Difference between revisions of "Mickey's Ultimate Challenge"

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[[Image:Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American SNES box.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Mickey's Ultimate Challenge
 +
| Image           = Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA.jpg
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| ImageDescription = SNES - USA - 1st edition.
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| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Designer Software}}, {{VideoGameDeveloper|WayForward Technologies}}
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| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Hi Tech Expressions}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1994
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| PublishedMonth  = 02
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| PublishedDay    = ??
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| Platforms        = {{Platform|Game Boy}}, {{Platform|Game Gear}}, {{Platform|Genesis}}, {{Platform|Master System}}, {{Platform|SNES}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Active puzzle video game|Active puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Licensed video game|Licensed}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Multi-genre video game|Multi-genre}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Passive puzzle video game|Passive puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}
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| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Fantasy}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Mickey Mouse (universe)|Mickey Mouse]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Mickey's Ultimate Challenge''''' is a [[Mickey Mouse (universe)|Mickey Mouse]]-themed children's puzzle video game developed by [[Designer Software]] and [[WayForward Technologies]] and published by [[Hi-Tech Expressions]] in February 1994 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] and later ported to the [[Genesis]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Gear]], and [[Master System]]. In the game, Mickey or Minnie Mouse dreams they are in the world of fairy tales where earthquakes are plaguing a castle and must six traditional puzzles in order to stop the earthquakes. The puzzles include a [[Simon]]-like memory game, a [[Sokoban]]-like pushing game, a [[concentration (card game)|concentration]]-like matching game, a spelling game, a [[Mastermind]]-like code breaking game, and a [[sliding tile puzzle]].
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'''''Mickey's Ultimate Challenge''''' is a [[Mickey Mouse (universe)|Mickey Mouse]]-themed children's [[multi-genre video game|multi-genre]] [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Designer Software]] and [[WayForward Technologies]] and published by [[Hi Tech Expressions]] in February 1994 for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] and later ported to the [[Genesis]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Gear]], and [[Master System]].
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In the game, Mickey or Minnie Mouse dreams they are in the world of fairy tales where earthquakes are plaguing a castle and must solve six traditional puzzles in order to stop the earthquakes. The puzzles include a [[Simon]]-like memory game, a [[Sokoban]]-like pushing game, a [[concentration (card game)|concentration]]-like matching game, a [[Video word game|spelling game]], a [[Mastermind]]-like code breaking game, and a [[sliding tile puzzle]].
 +
 
 +
==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Master System port.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2019-09-08.
 +
}}
  
 
I played this game while trying to expand my familiarity with the Master System catalog (not knowing better versions were available for the SNES and Genesis). I first played it on "cake" difficulty, and beat it, then upped it to hard difficulty and beat it again, all in one attempt.
 
I played this game while trying to expand my familiarity with the Master System catalog (not knowing better versions were available for the SNES and Genesis). I first played it on "cake" difficulty, and beat it, then upped it to hard difficulty and beat it again, all in one attempt.
 
==Status==
 
I don't own this game, but I have beaten the Master System port on easy and hard difficulty in a single attempt on 2019-09-08.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
{{Video Game Review|3|5|5|4|2|34%|Genesis}}
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{{Video Game Review|3|5|6|4|2|Genesis}}
  
 
{{Spoilers}}
 
{{Spoilers}}
Line 19: Line 41:
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* The music is poorly arranged and has little variety. The original SNES game has a lot of noise in the music. The Genesis sound is better.
 
* The music is poorly arranged and has little variety. The original SNES game has a lot of noise in the music. The Genesis sound is better.
* The game is clearly geared toward children, but a couple of the puzzles, Mastermind and the 6x6 sliding tile puzzle in particular, are pretty hard for kids. The game probably shoud
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* The game is clearly geared toward children, but a couple of the puzzles, [[Mastermind]] and the 6x6 [[sliding tile puzzle]] in particular, are pretty hard for kids. The game probably should have come up with a better way to handle various levels of complexity.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* There is very little to this game and 16-bit cartridges could have fit a lot more. The game is far too short, too easy, and too unoriginal. Even on hard mode, I beat every mini game on my very first attempt, primarily because they were all traditional games that I have played dozens of times before so I already had the skills necessary to beat them.
+
* There is very little to this game and 16-bit cartridges could have fit a lot more. The game is far too short, too easy, and too unoriginal. Even on hard mode, I beat every mini game on my very first attempt, primarily because they were mostly traditional games that I have played dozens of times before so I already had the skills necessary to beat them.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 
===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
The same box art is used for all regions and ports. The SNES has a wide crop and the Genesis has a tall crop. Together that show most of the original artwork. It's expertly painted and clearly depicts a puzzle game with a fantasy theme. Too bad the puzzle shown on the box doesn't exist in the game.
+
The same box art is used for all regions and ports. The SNES has a wide crop and the Genesis has a tall crop. Together they show most of the original artwork. It's expertly painted and clearly depicts the game's puzzle nature and fantasy theme. Too bad the puzzle shown on the box doesn't exist in the game.
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA.jpg|SNES, North America, wide view.
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Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA.jpg|SNES - USA - Wide view.
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - GEN - USA.jpg|Genesis, North America, tall view.
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Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - GEN - USA.jpg|Genesis - USA - Tall view.
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Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SMS - Brazil.jpg|Master System - Brazil - Tall view.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Documentation===
 
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - GG - USA - Manual.pdf|North American Game Gear manual.
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Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - GB - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Game Boy - USA.
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - MS - Brazil - Manual.pdf|Brazilian Master System manual.
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Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - GG - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Game Gear - USA.
 +
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - MS - Brazil - Manual.pdf|Manual - Master System - Brazil.
 +
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - SNES - USA.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kR8pTnDWww youtube.com/watch?v=-kR8pTnDWww] - Longplay, Game Boy (easy).
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{{YouTube|-kR8pTnDWww|Longplay - Game Boy (easy).}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw90KuJRgJc youtube.com/watch?v=pw90KuJRgJc] - Longplay, Game Gear (easy).
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{{YouTube|pw90KuJRgJc|Longplay - Game Gear (easy).}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03q7L-HZZ18 youtube.com/watch?v=03q7L-HZZ18] - Longplay, Genesis (hard).
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{{YouTube|03q7L-HZZ18|Longplay - Genesis (hard).}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8WrKFO83c youtube.com/watch?v=pt8WrKFO83c] - Longplay, Master System (easy).
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{{YouTube|pt8WrKFO83c|Longplay - Master System (easy).}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV1lp6M4ezk youtube.com/watch?v=IV1lp6M4ezk] - Longplay, SNES (easy).
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{{YouTube|IV1lp6M4ezk|Longplay - SNES (easy).}}
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 +
==Play Online==
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{{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/gameboy-games/mickey-s-ultimate-challenge-usa-europe.html|Game Boy}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/gamegear-games/mickey-s-ultimate-challenge-usa-europe.html|Game Gear}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/genesis-games/mickey-s-ultimate-challenge-usa.html|Genesis}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/mastersystem-games/mickey-s-ultimate-challenge-brazil.html|Master System}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/snes-games/mickey-s-ultimate-challenge-usa.html|SNES}}
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 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
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| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Pass
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| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = You can play as Minnie and solve all the puzzles. Daisy also makes an appearance, but she's not as important.
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| BechdelTestStatus          = Pass
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = When playing as Minnie, Daisy talks to her about the portrait puzzle.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = The giant, the only human-ish character, is white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/game/mickeys-ultimate-challenge}}
 
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/game/mickeys-ultimate-challenge}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey%27s_Ultimate_Challenge}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey%27s_Ultimate_Challenge}}
 +
{{Link|SegaRetro|https://segaretro.org/Mickey%27s_Ultimate_Challenge}}
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{{Link|GameFAQs|https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588489-mickeys-ultimate-challenge}}
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Multi-Genre]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Block Pushing]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Puzzle]]
 
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Female Character]]
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Female Character]]
[[Category: Game Boy Games]]
 
[[Category: Game Gear Games]]
 
[[Category: Genesis Games]]
 
[[Category: Master System Games]]
 
[[Category: SNES Games]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:33, 7 March 2024

Mickey's Ultimate Challenge

Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SNES - USA.jpg

SNES - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Designer Software, WayForward Technologies
Publisher Hi Tech Expressions
Published 1994-02-??
Platforms Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, Master System, SNES
Genres Active puzzle, Licensed, Multi-genre, Passive puzzle, Platformer, Puzzle
Themes Cartoon, Fantasy
Series Mickey Mouse
Distribution Commercial

Mickey's Ultimate Challenge is a Mickey Mouse-themed children's multi-genre puzzle video game developed by Designer Software and WayForward Technologies and published by Hi Tech Expressions in February 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to the Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear, and Master System.

In the game, Mickey or Minnie Mouse dreams they are in the world of fairy tales where earthquakes are plaguing a castle and must solve six traditional puzzles in order to stop the earthquakes. The puzzles include a Simon-like memory game, a Sokoban-like pushing game, a concentration-like matching game, a spelling game, a Mastermind-like code breaking game, and a sliding tile puzzle.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. Master System port.
Finished2019-09-08.

I played this game while trying to expand my familiarity with the Master System catalog (not knowing better versions were available for the SNES and Genesis). I first played it on "cake" difficulty, and beat it, then upped it to hard difficulty and beat it again, all in one attempt.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 5 6 4 2

Best Version: Genesis

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game has adequate pixel art and animation for 1994. The SNES is the best, but the Genesis is a close-second.
  • I like that you can chose between Mickey or Minnie Mouse as your playable character.

Bad

  • The music is poorly arranged and has little variety. The original SNES game has a lot of noise in the music. The Genesis sound is better.
  • The game is clearly geared toward children, but a couple of the puzzles, Mastermind and the 6x6 sliding tile puzzle in particular, are pretty hard for kids. The game probably should have come up with a better way to handle various levels of complexity.

Ugly

  • There is very little to this game and 16-bit cartridges could have fit a lot more. The game is far too short, too easy, and too unoriginal. Even on hard mode, I beat every mini game on my very first attempt, primarily because they were mostly traditional games that I have played dozens of times before so I already had the skills necessary to beat them.

Media

Box Art

The same box art is used for all regions and ports. The SNES has a wide crop and the Genesis has a tall crop. Together they show most of the original artwork. It's expertly painted and clearly depicts the game's puzzle nature and fantasy theme. Too bad the puzzle shown on the box doesn't exist in the game.

Documentation

Videos

Longplay - Game Boy (easy).
Longplay - Game Gear (easy).
Longplay - Genesis (hard).
Longplay - Master System (easy).
Longplay - SNES (easy).

Play Online

Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, Master System, SNES

Representation

Strong female character?PassYou can play as Minnie and solve all the puzzles. Daisy also makes an appearance, but she's not as important.
Bechdel test?PassWhen playing as Minnie, Daisy talks to her about the portrait puzzle.
Strong person of color character?FailThe giant, the only human-ish character, is white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-SegaRetro.png  Link-GameFAQs.png