Let’s be honest: 2020 has been a year that most of us are ready to forget. Even in the midst of all the stress and trouble, you can still find good things. Or in this case, something wonderful. The Wonderful 101 Remastered by Plantium Games, is a triumph return of a game that many people did not take a look at the first time around. Released in 2013 for the Wii U, this new version is available everywhere.
Wonder-Red and his hero allies might join together to stop an alien invasion led by Jergingha who wishes to rule the galaxy. Earth is protected by a shield, but the aliens are sneaking through and targeting the reactors. The heroes must save citizens, protect the reactors and repeal the invasion. Making things difficult is an school boy by the name of Luka who stowed away on the hero’s ship. Luka has a connection to the shield, but has a troubled past connected to the heroes.
101 is a comic book on steroids. As you save citizens, they join up with you. All heroes are on the screen at once and you have to decide who you will control. This sounds crazy, but you get the hang of it pretty quick. The heroes have the power to join together to form weapons against the aliens. Giant hands and a whip are just some of the crazy things you will use. Besides destroying enemies, there are puzzles that the team will have to solve in order to advance.
Typically, I am not the biggest fan of remakes. There are exceptions, such as when a company says it’s a remake, but it turns into something else (Looking at you, Final Fantasy 7) The other exception is when the game did not get it’s fair shake the first time out. The Wii U was not everyone’s cup of tea, but there were some great games. Because 101 was an exclusive, the majority of gamers did not get a chance to experience it. With a wide release, everyone looking for a fun time should play it.
The art style is gorgeous. Plantum games took the idea of comic books and breathed life into it. The colors pop off the screen and every hero looks different to the point you can pick them out in the middle of a chaotic battle. The story is good, with some surprising depth later on. There are some new things in the remaster, but I can’t say specifically what they are as they revel a plot point. What I will say is get ready to take on a new adventure in the 2D world.
The Wonderful 101 Remastered is the type of feel good story where a game gets a second chance. The action is fun and it feels like our heroes might stick around this time. And let’s be honest: in a time where we feel the world is falling apart and we feel we can’t do anything, the world needs heroes. So why not you? The game makes it pretty clear that no matter who you are, you can join the fight.
9/10
Available on PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox