Mickey Mouse has been a surprisingly neglected character when it comes to the world of video games. A couple of half decent 16-bit appearances aside, the world's most recognisable cartoon mouse (sorry Jerry) has never really been given an outing that befits his iconic status.

All that could well be about to change with the forthcoming release of Epic Mickey. By enlisting the help of gaming legend Warren Spector and adopting a darker, more adult tone, Disney has made a clear departure from Mickey's previous half-hearted and generic platformer outings.

I attended a preview of the first couple of levels in the game a few weeks back, and it was looking very impressive. The game offers platform and RPG elements and a striking visual style, and gives a pleasingly sophisticated interpretation of the Disney universe.

The game sees Mickey navigate a "Wasteland" where discarded characters are held in a sort of Buena Vista purgatory. Allowing Spector to trawl the archives to recover genuine lost or forgotten-about Disney creations adds real value for fans and anyone who grew up with the films and cartoons. You meet the supporting cast of pirates from Peter Pan early on in the game, for example.

We'll have to wait until we've played a bit more of the game before we get too excited, of course, but I for one am already dusting off my Wii in anticipation. If I haven't convinced you, hopefully this trailer will help whet your appetite.