Balan Wonderworld is an upcoming 3D action-platformer trying to bring back the balance in our hearts. By bringing together two of Sonic the Hedgehog creators and launching the new Balan Company, Square Enix has big plans for this musical theatre-inspired game.
In it, players will become a new hero -- with a massive closet of costumes -- looking to help others while also finding the balance within themselves. Every person they help in Balan Wonderworld will dance their way to happiness.
In Balan Wonderworld, there is a mysterious theatre that is only found when a heart has lost its balance. Hidden until it is needed, the Balan Theatre helps people bring back the balance between positive and negative energy within themselves. The maestro, Balan, calls the theatre his home along with his opposite, Lance. The two represent the positive and negative parts of the heart.
The game introduces players to the theatre through protagonists Leo Craig and Emma Cole. The two 15 year-olds find themselves trapped in the theatre and embark on a journey to rebalance their hearts, as well as those of 12 others. Leo is a loner who no longer feels the need for friendship after losing his best friend in a heated argument. Emma, meanwhile, worries about everyone's opinions, fearing that her friends are fake and talk about her behind her back. These thoughts are what change their hearts and cause them to lose their balance.
Finding Balan Theatre and helping others is their only hope for repairing their hearts. If they fail, they'll be trapped in the theatre forever as Lance's negative puppets. They'll have to embrace the musical theater and perform acts of kindness to conquer the hostile monsters that Lance puts in their way.
Balan Wonderworld launches on March 26, 2021. Gamers can look for the game on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. The game will also have a collector's edition exclusive to the Square Enix store called the "Showtime Set." It comes with a physical copy of the game along with a tote bag, a fully colored theatre program, a Balan pin and MP3 downloads of the game's soundtrack. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One buyers will be able to receive the next-gen version of the game for free if they upgrade to the new consoles.
Balan Wonderworld is being developed by Arzet and published by Square Enix. Both Japanese studios have brought back the iconic duo Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima. The two played a huge role in creating Sonic and Doctor Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik. Players may even see some similarities in the art style of the 2D versions of the characters.
The game will ask players to explore multiple storylines, called chapters. Inside each chapter are power-up costumes that will help Leo and Emma find new spaces. There are over 80 different costumes, all with unique abilities. However, as other costumes are found in various stages, players will have to figure out which ones will be best for the job at hand. Players will be encouraged to return to past chapters with different costumes to find the game's golden statue collectibles.
Of course, no action game would be complete without boss battles, and Balan Wonderworld brings plenty. Inside this world of negative hearts, Lance brings out the worst and uses them against our heroes. Each chapter will end with a transformed boss that stems from a person's heart in the real world. Once players defeat these negative monsters, the Wonderworld will reward them with a huge musical number. Leo, Emma and their previous foe will begin enormous choreographed numbers. Each chapter ends like a party.
Balan Wonderworld is aimed at a wide audience. Square Enix Visual Works team member Ikumori Kazuyuki has said that the team drew inspiration from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest's artistic design. By merging the cooler style of Final Fantasy with the soft friendliness of Dragon Quest, the developers found an entirely new feel for the game. Square Enix is hoping that this artistic style will cater to a broader player base.
Another development move Square Enix and Arzest made in the interest of broad audience appeal is the inclusion of two-player couch co-op. One player can take control of Leo, while the other uses Emma. Using different costumes together will allow players to find new areas with ease.
A new adventure is waiting in Balan Wonderworld. Square Enix and Arzest will touch the game's heroes and players' hearts by using musical theater. Using co-op and fun puzzles, this is a game with the potential to bring families together to explore a brand new adventure full of mysteries just begging to be uncovered.
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