Though you might not look at an Atari 2600 game and immediately think that it has high production values, you can tell that Sorcerer’s Apprentice was a lavish title in its day.

The Atari 2600 is hardly a capable machine, and in 1983, when Sorcerer’s Apprentice was released, it was definitely showing its age, but this is a gorgeous game by the standards of the console.

Even the title screen seems impossibly brilliant for Atari, with a stunningly gorgeous, highly accurate pixel art portrait of Mickey Mouse.

Based on the segment in Fantasia, in which Mickey Mouse struggles to maintain control of the enchanted brooms he’s cast a spell on, Sorcerer’s Apprentice has two distinct gameplay areas.

In the first, players are trying to shoot down or catch stars, before they can transform into more brooms. The second screen, which you can access at any time, has Mickey actually running into the brooms to stop them from flooding the cavern.

There’s a progress bar which allows you to see how flooded the cavern is, even if you’re above ground, so you can switch between the two areas as needed, heading down or up the steps depending on where you’re coming from, and going to.

It’s somehow a very pretty game (screenshots really don’t do it justice), with a responsive and well animated main character; despite the hardware-enforced simplicity of the visuals, the way the steps in the cavern are rendered, or how Mickey himself looks is genuinely impressive.

It’s very easy, however, being aimed at kids, and that lack of challenge does make it a little dull at times. Though you’ll eventually get overwhelmed by the flooding water in the cavern, actually getting to the point of no return is a little dull, it has to be said.

Still, this is an ambitious and beautifully produced title, and still provides a little fun even now; younger players are likely to get the most from it, however.

It’s also worth noting that the packaging and even the manual have been put together with so much care, and feel especially premium next to the majority of other Atari 2600 titles. The manual in particular is really impressive, with some genuinely beautiful artwork. If you can get hold of a copy of this game boxed and with a manual in decent condition, it’s well worth picking up; as a package, it’s truly lovely.

It’s a shame the game itself isn’t a bit more compelling, but it certainly doesn’t lack in ambition or visual flair, especially considering its host platform’s limitations.