Bubsy once asked "what would be a platforming game without platforms?" but apparently Balan decided to ask what would be a platforming game without a fucking jump button.
That alone should have been an "Emergency Stop engaged, what the fuck are we doing here?" Like suggesting a platformer NOT have a jump button, not as some kind of challenge thing (See "Hat in Time" deathwishes) but as just a regular gameplay thing. And for no reason either. We're not on the Atari 2600. We've had at least 2 buttons since time immemorial for gaming.
There's plenty of non-jumping platformers out there, like Captain Toad Treasure Tracker, Burger Time, Lode Runner, and Bionic Commando. Balan Wonderworld's problem is that the entire game is designed around jumping, despite the player not having that ability half the time.
@@seanmyster6 you have a point, but i consider something like Captain Toad more of a puzzle game. Burger Time i don't really see as a platformer either.
I think the easiest way to show that this game has no idea what it wants is the fact that the power-ups require you to get a key to unlock them, but that key is almost always a few steps away from the costume. It's a mechanic that got introduced that nobody either wanted to or had the time to design around.
My favorite thing about Balan Wonderworld is that it completely breaks any game reviewer that touches it and forces them to not be able to script a video about it. Gilly, SomeCallMeJohnny, Dunkey, no one can manage to write a real review about it.
Its because there is no game to review, ballan wonderwold is like baby's first platformer and it doesn't let you do anything other than pressing 1 button
I dunno why but despite everything wrong with this game, I can't help but enjoy it. The dance numbers are goofy, acid trips. The Balan costume lets you snap the game in two and after getting the platinum trophy in Knack 1 and 2 I feel like it's my destiny to do the same for this game
I think there's quite a bit more mario galaxy in that pot than Odyssey. Galaxy has more scripted wonder in its diverse level experimentation and is linear, and Odyssey has more dynamic freedom for player experimentation and is not linear. As for the powers, I totally agree with the Kirby here, on the "powers can be taken into different levels and you won't have to change but the game expects you to change to find secrets sometimes and also most of you powers have the same control scheme" mechanic.
Bruh, that ADHD comparison hit me hard. Like, as an aspiring writer, I can totally vouch for the idea of having a huge number of ideas rattling around in my head but not having the time to flesh them out, or attempt fleshing them out but losing motivation fast.
Interesting, tho I dont think i have ADHD, but i tend to have the exact same thing when i am about the write this amazing idea, but like you said, the motivation just dies out.
Same, I have so many folders with designs for characters (I REALLY love designing fashion for them) but I have no motivation to finally start writing the story...
@@mikebearthegamer1365 I have so many stories in my head, mainly fan fics, but whenever I write one of them it never comes out right. So then I just give up.
The big part of this game that feels like really slaps people in the faces is balan is the character they really promoted for this game but you never get to play as him.
sonic forces was atrociously bad balan had genuinely fun levels, forces has only capital city balan has the chess, amusement, fire and the junk worlds, the art one is too long and a vertical drop but both are nothing like DK64 i had fun in that trainwreck
@@ToonCatTV I know they have little to do with the level, besides like giant versions of said character being helped, or general theming in the design, but it's still the game's story even if it isn't told well or in much detail.
@@mxjuno1998 I wasn't trying to bash on the ps2 and wii I actually like the consoles because I grew up playing them but what I'm trying to say is that the games graphics look like a ps2/wii game that's all I'm trying to say
@@MashupProductions22 no no I wasn't trying to insult you i was just joking how even ps2 and wii games look better than balan i apologize if it came off the wrong way my dude
I know, dude. Sometimes, I’ll find myself pouring my heart and soul into a new idea and then all of a sudden, I’ll come up with ANOTHER idea for a project that I really like.. rinse and repeat.
As a person that hasn't been "properly" diagnosed for anything, when he described what it was in the simplest way, I felt like "foinIUFWBESKJBAf, THAT'S ME!!!?!" And now I Want to go and get properly diagnosed.
Why is every 3D platformer a collectothon nowadays? If you cannot make a good collectothon and make it bad, at least change it to be a mediocre start to finish platformer rather than a boring and tedious as heck collectothon platformer.
I guess I’ll clarify: I feel bad for the devs that were passionate about the project and are having their potentially crunched work being sh*t on. The fact that this wasn’t given a delay despite clearly needing one, AND they were probably told to say “yeah, we’re not delaying it...” It all just seems fishy and sad to me.
@@shawnfields2369 I mean I wish the game was good but I do like the art in some places. So many plot holes and I'm still waiting for someone to read the novel for this game in full. I wish Balan was playable and all costumes could jump while doing the powers. And one you get a costume you keep it in the costume room for later use with no back tracking.
@@beautychao7 Hey, dude, I agree again. The game didn't look too bad. The visuals made it seem appealing, like the Nights Into Dreams game the world was waiting for? But instead, we got disappointed by an early PS2/Wii looking shovelware type game that looks like it should've hit the bargain bins IMMEDIATELY after release. But no offense, but just because something looks artsy, doesn't make it better. It makes it look like an art project. Sure, the game's not horrendously bad or anything, but I agree with SomecallmeJohnny and his new review on this game. Boring, he wanted to put down the controller only 2 or 3 hours in, you play as some little kids, instead of the title character, who's a background character in his own game, you have to collect trophies in order to progress, not a good idea, but the game doesn't look entirely unsalvageable. As someone in the comments of Johnny's review said, the game could've been like some Elite Beat Agents type game, or something. Also, this is a bit unrelated, but I loved both Pepper Ann and Kids Next Door, as a kid. To take designs that look like those amazing shows, and to put them in a subpar at best game, is very disheartening. But good points all around, dude. I also wish Balan were a playable character in his own game. He looked cool enough. But from what I've heard, they didn't give Naka enough time, and told him he only had one chance to make a game. ONE! And barely enough time to make a game; so maybe the dude felt stressed out? They definitely didn't give him proper time. And only one chance to impress the people at Square Enix with a game? Here's a question, WHY? If you guys wanted to make a good game, why put all this pressure down on poor Yuji Naka like this? Maybe they wanted to test his game making skills? But if they did, I think there's better ways to do it than this, guys. Just saying. Or maybe Naka is losing his touch? I feel bad for him though. I thought the game looked alright. Nothing I'd want to play, but it didn't look bad. Just not worth $60. And there's better games for your kids/friends out there. But at least the game has some nice looking designs. Can't deny that Yuji Naka and his team put some effort into the game. It just wasn't enough though... and that's a real shame.
@@shawnfields2369 Well the game might be worth a lot in the future like Gotcha Force so I might get the physical release and keep it mint. Yeah you got some points there. I hope Klonoa Encore doesn't end up like this.
I am absolutly IN LOVE with Balan's design and it physically hurts to think that he wasn't in a better game. I really hope they will take the critism in stride, give it another shot and make a sequel that will kick ass!
This game is just shovel ware with a fancy paint job. And a higher price. I thought the demo was just a REALLY early build. And we got what's basically Captain Toad meets Banjo Kazooie with none of the challenge or enjoyment.
The first thing I thought about those humans was, "Damn, those hands look like they could casually crush each other's skulls with but a single clench."
Don't forget, main boy character also owns legit Airpods in the opening cinematic, that's major character development. Anyways, it is broken if you play it co-op, both players merge together to be able to use both powers, but player twos powers do not transfer between levels. So in some cases you can just fly indefinitely through certain levels or double jump everywhere.
Seriously, how is nobody in games media or the RUclips gaming sphere bringing up the obvious attempt by Square to inflate the user scores with blatantly fake reviews?
@@LordArikado I doubt it even is Square, since they seem to have set the game up for failure by all accounts looking at how they handled the release and marketing. It's probably mostly trolls making the fake reviews. ...And a few well meaning people that somehow liked it overcompensating for the bad reviews by giving 10s it doesn't deserve instead of a more honest score. Some people don't need a fun game to have fun with a game. For instance, those who grew up playing a lot of licensed Dreamworks and Disney games or the like, the charm of the concept being enough for them, I guess.
@@LordArikado some people are just leaving good reviews because of who created it. Sonic has a bunch of cult mentality fans that would defend anything by the sonic creators so long as it's not a bad sonic game.
Thanks for the warning. I must admit, this game caught my eye because rarely do AAA publishers do "whimsical" themes. Knowing that it's quite boring at best means I'm waiting for bargain bin, if at all.
For anyone interested in Yuji Naka, be sure to check out the two Wii games his company Prope developed - Fishing Resort and Ivy the Kiwi. Fishing Resort is a competent, pretty, relaxing fishing game, but obviously if you don't like fishing games it's not for you. Ivy the Kiwi was released for DS, Wii, and apparently smartphones of the time, and while it's not amazing it's definitely a neat attempt at "make platforms as you go" 2d platformer, similar to what Kirby and the Rainbow Curse would later do. I think the DS version is probably a little better since you have the immediacy of using the stylus. For everyone that critiques Naka I never hear them mention these two games.
The worst part is the Square literally told Yuji Naka this was his one singular chance to make a platformer, so there is a 9/10 chance this game is not getting a sequel and Balan is gonna be like Geno and most non-Final Fantasy related characters where Square just pretends he does not exist. If you are one of the few people who has an interest in the world this game tries to set up, just get the light novel. It's eight bucks and will provide a less boring experience.
@@Awsomeisimo Yep, totally agree. But overall, I agree with Gilly, and would rather play Sonic Forces compared to this, because at least with that, the torture only lasts 3 hours, instead of what looks to be around 10+ hours. But, good point. Forces is so forgettably mediocre, even the appeal of creating your own character can't save it from being so damn mediocre and bland. Seriously, how do they do it? Make a game so forgettable and bland, that it basically almost makes it an achievement in blandness! But luckily, I haven't played Forces, and never will. I'll stick to Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing if I need a GOOD Sonic the Hedgehog Switch game, thank you.
So I've seen Balan creep into my suggestions and it makes for neat Thumbnail portraits, didn't quite grab me. But WHOOO boy, very much a case of "Don't just a book by it's cover".
This game makes Sonic Forces actually look like a fun game. That game at least has moments of fun, despite the lackluster level design, lack of ambition, and terrible controls, but it was at the very least fast paced. The only thing worse than a boring game is a slow boring game. Sonic Forces is like baby's first Sonic Generations and this is like baby's first... game.
Don't forget the soundtrack And it spawned a fun mobile game (speed battle) Character customization is pretty good with lots of different articles of clothes.
Man, everytime you release big developers from their big publisher shackles they make cluttered messy stuff like this. People shit on publishers, but I think they must be doing something right most of the time. I'm assuming Square Enix was pretty loose with him compared to Sonic Team and SEGA.
@@HighPriestFuneral Yeah I agree, but even so, Igarashi had to make a huge apology and almost remake the entire game. Yes, he did go the extra mile to make something better, but it all started the same way.
@@fritzy8318 Great idea genius. Obviously those three vague letters stand for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, no wait, Maryland Transit Administration. Or was it the Microsoft Technology Associate certification?
@@fritzy8318 almost like 3 letter acronyms get used in multiple ways that a google search won't make any clearer. It's almost like thousands of things could be implied by three letters.
I'm reminded of one of the many 90's era 2D platformers which had nice colours and some nice designs here and there but where mostly boring and unplayable, like Bubsy or Alfred Chicken or Awesome possum
at least the inklings have an iconic enough design you can tell "Yeah, that's splatoon" you could show me the main characters of this game and i wouldn't know what game they came from right after i finish watching a review on the game
@@yellowpig1026 My other thought for these characters is they all remind me of the character designs for Codename: Kids Next Door. What with the big hands and whatnot.
@@fritzy8318 Why does people asking questions bother you so much? I've seen you comment on two different people asking this. And to answer the question for everyone else, I looked it up and its a public transportation system in New York.
FINALLY someone dares to say the character models for the kids look atrocious and generic. I'm sick of reviewers trying to pretend they look "awesome" and "creative" in an attempt to give this game some positive aspects.
Watching the game play I'm struggling to find the best way to describe this hot mess. This feels like, as a kid, you asked for the latest whatever Super Mario exists for the fancy new console your mum got you, and she returns home with this because "it was cheaper". Like it was made by a marketing team instead of a major game company to lure in mums who want to get their kids a game, but prefer paying home brand prices over brand name. Also, hi from a fellow ADHD mind. Can imagine how difficult it must be maintaining a channel like this.
It's like Banjo Kazooie but bad. It's like A Hat in Time but bad. It's like Super Mario Odyssey but bad. It's like NiGHTS Into Dreams but really, really, truly atrocious. It's like Sonic Unleashed but somehow worse.
His work on the early Sonic games shows that he's a talented programmer. The problem is he has next to no experience as a director, which is what he was saddled with here. That requires a completely separate set of skills that he's had no chance to learn, let alone hone them.
8:50 Basically describes Sonic to a T and I say that as a sonic fan. Makes me question what we were actually expecting with this in hindsight since the signs have been there since the beginning.
I feel like making a 3D platformer with only one action button is interesting in concept and a neat design challenge, but if you're going to commit to the idea then make sure you can't get soft locked due to the level design not fitting the mechanics. For example, you can theoretically remove the character's ability to jump temporarily in order to create a challenge, but then give the player some other way of gaining upward momentum (strategic bounce pads, an attack that can propel you up, enemies that toss you through the air, etc). Also, for something clearly inspired by Nights, there's a disturbing absence of flying. I'm gonna wait for the unavoidable deep sale they'll resort to at some point before buying it, I'm curious but I'm not willing to throw away money.
one way to help the game, add a devoted action and jump button, a second way is to keep with the stage play theme and make it so the costumes do similar things, a set of powerups that you keep once you unlock them metroidvania style that change in style to match the area you're in while retaining their base functionality, but after that the rest of the levels, puzzles, and mechanics would need to be overhauled to make the game actually better
"It's astonishing that this was published by Square." I know right? Square only ever publish quality titles. Like Left Alive or The Quiet Man. (Sorry, couldn't resist) Seriously though Square Enix has had a really weird track record with releases over the past few years. They seem to be putting out any old mess they can get their hands on.
A game that did really well with different costumes is Ape Escape 3. You get a wrist watch that allows you to transform to gain different abilities to help capture monkeys, all with epic costume designs. Kung-Fu transformation for strong combat skills and the ability to basically go super saiyan, genie transformation for distracting monkeys with music and solving puzzles, superhero transformation to fly around in short bursts and shoot rays, etc. If this game did something like that, lessen the costumes from 80 to... let's say 12, it'd be pretty decent.
How i would make the game more fun: - Have 30 costumes with differents powers for EACH; one who contol fire, one for swiming, one for flying, one to control shadows etc AND you can jump when you wear them. - Removed the Balan bouts and make a mini-game where you fight mini-bosses, if you win you get more life. - Make the NPC'S talked and give you small tasks to win points to make your costumes stronger and not dissapear if an ennemy attacks you. - Make a cooking mini-games like Pokecamp in sword and shields to interract and play with the Tims. Also make a separate dimension when you can climb and jump on their tower, add furnitures to decorate her and create a small room for the main character. I won't change the graphics or the music, they are fine 🙂
This game... If Naka's goal was to make a game the world will remember, mission accomplished. I don't think anyone trying to be make it bad could pull off this perfect storm. This is god tier screwing the pooch.
It only goes to show that Yuji naka just isn't cut out to be a game designer anymore. It sucks, I respect the man for giving us sonic, But people had to fight him on that design. It just seems like he's good at only making the idea start, but never finishing it.
Cyberpunk at least had signs that it could have been good if the management hadn't royally cocked everything up. Same thing with Mighty No. 9. With Balan Wonderworld, there's not a single thing you can point to and say "that's a good idea" or "that could've been salvaged". It's fundamentally wrong on every level. Literally the only thing that could have salvaged this mess is if they hadn't made a game at all and had just made an animated movie, especially since the game's entire plot is sold separately as a novel.
Not at all. Cyberpunk 2077 was a good game that was poorly made and riddled with bugs. This is just an extremely boring waste of time that was poorly made.
I'm pretty sure they took the demo off the eShop. I know I played the demo on my Switch. There's also no trailer, and the only three pictures are of three random cutscenes. I think they're trying to be dishonest.
I’ve been noticing that ever since it’s release, Balan has been every video game reviewers punching bag. Ever since the terrible demo presentation and everyone’s demand for the game to be delayed, it didn’t surprise me that the game was as negatively received as it was, but I didn’t expect this many people to jump on the band wagon. Maybe it was in part due to dunkey and Critical recently reviewed it.
The warning signs for this game were always there, to me at least. Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima's studios are bargain bin developers who haven't had a genuinely good game released since leaving Sega. It's sad to see them lose their touch.
Only yuji lost his touch, naoto ohsima by the other hand didnt, he even tried to tell yuji naka to delay the game so it could come out better but naka didnt listen.
QuickTime events work best when they’re quick, feel like they apply to the actions you’re performing, and linked to active choices (like the Mario RPGs).
If by some miracle you find a person to play co-op with, you'll find that co-op is even worse as Player 2 is effectively rendered non-existent. Also, with a second player you can exploit some of costumes and jumping mechanics to float/skip through levels
Bubsy once asked "what would be a platforming game without platforms?" but apparently Balan decided to ask what would be a platforming game without a fucking jump button.
That alone should have been an "Emergency Stop engaged, what the fuck are we doing here?" Like suggesting a platformer NOT have a jump button, not as some kind of challenge thing (See "Hat in Time" deathwishes) but as just a regular gameplay thing. And for no reason either. We're not on the Atari 2600. We've had at least 2 buttons since time immemorial for gaming.
@@NEEDbacon Balan wonderworld is better off as captain toad
There's plenty of non-jumping platformers out there, like Captain Toad Treasure Tracker, Burger Time, Lode Runner, and Bionic Commando. Balan Wonderworld's problem is that the entire game is designed around jumping, despite the player not having that ability half the time.
@@seanmyster6 you have a point, but i consider something like Captain Toad more of a puzzle game. Burger Time i don't really see as a platformer either.
@@jonahabenhaim1223 Captain Toad was a WAY better game though.
I swear every time I see this game I have some kind of Mandela Effect moment because I swear I remember it being called WonderLAND
probably because wonderland rolls of the tongue easier than wonderworld as alice in wonderland in so ingrained in popular culture.
Probably because of Alice in Wonderland
Ditto
Same, but now with 69 likes so nice
Same
"This isn't worth $60 and I hate myself for supporting it monetarily" is the best line I've heard in any review of anything.
Not even refunding it feels good because they already got your money. It's not like you can pull it out of Yuji Naka's pockets
Shit it's not even worth it even if you pay me! 🤢
@@Blueblur599 eh i’m not so sure bout that one, personally
its a scam, this game shouldn't of been released at this state
That's a good line for so many recently released games
I think the easiest way to show that this game has no idea what it wants is the fact that the power-ups require you to get a key to unlock them, but that key is almost always a few steps away from the costume. It's a mechanic that got introduced that nobody either wanted to or had the time to design around.
They should have followed IHE's philosophy: "I just don't do it. I DON'T DO IT!"
My favorite thing about Balan Wonderworld is that it completely breaks any game reviewer that touches it and forces them to not be able to script a video about it. Gilly, SomeCallMeJohnny, Dunkey, no one can manage to write a real review about it.
My favorite thing is over analyzing what and how everything went so wrong
Its because there is no game to review, ballan wonderwold is like baby's first platformer and it doesn't let you do anything other than pressing 1 button
what puzzles me are the dance numbers that seem to come from nowhere
I dunno why but despite everything wrong with this game, I can't help but enjoy it. The dance numbers are goofy, acid trips. The Balan costume lets you snap the game in two and after getting the platinum trophy in Knack 1 and 2 I feel like it's my destiny to do the same for this game
This game feels like the took Nights into Dreams, Mario Odyssey, Billy Hatcher and Kirby and just threw them in a blender and hoped for the best
And they took out everything that made those games good
@Okami Blaze and the blades ?
@@errorbirdesther
Must've landed on the devs, giving them brain damage in return.
Don't forget about Kid Chameleon.
I think there's quite a bit more mario galaxy in that pot than Odyssey. Galaxy has more scripted wonder in its diverse level experimentation and is linear, and Odyssey has more dynamic freedom for player experimentation and is not linear. As for the powers, I totally agree with the Kirby here, on the "powers can be taken into different levels and you won't have to change but the game expects you to change to find secrets sometimes and also most of you powers have the same control scheme" mechanic.
Bruh, that ADHD comparison hit me hard. Like, as an aspiring writer, I can totally vouch for the idea of having a huge number of ideas rattling around in my head but not having the time to flesh them out, or attempt fleshing them out but losing motivation fast.
Interesting, tho I dont think i have ADHD, but i tend to have the exact same thing when i am about the write this amazing idea, but like you said, the motivation just dies out.
Totally can relate. It's so hard to get motivated to write even tho I am creating the entire story in my head
Same, I have so many folders with designs for characters (I REALLY love designing fashion for them) but I have no motivation to finally start writing the story...
Same
@@mikebearthegamer1365 I have so many stories in my head, mainly fan fics, but whenever I write one of them it never comes out right. So then I just give up.
The big part of this game that feels like really slaps people in the faces is balan is the character they really promoted for this game but you never get to play as him.
Except in a bunch of absolutely shitty minigames/ budget dragon ball z shenmue blender
@@useless4692 yeah.
Apparently there's a costume of him, but hidden behind some really cryptic stuff? Not that it's worth looking into.
Sometimes being boring is worse than being bad
sonic forces was atrociously bad balan had genuinely fun levels, forces has only capital city balan has the chess, amusement, fire and the junk worlds, the art one is too long and a vertical drop
but both are nothing like DK64 i had fun in that trainwreck
Forces is better than balan
@@haruhisuzumiya6650 I wouldn’t call forces atrociously bad, more like atrociously mediocre.
@@shook6612 yeah i agree
@@haruhisuzumiya6650 Sonic Forces wasn’t perfect but wouldn’t call atrociously bad at least it seemed to have more effort but into it than this
I love how Balan looks out of Nights, but NOTHING else in the game is like Nights.
I mean, the main "story" of addressing personal anxiety through a supernatural adventure is pretty NiGHTS like.
@@SSJ22Terris it's not
It's just cutscenes that have nothing to do with the level
@@ToonCatTV I know they have little to do with the level, besides like giant versions of said character being helped, or general theming in the design, but it's still the game's story even if it isn't told well or in much detail.
@@SSJ22Terris there's absolutely no story
I wanted Balan to be the main character to play but alas....
Balan wonderworlds cutscenes: ps5 graphics
Balan wonderworld gameplay: wii/ps2 graphics
thats an insult to wii and ps2 games ya chump
@@mxjuno1998 I wasn't trying to bash on the ps2 and wii I actually like the consoles because I grew up playing them but what I'm trying to say is that the games graphics look like a ps2/wii game that's all I'm trying to say
@@mxjuno1998 holy crap man calm down
@@MashupProductions22 no no I wasn't trying to insult you i was just joking how even ps2 and wii games look better than balan i apologize if it came off the wrong way my dude
@@huuuuuuuh60871 dude it was a joke you calm it yourself lol
As a fellow ADHDer, that statement about cultivating ideas hits close to home.
im in this video and i dont like it
ADHD gang lets go
9:39
I know, dude. Sometimes, I’ll find myself pouring my heart and soul into a new idea and then all of a sudden, I’ll come up with ANOTHER idea for a project that I really like.. rinse and repeat.
As a person that hasn't been "properly" diagnosed for anything, when he described what it was in the simplest way, I felt like "foinIUFWBESKJBAf, THAT'S ME!!!?!"
And now I Want to go and get properly diagnosed.
ten years down the road, i can imagine this being an awesome game for modders to have fun with and improve lol. it sucks right now though
I honestly feel so bad for the people that made this.
No, don’t. The developers are mostly Arzest, the worst fucking developers on earth.
Why is every 3D platformer a collectothon nowadays? If you cannot make a good collectothon and make it bad, at least change it to be a mediocre start to finish platformer rather than a boring and tedious as heck collectothon platformer.
@@theminecraft2516 I'm guessing A Hat in Time and especially Mario Odyssey made it the hot new thing again
It was made by aztrosis. but if they do feel bad. than thats fine
I guess I’ll clarify: I feel bad for the devs that were passionate about the project and are having their potentially crunched work being sh*t on. The fact that this wasn’t given a delay despite clearly needing one, AND they were probably told to say “yeah, we’re not delaying it...” It all just seems fishy and sad to me.
Sonic Forces: *You could not live with your own failure, and where did that bring you? Back to me...*
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sonic:"Look at you. You were once so proud."
@Tungsten Is from Avengers Endgame, Thanos said that in the movie
"I'd rather play Sonic Forces."
That tells you all you need to know right there.
I am more fascinated by its conception and people’s reaction than the game itself
Same, I'm extremely fascinated by how an entire group of people managed to fuck up something this badly.
The kids designs looks like Kids Next Door and Pepper Ann meets Pbs.
Agreed.
@@shawnfields2369 I mean I wish the game was good but I do like the art in some places. So many plot holes and I'm still waiting for someone to read the novel for this game in full. I wish Balan was playable and all costumes could jump while doing the powers. And one you get a costume you keep it in the costume room for later use with no back tracking.
@@beautychao7 Hey, dude, I agree again. The game didn't look too bad. The visuals made it seem appealing, like the Nights Into Dreams game the world was waiting for? But instead, we got disappointed by an early PS2/Wii looking shovelware type game that looks like it should've hit the bargain bins IMMEDIATELY after release. But no offense, but just because something looks artsy, doesn't make it better. It makes it look like an art project. Sure, the game's not horrendously bad or anything, but I agree with SomecallmeJohnny and his new review on this game. Boring, he wanted to put down the controller only 2 or 3 hours in, you play as some little kids, instead of the title character, who's a background character in his own game, you have to collect trophies in order to progress, not a good idea, but the game doesn't look entirely unsalvageable. As someone in the comments of Johnny's review said, the game could've been like some Elite Beat Agents type game, or something. Also, this is a bit unrelated, but I loved both Pepper Ann and Kids Next Door, as a kid. To take designs that look like those amazing shows, and to put them in a subpar at best game, is very disheartening. But good points all around, dude. I also wish Balan were a playable character in his own game. He looked cool enough. But from what I've heard, they didn't give Naka enough time, and told him he only had one chance to make a game. ONE! And barely enough time to make a game; so maybe the dude felt stressed out? They definitely didn't give him proper time. And only one chance to impress the people at Square Enix with a game? Here's a question, WHY? If you guys wanted to make a good game, why put all this pressure down on poor Yuji Naka like this? Maybe they wanted to test his game making skills? But if they did, I think there's better ways to do it than this, guys. Just saying. Or maybe Naka is losing his touch? I feel bad for him though. I thought the game looked alright. Nothing I'd want to play, but it didn't look bad. Just not worth $60. And there's better games for your kids/friends out there. But at least the game has some nice looking designs. Can't deny that Yuji Naka and his team put some effort into the game. It just wasn't enough though... and that's a real shame.
@@shawnfields2369 Well the game might be worth a lot in the future like Gotcha Force so I might get the physical release and keep it mint. Yeah you got some points there. I hope Klonoa Encore doesn't end up like this.
@@shawnfields2369 I agree
I am absolutly IN LOVE with Balan's design and it physically hurts to think that he wasn't in a better game.
I really hope they will take the critism in stride, give it another shot and make a sequel that will kick ass!
There will be no sequel. The game appears to have flopped financially.
@@arcanehornet maybe a fan game
@@theorangetoad5669 probably would be better than the actual game
@@arcanehornet yep
@@arcanehornet yea, in Japan alone, it didn’t even make it into the top selling lists
Balan has totally and completely perplexed the entire voice game review/analysis community
Actually just discovered that feeding the tims post game will let you get the balan costume that breaks the game.
This game is just shovel ware with a fancy paint job.
And a higher price.
I thought the demo was just a REALLY early build. And we got what's basically Captain Toad meets Banjo Kazooie with none of the challenge or enjoyment.
I will never - and I mean *never* - get tired of making fun of Balan Wonderworld.
"It's astonishing that this was actually published by Square"
They published The Quiet Man, I'm pretty sure they'll publish anything.
Square Enix is apparently scumbags like EA. Who knew.
Balan's design: fun to look at, has a "magical clown" vibe"
Kids' designs: what kind of Digimon knockoff bullshit
The first thing I thought about those humans was, "Damn, those hands look like they could casually crush each other's skulls with but a single clench."
*Casually grabs child*
I’m sorry, little one.
Don't forget, main boy character also owns legit Airpods in the opening cinematic, that's major character development.
Anyways, it is broken if you play it co-op, both players merge together to be able to use both powers, but player twos powers do not transfer between levels. So in some cases you can just fly indefinitely through certain levels or double jump everywhere.
Airpods? I think you mean Raycons.
If you put the graphics on Low, this really feels like a Wii Shop Demo...
When you think about it, if this game didn't have a moveable camera, you could play it with an Atari 2600 controller.
The thing that pisses me of are all the fake reviews on metacritic.
Seriously, how is nobody in games media or the RUclips gaming sphere bringing up the obvious attempt by Square to inflate the user scores with blatantly fake reviews?
@@LordArikado I doubt it even is Square, since they seem to have set the game up for failure by all accounts looking at how they handled the release and marketing. It's probably mostly trolls making the fake reviews.
...And a few well meaning people that somehow liked it overcompensating for the bad reviews by giving 10s it doesn't deserve instead of a more honest score. Some people don't need a fun game to have fun with a game. For instance, those who grew up playing a lot of licensed Dreamworks and Disney games or the like, the charm of the concept being enough for them, I guess.
@@LordArikado some people are just leaving good reviews because of who created it. Sonic has a bunch of cult mentality fans that would defend anything by the sonic creators so long as it's not a bad sonic game.
The main characters and their color options look like something out of 3D Pokémon
Exactly they can look cool you just need to put the right colors on them
Jeez, you described my idea problems in a nutshell with ADHD.
Right
Thanks for the warning. I must admit, this game caught my eye because rarely do AAA publishers do "whimsical" themes. Knowing that it's quite boring at best means I'm waiting for bargain bin, if at all.
For anyone interested in Yuji Naka, be sure to check out the two Wii games his company Prope developed - Fishing Resort and Ivy the Kiwi. Fishing Resort is a competent, pretty, relaxing fishing game, but obviously if you don't like fishing games it's not for you. Ivy the Kiwi was released for DS, Wii, and apparently smartphones of the time, and while it's not amazing it's definitely a neat attempt at "make platforms as you go" 2d platformer, similar to what Kirby and the Rainbow Curse would later do. I think the DS version is probably a little better since you have the immediacy of using the stylus. For everyone that critiques Naka I never hear them mention these two games.
I think that the "this was supposed to be a app game" theory is pretty accurate
8:38
I love how he sounds broken while saying that. This must have drove him insane
This game has a good story...
Found in a book written by the development team.
The worst part is the Square literally told Yuji Naka this was his one singular chance to make a platformer, so there is a 9/10 chance this game is not getting a sequel and Balan is gonna be like Geno and most non-Final Fantasy related characters where Square just pretends he does not exist. If you are one of the few people who has an interest in the world this game tries to set up, just get the light novel. It's eight bucks and will provide a less boring experience.
Sonic forces is like unseasoned oatmeal, tasteless, gets a job done, sends you to the bathroom
Wow, but somehow, it's still better than Badland Wonderwall. Or was it Badland Waterworld? I keep messing up the name...
@@shawnfields2369 sonic forces is one of the most mediocre games ever, we would have applauded its achievement if it wasnt so forgettable
@@Awsomeisimo Yep, totally agree. But overall, I agree with Gilly, and would rather play Sonic Forces compared to this, because at least with that, the torture only lasts 3 hours, instead of what looks to be around 10+ hours. But, good point. Forces is so forgettably mediocre, even the appeal of creating your own character can't save it from being so damn mediocre and bland. Seriously, how do they do it? Make a game so forgettable and bland, that it basically almost makes it an achievement in blandness! But luckily, I haven't played Forces, and never will. I'll stick to Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing if I need a GOOD Sonic the Hedgehog Switch game, thank you.
Yep, i'd recommend playing SA2 over Forces & Balloon Wonderfuck. Way cheaper than both.
@@MrBonessss SA2 is so damn replayable, something that Forces and Balan definitely lack.
The worst part of this game is the price
When even IGN gives your game a 4/10, you know you've messed up...
They actually reviewed It properly?!
IGN: Gives Balan Wonderworld a 4/10
Also IGN: Gives Last of Us Part 2 a 8/10.
Either you know you messed up or IGN was high when trying to rate a brilliant gem...this was definitely former.
they didnt pay IGN enough i guess
Damn what a generous score.
So I've seen Balan creep into my suggestions and it makes for neat Thumbnail portraits, didn't quite grab me. But WHOOO boy, very much a case of "Don't just a book by it's cover".
This game makes Sonic Forces actually look like a fun game. That game at least has moments of fun, despite the lackluster level design, lack of ambition, and terrible controls, but it was at the very least fast paced.
The only thing worse than a boring game is a slow boring game. Sonic Forces is like baby's first Sonic Generations and this is like baby's first... game.
Don't forget the soundtrack
And it spawned a fun mobile game (speed battle)
Character customization is pretty good with lots of different articles of clothes.
Man, everytime you release big developers from their big publisher shackles they make cluttered messy stuff like this. People shit on publishers, but I think they must be doing something right most of the time.
I'm assuming Square Enix was pretty loose with him compared to Sonic Team and SEGA.
Well, Koji Igarashi made Bloodstained work and Yasumi Matsuno's 3DS downloadable game, Crimson Shroud, was good fun. Most of the time though... yeah.
@@HighPriestFuneral Yeah I agree, but even so, Igarashi had to make a huge apology and almost remake the entire game. Yes, he did go the extra mile to make something better, but it all started the same way.
The cutscenes are the best part of the game not only because they look great but also because you don't play the game
"It's like a double album with 30 songs but only 3 of the songs are good" Oh so the White Album.
I bought this game about a week ago, and now I'm on my way to get the platinum trophy.
To all of you who were rightfully dissapointed by this: Just get nights on the PSN or XBOX market. It's a much better unique experience.
it's on Steam too
that MTA joke simultaneously gave me a chuckle and hurt my soul
What's MTA?
You can do this nifty thing called looking things up for yourself.
@@fritzy8318 Great idea genius. Obviously those three vague letters stand for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, no wait, Maryland Transit Administration. Or was it the Microsoft Technology Associate certification?
@@fritzy8318 almost like 3 letter acronyms get used in multiple ways that a google search won't make any clearer. It's almost like thousands of things could be implied by three letters.
This is Mighty No9 ALL OVER AGAIN
And Yooka-Laylee, as well.
@@austinreed7343 Granted, Yooka-Laylee had a sequel that was better.
@@austinreed7343 a lot of people liked that game including gilly so ifk
The fact that this is meant to be a successor to NIGHTS into Dreams says a lot--
I'm reminded of one of the many 90's era 2D platformers which had nice colours and some nice designs here and there but where mostly boring and unplayable, like Bubsy or Alfred Chicken or Awesome possum
Alfred...Chicken? Never heard of that one.
@@fritzy8318 I’m with you there
Balan aside, the player characters make the Splatoon Inklings look like masterpieces.
at least the inklings have an iconic enough design you can tell "Yeah, that's splatoon" you could show me the main characters of this game and i wouldn't know what game they came from right after i finish watching a review on the game
@@yellowpig1026 My other thought for these characters is they all remind me of the character designs for Codename: Kids Next Door. What with the big hands and whatnot.
this was a great "free form essay" review.
I'm glad the MTA joke made it in. As a Brooklynite, it makes so much sense.
Who's MTA?
@@TommyDeonauthsArchives you can look this shit up yourself ffs.
@@fritzy8318 Why does people asking questions bother you so much? I've seen you comment on two different people asking this.
And to answer the question for everyone else, I looked it up and its a public transportation system in New York.
@@StarlitSoryn
Why ‘does’
You mean why DO
It feels like an AI made this game.
Box Fox is like the only redeeming quality imo lol
Oh...oh geez, that ADHD comment, having tons of ideas but kinda just letting them dies. That hits me way too close to home.
9:40 yeah, i can confirm that this is unfortunately highly accurate.
FINALLY someone dares to say the character models for the kids look atrocious and generic. I'm sick of reviewers trying to pretend they look "awesome" and "creative" in an attempt to give this game some positive aspects.
Watching the game play I'm struggling to find the best way to describe this hot mess. This feels like, as a kid, you asked for the latest whatever Super Mario exists for the fancy new console your mum got you, and she returns home with this because "it was cheaper". Like it was made by a marketing team instead of a major game company to lure in mums who want to get their kids a game, but prefer paying home brand prices over brand name.
Also, hi from a fellow ADHD mind. Can imagine how difficult it must be maintaining a channel like this.
I wish this had met its potential, I miss those ps2 ty the Tasmanian tiger type not-innovative-but-competent 3d platformers
It's like Banjo Kazooie but bad. It's like A Hat in Time but bad. It's like Super Mario Odyssey but bad. It's like NiGHTS Into Dreams but really, really, truly atrocious. It's like Sonic Unleashed but somehow worse.
Balan Wonderworld is too kid friendly and it offends us.
They looked at Mario Odyssey and were like "Yup, it's definitely the white top hat character that makes this game"
Except that game has way more depth and charm than this ever will.
I bigger insult would be I want to play Link and the faces of evil on Phillip's CDI
It's a telling sign that even the first Yooka Laylee game is better than Balan Wonderworld.
Balan out here making Yooka Laylee seem like a remaster Banjo Kazooie.
What about Mighty No. 9?
That was made by the original creator of a beloved series after he left the company that owns said series.
@@HarbingerYT We don't talk about that. Plus, I was talking more in the context of 3D Platformers.
Gilly liked Yooka
It's almost as if Yuji Naka has skated by on other people's talent for most of his career and is not a particularly skilled game designer
Yeah. Most people think he created Sonic when it was actually Naoto Oshima who created him, and Naka was just a programmer.
@@Shadamyfan-rs8xc yepppp. Its something more people should be aware of, Naka is basically a marketing tool
His work on the early Sonic games shows that he's a talented programmer. The problem is he has next to no experience as a director, which is what he was saddled with here. That requires a completely separate set of skills that he's had no chance to learn, let alone hone them.
@@LordArikado he is definitely a skilled programmer, it's just the rest of the design progress that seems to be beyond him.
@@tj5425 So then, Yuji Naka is the David Cage of Keiji Inafunes.
The charecter designs are like they tried to take Sonic's anatomy and slap it on a human body.
When New Super Lucky’s Tale looks & Plays better.
Well, sometimes a bad game can be better than a boring game.
This is both bad and boring.
Almost a year later and "It is ADHD: The Game." is one of my favorite things ever.
8:50 Basically describes Sonic to a T and I say that as a sonic fan. Makes me question what we were actually expecting with this in hindsight since the signs have been there since the beginning.
Yooka: *looks at Balan Wonderworld* "And people bitched about our game?"
Laylee: "Yeah... these Anti-Rare journalists are stupid."
Yeah that game got a lot more hate than it deserved
9:49 i feel so called out dear god
I feel like making a 3D platformer with only one action button is interesting in concept and a neat design challenge, but if you're going to commit to the idea then make sure you can't get soft locked due to the level design not fitting the mechanics. For example, you can theoretically remove the character's ability to jump temporarily in order to create a challenge, but then give the player some other way of gaining upward momentum (strategic bounce pads, an attack that can propel you up, enemies that toss you through the air, etc).
Also, for something clearly inspired by Nights, there's a disturbing absence of flying.
I'm gonna wait for the unavoidable deep sale they'll resort to at some point before buying it, I'm curious but I'm not willing to throw away money.
I played the demo and was like "nope, can't do it", This game feels like it would've done better had they delayed it and worked on it more
I only played the demo on Switch but I thought the little birds were some sort of Chocobo this being a Square Enix game.
I’d rather complete all 3 CD-i Zelda games than play Balan Shitworld.
one way to help the game, add a devoted action and jump button, a second way is to keep with the stage play theme and make it so the costumes do similar things, a set of powerups that you keep once you unlock them metroidvania style that change in style to match the area you're in while retaining their base functionality, but after that the rest of the levels, puzzles, and mechanics would need to be overhauled to make the game actually better
La gasp. He said he had better time playing the forbidden games. I agree.
Love ur content bro ur videos feel unique. Always happy to see an upload
"It's astonishing that this was published by Square."
I know right? Square only ever publish quality titles. Like Left Alive or The Quiet Man. (Sorry, couldn't resist)
Seriously though Square Enix has had a really weird track record with releases over the past few years. They seem to be putting out any old mess they can get their hands on.
Yeah, I can’t really think of super high-quality non-JRPG Square Enix series (that aren’t Tomb Raider)
Don't forget Mindjack
"This game has broken me, apparently." 🤣🤣🤣
Now I have to subscribe.
was just funny where i click this video and start to listen owls screaming, was a PETA ad
the adhd line makes a lot of sense when it comes to this game
A game that did really well with different costumes is Ape Escape 3. You get a wrist watch that allows you to transform to gain different abilities to help capture monkeys, all with epic costume designs. Kung-Fu transformation for strong combat skills and the ability to basically go super saiyan, genie transformation for distracting monkeys with music and solving puzzles, superhero transformation to fly around in short bursts and shoot rays, etc.
If this game did something like that, lessen the costumes from 80 to... let's say 12, it'd be pretty decent.
You never mentioned the End stage dancing scene.
Yuji Naka pulled an Inafune. Let that soak in.
Megaman had Mighty No. 9.
NiGHTS has Balan Wonderworld.
Maybe that means we could get a new NIGHTS game and rise a franchise from the ashes like Megaman 11 did.
How i would make the game more fun:
- Have 30 costumes with differents powers for EACH; one who contol fire, one for swiming, one for flying, one to control shadows etc AND you can jump when you wear them.
- Removed the Balan bouts and make a mini-game where you fight mini-bosses, if you win you get more life.
- Make the NPC'S talked and give you small tasks to win points to make your costumes stronger and not dissapear if an ennemy attacks you.
- Make a cooking mini-games like Pokecamp in sword and shields to interract and play with the Tims. Also make a separate dimension when you can climb and jump on their tower, add furnitures to decorate her and create a small room for the main character.
I won't change the graphics or the music, they are fine 🙂
This game...
If Naka's goal was to make a game the world will remember, mission accomplished.
I don't think anyone trying to be make it bad could pull off this perfect storm. This is god tier screwing the pooch.
It only goes to show that Yuji naka just isn't cut out to be a game designer anymore. It sucks, I respect the man for giving us sonic, But people had to fight him on that design. It just seems like he's good at only making the idea start, but never finishing it.
Naka had nothing to do with Blinx.
@@elin111 strange I was pretty sure he did. Well it doesn't matter, you do knock us still helped with sonic, so that much is true.
HOT TAKE: "This is the Cyberpunk 2077 of platformers."
*proceeds to chuck phone in ditch*
Nah, this is clearly the Mighty No. 9 of 3D platformers
Cyberpunk at least had signs that it could have been good if the management hadn't royally cocked everything up. Same thing with Mighty No. 9. With Balan Wonderworld, there's not a single thing you can point to and say "that's a good idea" or "that could've been salvaged". It's fundamentally wrong on every level. Literally the only thing that could have salvaged this mess is if they hadn't made a game at all and had just made an animated movie, especially since the game's entire plot is sold separately as a novel.
Not at all. Cyberpunk 2077 was a good game that was poorly made and riddled with bugs. This is just an extremely boring waste of time that was poorly made.
I'm pretty sure they took the demo off the eShop. I know I played the demo on my Switch. There's also no trailer, and the only three pictures are of three random cutscenes.
I think they're trying to be dishonest.
I’ve been noticing that ever since it’s release, Balan has been every video game reviewers punching bag. Ever since the terrible demo presentation and everyone’s demand for the game to be delayed, it didn’t surprise me that the game was as negatively received as it was, but I didn’t expect this many people to jump on the band wagon. Maybe it was in part due to dunkey and Critical recently reviewed it.
A bad game is free real estate.
I actually really annoying about people shitting on this game not because it a bad game itself but it because it on the Internet everywhere.
The warning signs for this game were always there, to me at least. Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima's studios are bargain bin developers who haven't had a genuinely good game released since leaving Sega. It's sad to see them lose their touch.
Only yuji lost his touch, naoto ohsima by the other hand didnt, he even tried to tell yuji naka to delay the game so it could come out better but naka didnt listen.
How are you SHOCKED that it was published by Square Enix? Did you forget The Quiet Man?
I did until you reminded me...-_- lol
QuickTime events aren’t necessarily a bad thing, they just aren’t executed well here
yeah balan should have ran from a boulder spamming A/X instead
Balan is certainly no Asura.
QuickTime events work best when they’re quick, feel like they apply to the actions you’re performing, and linked to active choices (like the Mario RPGs).
If by some miracle you find a person to play co-op with, you'll find that co-op is even worse as Player 2 is effectively rendered non-existent. Also, with a second player you can exploit some of costumes and jumping mechanics to float/skip through levels
The two MC don’t look like kids Yknow?
Most you get from them both is the Jean jacket on the girl but that’s about it