
[Editor’s Note: Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two was reviewed on the PlayStation Vita platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
