The lights are on
Epic Mickey is a tough code to crack. It had a lot going for it, with interesting player's choices, unique game mechanics, and access to some of the best licensed properties in entertainment history. I found the game to be fairly enjoyable, but a few quirks and oversights kept the title from greatness. Where did Mickey go wrong? (Please note that this is NOT a review; but an in-depth look at the design choices and implementation of the game itself).
Kingdom Hearts for the Playstation 2 is one of my favorite games of all time. It has a simple take on its story, with friendship and love as its central concepts. The characters are endearing, the voice acting is high quality, and no expenses were spared in the animation. It has an easy to use combat system --which is often criticized for being too simplistic, because some people enjoy hour long tutorials on how to slash a sword-- that gets the job done and is a blast to play. These elements together produce a title so powerful that you're numb with sadness when the credits start to roll.
If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I scare easily. That being said, I don't play many horror or suspense games, but one game that's always managed to scare me when I least expect it is actually a game that many young children have played. If you've read the title of this post, you know what game I'm refering to. If you haven't read the title, you're lazy. Sorry. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is probably the darkest rated E game I've ever played, with creepy zombies, lantern-carrying ghosts, and skeletons that rise in the happy looking fields at night. Ocarina of Time is proof that environment and mood play a much more effective role in scaryness than blood and gore.