Disney Illusion Island Reviews
This would make a great game for a parent to introduce a young child how to play platformers and Metroidvanias. I can’t imagine an adult playing this and not getting bored after a couple hours though. And if young kids can figure out Minecraft, they can just play a classic Metroidvania instead. A co-op Metroidvania is an enticing idea, but this one is only for newbees.
Considering how revered the Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion games were from the 16-bit era for their mastery and level design, there is still absolutely oodles of potential for a contemporary genre effort to hit those highs, while still retaining the roundly attractive visual presentation that we see here. That game however, isn't Disney Illusion Island. Then again, if your age has yet to hit double digits and the idea of watching live-action Disney remakes and suchlike make you giddy rather than making your eyeballs roll into the back of your skull, or you're just in the mood for a super relaxing, breezy and zero stress platformer, then by all means feel free to add another point or so to the score seen below.
We've had a great time playing Disney Illusion Island in multiplayer as a family, and I can't help but think that's the only "right" way to play it. It would be nice if there was a bit more voice acting, since the gameplay is simple enough that even kids who can't quite read yet are able to pick it up and play mostly effortlessly, but even considering these few flaws it's still one of the best family games of 2023. It's a well-made adventure that, despite the many assistance features and lack of combat, still manages to be entertaining and enjoyable to players of varying ages. While it probably won't be everyone's favorite Metroidvania of all time, it's absolutely worth playing if you have kids.
Disney Illusion Island is a good entertainment title for families, with the addition of a coop up to four players that makes the experience even more immersive.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It doesn’t help just how stubbornly Illusion Island’s gameplay traffics in the familiar. It’s not until the last level that it takes off the training wheels and offers much of a challenge for older audiences, but it’s disappointing that it’s game over just as the campaign is getting a head of steam up. Illusion Island, then, has enough magic to make you wish there was more of it.
Disney Illusion Island is a great introduction to the metroidvania genere, but things like a slow pace and a very simple level design, stops it from being a better game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With unrelenting charm, excellent writing and voice work, and an art style that is sure to put a smile on your face, Disney Illusion Island is the magical Mickey Metroidvania you didn't know you needed.
Disney Illusion Island is a great entry as a first Metroidvania for younger fans. While the slower paced movement might not mesh well for all gamers, there's a lot to do in this expansive world filled with quick wit and hidden collectibles.
Disney Illusion Island from Dlala Studios is a fantastic platformer that features some gorgeous animation, a decent story, and short stints of good gameplay that will keep gamers hooked. While it may not completely satisfy more seasoned gamers, it should entertain those who adore the mouse house.
Disney Illusion Island has opened its borders to gamers beyond the Switch, offering fans of Mickey and friends an essential new adventure.
Disney Illusion Island is a charming, enjoyable, easygoing Metroidvania platformer that should appeal to everyone regardless of how familiar you are with the genre or how skilled you are on the sticks.
Disney Illusion Island ultimately proves to be more Disney than Metroid. That makes sense: they’re selling this game based on Mickey and Minnie, after all. If you’re a Hollow Knight or Ori fan looking for something as challenging or emotionally powerful as those games, you probably never expected a game starring Goofy to deliver on that. Illusion Island gives us what it promised: a light, fun Metroid-style game with multiplayer, built around Disney’s most beloved characters, and that’s ideal for younger players and their friends and family. You’d have to be seriously goofy to find any fault with that.
Disney Illusion Island is a competent and approachable metroidvania-style platformer that does a great job at accommodating players of all skill levels and offers up a great take on Mickey and Friends, but a relatively short runtime combined with overly simple mechanics and some disappointing presentational choices means that it falls just short of true magic.
Disney Illusion Island may be striving to be a flashy and exciting 2D Metroidvania experience, but its depth remains one-dimensional. It starts at a snail's pace with its drip-feeding of basic and essential abilities and from there it never really picks up. This is unfortunately thanks to floaty platforming that will disinterest most along with the most uninspired Metroidvania-level design I've seen in some time. Though there are classic and picturesque Disney flourishes aplenty, it's not enough to make the game an enjoyable experience to investigate every nook and cranny for secrets. Be warned, this is an island voyage not all that worth taking.
Disney illusion Island is an absolute success and a worthy addition to your gaming library.
While the story and venue fail to leave a strong impression, and the backtracking gameplay gets old fast, the game's successes in animation, platforming mechanics, and end-game content help balance things out.
Despite its name, Disney Illusion Island is not a new game of the beloved "illusion series" for old SEGA consoles. It's a simple and well crafted metroidvania with a sweet and relaxed atmosphere that reminds the old good Walt Disney of twenty years ago.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It never fully challenged me personally and isn’t an overly long experience, but with a few friends or Disney diehards, Disney Illusion Island is a worthy adventure and one of the better licensed titles to venture out from the Magic Kingdom of late.
Disney Illusion Island is a great game to pick up this holiday season for families that want to be able to play together. At the moment, there are no sales on it, but it is worth checking out. Hopefully, one day it will come to other platforms so gamers on other platforms can enjoy it.