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. Unholydead
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    As a Square Enix fanboy, I cannot in good conscience play more than 5 seconds of this game. If there is a single positive review that WASN'T written by a bot here I'd be surprised. Stay away. This is a scam, dudes.
  2. 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
  3. NYCAnderson
    Mar 28, 2021
    1
    See a "10 out of 10" review praising this game?:
    "Best platformer ever!"
    "One of the best games I've ever played!" "Game of the year!" Ignore these comments and run like the wind, far away from Balan Wonderworld. These types of comments are from bots to help boost the score for this sad excuse for a video game. The platforming is egregiously bad. The animations are something    See a "10 out of 10" review praising this game?:
    "Best platformer ever!"
    "One of the best games I've ever played!"
    "Game of the year!"

    Ignore these comments and run like the wind, far away from Balan Wonderworld. These types of comments are from bots to help boost the score for this sad excuse for a video game.

    The platforming is egregiously bad. The animations are something straight out of the PS2 era and the controls are so lackluster that you would find more variety in just a game of classic Pong.

    This game had so much promise but it flopped so hard.

    Do not purchase this abomination. You will regret it.    … Expand
  4. nscamp123
    Mar 27, 2021
    3
    I'm rating this game based on the demo.
    I really wanted this game to be good. It has so much potential, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done. The game should have been delayed due to how bad the demo was. The controls are bad and the in-game graphics aren't very good, but the music, cutscenes, and character designs are great. The gameplay is too bad to salvage any of the good    I'm rating this game based on the demo.
    I really wanted this game to be good. It has so much potential, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done. The game should have been delayed due to how bad the demo was. The controls are bad and the in-game graphics aren't very good, but the music, cutscenes, and character designs are great. The gameplay is too bad to salvage any of the good qualities, though. Plus, the final boss includes seizure-inducing flashes (there's an update to patch that out).
    The positive reviews here are definitely bots, so ignore those. In fact, since my review is a critique, it might be considered "not helpful" by the other bots.    … Expand
  5. 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 main action doesn't involve jumping, you're unable to jump until you    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 main 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
  6. Vannikun
    Mar 27, 2021
    2
    It's Nights, where you have that night when you meet a girl at the club and Balan is Days when you wake up and your like "ewwww what is this next to me"
  7. 0Villain
    Apr 12, 2021
    0
    Very confident in your game, inflating the score like that, eh Square Enix?
  8. Squirtle_Boy
    Apr 10, 2021
    0
    This game has near to no good levels and the only redeeming points are the cutscenes which may as well have been a movie, really boring real quick, go look up gameplay to see what I mean
  9. FreelancerRai
    Apr 14, 2021
    2
    Balan Wonderworld is a 3D platformer that dumbs down the player's control for the sake of accessibility while simultaneously doing everything in its power to make the player's experience as stiff, unpolished, and counter-intuitive as humanly possible. A work of seemingly great ideas that miserably work against themselves to create a game in which the only joy you can have while playing itBalan Wonderworld is a 3D platformer that dumbs down the player's control for the sake of accessibility while simultaneously doing everything in its power to make the player's experience as stiff, unpolished, and counter-intuitive as humanly possible. A work of seemingly great ideas that miserably work against themselves to create a game in which the only joy you can have while playing it comes from watching the cutscenes; not actually playing the full retail release you spent $60 too many on.… Expand
  10. TheTruthfulOne
    Apr 10, 2021
    2
    Balan Wonderworld is a baffling attempt at a 3D platformer. While I did like the design for Balan and thought the cutscenes looked really nice, it seems as if all the money that could have gone to polishing the levels and abilities were ignored in favour of the cutscenes for a meh kind of game.

    If you want a good 3D platformer that still plays well after 22 years, do yourself a favour    Balan Wonderworld is a baffling attempt at a 3D platformer. While I did like the design for Balan and thought the cutscenes looked really nice, it seems as if all the money that could have gone to polishing the levels and abilities were ignored in favour of the cutscenes for a meh kind of game.

    If you want a good 3D platformer that still plays well after 22 years, do yourself a favour and ignore the robotic critics that claim it’s “the best 3D platformer".

    Your better off playing the classics like Banjo Kazooie instead.    … Expand
  11. Nor-Gamer
    Apr 17, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This “Platformer” game is really the opposite of a what a good platforming is. It’s sometimes laggy, a lot of reports about insane game-hiccups and it’s kind of outdated. I know it’s from Nintendo and it’s from the 90’s, but Square Enix can learn a LOT about the classic GOOD platformer: Super Mario 64.

    Don’t know what they thought, but they really shouldn’t use so much of the budget on the cutscenes. And the ending is very skeptical and unexpected. It’s also never explained what happened to Balan and what in the #### happened to Lance!    … Expand
  12. Connspirator
    Apr 11, 2021
    2
    Worthless. Painful, even. A piece of trash game that offers only psychic damage to anyone that dares play it. This embarrassment of a game should be a condemnation on anyone involved.
  13. ForTheAlliance
    Apr 15, 2021
    0
    Played the demo and I am not even thinking of buying the full one. Low quality, unfinished looking game that has major issues with freezing enc. costumes are a pain to switch between, only one action per costume (yes, even jumping was left out!) and now they buy obvious fake reviews instead of removing this waste of money from stores. It is pretty much a scam for that much money. Don’t buy it.
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. BlueMageBlake
    Apr 3, 2021
    1
    I have no idea how people are giving this a higher score. Is it a 0? No. But it sure is a 1. No depth, no cohesive story, one button for everything, it’s straight up not a good time.
  19. BurtKocain
    Apr 8, 2021
    3
    If you couldn't tell from the swarm of user reviews written in a completely identical tone of broken English, there's a bit of an astroturfing campaign to cover up just how much of a disaster this game is. The sad reality is that regardless of whatever aspirations Yuji Naka and Arzest had for Balan Wonderworld, they were unable to bring them into existence. The resulting game not onlyIf you couldn't tell from the swarm of user reviews written in a completely identical tone of broken English, there's a bit of an astroturfing campaign to cover up just how much of a disaster this game is. The sad reality is that regardless of whatever aspirations Yuji Naka and Arzest had for Balan Wonderworld, they were unable to bring them into existence. The resulting game not only fails to meet the standards for modern platformers, it also pales in comparison to titles that Naka has produced in the past, such as Billy Hatcher. I genuinely hope Yuji Naka is able to recover from this disappointment, because he clearly still has an incredible amount of creative energy to offer the games industry. He just needs the right team and the right focus.… Expand
  20. yertre
    Apr 13, 2021
    2
    It's just sad how much potential this game had, and what a piece of sh*t it turned out to be.
  21. MotorDrive
    Apr 3, 2021
    0
    this game is miserable do not buy it the fact that people thought this game is ok to release is stupid
    im willing to bet that 90% of the budget was spent on the opening cutscene and nothing else

    the only good thing i can say about it is Balan is not a bad character
  22. navinavioracle
    Apr 6, 2021
    0
    Balan wonderworld is one of the most god awful games i've played. Despite the visuals, nothing can excuse this cheap excuse of a "game".
  23. Blizzia
    Apr 6, 2021
    0
    Absolute garbage - there's no two ways about it. If you buy this game, you'll be left feeling more scammed than the people who joined the kickstarter for Chronicles of Elyria.
  24. Not_Reese
    Apr 11, 2021
    0
    Wait, where's Bowser? Buy a better game instead like Fortnite or Cyberpunk 2077
  25. Jubal64
    Apr 12, 2021
    0
    The game feels more like a concept than a complete game, it's so notable that all the budget went into the animated cut scenes and completely neglected the rest of the game. It's surprising how many users call this game perfect when at most it is a working project and the most egregious thing is the fact that it is a full-price game, when I saw it first I thought it was a Kickstarter gameThe game feels more like a concept than a complete game, it's so notable that all the budget went into the animated cut scenes and completely neglected the rest of the game. It's surprising how many users call this game perfect when at most it is a working project and the most egregious thing is the fact that it is a full-price game, when I saw it first I thought it was a Kickstarter game but it made by square makes it even more intolerable.… Expand
  26. Saucy69
    Apr 13, 2021
    1
    What an absolute disappointment. I was excited of this game when it was revealed, it looked so colorful and creative! I thought 60$ was way to much so i barrowed a freinds copy and can now say that square should be ashamed for allowing this game to be released. Its a souless cashgrab through and through
  27. KungFuBaby
    Apr 15, 2021
    0
    I didn't have fun so I am giving this a 0 because I hate it and that's me being honest.
  28. evhutch
    Apr 15, 2021
    1
    Please, please, please just play Odyssey instead. It's crappy clone of a lot of other 3D platformers, and falls short at some points. Don't waste your money on this, and play some of the muuuuuch better 3D platformers on this console.
  29. Barlysan
    Apr 16, 2021
    0
    looks like people have been making accounts to try and make balan positive.
  30. 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
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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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