The Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey & Minnie (1994)

Preliminary: What incredible music and Look so far. And wow great music with the amazing world map

I don't love that the movement is quite eslow but I like that I can both jump on enemies and throw them at each other. It does have that issue of lack of clarity between foreground, interactable, and backgruond though.

Nice already through Stage 1.

Day 1

We were brave and left the house, even tho I was really enjoying this. We had drinks at a restaurant/bar we recently realized is right next to our house. It was a beautiful night out, we were supposed to do a bonfire but whatevs. I like the Hook suit, and the suits mechanic in general, tho they feel underutilized in the level design. My biggest complaint is, there really needs to be a run or dash.

Ugh it's starting to fall into that category of just piling a bunch of enemies onto the screen.And the level design in general is getting less interesting. I kinda want my no-suit self back :-/ Which defeats teh fun of getting suits.. There just aren't enogh ways to fight back in this hook suit for this last part of the jungle level. (Now, mind you, I literally need the hook suit to get through this, but I just wish I could pick up dazed enemies like in my no-suit version)

Ugh and wayyyy too much of the flying-enemy-waits-to-spawn till an annoying moment as you jump up design.

Ehhhh I keep pushing through but I feel like this will just be a 3 star anyway despite the amazing Look and sometimes amazing Sound. The jump/bounce mechanic of this horse suit is a neat idea I suppose, but I'd rather just know when and how high I'm jumping and have better utilization of its shooting function too

Ugh this game is realllly trying to get me to drop it. After being refreshed by the amazing world map tune and Look, I then get to one of those levels where the screen scrolls and you have to trial and error to know which path to take.... There is literally no other options since it provides no way to see above you to at least see if you can be quick about it, instead it is purely trial and error. (Ah , I thought only the horse suit could break the yellow blocks, but no-Suit can pick them up. That proved the best way to manage this level. Almost quit during it, tho I really should quit the game since it is very unlikely to get above a 3 star.. and the music keeps being dungeon-y/annoying/"creepy" rather than the nostalgic cozy and/or pretty it had been)

Finally, this second part of the Caves level is properly using the Hook Suit's ability to wall jump/cling to walls.

Day 2

Okay I am in the final area doing the boss rush. I really don't like this portrait boss. Omg that boss was so much better by using the Sucker suit. It was still long and tedious, but it alleviated some of the frustration of the mechanics.

Cute, pleasant tunes for the ending sequence, good use of dawn colors/sunrise as I usually like, nice ending to what will likely be a 4 star game despite its flaws. Oh and gotta love when a game has a proper "The End" screen <3

Look: 8.5/10 Great vibe, great colors, amazing world map.

Sound : 8/10 Some are absolutely amazing, but also a couple annoying dungeon-y/battle-y songs

Play: 8/10 Some level design flaws (well, level designs I don't enjoy, I know some like the Mega Man esque design) but all around a solid platformer.

Feel: 8/10

Attachment: 8/10

Overall: 8.1/10

Completion: Main Story

Playtime: ~1h 35m

This title is a charming platformer that captures the Disney magic with bright, colorful graphics and smooth animations. You can control Mickey or Minnie as they navigate six imaginative levels, each filled with whimsical obstacles and enemies. The game shines with its costume system, which grants different abilities such as climbing walls, vacuuming up enemies, or using a gun, adding variety and light strategy to the gameplay.

Cooperative two-player mode is a notable highlight, allowing friends or family to enjoy the adventure together. However, the game is relatively short and easy, making it better suited for younger audiences or those looking for a casual experience. Some level designs feel repetitive, and while the costumes are fun, certain outfits can feel awkward or underutilized.

Overall, this game is a well-crafted, visually appealing platformer that is enjoyable for Disney fans. It offers a lighthearted and accessible experience but lacks the depth and challenge that more seasoned platformer enthusiasts might seek. I consider this one of the best SNES titles, along with all the other Disney ones it had, they are very good experiences, despite being very simplistic in general.

Its presentation also deserves special praise, the OST complements each stage with playful, circus-themed tunes, and the attention to small visual details, like expressive character animations and lively backgrounds, helps the world feel vibrant. Even if it doesn’t push the boundaries of the platforming genre, it remains memorable thanks to its polish and personality. For those who appreciate 16-bit charm and straightforward, well-designed gameplay, this title stands as a nostalgic gem that continues to be easy to revisit and enjoy.

Platform:

Super Nintendo version.

Graphics/Sound:

The graphics and animations are outstanding and funny. The light effects of fire for example, the vaulting horse animation, all those things were done perfectly in this one. Even mirror effects in the background are found. Also the soundtrack is lovely. It doesn't get on the nerves and it's still catchy and fit the theme well. The presentation on this one is pretty much perfect.

The formula from the first game wasn't changed a lot, although there is now 3 different powerups found. A vacuum cleaner (which for the most part isn't very useful), a grappling hook (a powerful tool to go up and down walls and hold on to hooks and ropes) and a cowboy outfit including a vaulting horse (to shoot and jump higher). The gameplay becomes extremely varied with these powerups. And some of them also look hilarious. There is only 6 levels I think, which could be the main criticism of this game, it's mighty short.

Difficulty:

It's a relatively easy game, there is very few places that are getting challenging, and even then you have multiple hitpoints, up to 10 even, which is more than most platformers. Most of the bosses are very easy too, even the last one, once you managed to find out what you are supposed to do.

Conclusion:

It's a lovely game, with outstanding graphics and sound. A little short but sweet. I think this might be the best mickey game I have played so far, I like it quite a bit more than the Genesis classic Castle of Illusion. And I think it surpasses the first one in the series. But it's relatively easy, so people looking for a serious challenge should look elsewhere.