Balan Wonderworld Is Getting A Day-One Patch To Address Demo Feedback

What they need to do is push the game back, I would also like a updated demo to know how this "day one patch" will play.

lol That game needs more than a day one patch. It's amateur hour once you get past the (gorgeous) cutscenes.

if they change completely the game, maybe i can buy it because this game sucks

Well, there goes any hope of Square Enix doing another platformer

I couldn't bring myself to play the demo for more than ten minutes. Such mundane, uninspired gameplay and bland environments.

Fixing the whole gameplay, bad physics, poor level design and cheap animations with a day one patch? That's new.

Does the patch just set it on fire?

@PessitheMystic Same here. I beat the first level and was like "I can't do this anymore" lol

Good luck to them, even if I doubt it'll change the reception and sale numbers.

@Snatcher I remember it worked pretty well for Daemon X Machina. The first demo was terrible, the second one was a big improvement.

JUST DELAY THE GAME

I like the idea but... Darn. Great potential just wasted by making the game too simple. If the movement feels bad in a platformer, the developers have made a mistake.

The things that are wrong with this game can't be patched in my opinion. This demo was so disappointing.

I like how they genuinely thought they had something good but had to announce how they had to humble themselves to listen to fan feedback. HOW? HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW IT'S BAD?

Oh good, so they're listening to the feedback and throwing the game in the garbage? Because that's all they can do at this late stage to fix it.

@ryancraddock will the upcoming review reflect the day 1 patch? I realise most major game reviews are based on pre-release code, but if (big If) this patch is a substantial game-changer it might be worth holding off...

@RupeeClock Jesus in my christmas! The demo came out a month ago! How did they not see the hate for the demo until now?!

No patch can address that the game is just bad and boring.

Honestly, Balan Wonderworld should have been a mobile game.

is this the one time that people actually want a game to be delayed?

A clear instance of a half-baked release. Companies take us for suckers.

Don’t release it until you fix it fully is probably the best option, because at this point everyone who played the demo and hated it won’t be buying so re build, release a new demo once fixed and build the hype for a newly inspired game!

Never got the appeal of this game. Everything looks so disjointed. Colours are all over the place, the character designs are atrocious. After the demo feedback they should've delayed the game indefinitely. The only positive thing I've read about it are the cutscenes. I don't understand how games get to a stage like this from massive developers. 3D platformers have been around for over 25 years, yet they fail at the most basic controls.

The only thing I didn't like was the fps, if they improved it or at least kept it at a steady 30 fps the whole time, I'd probably pick it up since I like a good puzzle game and thought the demo was fun. But it kind of hurt my eyes with the unsteady frame rate, so I hope they fixed that.

This demo was one of the worst video games I've ever played for any price, including Free. I'd rather play Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.

And I hate having to say that because I wanted Naka to succeed and this was almost certainly his final chance. I don't think anything could salvage the game without a total ground up redesign from the levels and the concepts onward.

I want it to be good. And I know it can't be. It's depressing. Maybe when it hits $15.

@Snatcher Agreed. It comes across as "We acknowledge the issues with the game, it's too late to fix them, but here are a few fixes".

The other thing that bothers me is that I like buying physical games, so I want companies to have games as close to finish before they release so that whatever comes on the physical cart can be played for years to come without needed patches and updates.

I would never touch this game again after that demo. Never.

I'm predicting reviews of 3s and 4s

For everyone griping about Nintendo killing Prime 4 development to completely restart it or anyone complaining about the development length of BotW2... this is why those are good things.

It's a shame because publishers hate doing demos and this is an example of a game that almost certainly shattered day 1 sales because it had a demo. It will make them reconsider demos again. Although it also may spare them a "Cyberpunk" incident, so it's a wash maybe.

@Nintendo_Thumb Trust me, it's not the framerate. I played the demo on Series X. The game can still only muster 30fps at best. But even 4k HDR, at relatively stable 30 doesn't hide the fact there's no game worth playing inside, unfortunately.

@RupeeClock "Even if a speed increase breaks some of the game designs that would probably make for a more enjoyable experience."

That's really the worst condemnation a game could receive "Even if you just break it and make it pointless, at last making it move fast would be more fun to suffer through it less.

Maybe it'll be different on Xbox and Playstation. But, IMO, no patch is gonna fix what's wrong with the game: it seems boring and way to convoluted in it's execution. It needs a new direction. At least based on the Switch demo

I was so looking forward to this game, but I could only play the demo for five minutes before uninstalling it. Everything was bad about the game, movement of the character/customes, they all ran the same way for instance, didn't do much different besides one jumping a little bit higher etc. The gameplay was really bad, all you did was jumping on obstacles and collecting objects. If this was released on Ps1 or Saturn if would probably have been an okay platformer. It is hard to believe that they had such a talented development-team.

Interesting. "Movement controls and camera movement" were my two main problems with the demo. If they can release an updated demo to show those fixes in action this might go from a game I had lost interest in to something I'd actually buy.

I still think it's weird for a game from Yuji Naka, who built Nights into Dreams around the Saturn's analogue controller, to have shipped a game where the main character is moved by an analogue stick but the movement is entirely digital with no analogue sensitivity whatsoever.

There has been no range of opinions.

There has been but 1 opinion:
It's *****.

wow i hear horror stories about this game dear lord

Good luck with that the demo was absolutely terrible. I uninstalled it after 5mine🤦‍♂️I mean the graphics just for starters what the hell? I mean it doesn’t even look like a ps2 game.

Shame.
I had hope when I read the article headline that they would be doing a major overhaul. Fixing those things they describe still leaves it as a whole lot of a broken.

It's hilarious that they thought the game was in a great state when they released the demo and didn't even expect such backlash.

i seriously doubt a day one patch will fix this game, based on the demo it needs to be delayed for at least 3-6 more months to sort it

So basically the patch deletes the game off your console?

The demo was horrible. It looks like a Gamecube game and runs horribly. I honestly believe this was a mobile game they chose to port to console. Everything is so basic.

It's not fun... That's the problem with the Demo...

If I was a kid again I know I would like this more. The cutscenes were cool but it just didn't move me as a whole. I'm sure this will find some audience but SE needs to spend their resources better imo.

i was gonna get the game anyway
even without the patch
cause i love the game
it gets way to much hate

I'm guessing it will be a double-eye patch, so you don't get to witness the janky mess

@anoyonmus the games does not need either delay or patch. It just needs to be cancelled to avoid damaging consumers...

@Bobb maybe someone proposed the demo hoping for a Sonic movie scenario where the backlash makes the big heads decide to just delay it for a year or so...

Oh boy, no mention of the framerate.....

Yeah, I'll line up with the others and say that demo was one of the worst things I've ever played.
Seriously, I just cannot fathom how an experienced team led by a veteran can be so out of touch as to release this travesty and think it's fine.

It kills me to see this as I've always loved 3D platformers and those are so rare these days...this game certainly ain't gonna help with the perception of 3D platformers in general, that's for sure.

@NEStalgia
"I'd rather play Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival."

Well, play with me. 😉
I played Amiibo Festival too, with some Animal Crossing figurines.

Well...
Let's get back to Ratchet & Clank / Sly Cooper games on PS3.
You can jump, you can run, you are running on Free roaming world, you can use the weapons, you have some partners, they are HD enough.

I played the demo on Switch and had no problems so far °3° But there is always room for improvent, so I look happily onto future ^3^

@Razputinman I beat the first level... and maybe finished the second... wasn’t memorable enough to say with certainty. 😂

(Feel kinda bad, I’m sure a lot of the devs really wanted this to work and gave it their best shot. I also wanted to at least like it a little... I mean I’d pay a dollar or two for it lol.)

I honestly didn't find any frame rate or graphical issues. Was absolutely playable. But honestly was boring. Best part was the funny dancing ppl every corner. But that entertainment value lasted all of seconds lol. Didn't finish the demo, and def won't be purchasing. Other more fun exciting games than this. Sonic adventure battle 2 was more fun as well as Mario 64

The demo felt mediocre even by early 2000s standards.

Yes it was disappointing, but I still enjoyed myself despite the lack of challenge. Will go for the Series X port to see it in its ‘best’ light.

Naka can pull off some high tech wizardry when needed to, I am willing to give this game a look after the patch is released.

I'm amazed that people downloaded the demo! Did they not see the reveal trailer!?

It still boggles the mind why they couldn't just apply the day one patch to the game right now before shipping it next week I mean the game's not even out yet.

@ecco6t9
Tech isn’t the problem the fundamental game design is as boring and hollow as a mobile game.

@Franklin Lol I don’t understand all the hate for the demo; I played it on PS5 and had fun. It felt a lot like retro 3D platformers from the mid-‘90s. I just unlocked the extra levels in the demo.

True, some of the underlying systems are just questionable, (like having to feed the little animals, and not being able to jump in each costume), but I still think it’s especially geared towards younger players, and I think it’s simplicity applies there.

I really like the way the background “falls” into place too, as if a constantly changing stage play.

There are some well designed secrets that encourage exploration and experimentation, too.

@smithpa01 I'd rather it be 6mths-1yr

@Antraxx777 OK, but you try playing it on Switch.

Boy, this whole thing reads like the Urban Dictionary example of polishing a turd.

We told them back when the demo dropped in January loud and clear lmao they had time to listen totally

@AcridSkull The game reminds me a lot of Hat in Time. All eye candy and almost zero fun.

I'll be honest: It looks like a turd imo.

Will the patch make the game not suck eggs?

@clvr "Seriously, I just cannot fathom how an experienced team led by a veteran can be so out of touch as to release this travesty and think it's fine."

Technically we don't know Naka and the team thought it was totally fine. Publisher could have said "Your deadline is March 31st because that's when Nintendo tells us Majora's Moon falls, whatever you've got, ship it." Kind of like FFXV, FFXIV, Mankind Divided, MH World PS4...... It's not like Naka's going to post on Twitter "Hi guyz, our game is total carp and is the most mind numbing experience you've ever played outside Zynga because we're at least 2 years from being done, but the publisher said go, so here's a POS game I don't want my name on the credits of! Also, bye-eee, cuz my career's finished after this dumpster fire burns out." He'll pretend he put his soul into it either way

@Antraxx777 " but I still think it’s especially geared towards younger players, and I think it’s simplicity applies there."

It's rated E 10+ though.....so younger players....not so much... By 12, 13 they're onto CoD and GTAV.

There's absolutely no way they can merely patch the game into being good.

The problems with the game are such that fixing the awful stiff platforming with lack of momentum jumping would require the levels to be redesigned around it.

I'd imagine they'll speed the character up a bit and reduce the transformation time. But they're not going to rework the mechanics of a complete game.

Game needs another year or so of simmering and seasoning

I can only speak for the PS5 version, where the demo looks gorgeous. So I don't understand the whole meh meh here. I was hooked about the demo and when the difficulty gets rebalanced, this sounds good, this was my only complaint, it felt too easy.
So I will give it a chance, but not on Switch.

But interesting that a fresh new Jump N Run game gets so much hate. But a Pokemon Snap game is treated like a AAA blockbuster here.

Square Enix should have delayed the game to indefintely and to rework urgently in the game, a patch of correction is not gonna fix the game.

i played a lot of 3D plataforms, and when you plataform don't feel reponsible/engaging to play like the 3D Mario games, is a sign you need to go back to the drawing board.

Being a big fan of Billy Hatcher I was excited at Balan's announcement. Then there was that demo. shudder

Really don't understand why they're forcing this to be out soon instead of just delaying it for a year, year and half.

The thing about it is, there was no shortage of good will towards this game before the demo.
I think most of us wanted it to be good, were ready to be persuaded.
But after 5 minutes of gameplay, it was not possible to delude ourselves to that extent.
Like, this was Busby 3D bad.

@DragotheKomodo yeah I liked it, at least the demo was fun. It's different than most games I've played, aside from the technical aspects, I like how it's a 3d puzzler that looks like a platformer and the brutal item management isn't something I've ever had to deal with before. I have a feeling this one is going to be really hard to 100% and I look forward to the challenge. But I'll probably play on PC or PS4 so I can get better fps.

@Franklin That’s a ridiculous overstatement. Bubsy 3D was broken up and down — unplayable, with no art direction; no progression; no purpose— unfinished. Balan is NOWHERE near that bad; it’s perfectly playable and it’s platforming systems work just fine, it also has a pleasant look (nothing special, but certainly nothing outright offensive), and a solid soundtrack.

Sounds like the gameplay is unpolished, which is unfortunate. Platformers particularly are largely about polished/responsive controls. Some of the cutscene/teasers were looking interesting leading up to it per story elements

@Antraxx777

I've played Busby 3D, the demo really was that aggravating. Perhaps because you could see that it should be a functioning game, whereas the former had no promise so you never expected.