Mickey's Wild Adventure Longplay (PlayStation) [50 FPS]
71Developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1996
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Regular followers of my channel will know that I've been releasing a series of videos covering Mickey Mania, a multi-platform released originally back in 1994 for the Sega Mega Drive and Super Nintendo 16-bit consoles.
In addition to the cartridge-based releases, a version of the game was also released for the Sega CD the same year. Although I have recorded that version, I thought it would be more interesting to fast-forward to 1996 and take a look at Mickey's Wild Adventure for the original PlayStation.
With the launch of the PlayStation, developers found themselves with access to a hardware platform with significantly better performance, graphical and audio capabilities than any of the 16-bit platforms that preceded it. Throw in CD-based media support with up to 650 MB of storage available and you had all the components in place to see a true, generational shift in terms of game quality and production values.
Whilst the PS1 ushered in the 3D revolution, it was equally capable of delivering some great 2D games that the older 16-bit platforms simply couldn't match; you only have to look at Ubi Soft's Rayman for an example. Whereas Rayman was built from the ground up for the next generation of consoles, Mickey's Wild Adventure is actually a re-titled version of Mickey Mania, which has been brought over to 32-bit generation hardware.
Obviously, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to simply port a 16-bit game to a 32-bit console without making some changes, or adding new features; the question is, what does this version offer that the 16-bit editions didn't? I'll be using the Mega Drive version as my reference point, considering it was the best of the 16-bit versions.
Let's start with the most obvious difference, which are the graphics. Most of the artwork has been redrawn with increased levels of fine detail, especially the background layers, which only add to the sense that you're playing a real cartoon. The PS1 also boasts an improved colour palette capable of displaying more on-screen colours, something else that is immediately apparent in this version of the game; the higher colour count practically eliminates the old-school dithering from the 16-bit version, giving the game a much smoother, clearer and less pixelated appearance.
The 3D capabilities of the PS1 are also given some screen time, replacing the pseudo-3D effect used in the Moose Hunters chase sequence with a full 3D environment (although the characters are still sprites). I wouldn't say that the 3D visuals improve the gameplay, but it's still a cool addition.
Unsurprisingly, the game's audio is a significant upgrade in terms of quality. The music is the same as the Sega CD version, but the timing peculiarities in that version seem to have been corrected here and everything sounds fantastic. Not only does Mickey have many more lines of dialogue over the cartridge-based game (many of them contextual based on what's happening), but the clarity of the samples is much improved as well. There's also a plethora of new sound effects that are just like the sounds you'd hear in real cartoons, enhancing the experience.
The new graphics and audio are definitely great additions, but you might be wondering whether there is any genuinely new content added to this version of the game. Sadly, the only new addition is the inclusion of another 3D chase section during Mickey and the Beanstalk, where Mickey has to flee from the encroaching Giant; nice as it is, it certainly wouldn't have warranted a separate purchase if you'd owned the 16-bit version of the game. Those of you who watch to the end will notice that the final boss sequence looks different, but this was taken directly from the Sega CD version, so it's not technically new content.
Mickey's Wild Adventure is undoubtedly the definitive edition of the game and is still a good 2D platformer. Unfortunately, the lack of additional content leaves the game significantly shorted than contemporary PS1 titles (Rayman featuring significantly more levels and content); considering that this would have been released 2 years after the PS1 hit the streets, it does start to seem like a quick way to make some cash and re-releasing an older game with some updated sound and graphics.
Even so, if you've never experienced the game before, then the PS1 version of the game is undoubtedly the best edition and is the one you should look to play.
#retrogaming