Pap the Disney Gamer's Highlights: Where's My Mickey?

Developed by: Creature Feep

System: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Blackberry

A few months ago, I talked about Hidden Mickey Monday's Alex McVetty's favorite game, Where's My Water? In that article, I stated that it is Disney's most successful mobile game to date thanks to gameplay that is easily accesible, yet allows for enough challenge that makes it very addicting. Such was the game's success that now we have two official spin-offs: Where's My Perry? Starring Agent P from Phineas and Ferb, and the subject of today's Gamer Tuesday article, Where's My Mickey?

The very first thing to note about Where's My Mickey is that this new game based off of the new Mickey Mouse shorts that have been airing on the Disney Channel as well as the Disney website. If you allow me to go on a tangent for a bit, these shorts have already become some of my all time favorites as they take the beloved characters we know and brings them back to their cartoony roots thanks to stories that are edgy, witty and endlessly hilarious in their irreverence. It gives Mickey Mouse back his old mischievous personality from the 1920s and 30s, and I can't wait to see more of it.

That is important to know, because Where's My Mickey bases its whole concept around the stories of the shorts. The game is composed of five animated 'episodes,' each featuring around 20 levels, where Mickey needs water in order to accomplish a goal. For example, in one episode, he is at the beach setting up a lemonade stand and sell lemonade to the thirsty beach goers. But when he lacks the means to make lemonade, ie water, he sets out to try and find it. The gameplay then consists of the player guiding the water to its final destination, and thus Mickey's goal in the episode is completed.

I think this is a very brilliant way of incorporating story and humor to the gameplay. It succeeds in extending the story of the new cartoons while successfully incorporating it into the gameplay. In other words, the gameplay serves as a way to a mean within the game world, which is whatever it is Mickey needs in that story. It also allows for the rest of the supporting cast, such as Goofy and Pluto, to play roles within the story.

Gameplay wise, Where's My Mickey retains the challenge and accesability seen in the original Where's My Water. Players use their device's touch screen to create paths that allow the water to flow through with no problem. As the level progresses, the challenges grow to include more obstacles that interrupt the flow of water. Simply put, it is classic gameplay in the same vein as the old arcade games of yesteryear.

Where's My Water provided us with simple gameplay that is quite enjoyable without sacrificing challenge. Where's My Mickey is mainly an alternate take of that gameplay, one that uses the brand new animated shorts as a spring board to make itself appealing to a wide gaming audience. And that is enough, in my opinion. Where's My Mickey is brimming with the same personality and charm of the new cartoon shorts while still being about the gameplay. It is a successful marriage of gameplay and license that should make any Disney fan try it out on their own. In that manner, they will be supporting the very creative but classic side of Disney.