Balan Company is led by Sonic the Hedgehog and Nights into Dreams creator Yuji Naka. With that sort of pedigree, you would think that their old-school collectathon platformer Balan Wonderworld should be good. While some might not be entertained by the dated idea of a mascot-driven platformer, the idea in itself isn’t a bad one. What does hold the game back is it?s hampered by a fair number of strange design decisions that make it more difficult to play and confusing than it should.
Players take on the role of a troubled child. Emma Cole’s household maids are all whispering about her behind her back. Meanwhile Leo Craig is happily breakdancing before deciding to shun everybody and walk off in a mood for some inexplicable reason. Both stumble across the mysterious Balan Theater, where the permanently smiling Balan packs them off to Balan Wonderworld to find their hearts. The character of your choice lands on the Isle of Tims with a handful of bizarre birds that constantly demand to be fed yellow droplets. There’s no time to worry about that, though, as the first world is beckoning. Balan Wonderworld Review – Why So Troubled"
The worlds break up into small islands until harmony is restored. Platforming between these islands is easy enough and usually has room for error, its difficulty seemingly aimed at young children. If anything, it’s too simplistic because each level is concentrated around the abilities of the game’s 80 costumes ins...