Surprisingly absolutely no one, Sega has finally confirmed the existence of a new Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse remake intended for release this summer. Over in the official PlayStation blog, Sega’s senior digital brand manager Mai Kawaguchi debuted both an announcement trailer and offered a few juicy details about the remake. First things first, enjoy the trailer:
Referring to the upcoming project as a “fantastical HD reimagining”, Kawaguchi explains that the original Castle of Illusion will be well represented in spirit. Keeping an authentic feel to the 1990’s classic platformer, this remake will also include new content so that the experiences feels both nostalgic and fresh for those who fondly look back at their initial experience with the timeless classic.
Those worried about the HD reimagining soiling what is, for many, a cherished childhood memory, need not worry. Kawaguchi says the team is working alongside the director of the original game to ensure it maintains quality standards and faithfully upholds the legacy inspired by Castle of Illusion’s initial release. Apparently, the decision for waiting until this generation to remake the oft-requested platformer was a matter of necessity. “We are having a blast working with her to realize many of the elements that were intended for the original game, but couldn’t be achieved until now due to the technical limitations of previous generation consoles,” Kawaguchi said, hinting at some of the new features the remake will include.
I, like so many others, hold Castle of Illusion in rather high regard. While it’s still debated to this day whether or not it’s the best title featuring the Disney mascot, there’s simply no denying it had a profound impact on both the platforming genre and the gaming industry in general. Combining smooth, fluid gameplay with great music, visual backdrops and familiar characters/locations, the game was simply a perfect storm of everything we wanted back during the classic Genesis era.
Disney’s Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is being developed by Sega Australia, and is scheduled for release Summer 2013. The game will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360, and also on Steam.
Are you folks excited to hear about an HD remake for Castle of Illusion? Or are you burned out by this generation’s focus on remakes and HD “upgrades” to classic retro games? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
