BALAN WONDERWORLD is an action platformer from Square Enix themed around the Balan Theatre. It stars Emma and Leo, together with the enigmatic maestro named Balan, will go on an adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. There are twelve tales to explore, each with its unique quirks. To survive, they will need to use special abilities from a multitude of costumes. This is just a demo of the full BALAN WONDERWORLD game, so expect a short game runtime. 

One-button action-adventure game

The first thing that you should know about BALAN WONDERWORLD is that it is a simple game. It is so simple, in fact, that it only needs one button to play. You can press any button to make the characters move—jump or use whatever skills associated with the costumes your character is wearing. With this, you don’t have to familiarize yourself with various combos or control schemes.

This game is also heavily centered on the costumes. The stars of the game can use powers by donning costumes they collect along the way. There are more than 80 different costumes, each with its own special ability. Do note that you can only use the ability of the costume that you are wearing. You can carry and cycle through up to three costumes at once, and you will lose that costume if you take damage.

Level-wise, the game showcase a decent lineup—considering it is a demo game. Although compact compared to other action-adventure games, they still encourage exploration with rewards scattered throughout the stage. However, you cannot reach some level without the right suit for the job. With this, you will have to double back to the previous levels to collect it. More so, the enemies are sparse and easy to eliminate. This lack of difficulty makes for a leisurely experience.

Is the game worth it?

BALAN WONDERWORLD is worth checking out if you're into exploration games. It introduces a theatrical world that is breathtaking. Each of the stages features a mesmerizing quality and has a bit of visual magic to it. However, while it boasts great visuals, the same cannot be said to its gameplay. The entire game toe the line of generic, with its simple controls and lackluster levels. Players can only hope for a better offering with its final release.