The Wonderful 101 is a colourful game, but it wasn’t always this way. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Hideki Kamiya, developer for Platinum Games and the director of The Wonderful 101, revealed that the style was initially “a bit darker.”
The causes for the shift in contrast were twofold. Hideki himself wasn’t comfortable with the original look, and Nintendo preferred a friendlier first impression. He said, “I wasn’t really satisfied with it, and Nintendo said, ‘Why don’t you change it? Why don’t you find something with a broader appeal?’ And the result’s what you see now.”
Hideki said that Nintendo was never intrusive with their suggestions; they were only trying to help out. “Nintendo didn’t ask too much – the creativity of Platinum was totally respected by Nintendo throughout the process.”
In the end, he felt much more content with the brighter tones. “It feels like action figures moving about in the game.”
What are your thoughts on The Wonderful 101’s art style? Do you think it appeals to a wide audience? Would you have preferred a darker theme? Let us know in the comments!
