Balan Wonderworld: Square Enix's Ambitious Action-Platformer Shines on Nintendo Switch

Balan Wonderworld Marks Square Enix's Latest Creative Leap on Nintendo Switch Square Enix, renowned for its innovative approach to game development, has once again sought to captivate players with Balan Wonderworld, a vibrant action-platformer available on Nintendo Switch and other platforms.

Developed by the newly formed Balan Company, this imaginative title invites players into a fantastical world blending positive memories and lingering worries.

The game’s arrival on March 26, 2021, marked an ambitious new chapter for Square Enix, aiming to showcase the team's creative powers and the hardware capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. Behind Balan Wonderworld is a veteran team: Producer Noriyoshi Fujimoto, acclaimed character designer Naoto Ohshima (best known for creating iconic video game characters), and accomplished composer Ryo Yamazaki.

Each brought a unique vision and expertise, shaping a game world where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur. Revealing the Creative Process: Developer Insights Naoto Ohshima described the inspiration behind Balan, the game’s enigmatic lead, as centered on the idea of an elusive maestro visible only to those facing inner turmoil.

Ohshima's design drew on theater traditions, emphasizing a distinctive costume and expressive features, ensuring Balan stood out as a mysterious yet inviting guide. The Balan Theatre setting was chosen purposefully, as Noriyoshi Fujimoto explained, because the team drew heavily from the aesthetics of musical theater.

Entering the theater acts as a portal to each cast member’s personal story, drawing the player deeper into Wonderworld’s elaborate narrative structure. Players can choose between two protagonists, Leo Craig and Emma Cole.

Fujimoto clarified that while their personal stories differ, the primary gameplay experience and the stories within the twelve diverse chapters remain consistent, ensuring all players experience the game’s full breadth of content, regardless of their choice. Diverse Worlds and Musical Landscapes Each chapter transports players to a uniquely themed world.

Fujimoto highlighted Chapter Four, appreciating its airy, sky-floating mechanics and the visual of whales drifting through the clouds.

Composer Ryo Yamazaki pointed to the snowy landscapes of Chapter Eight, noting how his initial musical direction shifted from somber to lively after experiencing the stage's energetic design. Yamazaki joined Balan Wonderworld during internal pre-production.

Provided with broad creative guidelines such as “mysterious musical” and an atmosphere reminiscent of Cirque de Soleil, he had substantial creative freedom.

He found crafting distinct motifs for each stage both challenging and rewarding, drawing inspiration from concept art while ensuring the musical tone resonated with each world’s emotional theme. Design Challenges: Costumes and Gameplay Balance With more than 80 unique costumes offering a variety of abilities, the development team faced the challenge of ensuring each one felt distinct.

Fujimoto noted that balancing abilities was complex; making any single costume too powerful risked players relying solely on that option.

The team invested effort in crafting unique pros and cons for every costume, maintaining gameplay diversity throughout the adventure. Some costumes are only unlocked by tackling special challenges or completing all twelve chapters, incentivizing exploration and mastery.

These bonus costumes often boast impressive abilities, rewarding dedicated players. Community Feedback and Improvements Pre-Launch Following a worldwide demo release, player feedback prompted key adjustments.

Fujimoto detailed several enhancements introduced via a day-one patch: character movement speed and acceleration were increased, camera behavior reworked, and the difficulty of later bosses and levels rebalanced for a better player experience. Available globally both in retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch, Balan Wonderworld stands as Square Enix’s bold attempt to merge classic platforming with theatrical storytelling.

Its development journey reflects the talents of industry veterans and the studio’s commitment to evolving player experience on the Nintendo Switch.

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