Willy's Wonderland | PS5 Review

Hot off the heels of the FNAF series "Willy's Wonderland", a game inspired by a game inspired movie, comes at us as a brawler instead of the usual business management horror experience. As an unnamed male or female character you embark on a mission to beat the bejeezus out of the Willy's Wonderland residents and animatronic baddies. Using the usual melee and special attacks you'll rack up points as you dish out damage to the tune of some grinding metal music.

As corny as the movie is, and as action packed as it was we find plenty of that insanity along with tons of beat 'em up action in this funhouse fight. Starting off, beyond the short entrance cutscene, we pick and choose our player character/s. In this game co-op with two players is possible so if you go solo you can pick either the male or female, and if you go two player you'll have to sort that out with your couch co-op partner. 

Whoever you pick you'll find that their attacks are limited, and similar. You can punch, kick, and deliver a couple of different harder hitting attacks. The more powerful attacks include a tornado spin, and a sonic dash that are available on cooldown. Specials, being the character's ultimate action, are managed by a refillable F-U-N meter that relies on mob clearing to refill. These specials can refill health, apply an evasive burst, or deal a big damage combo dependent upon button presses and the letter in "FUN" that is charged. 

These methods of mayhem will be used against the mobs and the boss at the end of a stage. Completing a stage will set your score in stone, and will include a tally of time spent, lives left, and the specials that were unused. Leaving you with a final lettered ranking with "S" being the best.

Just as the game started on the first boss in a line of boss inclusive stages you will once again venture forth to the next stage after choosing the forward marker icon if not going back to the main menu to once again choose difficulty (Normal/Hard), and your favorite character/s. Either that or repeat the stage to perfection via the replay icon. 

After this you'll take on the next boss along with the mobs of mechanized minions before it. This repeats until you have cleared the final boss. Winning you, in the end, a short lived art panel ending. Concluding the story that was never really explained.

The Presentation ...

Willy's Wonderland is a 2.5D brawler with a cartoonish art style that is made up of cell-shaded character models, and 3D stages from the film's set. It is nothing current-gen, but it fits the bill when it comes to pricing. The game is also complimented by the usual whimsical funhouse tunes at the main menu as well as hard hitting electric chords as you brutalize your way from start to finish. Fitting of a game inspired by a film that starred Nicholas Cage.

The Verdict ...

Sadly, Willy's Wonderland is a basic bare bones and broken brawler that looks to capitalize on the fame of a cult film. It tries to do something different by being a brawler instead of a horror game, but comes off as bland as the attacks and enemies are uninspired. Never resulting in the creature carnage one would hope for. It is a button basher at best, and a brutally unfair one at that. 

I am aware of other reviews saying the same, but I went into this blind, and have to agree with the critics. Capitalizing on the fame of an established IP is not a formula for success. You have to put in the effort to make it great, and Willy's Wonderland did not do that.