Square Enix and Arzest have warned players of Balan Wonderworld to install a Day 1 Patch to address an epileptic seizure risking bug.
As previously reported, the player’s adventures through the world of people’s hearts is not always a smooth one. Some people have had their hearts twisted by bad memories and negative feelings, creating and even turning themselves into monsters. You can find our coverage on the character trailers here [1, 2, 3, 4].
Videos of the game have surfaced online (which we shall not be linking to due to spoilers), with players noticing the final boss has an attack where the screen flickers solid white. The inconsistent nature of the flickering points to it being a bug or other graphical error.
Each of the game’s bosses has an attack where the screen briefly flashes white (a white line that appears across the center of the screen, quickly expands outwards, then fades out) and changes the environment. This is accompanied by screen filters and tints over the scene.
Based on footage we have seen, this “flash” is not always consistent, and sometimes does not appear. One boss had the filter create a “burn-in” effect; having silhouettes of the trees in the background on the screen, no matter what angle the player’s camera was facing. Neither of these appear to be intentional.
The final boss mimics some of the prior bosses environment-changing attacks. We have seen footage where no flash occurs at all, and where it rapidly blinks at the time the flash would have happened for the original boss.
The game’s official Twitter has recommended players install the Day 1 patch to resolve the issue.
“Please ensure that you install the Day 1 Patch before playing.
We have received reports of a photo-sensitive epilepsy risk from a potential flashing bug if playing the game un-patched.
The Day 1 Patch prevents this issue as well as enhances the overall play experience.”
Noriyoshi Fujimoto, the Producer of Balan Wonderworld, had previously stated the Day 1 Patch would address some of the feedback from the game’s demo. While the announcement of the patch pre-dates the complaints about the final boss’ attack, it is likely the content of the Day 1 Patch now includes the fixes to the graphical issue.
You can find the full rundown (via Steam) below:
Wonderworld exists in people’s hearts and imagination
The setting for this tale is the fantastic, bizarre land of Wonderworld; a place where people’s happy and positive memories mix with their restless worries and negativity.
Leo and Emma are led into Wonderworld by the mysterious clown Balan and set off on a journey to find what is important to them.
Before they can return to the real world, they must first restore the lost balance in their hearts…Over 80 different costumes open up all the action you could want!
The stars of the show can use powers from the inhabitants of Wonderworld by wearing their colourful costumes, with over 80 different ones to try on!
Bash your enemies, walk in the air, freeze time or manipulate all kinds of objects… the possibilities are endless when you pick up a new costume.Two Legendary Creators Reunite!
Come one, come all and enjoy the pinnacle of Square Enix storytelling in an all-action world of wonder created by the legendary Naka Yuji. For the first time in 20 years Naka Yuji and Oshima Naoto join forces forming the BALAN COMPANY team; founded around, bringing together action game development, video and music production professionals from both inside and outside of the company.2-Player Local Co-op Mode
Enjoy an even more wondrous adventure as one player controls Leo and the other controls Emma in 2 Player Co-op Local Mode. Co-operate together combining the abilities of two different costumes which will surely open new paths as you wander through Wonderworld!
Balan Wonderworld is available now on Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. A demo is available.
This is not the only game that has been accused of causing epileptic seizures. A reviewer of Cyberpunk 2077 had an epileptic seizure. She even accused CD Projekt Red of intentionally basing the Braindance device off real life neurological devices used to trigger epileptic seizures for diagnosis.
Image: YouTube
