There are also hidden top hats that spark Balan’s Bout, where Balan himself faces off against enemies in spectacular fashion. Again, this mechanic has potential for some clever puzzles but the overall lack of challenge makes the levels a chore to play through repeatedly. To progress in the game you’ll need to collect hidden trophies, which require specific costumes found in later levels. Throughout the game’s twelve levels, it barely ramps up the challenge. That means you can’t even jump wearing certain costumes – yes, that’s right, in a platformer that’s all about jumping. The entire adventure is played with just one button, used to perform the action of your costume.
What’s even worse is that the game is patronisingly simplistic to a fault. Instead, the powers are mostly variations on jumping seemingly copied from other, better, platformers: a tornado jump like Crash, a flutter jump like Yoshi, shooting fireballs like Spyro. There’s huge potential in this, but the game never capitalises on it. Throughout each level you’ll discover new costumes that provide extra lives and specific powers used to uncover secrets. The theatrics extend to the gameplay too, with the game centred on the concept of costumes. It’s meant to reflect universality, but in practice makes the game feel ironically soulless. Yet while the CG cinematics are fun and well created, the storytelling is wordless (except for a made-up language in the songs). Each is divided into theatrical acts, the start of which are denoted by orchestral chimes, and they end with a bizarre song and dance number that’s surprisingly catchy. Each level is filled with dancing critters like the backdrop to the It’s A Small World ride at Disneyland, while other levels play out like theme park rollercoasters. The musical theme does add some charm to it all. There’s a boy who wants to fly, a diver who gets bumped by a dolphin and… a chess player who loses a match. Playing as one of two children (the choice makes no difference), you’ll jump your way through levels themed around people with broken hearts – hearts that you’ll need to mend by defeating the boss.
Like those others, Balan Wonderworld is a bright, colourful platformer through a whimsical, wacky world.
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