The Wonderful 101: Remastered Reviews
I’m really glad that I finally got to play The Wonderful 101, with its colourful action-packed brawling, its charming world, and its unique gameplay mechanics really setting it up to be one heck of a fun adventure. Admittedly, there are a few issues in this remastered release thanks to the lack of a second screen, whilst the camera and frame rate could be a little sketchy at times too. Thankfully, neither of these issues stop The Wonderful 101 from being a blast to play and it certainly lives up to its ‘wonderful’ name.
The Wonderful 101 is one of the least known titles from acclaimed developer PlatinumGames. Released as a Wii U exclusive the game garnered positive reception but due to the console selling poorly not a lot of people played it. Now, PlatinumGames has rereleased the title for modern systems thanks to a massively successful Kickstarter campaign. The Wonderful 101: Remastered is a creatively charming adventure that masks its difficulty with cute characters and bright colors. However, the game's core mechanics and the poor camera often lead to a lot of frustrating moments that artificially increase the game's difficulty.
Like an orchestral (Platinum) score, The Wonderful 101 requests some deciphering first and many repetitions - as this slightly Remastered rendition show - to be assimilated. Only then, pleasure kicks in, while revealing its grandeur. Such jubilation leads to forgive, if not forget all the rambling through this delirious, overactive and genuinely unique work of Hideki Kamiya, still destined for the rare "happy viewtiful".
Review in French | Read full review
Marrying astonishing spectacle and overwrought drama, The Wonderful 101: Remastered is one of the most memorable action games you'll ever play. Its delirious excesses come with a price, and it's one that's at little harder to forgive this time, with the original's flaws remaining untouched, and a few compromises made to accommodate the Wii U version's dual-screen set-pieces. But for all its minor frustrations, it's a game that rewards patience and perseverance. Grit your teeth through its control quirks and camera foibles and relish the giddy spectacle of a game that doesn't know when to stop.
PlatinumGames' 100-hero action game gets its much deserved second chance.
The Wonderful 101 Remastered, even though it is a simple port rather than a remaster, and without providing major new features or improvements, neither visually nor playable, it still maintains the essence of the original Wii U game, and that should be a perfect excuse enough to give it a chance or play it back.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Wonderful 101: Remastered is an exciting concentration of fun. The wonderful design, the roaring, noisy sound; everything shines and enchants, just like seven years ago. And yet, despite its solid playability and full of concepts, the camera often struggles to follow the action at its best, becoming a real nightmare in the tightest of spaces (always very short, luckily). The game is difficult to tame, and perhaps that sense of continuous unbalance you feel in controlling the heroes is an integral part of the playful framework. However, there remains a pinch of regret in finding that such smudges have not been filed down.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Wonderful 101 deserves this new Remastered lease on life after the way it was treated on the Wii U. For nearly seven years we've clamored for a re-release, and now we have it. Go play it this time.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered is indeed wonderful with its action-packed campaign and highly enjoyable gameplay. As if that's not enough, there's an underlying message that I'm sure we could all use right now.
Overall, I’m glad the world has a chance to experience the world of The Wonderful 101 with this fresh coat of paint. With the spirit of a love letter to Clover Studio fused with a challenge for the future, The Wonderful 101 Remastered is a whole lot like its original: wonderful.
The Wonderful 101 Remastered is an incredible action game, one definitely worthy of playing for those who skipped over it on Wii U. The unique battle mechanics make it a standout and borderline essential for action game fans, while those more casual fans who just want a big explosive adventure will find a lot to love here. And if any game deserves to be played by a wider audience, this has to be it.
Although it doesn't quite live up to the title of "Remastered", The Wonderful 101: Remastered is the best way to play this PlatinumGames classic. With a great story, soundtrack, and extremely fun and addictive combat, The Wonderful 101: Remastered is a great pickup for anyone looking for an enjoyable action game.
The Wonderful 101 isn't just a unique spin on the action genre, it's a title that oozes with enthusiasm in a way that very few games do, and although the remaster doesn't do quite enough to alleviate the daunting learning curve, it's one that action fans have no excuse to skip.
As a remaster, it may disappoint, but The Wonderful 101: Remastered is still the best way to play this Wii U classic
There is nothing else like The Wonderful 101; you can’t play anything else and get a similar experience. It is a rare and special kind of action game that demands the player to get to grips with a completely original gameplay style. After mastering it; you are likely to still make discoveries about the combat, dozens of hours in the post-game.
This is far from the most polished remaster I’ve played, and the original was a hit-and-miss affair to begin with. Judged in terms of Platinum’s own end-of-level trophies, this earns a silver award at best.
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Platinum Games offers the slightest of makeovers for this return to its most chaotic outing.
This has the soul of the ultimate super hero adventure because it’s not just about a group of almighty heroes with amazing abilities, but those who believe in them and work together as one. While I wish the remaster had offered a little bit more in terms of improvements, there was always going to be a challenge bringing a two screen game one single screen hardware. Either way, I’m so grateful to have the chance to play this smart little game one more time and I’m sure many of you will be too.