The Wonderful 101: Remastered

About The Wonderful 101: Remastered

PlatinumGames released this action title on May 19, 2020, bringing their chaotic style to PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. You play as a member of the Wonderful Ones, a superhero squad fighting the Geathjerk Federation in a third global war. The premise is simple yet frantic: one hundred heroes must unite to save Earth using abilities that shift based on your input. You do not control a single character but rather direct an entire team. This remaster keeps the original's high-energy tone while making the controls tighter for modern systems. It is a game about chaos management where you coordinate a massive group of allies against overwhelming alien forces.

Gameplay

You draw shapes on your controller or screen to form giant weapons and tools from your teammates. A square becomes a fist, a circle creates a shield, and a cross forms a blade. These formations change instantly as you switch between them during combat. The game runs in both single player and cooperative modes where a second player joins the fray. You might spend minutes drawing massive swords to slice through hordes of enemies or creating shields to block incoming fire. The gameplay loop demands constant switching between these forms to solve environmental puzzles and defeat bosses. Controls feel responsive despite the visual clutter, but you must keep your finger moving to maintain momentum against the alien waves.

What Players Think

Critics gave it a solid 78 on Metacritic, and our data shows players agree it is fun if you can handle the complexity. The average playtime hovers around 15 hours for a single run, with completion rates hitting 62% among dedicated users. Community moods lean heavily toward "chaotic fun" during multiplayer sessions but dip to "frustrated" when the screen fills with too many enemies. Review snippets frequently mention the learning curve as a hurdle, noting that mastering the shape mechanics takes time. We see high scores in the cooperative category, suggesting players enjoy sharing the chaos with friends more than tackling the solo campaign alone.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth buying if you want a fast-paced action game that demands constant attention to detail. The price point on digital stores makes it an accessible entry into PlatinumGames' catalog. You will unlock over 40 achievements by mastering different weapon forms and beating all levels. Do not expect a calm strategy game, as the pace never lets up. The multiplayer support adds significant value since coordinating with another player feels smoother than solo attempts. If you can tolerate the visual noise and steep learning curve, this offers a distinct action experience that few other games attempt to replicate today.

Storyline

The game takes place during a third war between Earth and an alien terrorist organization called the Geathjerk Federation that has invaded the planet. The only hope for humanity is the Wonderful Ones, a group of superheroes working for the CENTINELS Planetary Secret Service, an organization created by the United Nations.