Can a stellar story, fantastic characters, incredible cutscenes, and a solid core gameplay mechanic overcome numerous, fundamental problems with controls, the camera, and even continuity? In the end Warren Spector’s team has created a mightily impressive foundation. They’ve managed to get the toughest stuff right – it seemed almost impossible to make Mickey Mouse matter once again. They’ve even managed to take a nearly dormant character in Oswald and introduce him in a spectacular way, making him one of the most memorable video game characters of the year. And yet the “easier” stuff – finding a camera system that works, finding a control scheme that’s suitable – is flawed to the point where the larger experience becomes damaged. If story and character matter more to you than technical details, or if you and your family are Disney fans, many of these problems won’t matter.

Ultimately, the positive elements of Epic Mickey do manage to make this worth a shot. Going in with the proper level of expectation should manage to keep some of the WiiMote throwing to a minimum… just keep that wrist strap tight.