Sports Games

Although possessed of a stand of considerable size to say the least, Disney has kept to a minimum its presence at E3 in Los Angeles. In addition to the fact productions related to Cars 2, due out next week at the fair, the only game with a certain thickness has been shown to release Disney Universe platform game with some very interesting features.

Not being tied to any theatrical release, Disney Universe has the huge advantage of being able to wander freely among all Disney creations, creating an original world where the protagonists are kids who wear costumes inspired by the most famous people of the U.S. House.

The two levels presented in the course of ' E3, respectively, inspired by Alice (the latest version of Tim Burton) and Monsters, Inc., has highlighted a game structure that, even with classic features, rather, seems to be able to ensure a good variety of situations. The development follows the basic patterns of the very linear, with typical plat forming sections that unfold between sequences of jumps and obstacles to avoid. Then there are the battles against monstrous creatures and puzzles that can be solved alone or together with other players. Interestingly, as we said Mark Orgel (assistant producer of Disney Universe) during the presentation, the puzzles will adjust automatically based on the number of players, changing so as to involve all participants in the solution.

A structure reminiscent of the component bases as seen, for example, in the various games in the series LEGO created by Traveler’s Tales , enriched by a number of challenges in the challenge in the form of rankings at the end of each level by breaking down the players' performance in various categories (coins collected, defeated enemies, speed in getting to the end, aid provided to peers). Furthermore, each world will be enriched by the presence of some secret paths and secondary objectives that will allow you to unlock extra costumes and gadgets once completed.

One of the stated objectives of the Disney Universe is to become a starting point for an ever-expanding world. The forty costumes and the six worlds that make up the initial offer at launch will indeed be enriched in the months following the exit of many DLC that will expand the offering with the characters and environments inspired by comic books, animated series, live action films and feature films from any Disney work, from older to newer.

What we have seen so far, both in the costumes that the levels, is especially linked to the Disney production of recent years (Nemo, Lila & Stitch, Alice in Tim Burton and Monsters Inc.). Will be quite interesting to see how a graphic style very "modern" will adapt to historical figures, tied to a very different picture. At the moment we can only just say that the visual impact is certainly nice, the locations are treated much and the protagonists, with their flamboyant costumes and their many facial expressions do not inspire little sympathy. Tradition and innovation are characteristic elements of the sound segment, which will resume offering them up with different arrangements of popular themes: Mark Orgel has expanded this concept by stating that it will be famous and easily recognizable pieces, but played in such a way to offer something different.

The main unknown factor in Disney Universe is the actual level of challenge that will provide players with a minimum of experience. The difficulty of the game it seems tuned to a young audience ("Kids and parents of kids" are the exact words of Mark Orgel described the target audience) and the only element that can make life more complicated for those who are raised on bread and platform seems to be the presence of secret areas to visit and extra items to unlock.

It is therefore difficult to predict the fate of Disney Universe: the potential is remarkable in every respect (fun game structure, technical realization of attractive, possibility of endless expansions), but whether this will be accompanied by an adequate challenge we have to wait another few months.