Balan Wonderworld

 PlayStation 5
Balan Wonderworld Image
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 239 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: BALAN WONDERWORLD is an action platformer game themed around the Balan Theatre. Led by the enigmatic maestro named Balan, the stars of the show Emma and Leo will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land ofBALAN WONDERWORLD is an action platformer game themed around the Balan Theatre. Led by the enigmatic maestro named Balan, the stars of the show Emma and Leo will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. Here memories and vistas from the real world mix with the things that people hold dear. Twelve different tales await our stars in the Wonderworld, each with their own unique quirks. They will explore all corners of these labyrinthine stages, filled with a myriad of tricks and traps, to get to the heart of each story.… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 29
  3. Negative: 9 out of 29
  1. Video Chums
    Mar 27, 2021
    82
    If you have a soft spot for classic 3D platformers and imaginative game worlds, you'll have a lovely time with Balan Wonderworld. With a heartfelt story, plenty of cuteness, a clever costume system, and oodles of stages to master; it's one incredible adventure.
  2. Hobby Consolas
    Mar 30, 2021
    68
    Mixed feelings: graphics and sound offer a surreal and engaging experience, but gameplay wise, several camera hiccups and uneven level design may become frustrating. Balan is able to appeal to your inner child... If that child is a patient one.
  3. 4Players.de
    Apr 10, 2021
    60
    An interesting 3D-platformer with a very unique style and a few good ideas. But Balan feels outdated and shows some design flaws.
  4. Vandal
    Mar 30, 2021
    55
    Balan Wonderworld had good intentions, but it get two of its core mechanics wrong: its control and the suit system. It’s still enjoyable, although not as much as it could have been.
  5. PlayStation Universe
    Apr 1, 2021
    50
    Sometimes, Balan Wonderworld evokes a bygone era of platformers very well, but this is all too fleeting a feeling. All the creativity seems to have gone into the characters and music while the actual act of platforming leaves a lot to be desired. It’s far from the worst modern platformer, but given the names involved, it’s a thoroughly underwhelming one.
  6. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Apr 9, 2021
    45
    Balan Wonderworld feels like it’s shrouded in mystery because there’s a woeful lack of explanation for the majority of its mechanics. Nobody should be left looking for external guides to gather even the most basic information for a game aimed at children. When added to the frustrating management of the game’s costumes (including those that can’t jump in a platformer), its underdeveloped story, the overly simplistic platforming, and the tortuous Balan Bouts, this is a game that had promise but is ruined by a multitude of bizarre design decisions.
  7. VideoGamer
    Apr 5, 2021
    20
    If only Naka, staying true to form, had given the whole thing a dose of high speed; his work only holds together when it hurtles past our eyes, growing vivid with velocity.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 100
  3. Negative: 56 out of 100
  1. NotGamesVillage
    Mar 28, 2021
    10
    Balan Wonderworld è un’opera d’arte, un monumentale esempio di game design e storytelling, una testimonianza per le future generazioni dellaBalan Wonderworld è un’opera d’arte, un monumentale esempio di game design e storytelling, una testimonianza per le future generazioni della grandezza di un sviluppatore leggendario, Yuji Naka, che ha firmato molti dei più grandi capolavori usciti nel corso degli anni sulle console Sega. Esatto, è proprio così, ed è bene proclamarlo ad alta voce e subito, prima ancora di qualsiasi descrizione e spiegazione, o di qualsivoglia analisi critica, in modo che il giocatore, anche il più distratto o superficiale, sappia immediatamente di fronte a che genere di gemma preziosa egli si trovi davanti, un oggetto che, sempre che non detestiate visceralmente il genere dei Platform con elementi GdR, non può neanche lontanamente essere ignorato, a meno di non volersi perdere il più grande videogioco mai uscito su Next Gen. E attenzione: persino i più feroci hater di Sonic, Mario, Crash o di questa tipologia di videogiochi dovrebbero seriamente considerare di dare una chance a questo episodio della lunga serie di successi di Yuji Naka, poiché molto probabilmente non avranno un’opportunità migliore di scoprire un universo spettacolare e meraviglioso e, in definitiva, convertirsi a Balan.… Expand
  2. Gurenn
    Mar 28, 2021
    10
    Ignore all the fake 0 reviews here.
    They are just sad and ridiculous haters of this game
  4. Ezynu
    Mar 27, 2021
    10
    Exciting and fun. This Balan Wonderworld became one of my favorite platforming games after hitting the credits.
    The gameplay becomes much    Exciting and fun. This Balan Wonderworld became one of my favorite platforming games after hitting the credits.
    The gameplay becomes much more immersive when you find the best costumes, and each level has hidden secrets reachable through the advanced costumes.
    It also presents a fairly rich and multifaceted postgame.

    Personally recommended for lovers of the platform genre.    … Expand
  5. JRLezcano
    Apr 1, 2021
    1
    If for some reason you believed this game was going to be anything than what it is after the demo, and didn't canceled your pre-order, don'tIf for some reason you believed this game was going to be anything than what it is after the demo, and didn't canceled your pre-order, don't play it or download it so you can get your refund without problems. If you still want to try it, wait a few weeks and go get it for some $5.00 at a local retailer and make sure they will take it back. Even $5.00 will be a waste if it contributes to boost sales for this game.
    Is there anything good in this game? Yes, it has a nice visual design and creative concepts. But, that's all I can concede to this game.
    I'm waiting for a post today from Square Enix announcing this was and April's Fool joke and they'll update the game with the real file tomorrow. But, that's not going to happen, what you see is what you get. The gameplay is non-existent, at least enjoyable gameplay, you can technically say there is gameplay since you are using a controller to play a game. But that is the only way anyone can objectively call what they delivered and designed for this game Gameplay.
    Every aspect of this game puzzles me in the fact that someone at some point approved this for release. Who is the target audience for this game, where they making a game for toddlers? Is there some Guinness Record they are going for, are they trying to surpass Atari's ET legendary status?

    Anyways, please don't buy this game. If you somehow enjoyed it, that's ok. But don't lie saying this is a 7-10 game.

    Also, Metacritic, please fix the user scores, people might get tricked into thinking this game is secretly ok.    … Expand
  6. 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 yujiwhat 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.… Expand
  7. Xerowattbulb
    Mar 30, 2021
    0
    This game is awful in every way...so much so that it had to have been created specifically to hurt us. You can not fall backwards into thisThis game is awful in every way...so much so that it had to have been created specifically to hurt us. You can not fall backwards into this many mistakes.… Expand
  8. Demsville
    Mar 28, 2021
    0
    Ignore all the fake reviews on here that have been paid for by Square Enix. This is a mediocre, if not bad action platformer

See all 100 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

Current PS5 Games

Full List »
93 Hades
89 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
88 Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
88 Bonfire Peaks
88 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
88 Deathloop
87 Tales of Arise
87 Chicory: A Colorful Tale
87 Guilty Gear -Strive-
85 F1 2021
85 The Forgotten City
85 Roki
85 Death Stranding: Director's Cut
84 Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island
83 Metro Exodus: Complete Edition
82 Lost Judgment
82 A Plague Tale: Innocence
81 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Episode INTERmission
81 Life is Strange: True Colors
80 Kena: Bridge of Spirits
All Current Games »