We’re not entirely sure where to start with Balan Wonderworld. With early access to the show (available to everyone starting tomorrow), we’ve been interpreting this somewhat mysterious title and we’re not completely convinced. The demonstration itself is quite large, but in our experience we are not sold this new concept of Yuji Naka.
After an elegant introduction to the game world with a fantastic CG cut scene, you will immerse yourself in a concentrating world that connects each of the levels of the game. There’s not much to see or do here, but to get on stage. The first duo of levels is on a farm, with giant crops and green fields everywhere. The most unusual thing about this environment is a very discordant visual effect. As you run forward, the world beyond a kind of warp, as if you were in a huge cylinder. The problem is that the effect is poorly implemented; in fact, it wrapped up a bit with our eyes. Once this first world is cleared, other levels open up and they don’t seem to have that same problem.
Anyway, aside from the visual quirks, the game looks whimsical, all in bright colors and runs at 60 frames per second locked on PlayStation 5. That said, it’s not particularly impressive to look at, with characters and textures . The music is better, accompanying the stages with simple themes that will probably end up in your head.
As for the game itself, it’s extremely simple. The main hook of Balan Wonderworld is that your character can wear numerous costumes and each provides a unique ability. Once you pick one up, you’ll get a brief explanation of what it does. Examples of the show include a wolf costume that allows you to generate a tornado, a flower that can be stretched to collect objects, and a dragon that can breathe fireballs. We say that the game is extremely simple, because regardless of the dress you are currently wearing, your skill is enabled with a single button. You can use any of the face buttons or any of the triggers (which have adaptive feedback in DualSense) to realize the power of the dress.
It means the game is very accessible to younger players and you don’t have to worry about controls when switching between costumes. You can bank three at a time and exchange them freely whenever you want. What’s good is that each skill can be used to advance through a level, but it can also be used against the bad guys. Some are better than others at defending themselves from enemies, but just jumping on their heads will do the job.
If an enemy hits you, you will lose the suit you are currently wearing, which can be a nuisance depending on how far you are from picking up this costume. Overall, they seem to stand out intelligently, but be prepared to step back a bit if you need a particular skill.
After playing various levels of the show, it looks like you will want to return to the previous stages with more unlocked costumes. You can choose which costumes you want to take on a stage, allowing you to mix things up and potentially access new areas or hidden secrets. Your main goal, as far as we know, is to collect golden statues of Balan and you will have to use all the costumes to find them all.
There are also mini-games to discover, but there are plenty of plans left, which doesn’t bring much experience. After playing on a stage, you’ll have gathered some colorful gems. Back in the downtown area, these gems can feed on the chick like critters called Tims, but it doesn’t really explain why you should do this.
This is not the only inexplicable mystery; there is a counter in the center of the hub and we have yet to find out what it is for. After fighting a boss, we released the farmer trapped inside and then took a ride on an air train. This demonstration contains a considerable amount, but the inexplicable elements left us a little bewildered.
Of course, the goal of this game is to create something with a dream quality suitable for players of all skill levels. There’s nothing wrong, of course, but we can’t help but be disappointed by what we’ve played. Maybe the whole game will come out better with the whole picture in place, as at this point it feels like a bizarre mestizo of ideas that just doesn’t come together.
The Balan Wonderworld demo will be available starting Thursday, January 28 on PS5 and PS4. Will you check it out? Play dress up in the comments section below.