Disney has announced through its Fan Club newsletter that it plans to release Epic Mickey 2 this Christmas. The game will allow a second player to join in the fun with a new splitscreen mode playing as Oswald the Luck Rabbit, harnessing the power of electricity and flight. No online coop has been confirmed at this time.

The newsletter reads

"Disney Epic Mickey 2 is the latest game in the critically acclaimed Disney Epic Mickey videogame series. In this all-new action-platforming game available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii, Mickey embarks on an epic journey and is pulled back into a world filled with Disney's forgotten characters. Players can choose to play single-player as Mickey or for the first time players can also choose two-player split screen mode. In the two-player mode one person can play as Mickey wielding magic paint and paint thinner to dynamically change the world and the second player can play as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit - Walt Disney's first cartoon star - with the power to fly like a helicopter and use electricity to fight or friend enemies and solve challenges. Team-up and choose your path to save this forgotten world because the choices you make will alter the story and change the end of the game!"

URL to share (right click and copy)

@Zero

That doesn't seem any different from the way Wii software sold from the very beginning.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 01/03/12, 20:29

I think both Epic Mickey and DKCR charted in the NPD (US only) Top 10 of Dec 2010.

That's a pretty impressive feat considering most of the other games listed were multiplatform numbers combined.

Posted by

New Forms

on: 01/03/12, 20:36

Edited:

01/03/12, 20:36

@Jargon I guess? But there at least seemed to be this notion that something like Trauma Center, No More Heroes or De Blob could put up decent numbers early on, and that dwindled a lot by the end of 2010. Not that there were too many examples in 2010, but we were seeing things like Trauma Team, No More Heroes 2, Red Steel 2, Sin & Punishment 2 etc. not just put up weak numbers but absolutely abysmal ones. I think Other M's weak sales also added to that dialogue, although I kind of think that game wouldn't have done much better at any time. Epic Yarn also didn't sell all that well, for Kirby anyway.

Whatever the case, my main point is that Epic Mickey sold a ton when no one expected it to, and I think in no small part because it's Mickey and Mickey hits the Wii market perfectly. And by the end of 2012 Wii will find it tougher to sell games than the end of 2010 but I think Mickey will still sell.

Also I'd be kind of shocked if this game didn't get a Wii U version. They may just be holding back announcing it so as to not automatically kill off sales of the Wii version or something? I dunno.

Posted by

Zero

on: 01/03/12, 20:42

Edited:

01/03/12, 20:44

Who expected DKCR or Epic Mickey sales to take a beating? They were guaranteed to sell gangbusters.

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 01/03/12, 20:42

@Zero

Sure, I just don't think the word "dead" is accurate considering it never was much of a haven for quality third party software in the first place. Nintendo still will be able to count on it for Mario Party 9, I think and I'm sure Just Dance 4 or whatever will continue to justify its existence on Wii and I think Epic Mickey 2 will probably do just fine.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 01/03/12, 21:15

Can we please discuss the game instead of whether or not the Wii is dead?

Posted by

Earendil

on: 01/03/12, 21:44

Sure, my family has a copy of the game but I never got around to playing it after I heard various complaints and my older niece didn't get into it much

Still, from what I've heard it seems like the kind of game that could be improved vastly in a sequel, so let's hope they actually dedicate resources to it, that Warren Spector has learned more about making a platformer (assuming he's still involved) and that they focus on the things the original did well.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 01/03/12, 21:56

I think it makes sense that the sequel is going multi-platform. Nintendo platforms are the most natural place for Mickey, but with the Wii U and other consoles round the corner they need to make an engine for the future rather than re-use the one they made for a console with tech that's 10 years+ old.

De Blob 2 was different, it just didn't have the name recognition. I think this is the right strategy overall.

Posted by

achhibbar

on: 01/03/12, 22:28

Make a Wii U version you damn idiots!! You better!!!

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 01/04/12, 02:17

Simbabbad said:

@Jargon

Oh, I'm not doubting a Wii U version. But a Wii one, now? No way, and apparently, you agree.

The thing, too, is you really felt the team struggled with the hardware. They didn't know/forgot how to deal with such a system.

This is right on. Game felt almost broken at times. I hate dying or even being hit because the camera is so bad. The only reason I even pushed on thru the end was the fact that it was half way decent disney game.

Also this one better have damn voice overs. The first game would have been so much better voiced, I cant even imagine why it wasnt. Kingdom Hearts was and it was on ps2

Posted by

colep53

on: 01/04/12, 05:25

Not sure why it isn't coming to Wii U as well, unless development started well before Wii U was unveiled, though even still couldn't they cut the development on Wii and transfer everything from the 360/PS3 version over to Wii U?

Posted by

Brick

on: 01/04/12, 05:55

I still need to play the first one.

Posted by

Tranquilo

on: 01/04/12, 05:56

@Brick But why would they cut the development on the Wii version? I think the game sold a lot to kids/etc. who aren't historically the ones buying a new platform at launch. The Wii version makes sense.

Posted by

Zero

on: 01/04/12, 06:39

There's going to be a Wii U version, publishers probably aren't allowed to announce any new Wii U projects until E3.

Posted by

OrbitalBeard

on: 01/04/12, 06:57

And if there's a Wii version, there could probably be a 3DS version as well. You never know. Maybe the 3DS and Wii will start sharing a similar relationship that the Wii and PS2 had 5 years ago.

Posted by

PogueSquadron

on: 01/04/12, 07:05

I thought this was confirmed? This interviewer is acting like it hasn't been confirmed yet, and Specter is talking like nothing is finalized. Hmm.

Anyway, short interview with Specter on Epic Mickey 2 and... Duck Tales speculation?!

LINK

Some quick quotes...

RE: the first game...

No, it did exceptionally well for Disney. It was the best-selling single-platform game the company has ever done.

Co-op would appear to be in the works...

The second thing I get asked is "you made a game that appeals to adults and kids equally," which is true by the way and was one of our goals, so "Why can't I play together? Why can't I play with my son and why can't I play with my mother? Why I can't play with my friends?" So, I would probably do co-op.

Duck Tales 3?

And a Duck game, you know, some day people are going to get tired of me saying, "I want to do a Duck game. I want to do a Duck game. I want to do a Duck game.

Um... is he... what?

Absolutely. That's the way to get what you want, man. It just becomes so annoying they have no choice. That's how I get everything in life. You can ask my wife about that too. (laughter)

I can't help but take that sexually.

Posted by

Zero

on: 03/16/12, 21:58

I'd be all for a new Ducktales game! In 2D please, where it belongs. :P

When do you think we'll get confirmation of yes/no on a Wii U version of EM2?
E3? Before? Not until the holidays?

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 03/16/12, 22:51

Epic Mickey 2 Reveal Next Week on GT?

Awesome. Wii U please.

Expected to fix camera from original (which I personally never saw as a problem) as well as add full voice acting (as Spector admits it was a mistake omitting it from the first).

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 03/17/12, 05:27

Edited:

03/17/12, 05:28