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Yuji Naka's Balan Wonderworld

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ShinyCottonCandy Industrious Incisors from Sinnoh (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Industrious Incisors
#126: Apr 27th 2021 at 6:13:20 AM

If what I've gathered is accurate, like 90% of the costumes are only good for puzzles designed specifically for them. 5% are interchangeable combat specialists, and 5% are even more useless than the rest.

SoundCloud
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: Aug, 2015
The Head of the Hydra
#127: Apr 27th 2021 at 8:18:22 AM

I think what’s most telling is the lava level.

You start with the water costume with the ability to shoot water droplets to create platforms to walk on the lava, then you get the lava costume with the ability to walk on lava completely bypassing the need for the water costume, and then finally you complete the levels puzzles which results in the lava being fully removed making both costumes completely irrelevant.

Edited by slimcoder on Apr 27th 2021 at 8:20:42 AM

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Scott-pilgrim Since: Apr, 2021 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
MisterTambourineMan Unbeugsame Klinge from Under a tree Since: Jun, 2017 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
Unbeugsame Klinge
#129: Apr 27th 2021 at 4:13:05 PM

It's pretty remarkable how inept this game is.

Nach jeder Ebbe kommt die Flut.
lalalei2001 Since: Oct, 2009
#130: Apr 27th 2021 at 6:26:10 PM

This person did a more balan-ced review, beating the game 100% and reading the novel. TL;DR it has cool concepts and the story in the novel is surprisingly deep and intricate, but almost none of that is displayed in the game itself, which can still be fun at times if you don't expect too much.

The Protomen enhanced my life.
Scott-pilgrim Since: Apr, 2021 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
#131: Apr 28th 2021 at 9:41:31 AM

"balan-ced" *ba-dumm-tsss*

CookingCat Since: Jul, 2018
#132: Apr 29th 2021 at 1:57:47 PM

I'm worried the failure of this game may further kill off 3D Platformers outside of Nintendo in the AAA space...

Karxrida The Unknown from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
The Unknown
#133: Apr 29th 2021 at 2:03:40 PM

Sonic still exists. Though that's not much of a consolation with how inconsistent the franchise is.

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
Primis Since: Nov, 2010
#134: Apr 29th 2021 at 2:13:04 PM

[up][up] The 3D Platformer genre has seen a major resurgence recently, one bad game isn't going to kill it.

lalalei2001 Since: Oct, 2009
#135: Apr 30th 2021 at 3:51:06 PM

Does anyone have translations of the dance sequences' music? They're normally in unsubtitled Balanese but getting 100% provides translations.

The Protomen enhanced my life.
TokoWH Professional Lurker Since: Jan, 2011
Professional Lurker
#137: Jun 4th 2021 at 11:18:25 AM

I hope this doesn't leave too big a stain on his career. From what I understand it was just a massive case of mismanagement all around.

Karxrida The Unknown from Eureka, the Forbidden Land Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!
The Unknown
#138: Jun 4th 2021 at 11:30:20 AM

Anyone who hires Naka will probably avoid having him make a 3D platformer, at least.

What's funny is that Square probably could have squeezed a good RPG out of him since he worked on multiple Phantasy Star games.

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody remembers it, who else will you have ice cream with?
123tbones Since: Aug, 2015
#139: Sep 17th 2021 at 11:51:21 AM

Looks like Yuji is back on his feet again as he is working on simple indie mobile game using Unity. Glad the man is still getting work done. It is pretty inspiring to keep doing what you love to do after learning from your mistakes.

TargetmasterJoe Since: May, 2013
#140: Apr 29th 2022 at 3:35:35 AM

Well. Looks like anyone who blamed Yuji Naka over the state of this game owes him an apology.

Because he got booted off his director position in the game by Square Enix six months before release and he was prevented from making any further fixes.

He even went and sued SE over this, except we don't know how that worked out.

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Apr 29th 2022 at 6:37:05 AM

NesClassic Inheritor of the Wing from Flyover Country Since: Dec, 2012 Relationship Status: In another castle
Inheritor of the Wing
#141: Apr 29th 2022 at 3:48:47 AM

I don't doubt he's telling the truth here (if for no other reason then he'd probably get blacklisted for lying) but it's hard to feel bad for him either given how much of an asshole he's historically been at SEGA, e.g. the various ways he actively sabotaged the development of Sonic Xtreme while also having a Bilingual Backfire saying he was going to lay off the staff for the game.

Plus, "six months before the game came out" is close enough to release that the design for the game would've been set in stone. And sure, Balan Wonderworld was barebones and buggy as-was, but the flawed core ideas of the game would've been implemented with his guidance and input in the first place.

Edited by NesClassic on Apr 29th 2022 at 6:50:17 AM

🏳️‍⚧️she/her | Vio Rhyse Alberia
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#142: Apr 29th 2022 at 3:56:48 AM

Like, the 80 costumes thing for example was on him.

I have no issue with finding Yuji Naka and Squeenix at fault here.

Edited by M84 on Apr 29th 2022 at 6:57:50 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
TargetmasterJoe Since: May, 2013
#143: Apr 29th 2022 at 3:57:01 AM

I don't doubt he's telling the truth here (if for no other reason then he'd probably get blacklisted for lying) but it's hard to feel bad for him either given how much of an asshole he's historically been at SEGA, e.g. the various ways he actively sabotaged the development of Sonic Xtreme while also having a Bilingual Backfire saying he was going to lay off the staff for the game.

Ah. I seem to have forgotten that side of him until now. Whoops. sad

Ookamikun This is going to be so much fun. from the lupine den Since: Jan, 2001
This is going to be so much fun.
#144: Apr 29th 2022 at 4:21:20 AM

Also note that his firing was six months before release. The problem of the game was at the core, at most you can only fix in those six months are post-release stuff.

Death is a companion. We should cherish Death as we cherish Life.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#145: Apr 29th 2022 at 4:24:07 AM

To be blunt, a polished turd is still a turd.

But hey, Yuji Naka can at least take satisfaction in knowing Balan Wonderworld is not the lowest rated Squeenix game on Metacritic on some platforms!

That would be Babylon's Fall.

...WTF is wrong with Squeenix.

Edited by M84 on Apr 29th 2022 at 7:26:46 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, Bitch! from Eldritch Nightmareland Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, Bitch!
#146: Apr 29th 2022 at 6:42:17 AM

They either produce Bangers or really shitty games. Nothing in Between (Unless you count Stranger in Paradise, but the game's combat is considered really great anyhow).

Watch Symphogear
RedHunter543 Team Rocket Boss. Since: Jan, 2018 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Team Rocket Boss.
#147: Apr 29th 2022 at 6:46:42 AM

I enjoyed SOP's plot for what it was.

This lawsuit just seems it's going to make both sides look bad, but I'm more inclined to think Naka is the more at fault here. Historically, he hasn't been the easiest to work with from the stories shared.

I'll teach you a lesson about just how cruel the world can be. That's my job, as an adult.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#148: Apr 29th 2022 at 6:48:07 AM

The lawsuit's already over. Yuji Naka's speaking out now because it's over and thus won't affect the proceedings.

As for the results...<shrug>. That hasn't been made public.

Edited by M84 on Apr 29th 2022 at 9:48:36 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
RedHunter543 Team Rocket Boss. Since: Jan, 2018 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Team Rocket Boss.
#149: Apr 29th 2022 at 6:54:35 AM

Aaah, my bad.

I'll teach you a lesson about just how cruel the world can be. That's my job, as an adult.
RacattackForce Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: Remembering what Mama said
#150: Apr 29th 2022 at 6:58:37 AM

Yuji Naka is known not to be easy to work with, Arzest's output on projects they've been the lead on is generally middling, and Square-Enix is Square-Enix. There's enough blame to be thrown around in regards to Balan.


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