BALAN WONDERWORLD Reviews

peak

I hope they put the guy who made this in prison.

I don't know why people don't like this game, but I'm not here to change minds. I'm just here to share my insights and thoughts. Now first off, since this is a review, I'm assuming any new potential players could be looking through the reviews wanting to know if this game is worth it. So for all of those who are looking for short answers: Yes, this game is worth it and please for the love of art give it a chance. Now for the long version: I've heard that one of the biggest complaints is that there is only one button, or rather every button does the same thing. This was not a lazy design, it's very clear that the devs wanted to make a chill game. So rather make a game with complex mechanics or multiple actions to memorize, they instead made it simple so even if you the player returned and don't remember how to play, this isn't designed like Dark Souls where you have to take a minute to figure out what's going on. This game allows anyone to be able to pick up and play without, or little to none, issues at all. Also, this single action doesn't mean the mechanics are boring. There is a wide selection of costumes all with their own abilities, this is where I hear people complain that some costumes don't allow the player to jump. While this is true, there is a good reason. You see, the reason why there are costumes that allow you to jump, attack, interact or traverse in different ways is simply because this is a puzzle game. So which part of the game is the puzzle? All of it, the whole game is a puzzle. 1. In order to progress, you'll need to have different sets of costumes. For example, when in the Chapter about the scuba diving girl you'll need either the Dolphin or the Jellyfish costume in order to progress forward through water currents. Any other costumes will not be able give such access, but they can help with alternative routes such as the teleportation. In some levels, you are given a combat costume that does something like throw blades, paint balls, fire or some other that doesn't allow you to jump. In these cases, you have to figure out the right moment to use combat vs non-combat. This isn't hard as it's a chill game, you're using non-combat for a large part and only switching to combat if you come across enemies and IF you decide to deal with them. All except for the mini bosses, you can just skip the enemies. And even then the mini bosses takes only 3 hits and are telegraphed very well, and you're not trapped in the room so if you're not ready you can just leave and come back later. AND THAT'S REASON ONE!!! 2. The game WANTS you to go out of bounds! This is something you never see in a lot of other games, there's a lot of costumes that you can use in other levels that looks like they weren't designed for. And yet, anytime you the player go out of bounds and think you're in a place the devs didn't intend for you to go into, it turns out the devs DID think of that! You actually get rewarded! Now some people complain, "Oh but you only get seeds." People... think about this... you used a costume, possibly even a set of costumes, to go out of bounds trying to break the game and the game returned with a "Oh hey you made it out to here! Here's a reward for doing something literally out of the box!" Heck, you even see this in Chapter 10 Act 2. There's a lot of collectibles that are hidden from view unlike other times where you can come across a few in line of sight. It's almost as if the level is trying to get the players to go off the main route and try to "break" the game in ways that feel unnatural... Lastly (Maybe) I want to discuss is another complaint I see way too often... "You need to read the book in order to understand the plot!" To anyone who says that, I can say the same thing about FNAF games especially the classic games, and you know what? Even in not knowing the deep lore, those are still fun games to play. What's my point? My point is for Balan Wonderworld, you don't need to read the book. Like... ever, at all. This game does a fantastic job at showing and not telling, which is something that some other games will mess up by telling and not showing. If you don't want spoilers for a chill, relaxing puzzle platforming game, then be warned that there are spoilers ahead. Don't worry, this will only go over what we can pick up from the beginning, and what it is that your mission is in the levels. I will NOT go over every level, as level design is my favorite subject and I will talk for hours if I don't restrain myself. You have been warned: The game starts off with you picking one of two characters, although you get a little bit of a say in what they look like based on hair color. Not much for customization, but customization wasn't the main focus for this game. Whichever one you pick, they show that they are facing some kind of trouble in their life, or rather within themselves. The boy has talent, but something within him is holding him back from joining any groups. One can assume it's some form of uneasiness or self doubt, or possibly feeling lonely in his own world. (Remember... Alone is being physically by oneself, while Lonely is an emotional state of feeling disconnected even when surrounded by others) Meanwhile, the girl keeps thinking that people are talking behind her back and it seems to be they are avoiding her... It's a quick scene, but the gist is that there's some clear distrust between her and everyone else. Oh and wanna know the crazy thing? The game tells you as you pick your characters that the boy is named Leo, and the girl is named Emma. And because that theater hat guy is on the cover art, the main menu screen and the game takes place in a Wonderworld, I think it's safe to say the theater hat guy is named Balan. Hey look at that, we got names without a book. Neat... Now sure, you may not know who the scary dark looking guy is that Balan sometimes goes toe-to-toe with, but he really isn't your enemy. He's Balan's enemy, you just have to navigate through the levels and find out what's wrong with people. But wait... why? Well at the beginning cutscene, Balan tells you that you are missing a piece of your heart, which is what kicks off the adventure or as he calls it, a show. And so, you begin your venture by searching for your heart as stated in the cutscene. When the cutscene ends, you are in Wonderworld and it seems other people (such as the farmer who is the first level) is in a similar situation but as you venture though the level, something is off... (the level design will convey this, and I will not go into details cause that's a longer rant). Finally, the dance after a boss fight. It's weird right? But then again, you are in a Wonderworld... a place that Balan referred to as "a show"... You are trying to find confidence in yourself and help someone see the light through the darkness. Do you see where I'm getting at? These dances are not random. Besides, if you really hate music numbers then you can skip it. It's a separate cutscene so you won't miss the resolution. All in all, this game is amazing and it doesn't deserve any of the hate it's getting. Please, give this game a chance. It's really good and very well made, which making a game with clever level designs like this one has is nowhere near easy to pull off, and I can say with confidence that the dev team knew what they were doing and they made a beautiful work of art.

Saint Catherine's breaking wheel is more humane and entertaining than playing Balan Wonderworld.

This game is not a terrible game like the internet has painted it out to be, but it also far from a good game. Save yourself 30 hours of headache, or even 15 hours, and avoid playing it.