Balan Wonderworld

 PlayStation 4
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 220 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 119 out of 220
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 220
  3. Negative: 97 out of 220
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  1. HonestGamer22
    Apr 12, 2021
    0
    Don't believe in any of the score = 10 - the accounts that claim this game is a 10/10 are accounts that have ONLY rated this game in their user history. More than likely these accounts were created by the very developers or backers of this trash of a game. Truly a scam. the people involved in letting this game to be sold at all should never develop a game again. A more realistic user scoreDon't believe in any of the score = 10 - the accounts that claim this game is a 10/10 are accounts that have ONLY rated this game in their user history. More than likely these accounts were created by the very developers or backers of this trash of a game. Truly a scam. the people involved in letting this game to be sold at all should never develop a game again. A more realistic user score is closer to 0.… Expand
  2. hampact9
    Apr 12, 2021
    0
    Legitimately one of the worst games I have ever played. The controls are oversimplified and unsatisfactory. The way the level builds folds around your character makes me nauseous. It is a game with lots of squandered potential. What makes me even more upset, is all the paid 10/10 reviews on here. This game is barely a game. It is barely an alpha build for a game. It is a pretty piece ofLegitimately one of the worst games I have ever played. The controls are oversimplified and unsatisfactory. The way the level builds folds around your character makes me nauseous. It is a game with lots of squandered potential. What makes me even more upset, is all the paid 10/10 reviews on here. This game is barely a game. It is barely an alpha build for a game. It is a pretty piece of eye candy that is basically scamming people into buying it. This should not be bought or sold by anyone.… Expand
  3. hama33644
    Jan 30, 2022
    1
    Absolute garbage, plus the publisher or whoever pays to or up faked positive reviews….
  4. greninjaX
    May 11, 2021
    0
    what a waste of time. square enix doesn't make video games, they make movies disguised as RPGS. they could never make a platformer. and yuji naka is the guy who made sonic. he's never made a good game in his life. the man has no talent.
  5. Xeculiar
    May 16, 2022
    0
    Pros: there is literally nothing good about this steaming pile of ****

    Cons: literally everything about this trash

    and most of the positive reviews are bots
  6. davidthesloth
    Aug 1, 2022
    2
    nope, just nope. forget this game exists cause you're better off, trust me.
  7. Zachu
    Mar 13, 2022
    0
    Played this with a friend on PS4, definitivley the worst multiplayer experience I have ever had the displeasure of undergoing in my life. To start, the second player in multiplayer is taped to the singleplayer, and you each share 1 screen; hope you like teleporting around the map, Player 2. I do not feel bad giving this game a big fat zero because of the bafflingly stupid design decisionsPlayed this with a friend on PS4, definitivley the worst multiplayer experience I have ever had the displeasure of undergoing in my life. To start, the second player in multiplayer is taped to the singleplayer, and you each share 1 screen; hope you like teleporting around the map, Player 2. I do not feel bad giving this game a big fat zero because of the bafflingly stupid design decisions that plague every step you take. The level design is the most straight forward crap you could ever imagine. There is barely any creativity displayed in these levels. Your moveset in a 3-D platformer is jump, every godamn button is jump on the controller and when you use a power sometimes you have the inability to jump. The costumes are not fun in the slightest, not even the ones that let you cheese the broken piss poor game design are fun. The steamy **** on top of this cake is probably the presentation, offering an overly abundant amount of ugly motion capture to every character and enemy making them look like lifeless puppets. When a character does a backflip in Balan Wonderworld its a motion captured human doing a backflip. If I were to see a human do a backflip I would be like damn that is impressive, but when it's pasted onto a cartoon character that you can animate to do anything you want it comes off lazy and sloppy. AND they retail it at $60. Avoid this game like the plague.… Expand
  8. Normaliv
    Mar 31, 2022
    4
    This game is similar to writing a book, but publishing the 1st draft. It almost makes sense in most regards, but just misses the mark. After playing the game, I genuinely did not even understand what the story was about, and the platforming was just, meh. So overall, a pretty bad game, despite the 10s from lots of people./
  9. Catboy
    Apr 15, 2022
    0
    Such a perfect game rhehdixytyhehrguguidjsbdbdhdjcuvjfjrbebebsjdicuvuvvrnrnnfdkfjdjfjtcjfnrbt
  10. Robloxian
    May 11, 2022
    0
    WORST GAME EVER idk why but whenever i get a new power up it replaces something that is required to play the game and the dance every time i finish a level
  11. WaluigisRevenge
    Jun 17, 2022
    0
    It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't haveIt doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi. It doesn't have Waluigi.… Expand
  12. gingee
    Jul 1, 2022
    0
    Just... *vomit*...
    First off, the performance. God... GOD awful.
    Second, the story... still waiting on one... Third, the graphics. They're fine... I guess... the artstyle is what brought me in to wasting my money. Fourth, misc. I HATE how this game does it's """""platforming""""". You get custom costumes by playing the game or doing tasks. And some, just remove your ability to JUMP. IN    Just... *vomit*...
    First off, the performance. God... GOD awful.
    Second, the story... still waiting on one...
    Third, the graphics. They're fine... I guess... the artstyle is what brought me in to wasting my money.
    Fourth, misc. I HATE how this game does it's """""platforming""""". You get custom costumes by playing the game or doing tasks. And some, just remove your ability to JUMP. IN A PLATFORMER. STOP GIVING THIS LAZY CASHGRAB OF AN EXCUSE FOR A GAME POSITIVE REVIEWS. 0/10.    … Expand
  13. Bl41
    Sep 8, 2022
    0
    never played it, just rating it because everyone thinks it's a bad game, thats all
  14. ImmyandPTsmack
    Apr 9, 2021
    4
    I really wanted to like this game but it really isn't good. Yuji Naka is past his prime and proves he can't compete. And careful with the 10/10 reviews. They are clearly false. They all use similar language and grammer
  15. Log2001
    Apr 11, 2021
    0
    Such a pitiful game, this is gonna kill off any future project Yuji Naka has with SE. This was supposed to be his big comeback into gaming, but instead it's easily one of the worst games I've played in a while. There's parts of the game where it chugs really bad and the resolution drops for seemigky no reason. Those moments take place in the cutscenes made in the game's engine where itSuch a pitiful game, this is gonna kill off any future project Yuji Naka has with SE. This was supposed to be his big comeback into gaming, but instead it's easily one of the worst games I've played in a while. There's parts of the game where it chugs really bad and the resolution drops for seemigky no reason. Those moments take place in the cutscenes made in the game's engine where it shouldn't lag. There's plenty of other games that are waaaay more intensive than this that run near perfect on a base PS4 console, but the engine they made this game in is absolutely awful. I would not recommend this game to anyone who enjoys playing platformers or games in general. It's a poorly made game by a man who used to make good games, but it's more than clear that he doesn't know how to make them anymore.… Expand
  16. DinoBeam
    Apr 11, 2021
    0
    WARNING! 10/10 scores are people payed off to review this game with a good score, often with broken English, look up video reviews before you buy!!!!!!!
  17. TheQueenOfMedia
    Apr 14, 2021
    0
    All these 10/10 ratings have gotta be made by AI. This game is a crap sandwich - HORRIBLE. If you're truly interested in this game, make sure to read actual reviews first.
  18. Ducky27
    Apr 17, 2021
    0
    i dont even own this game (or a ps4 for that matter) but the amount of 10/10 bots on here are fricking stupid so heres a 0/10 review take that bots
  19. Barlysan
    Apr 16, 2021
    0
    looks like people have been making accounts to try and make balan positive.
  20. JmanTheHitman
    Apr 21, 2021
    0
    It truly is mad that a full priced 60 dollar game can be like this when there are better platformers for less money. Stay away at all cost or at least until their is a sale that makes this game dirt cheap.
  21. bananajamslam
    Mar 28, 2021
    1
    This game is surprisingly awful for a full priced title. The visuals are nice, but the game-play is atrocious. Just slowly walk around the level jumping and picking up gems and trophies. Feels like it was either rushed out the door, or they didn't really have a plan past "Let's make a platformer from the 90s". Really makes you respect games like Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot that came outThis game is surprisingly awful for a full priced title. The visuals are nice, but the game-play is atrocious. Just slowly walk around the level jumping and picking up gems and trophies. Feels like it was either rushed out the door, or they didn't really have a plan past "Let's make a platformer from the 90s". Really makes you respect games like Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot that came out over two decades before this.

    I feel like they made a mistake offering a demo, since no one in their right mind would purchase this after playing it.    … Expand
  22. vahove2331
    Mar 31, 2021
    0
    there are too many bots!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there are too many bots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!there are too many bots!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there are too many bots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  23. B-Bog
    Mar 27, 2021
    0
    DO NOT TRUST THESE POSITIVE USER REVIEWS. THIS GAME IS ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.

    Seems like Squirt-Enix are resorting to the cheapest tactics possible and are trying to buy their way out of this mess by flooding this site with fake user reviews (look at the profiles of these people, none of them have reviewed anything else besides this POS). For which, shame on you, you f***ers! Don't you have    DO NOT TRUST THESE POSITIVE USER REVIEWS. THIS GAME IS ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.

    Seems like Squirt-Enix are resorting to the cheapest tactics possible and are trying to buy their way out of this mess by flooding this site with fake user reviews (look at the profiles of these people, none of them have reviewed anything else besides this POS). For which, shame on you, you f***ers! Don't you have ANY dignity left?

    There was a reason as to why they didn't hand out any review copies: This game could not even be considered decent as a free-to-play mobile game. To release something this bad as a fully-priced console title borders on fraud and is absolutely shameless.

    If my review gets marked as "not helpful", you know who's to blame (hint: it's not the actual players).    … Expand
  24. Moomaw57
    Apr 26, 2021
    0
    This game looks terrible and controls worse. Unimpressive is not a suitable descriptor, this game is straight up BAD. Do not trust the paid reviews.
  25. AndreXDL23
    Mar 29, 2021
    0
    This game is REALLY bad! Everything is out of place, the very slow and jank gameplay, nintendo 64 era grapichs, some glitches etc. Don't waste $60 on this!!!
  26. Mteam007
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    This is a bad game with poor controls,awful in game visuals,no variety between costumes and why does every button do the same thing,now that’s lazy.if your game isn’t fun,I won’t care to finish it or to get anything from its message
  27. sophia64
    Mar 27, 2021
    2
    Now I don't normally use metacritic, but I just have to for this one game. I'd like to just start by saying DO NOT trust most of the positive user reviews listed here. They are most likely dummy accounts put here by Square Enix to try and mislead and push more people towards the game. You can tell by their generic account names and the fact that they have never reviewed any game other thanNow I don't normally use metacritic, but I just have to for this one game. I'd like to just start by saying DO NOT trust most of the positive user reviews listed here. They are most likely dummy accounts put here by Square Enix to try and mislead and push more people towards the game. You can tell by their generic account names and the fact that they have never reviewed any game other than Balan + plus they all give it 10s and vague reviews like "it's magical" or "it's colorful" and something along these lines. Now that all that's out of the way, I can safely say this game is absolute garbage. In fact, the only reason I'm not giving it a straight up zero is because it's IMPRESSIVELY awful. Im not really good at writing the most in depth reviews about games, but I'll just say it's a downright awful platformer. Every button on the controller is jump, and it's missing all of the core mechanics and features that truly make any platformer fun. Most of the power ups you get are just slightly different jumps as well, no variety there either. Most of the levels are uninspired and boring with no drive to really explore them, unlike games like Crash, Mario, and even most 3D Sonic games. The level design is poorly thought out, and most Balan statues can be gotten from just breaking the games mechanics, like jumping through a broken gate hitbox, shimmieing up a wall some unintended way and so on and so forth. I really don't even have the words to talk about most of the other things in the game. It's truly awful at its worst and completely uninteresting at it's "best". Not to mention the $60 joke of a price tag. Go buy a better game for the same price - Monster Hunter Rise just came out on switch for the same $60 price tag, and Crash 4 an infinitely better platformer for only $40. Not even just those. Go spend your money on much better games for the same price or less like NeiR Automata, Persona 5 Royal, Doom Eternal, Breath of the Wild, Hades, Celeste and so many other quality games for a much greater value and use of money than this "game".… Expand
  28. Phlaveeoh
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    The game barely works well, biggest flop of the current gen.
    Not to mention the problems of EPILEPSY that causes the final boss fight
  29. Getupkid1284
    Mar 29, 2021
    0
    Terrible gameplay and overall game. Just skip it and spend your hard earned money on anything else.
  30. Eyeflaps
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    Midway through I started feeling super sick and dizzy. Then I read online that the game has a seizure risk. This game needs to be recalled immediately. It's a health concern.
  31. LuchosFactory
    Mar 28, 2021
    2
    I'm reviewing based on the demo, because apparently the final game doesn't go too far from it in terms of gameplay.
    Every button that's not for moving the character does one action: Jumping (or interacting with something or someone). Then you have costumes, that change that action once you equip them. If your costume's "unique" action doesn't involve jumping, you're unable to jump until    I'm reviewing based on the demo, because apparently the final game doesn't go too far from it in terms of gameplay.
    Every button that's not for moving the character does one action: Jumping (or interacting with something or someone). Then you have costumes, that change that action once you equip them. If your costume's "unique" action doesn't involve jumping, you're unable to jump until you change to another costume (which has an unskippable changing animation that gets annoying pretty quick). The gameplay as a whole feels like they were trying to make it as tedious and slow as possible. And that's sad, because the character and level designs are really good and the cutscenes are top notch in terms of animation. But the gameplay, the most important part of a videogame, is boring, uninteresting. Is like a really photogenic and mouthwatering-looking hamburger, that when you take a bite is completely tasteless.
    So that's what I take from the demo, and seeing the rest of the game being more or less the same, it doesn't look like it's worth 60 dollars. There are plenty of good platformers out there that offer way more than this for the same price or even less.

    I see other reviews here precisely praising the gameplay and... I find them really hard to believe. It seems like fake reviews trying to make damage control. I don't know how can anyone find the gameplay entertaining, unless their only reference in platforming games are Bubsy 3D and Barbie Explorer.

    Anyway, the feedback from the demo was loud and clear back then. The game had to be delayed in order to rework the gameplay entirely. But the devs decided to ignore it.

    Maybe is a good game... for 1998.    … Expand
  32. Thirteen1355
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    Complete trashfest.
    Unfinished, buggy, and pointless mechanics. Add to that the absurdity of posting fake reviews to up this score, and this is the most scummy, atrocious game of 2021. Be ashamed, Square Enix. Complete garbage.
  33. Peter_
    Mar 27, 2021
    0
    actual garbage, terrible game
    spend your money on crash 4 for the love of god
  34. Dyedra
    Mar 27, 2021
    4
    No destaca técnicamente, ni su duración, movimientos ortopédicos. Una gran decepción... sobretodo viniendo de los padres de los juegos de mi infancia. Quién os ha visto y quién os ve...
  35. Cave_Jonson
    Mar 27, 2021
    0
    Absolutely abysmal. The game mechanics feel at odds with themselves constantly, it really just doesn't work. Why is every button mapped to jump?
  36. JJWMK2
    May 17, 2021
    2
    got some charm from cut senses and Tim, however the charm is not good enough because frustrating and evil hazard in the way plus bad level design, but they get for rushing the game instead of delaying the game (lot of feedback they requested were ignored)
  37. LowStandards
    Jan 31, 2023
    0
    How is this game still being sold? I have extremely low standards for games, but this is a game where I would be comfortable giving a controller to a toddler.- no not even, no one should even play this game. Everything is on one button, and the movement isn't even extravagant or anything. It's a very sorry attempt at platforming. I would rather watch paint dry than play this game everHow is this game still being sold? I have extremely low standards for games, but this is a game where I would be comfortable giving a controller to a toddler.- no not even, no one should even play this game. Everything is on one button, and the movement isn't even extravagant or anything. It's a very sorry attempt at platforming. I would rather watch paint dry than play this game ever again. This game could've had potential but I don't know where they went wrong? I think the budget went into the opening cutscene. The world is lifeless and it feels like there's absolutely no variety in levels except that the colors change, and you get different suits. Why would you ruin a game that could've actually been something good?

    TLDR: game bad, graphics bad, and everything is on one button    … Expand
  38. RIbbotreview
    Feb 17, 2023
    1
    As much as I like the designs of characters in the game... I cannot excuse the absolute TRASH HEAP this game is. I do hope I see Balan again because he is just so likeable. I'm sorry but this game is just plain bad

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
44

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 6 out of 10
  1. BaziCenter
    Apr 22, 2021
    35
    Balan Wonderworld is a boring, dull and dated platformer presented in a beautiful package to persuade parents who are looking to buy a game for their children.
    Read full review
  2. GameOver.gr
    Apr 16, 2021
    30
    An oversimplified control system and an archaic level design could have been a fad if Balan Wonderworld had been released more than a decade ago. But in these times, Balan Wonderworld is nothing more than an uninteresting, tasteless relic of the past. Players who are interested in beautiful, fantasy-inspired platformers have many more interesting options out there to pick.
    Read full review
  3. GameMAG
    Apr 5, 2021
    50
    All in all Balan Wonderworld is an archaic action-platformer with tons of shortcomings in terms of level design and overall presentation. If you love the genre, you would probably be repulsed by this game, instead of welcoming it with open arms.
    Read full review
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