Faisal Ghaffar 
With the cost of living rising and the ton of other problems that people are facing, everyone could use a hug right now and this is what Disney Illusion Island delivers. Designed for up to four players, this platforming adventure actually comes with a dedicated hug button that can be used for giving your partner a health boost instantly when they are struggling. It is quite endearing and is what makes the game approachable for players of all aptitude levels and ages. When it comes to the feel-good and warmth factor, Disney Illusion Island does a great job.
The story
From the beginning, you will feel the whimsical charm inherent in Disney Illusion Island. It begins with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald arriving on Monoth, a mysterious island, ready to have a picnic. However, they soon have to go looking for three magical tomes stolen from the library of the island and taken away to 3 interconnected biomes making up the vivid landscape of the island.
The adventure in Disney Illusion Island boasts a classical art style, which recalls the earliest animations seen in the House of Mouse. But, the humor appears to be more modern in its tone. Most of the interactions that you will have with the eccentric locals is text-based with exception of a few scenes, you will still enjoy a few chuckles.
The map
The map that you will come across on Disney Illusion Island becomes a sizable mouse hole and the tunnels spiral out in every direction. They have checkpoints at generous distances and give clear directions to different areas. As a matter of fact, there are also some useful teleportation devices at different points in the story, which help you skip return trips and directly beam you to the next mission.
Therefore, the story will take you about six or so hours to complete and the best part is that you will not waste any time in retracing your steps or becoming confused about where to go next. The journey appears to have a lot of forward momentum and this matches the quick movements of all of its four characters.
The characters
Each of the four characters in Disney Illusion Island are a joy, as they come with a responsive and simple set of inputs. You can also unlock new abilities on a regular basis in order to get access to areas that were gated previously. These include grappling hook swings and wall jumps. While the game does not have anything that you have not already seen in the platforming genre before, they have implemented it so smoothly that it makes you feel very good.
All four characters come with the same moveset, but it is nice to see how they have all been presented uniquely. It should be noted that none of the abilities you unlock are combat-based. While there are ill-tempered cartoons waiting to trip you up, you have to avoid them because you cannot fight them back. Nonetheless, there are some boss encounters, but they are more about passive platforming and not related to assault.
The Verdict
When it comes to platforming, Disney Illusion Island could use a bit more polish. It might not be very inventive, but it is a wholesome journey that everyone can enjoy.
