It’s no
secret amongst retro enthusiasts that the Castle of Illusion games on Mega
Drive and Master System are both great games in their own right, and that they
represent the high quality it was possible to achieve on both systems. The
amount of love, respect and attention to detail shown by the developers make
the games really stand out as great titles. I’m of the opinion that any
self-respecting collector should really own a copy of both of these games
because although the premise in each is the same, the implementation varies considerably.
I’ll
start by quickly setting out my stall. Of course we all know that the sound,
graphics etc. are far superior on the MD version so instead I’m going to focus
on the differences between the two versions, and how these differences make for
two very different, and engrossing experiences.
The
main premise of the game is the same across both versions: Minnie has been
kidnapped by the wicked witch Mizrabel and it’s up to our plucky hero Mickey to
rescue her from the witch’s rather imposing castle. The levels are based in a
series of rooms within the castle, and each magical room leads to a different
environment. The challenges include an unpleasant stroll though the forest,
fighting wind-up soldiers in toy land and an all you can eat buffet in the cake
world. Oddly at no point in the game does Mizrabel challenge Mickey with a tempting
plate full of English cheddar laced with warfarin! At the end of each level there
is a guardian of course, protecting gems that must be collected in order for
Mickey to progress to the final showdown with Mizrabel herself.
The
first obvious difference between the two games is the control system. Normally
you would expect this to be born out of necessity because the MS has one less
button available, but the MD version of the game actually only uses two buttons
anyway. The difference is actually driven by the games’ core play mechanics; MD
Mickey can collect items such as apples and marbles and throw them at enemies,
whereas MS Mickey can pick up items such as keys and carry them around to open
doorways. There is more of a puzzle element to the MS version in this respect,
although don’t expect a congratulatory call from Mensa anytime soon after you
complete the game!
No
self-respecting platform game would be seen dead without a few hidden extras
dotted around, and both versions are choc full of secrets for the more
dedicated gamer to discover. MD secrets come in the form of hidden passages
where you can either walk behind scenery to new areas, or destroy parts of it
by throwing projectiles. The MS version has hidden items that can be found by
bounce attacking thin air, at which point said items materialise before your
very eyes!
It’s
also worth pointing out that the MS version represents the bigger challenge of
the two games. I think this is partly due to the controls being a bit less
responsive, but also because the boss battles are more difficult. The MS
version also compartmentalises the levels into sub-sections, meaning the
occasional leap into the unknown to either continue the level or fall to your
doom; a most heinous crime implemented by many a game from that era! Needless
to say the MD version doesn’t ask you to make these infuriating decisions in
order to progress.
I’m not
going to sign off before telling you what you want to know if you’ve read this
far; which game do I think is better? Taking the games into consideration on
the consoles they were designed for, and comparing them within the boundaries
of each is a very difficult challenge. For me the MD version edges it because
of all the excellent constituent parts it brings together as one completely
brilliant package. Both games are great, but it’s the MD version that keeps me
coming back more often for some rodent related tomfoolery; I’m under no
illusion of that!
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