Following a successful campaign that brought The Wonderful 101 to other platforms, director Hideki Kamiya and producer Atsushi Inaba went on an interview that discussed the potential for a sequel to the game.
As interviewed by GameXplain, the duo cite their concern regarding the prospect of making a follow-up title to the original.
A Real Challenge
Speaking on behalf of the company, Kamiya states that the developers are open to the idea of a sequel. However, he also raises the notion of needing to come up with something “bigger and better” as a result.
Referencing his experience as a developer, the director relates the idea of game-making as a “measured” practice. One that he claims starts with a baseline “volume,” only to let it grow over time.
Using The Wonderful 101 as an example, Kamiya appears to indirectly point to the overall magnitude of characters that results in the process. Subsequently, insinuating the need to surpass that number in a potential sequel.
Unlike the game’s director, Inaba appears more confident about a potential follow-up to the game. Citing a potential that could explore more contents from the original. But like his peer, he, too, sees the idea to be a “challenge,” albeit about a different aspect of the game.
The Wonderful 101 in Hindsight
The Wonderful 101 originally released to the Wii U as an exclusive title. Despite the above-average rating from critics, the game saw abysmal sales upon release. Partly, this is also because the platform itself is a flop commercially that mitigate sales.
The game was intended to be a game that features a star-studded cast of iconic Nintendo characters, similar to Super Smash Bros. But the idea was scrapped, which paved the way to the creation of unique characters—literally, 101 of them, in total.
Considered a niche title, The Wonderful 101 has a cult following whose voice initially echoes a port and a sequel. After years of exclusivity, Platinum Games heard the fans’ demand, compelling a crowdsourcing initiative.
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the game was subsequently released to other platforms, including Xbox One, PS4, and Switch.
Although the remastered version of The Wonderful 101 did get a mixed reception, garnered rating points to the game’s impression as a fun and unique title. One that it appears to build strongly upon.
While the potential for a next installment into the franchise remains uncertain, it makes for an exciting idea to be the case.
Image used courtesy of GameXplain/YouTube Screenshot