Every stage offers a different hook - the underground ventures of the forest, the multiple routes of the toy box, the auto-scrolling nightmare of the chocolate factory, the fully-playable piano of the library, the rotating screws and mechanisms of the clock tower and the darkness-plunging basements of the wicked witch's castle. Sorry, losers! This ain't a hula hoop! No, Castle of Illusion was and is a tricky beast, laced with clever stage design and sparing in its gimmickry. Far beyond the pitiful abilities of my 1950s parents. The ultimate transgression.īut, thankfully, there was always Normal mode. Not only had my parents been playing my game without permission, they had finished it. I came home from school one day a couple of weeks later only to find my parents sitting and watching the ending sequence of Practice mode, having completed the game in my absence. The stages in Practice mode are about three screens long. The game opens onto a choice between Practice and Normal modes, and I picked Practice, because I was five years old. I played Alex Kidd in Miracle World first, but this was given to me that same Christmas, in its case. This is the first boxed game I ever owned. No, this is more than just some specifications. See more of my work at Ĭastle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse for the Master System is not a game I can judge with any sort of objectivity, but I'm not sure why you'd want that, anyway.

Mickeys castle of illusion