Disneyland Adventures: an open-world game for me
Had you told me ten years ago that I'd be big into a game involving anything Disney, I would have told you to get your Kingdom Hearts nonsense out of my face. Then I got married and finally visited a Disney park for the first time in eleven years and it was freakin' magical. I got the bug. Or I got bit by a mouse. Whatever it is, I now really like Disney Parks and I get in the mood for Disney stuff every Sunday.
While seeking out Disney content, I came across Disneyland Adventures for Xbox One (enhanced for Xbox One X) and Windows. An update to Kinect Disneyland Adventures for Xbox 360, this version drops the need for a Kinect and adds controller support. This means that the game is slightly easier to navigate in the open-world, but the games aren't especially involving when it comes to the controller, as you are mostly mimicking movements that you would make using Kinect.
The main shining element of this game is that it's a near-perfect rendition of Disneyland circa 2011. Really, it is. You can walk down Main Street USA and soak in the details found in the park itself. There are people walking around, creating an almost realistic crowd. Characters from Disney properties line their respective lands, and you can meet and greet them all! From Mickey Mouse to Brer Rabbit, you can take photos, high-five, hug, dance, and get autographs from all kinds of Disney and Pixar characters. Many sound as though they are voiced by their original (or then-current) voice actors. I don't know if they really are, as I have not looked into it, but the illusion is there.
Some of the attractions you can ride virtually, such as Dumbo, Astro Orbiter, King Arthur's Carousel, and Gadget's Go-Coaster. The game puts you in a first-person view as your ride moves along the pre-determined path. Other attractions, such as The Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain take you into a series of adventures, each with multiple chapters. There is a variety of gameplay, such as shooting, posing, throwing, and sneaking. For example, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters is an on-rails shooting game. Pirates of the Caribbean is on-rails exploration in a variety of environments. Each attraction's adventure is unique and themed just like the ride in the park, so you get to explore locations inspired by places inside of Disneyland park.
Some of my more favorite attractions are Pirates of the Caribbean, The Matterhorn, and The Haunted Mansion. For The Matterhorn, you start out by riding a bobsled down the mountain. Then, you get into a snowball fight with the abominable snowman. Later, you ski the rest of the way down with Goofy, running into Mickey-shaped snowmen and performing tricks off off large jumps. Pirates of the Carribbean, in contrast, starts you off by rowing a boat down the bayou, fighting off alligators. Later, you get to walk your way down the streets, hiding in a barrel and throwing fruit at nearby pirates. In The Haunted Mansion, you get chased by ghosts while exploring a large, dark, scary mansion.
The quests in the overworld are fun, but also somewhat exhausting. In each land there are a certain number of tasks you need to complete. Several with the characters in that land, and several dealing with the environment. For example, you may need to collect some of Belle's books for her, or find gooseberries for Snow White. In the same area though, you also need to zap the lights with the blaster, or water the flowers with the squirtgun. Sometimes it can be difficult to find that last light or last plant to water! The game will give you a count, but it's not as though the lights stay illuminated or the flowers blossomed. So you will be stuck on 19/20 lamp posts, but you can't for the life of you find the last one!
There is some avatar customization, mostly with hair colors, skin colors, and clothing. You are given the choice of being a boy or a girl, and you can use the tokens you find in the park to buy new shirts, pants, costumes, and hats. You can also buy collector's pins, which differ per land. In addition to these collectibles, you get a series of autograph books for your characters to sign, and you are tasked with taking photos with those characters too. In some cases, you will be required to purchase a costume in order to progress with some of the quests assigned by various characters. For example you need to be dressed like a Lost Boy in order to continue with Peter Pan.
One thing I find a little funny is the inclusion or exclusion of certain details. For example, no mention of Star Wars is made anywhere in the park. Not even the Star Tours attraction is present! Even though I remember reading that Mickey Mouse is only supposed to be in one place at a time in the real Disneyland park, he can be found in three different places. The remainder of the "Sensational Six" can be found in two places (Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto). Another interesting inclusion is the character Black Barty, who is the avatar/mascot of sorts for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. See, they couldn't have the likeness of Johnny Depp in the game without paying a bunch for it, so they didn't have Jack Sparrow. Instead, we get Black Barty, and I kind of like him better than I think I would have liked Jack Sparrow.
I strongly recommend playing this fun open-world game, especially if you are even a casual fan of Disney parks. I'm not especially a big fan of open-world games, so I cannot say how it stands up to the more popular games in the genre. What I can say is that I had a lot of fun, even if the game gets a little grindy at times. If you feel a sense of magic from being in the parks, then you will likely feel that same magic playing this game. And if you have children who are fans of Disney properties, then they will love playing this game with you as you meet all their favorite characters and explore the fun and unique challenges posed in every part of the park.
Thank you for reading this brief article. Please read my other work.
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