While not overly imaginative, these ensembles serve a clear purpose and do a meaningful job of expanding your repertoire of abilities. Or Bulldozer, who can push heavy boxes out of the way to create platforms or activate machinery. Take Gear Prince, for example, who can operate gearboxes to manipulate doors and platforms. On the other hand, Soaring Sheep can leisurely glide through the air like a wayward cotton ball and ride air currents to reach high ledges. The Jumping Jack costume allows you to flutter jump like Yoshi to clear wide gaps. This extra step seems a bit excessive because keys are almost always sitting in plain sight within spitting distance of the costume they’re meant for. These outfits are found in crystals, but you’ll need a key to open them. Much like SEGA Technical Institute’s 1992 platformer, Kid Chameleon, the game allows you to collect various costumes, each with its unique abilities. The problem is its moment-to-moment gameplay is just as all over the place as its plot. With that in mind, I could overlook Balan Wonderworld‘s weird storytelling so long as the core gameplay was engaging.
Of course, platformers aren’t exactly known for having gripping narratives. As I said, it’s nonsensical and makes it hard to become invested in Balan Wonderworld‘s narrative, as paper-thin as it is.īalan Wonderworld has more than 80 costumes to discover sadly, many become redundant shortly after you get them. Scuba lass and her porpoise pal are best of buds again, and somehow battling the invisible man’s inner demons causes the people around town to become more eco-friendly. However, once you make it through their stage’s second acts and beat the boss fights that follow, all is right with the world. Another highlights a young diver confined to a hospital bed after her dolphin companion almost killed her. One stage focuses on an elderly man with a passion for cleaning up trash who feels invisible as the townsfolk continue to litter at a rate that would cause Captain Planet to go on a homicidal rampage. What little plot there is to speak of is shown to the player through animated cutscenes at the beginning and end of each of the game’s 12 worlds.
METACRITIC BALAN WONDERWORLD FREE
In this dreamlike realm, they can explore troubled individuals’ inner worlds to free them of their worries and negative energy.Ĭalling Balan Wonderworld‘s story confusing would be a gross understatement. After stumbling into a strange abandoned theater, the pair encounter the game’s jester-like mascot Balan, who promptly spirits them away to Wonderworld. Here we’re introduced to the game’s protagonists Leo and Emma, who both seem to be going through some rough times in their lives. The game opens with some gorgeous CGI courtesy of Square Enix’s Visual Works, the talent behind Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, as well as Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. From its nonsensical story to its unresponsive controls and irritating mechanics, it’s a game that’s hard to recommend to even the most stalwart fans of the platformer genre.Ĭreated by Visual Works, Balan Wonderworld’s cinematics are gorgeous.Īt first glance, Balan Wonderworld shows signs of promise. It shoots itself in the foot at seemingly every turn. As much as it pains me to say this, Balan Wonderworld’s execution doesn’t just miss the mark.
Yet, all the artistic vision in the world doesn’t mean much if a game isn’t fun to play. With its legendary lineage and whimsical style, Balan Wonderworld certainly seems to have a lot going for it, at least on paper. As a longtime devotee of SEGA’s Blue Blur, how could I not be excited? Directed by Yuji Naka with character designs courtesy of Naoto “Big Island” Oshima, the title, co-developed by Azrest and Balan Company, marks the first time the former Sonic Team boss and Sonic The Hedgehog artist have collaborated since Sonic Adventure over 20 years ago. After Balan Wonderworld was announced, I was more than a little eager to get my hands on the game.