Balan Wonderworld

 Switch
User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 311 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 127 out of 311
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 311
  3. Negative: 176 out of 311
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  1. Gamewing
    Jun 15, 2023
    0
    This game changed my life! (Don't buy it. it is the funny bad as opposed to bland bad so it is semi redeemable, but not something a sane person would actually want to play)
  2. bobb2
    May 18, 2023
    0
    i need to track down all of the 127 people who gave this game a positive review
  3. PuppyP101
    Apr 25, 2023
    0
    This game sucks first of all there are so much costumes that some of them don't need to exist and the level design sucks its so hard to get around and you need to change costumes every single second of the game and you don't want to play a part of the level? then just use a costume with the ability to fly or walk in the air and then use it cause there's no cooldown this game had suchThis game sucks first of all there are so much costumes that some of them don't need to exist and the level design sucks its so hard to get around and you need to change costumes every single second of the game and you don't want to play a part of the level? then just use a costume with the ability to fly or walk in the air and then use it cause there's no cooldown this game had such potential from the trailer
    but its just bad    … Expand
  4. HypnoTheSpy
    Mar 4, 2023
    0
    Yeah, what do you want me to say? This game is just plainly bad and it baffles me how industry veterans like Yuji Naka were able to create something like this. Don't buy it, even for the joke.
  5. stilgarsCH
    Feb 8, 2023
    0
    This game is so bad they had to pay Japanese bots to post broken English reviews on Metacritic.
  6. 2015exe
    Nov 30, 2022
    4
    Okay, hear me out. I'll start by saying that the Switch version DEFINITELY leaves a lot to be desired(BTW, get use to seeing a lot of caps here. That's just how I roll), but I only have a Switch right now, so that's my problem. I won't deny the obvious; Balan's Bout is kinda boring(which is an issue I've seen with other games before this one came out), the boss fights are WAY too easy, andOkay, hear me out. I'll start by saying that the Switch version DEFINITELY leaves a lot to be desired(BTW, get use to seeing a lot of caps here. That's just how I roll), but I only have a Switch right now, so that's my problem. I won't deny the obvious; Balan's Bout is kinda boring(which is an issue I've seen with other games before this one came out), the boss fights are WAY too easy, and there's much more effort put into the music than almost everything else. The enemies pop up WAY too **** much too, and I don't like how most of the costumes take away the ability to jump, which is, you know, an important part in GETTING TO PLACES. The message of the game is also a little cliché; I mean, we've all heard it several times in the past. I'll even say this now: Not every boss fight needs to end with some big group dance. Taking the train is also really uncreative; it's just a short ride around the midway. The least they could've done is make several midways, and let players travel back and forth between them. Honestly, it makes the game's opening VERY deceptive. Sure, it starts out looking magical, making it look like Balan's meeting both Leo and Emma at the same time, even though they're seperated, but that's all smoke and mirrors for one of the most mundane games out there. It makes sense why most people believe the game should be around $10.00, not $40.00. Now even with all the flaws, I believe the game has SOME redeeming qualities. The game as a whole is kinda like what would happen if Psychonauts and Nights Into Dreams had a baby, and I think that's a really good idea for a crossover. The levels are also very unique in their own separate ways, even if they portray the story of a character's life. The costumes, ad frustrating as some of them are, are all really creative, even if some are just carbon copies of others. Hell, the costumes gave me some inspiration for my own game. Balan and Lance are pretty much two sides of the same coin, and their personalities make them perfect rivals. Where Balan is all about optimism and lending encouragement, Lance is all about grief, stifling and eliminating encouragement. One part I really like is the second level of Chapter 1, where the environment warps when you move. That's a cool idea, and I really would've loved to see that incorporated more in the game. Another thing I wish they did was make segments where the levels change when you have your back turned, like in Layers Of Fear. As for the game overall, I wouldn't really pay it again after completing it once, but it definitely has some notable parts to it. It may not have exactly lived up to it's name, but it's not COMPLETELY awful.… Expand
  7. TaniaTucker
    Nov 10, 2022
    4
    Lo siento, pero no me ha gustado. Es como si fuera un juego antiguo, aunque mal ejecutado. Tenía poténciale pero la historia al mismo tiempo también es confusa. Los niveles no son acordes. Me sabe mal, pero no me ha convencido
  8. TheLinkgirl
    Oct 16, 2022
    1
    Never have I felt the necessity to make a review for a game based on the publisher creating fake reviews. Despite this, I felt it was necessary for me to actually play Balan Wonderworld, just in case it actually was a hidden gem. It most certainly is not.

    Creative designs will get you nowhere if your game isn't designed well. From its levels to it's costumes, the actual visual and    Never have I felt the necessity to make a review for a game based on the publisher creating fake reviews. Despite this, I felt it was necessary for me to actually play Balan Wonderworld, just in case it actually was a hidden gem. It most certainly is not.

    Creative designs will get you nowhere if your game isn't designed well. From its levels to it's costumes, the actual visual and conceptual ideas that the game brings forward are most appealing, but unfortunately that really is all the game has going for it. From its gameplay to its music to its confusing mechanics that are simply bad, Balan Wonderworld is truly an utterly soul-sapping experience that left me feeling like a lump of dangly flesh with no bone.

    And yes, I'm aware that the game gets interesting in the third acts, but if it's failed to keep my interest until I reach those parts, then it's still poorly designed.    … Expand
  9. alt4
    Aug 10, 2022
    0
    DO NOT TRUST THE POSITIVE REVIEWS. Most of them are bots created by Squeenix to positive review bomb this game. The actual game is awful, there is literally one action you can do for each suit, most of the actions repeating, and beng unable to jump can softlock you multiple times, the levels are drab and lifeless, the story is laughable, the switch version is by far the worst version of this game.
  10. LeMuphinx
    Jun 16, 2022
    0
    Positive Point : Beautiful.
    Negative points: Bad level disign, bugs, unnecessary transformations and pumped over others already seen on previous levels. Buying it is an economic loss.
  11. I_Trust_In_GF
    Feb 1, 2022
    0
    A work of bad taste and paleolithic platform design, as well as a horrendous port that doesn't make good use of the console potential
    It's really aberrant that this came out so bad, considering who his creative mind was
  12. LeXTReC
    Nov 15, 2021
    0
    Sus positive critics. Please look at a video on youtube for you to see how garbage this game is
  13. Adasc2906
    Oct 24, 2021
    1
    This is terrible. Just terrible. What was supposed to be a hit 3d platformer became an unplayable mess. Even toree 3d which costs 1 $ is better than this garbage
  14. Ender7887
    Aug 7, 2021
    0
    So glad I borrowed this game for free. This game sucks. 80 costumes and all of them are basically useless. The platforming is brainless, the game can be beaten in a 6-8 hour time span. Graphics look like they belong in a mobile game. The sound track is sub-par. The narrative of this game makes no sense I don’t even know if there was a story in the game. Don’t buy this game, it’s a waste ofSo glad I borrowed this game for free. This game sucks. 80 costumes and all of them are basically useless. The platforming is brainless, the game can be beaten in a 6-8 hour time span. Graphics look like they belong in a mobile game. The sound track is sub-par. The narrative of this game makes no sense I don’t even know if there was a story in the game. Don’t buy this game, it’s a waste of time and I will never get back the 6 hours I spent playing it.… Expand
  15. SuperClaudio64
    Jul 17, 2021
    4
    Vedo già troppi 10 e 0 esagerati, Balan Wonderworld non è un bel gioco ma non è nemmeno la cosa peggiore che si possa giocare su console. Detto questo, il mio voto sarebbe più un 4,5 su 10. Molto semplicemente perchè il gioco è tremendamente lungo e ripetitivo, al sesto mondo di gioco speravo finisse ma poi ho scoperto di essere solo a metà del tutto. Il gioco inoltre ti obbliga aVedo già troppi 10 e 0 esagerati, Balan Wonderworld non è un bel gioco ma non è nemmeno la cosa peggiore che si possa giocare su console. Detto questo, il mio voto sarebbe più un 4,5 su 10. Molto semplicemente perchè il gioco è tremendamente lungo e ripetitivo, al sesto mondo di gioco speravo finisse ma poi ho scoperto di essere solo a metà del tutto. Il gioco inoltre ti obbliga a collezionare un buon numero di Statuette per avanzare e la maggior parte di esse si ottengono solo se si riesce a perfezionare un fastidioso minigioco di riflessi e tempismo, che diventerà sempre più comune negli ultimi mondi. Poi ci sono i costumi... Eh si i poteri aggiuntivi dei quali molti sono uguali ad altri costumi già ottenuti e altri sono inutili, questi vanno collezionati più volte perchè se non si ha una buona scorta dello specifico potere e lo si perde durante un livello, bisogna poi tornare indietro e riottenerlo nello scenario in cui si trovava quel costume.... Se volete giocare un buon platform 3D su Switch andate a provare "A Hat in Time" e vedrete che un team molto più piccolo con 4 mondi invece che 12, riesce a creare un bel gioco con molto meno. Balan Wonderworld non è tremendo ma è uno di quei videogiochi che non rigiocherò più, perchè si basa sul consumare il tempo del giocatore inutilmente.… Expand
  16. mrswitch2687
    Jun 28, 2021
    0
    I like this game for what it is. It's flawed. Very flawed. But there is potential that has been squandered. The game looks nice and the opening movie is goregous. The level design starts dull but does eventually pick up and become pretty great. However, performance issues, ridiculous costume gimmick and one-button controls ruin this experience and I understand the criticism. However, oneI like this game for what it is. It's flawed. Very flawed. But there is potential that has been squandered. The game looks nice and the opening movie is goregous. The level design starts dull but does eventually pick up and become pretty great. However, performance issues, ridiculous costume gimmick and one-button controls ruin this experience and I understand the criticism. However, one of my hopes will always be this game getting a second chance to become what it should have been by fixing the controls and trimming the fat. A disappointing game but one I can't bring myself to hate.… Expand
  17. ToastyMann
    Jun 24, 2021
    0
    Spend your money elsewhere. There's a reason this game flopped so hard. It's full of bone-headed game design and a lack of polish. It's a weird mix of Mario Odyssey and A Hat In Time that doesn't have the fun factor of either of those games. And for $60, that's inexcusable. All of these perfect 10 reviews are from bots.
  18. charlix200
    Jun 21, 2021
    1
    The gameplay is pure garbage, the costumes almost feel the same and some cant even jump, The controls are way too simplistic and it looks kinda bad on the screen. I give it a 1 for the worldbuilding and the animated cutscenes. The positive reviews are either bots or fanboys of the creator of this game.
  19. SeiMagicBook
    Jun 5, 2021
    2
    2/10 The only good thing about this game it's the music, avoid this broken mess of a game at all cost
  20. SoprosedGanon
    May 11, 2021
    0
    Very good idea and ambitious project great cutscene graphics, sadly that doesn't help it at all. Bad graphics outside of cutscenes, bad controls, many stolen aspects, slow gameplay, and basically the exact same power-ups reused with small changes in many levels are the reasons for me, and many other people giving this a bad review. For sixty dollars too?!
  21. LeaderStar
    May 11, 2021
    0
    Okey, what the hell is this garbage? Balan Wonderworld never happened! Those guys think Balan Wonderworld happened, but it didn’t. It’s all a dream, Sonic creator hates Square Enix. Plus, those 5 star reviews are sus. Amogus, guys! Balan Wonderland didn’t even happen at all.
  22. mayhem9
    May 11, 2021
    0
    There are so many paid or bots in the positive reviews who have only reviewed this game. They are fake. Do not listen to them.
    This game costs 60$ and it's just bland, boring, and repetitive. No promising or engaging story, terrible powerup usages, strange NPC designs and utilization in the universe, bad and annoying voice acting when the characters jump or fall, and no innovation or    There are so many paid or bots in the positive reviews who have only reviewed this game. They are fake. Do not listen to them.
    This game costs 60$ and it's just bland, boring, and repetitive. No promising or engaging story, terrible powerup usages, strange NPC designs and utilization in the universe, bad and annoying voice acting when the characters jump or fall, and no innovation or puzzles throughout the game's progress. You can pay $60 for Super Mario Odyssey or even cheaper for A Hat and Time and get 100x your money's worth. This game is currently on sale and it'll continue to get cheaper. Even if it does, this game is a waste of your time.    … Expand
  23. Razorjim
    May 6, 2021
    0
    I think watching rocks erode is more entertaining than this game. It's a complete joke how this game costs £60 yet looks and plays like a crappy mobile game, also 99.9% of the positive reviews are bots, Metacritic needs to crack down on this.
  24. HanaCat12
    May 3, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Don’t buy this game. It’s a waste of $60.
    The game is always glitching and the power ups suck. The bosses become predictable after a while and the game in general just seems rushed. At first the game is about balance and then it turns into the iconic “good beats bad” and screws the bad guy. The novel filled in a lot of the gaps left out in the game and shows the other side to Lance’s story, and that he was a nice guy at first, but even then the game still had so many plot holes. Wasted $60 for this and the ending isn’t even good. I’m only rating this 1 star instead of 0 because the Tims and Negati are adorable. ♥️

    These games are the same price but so much better:
    Mario Kart 8
    A Hat in Time
    Animal Crossing Miitopia & more    … Expand
  25. RedThunder
    May 1, 2021
    0
    This game sucks. I feel bad for the people who payed for the game. (I played the demo) the game is to simple. While their are good ideas they needed to scale back those transformations because most of them are useless say for a puzzle or two. The game graphics are good as well as the soundtrack. Those only goes as far as the gameplay which Balan Wonderworld doesnt have. Theirs also a newThis game sucks. I feel bad for the people who payed for the game. (I played the demo) the game is to simple. While their are good ideas they needed to scale back those transformations because most of them are useless say for a puzzle or two. The game graphics are good as well as the soundtrack. Those only goes as far as the gameplay which Balan Wonderworld doesnt have. Theirs also a new review bombing **** by leaving postive reviews. The game is poor and again not worth its price of $40 I would wait until its in the bargin bin to pick mine up for $10 or they give them out for free with a console bundle or better idea throw them away and burn it like their doind to the people who bought the games money.… Expand
  26. CyberNat2000
    Apr 27, 2021
    0
    Poor controls, poor design, costume mechanics broken, plot not presented ( it's so rearranged we know nothing) bonus games are- Quick time event with poor background graphics. The mentioned graphics are worse than some games on Gamecube (WTF). The new worst game from Square Enix
  27. JRTyner
    Apr 26, 2021
    0
    Balan Wonderword is visually top notch, and I like Balan's design better than any other new character this generation. It is such a charming and beautiful art style. This makes it even more painful that you only play as him in quick time events that feel 30 years old. The rest of the time, you have to slosh through too many tedious costumes to count, that are exceptionally worse when youBalan Wonderword is visually top notch, and I like Balan's design better than any other new character this generation. It is such a charming and beautiful art style. This makes it even more painful that you only play as him in quick time events that feel 30 years old. The rest of the time, you have to slosh through too many tedious costumes to count, that are exceptionally worse when you lose one, which is unquestionably the worst game mechanism ever designed. If they were to patch this game to remove all but 4 costumes, 8 at the extreme most, and you could no longer lose them, then I would give this game a second chance.… Expand
  28. CyberRobotnix
    Apr 25, 2021
    0
    What you expected when the game was first announced: Nights into Dreams
    What you got: Rubbish Psychonauts, 'nuff said
  29. deeznuts76
    Apr 19, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE this game **** sucks. Sonic mother**** Forces did better than the **** stain that is balan in his ****ty ass wonderworld they need to die die DIE… Expand
  30. Smugly33810
    Apr 18, 2021
    0
    This game is a dumpster fire
    The game was flooded by positive reviews that are clearly biased so I will go down every "point" about how this game is good
    The first thing I value in a game is undoubtedly its gameplay. - it is a 1 button game flash games like rooftop shooters have more movement options A large part of the levels created in this game seem to be created in a bizarre way,    This game is a dumpster fire
    The game was flooded by positive reviews that are clearly biased so I will go down every "point" about how this game is good
    The first thing I value in a game is undoubtedly its gameplay. - it is a 1 button game flash games like rooftop shooters have more movement options
    A large part of the levels created in this game seem to be created in a bizarre way, but at the same time in an extremely clever way. - that's just called bad level design why is there 2 costumes that are used to walk on the lava when the lava will become wet in a few minutes
    Hidden passages, secret streets and intriguing maps accompany this work that winks at the classic games of past generations, in a good way. - this is supposed to be a way to backtrack and discover secrets but the only way to do this is to go to another level get a costume go back to the level, and get back to the secret without taking damage

    almost all reviews after this are extremely subjective or rehashes of these points.

    TL:DR Scores are biased and most actual points have huge fallacies.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
36

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 6 out of 9
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 17, 2021
    50
    This game is far too undercooked. [Issue #52 – May/June 2021, p. 73]
  2. XGN
    Apr 16, 2021
    55
    Balan Wonderworld looks great but feels incomplete. The game lets you journey through six different stories while collecting golden statues and morphing from one outfit to another. There are 80 different outfits in the game, but some of them feel double or not useful at all. Where the game is great to play alone, the multiplayer feels rushed, where player two doesn't get to do all the things player one can. That being said, the game feels like a great way for kids to spend time.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer.nl
    Apr 12, 2021
    30
    Balan Wonderworld is a videogame from Yuji Naka. However, even if the team had more time we wonder if the game would be worth your time.
    Read full review
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