A return somewhat to something more akin to their iconic style, but with a fair few modern twists, the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog are working with Square Enix to develop a new action-platformer titled Balan Wonderworld. During the recent Nintendo Mini Direct: Partner Showcase, a new trailer was shared for the game, along with confirmation that it would be arriving on the Nintendo Switch (and the PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X and Windows PC) on 26 March 2021.
Balan Wonderworld is being developed by the newly established BALAN COMPANY brand, and includes talent such as director Yuji Naka (Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise Creator, Sonic Team Co-Founder) and Character Designer, Naoto Ohshima (Sonic the Hedgehog, Doctor Eggman, Sonic Team Co-Founder). The game marks the first time in 20 years that Naka-san and Ohshima-san have collaborated together.
As players explore the fantastical land of Wonderworld, they’ll be guided by an enigmatic maestro named Balan, who will help players restore balance to the world by clearing Wonderworld of Negati, physical manifestations of worry and other negative emotions. To accomplish this, players will jump, climb, fly, smash, and more, as they explore a multitude of unique areas, collecting over 80 unique costumes to assist on the journey. Each costume bestows its own special power, from the Pumpkin Puncher outfit that lets players smash through obstacles blocking pathways to the Air Cat costume that allows players to walk in mid-air for a certain amount of time.
The new trailer also showcases Balan Wonderworld’s cooperative multiplayer feature. With this feature, two players can explore the game in local co-op, using creativity to overcome challenges by finding ideal combinations of costumes that work well together. Players can work independently, using the abilities of their respective costumes, or, if both players enter close proximity of one another, they can enjoy the “Joint Play” feature and use their costume abilities together at the same time.
