I love the Dark Soulful architecture of The Canon of Balls, a rolling open world game inspired by Sega, Fumito Ueda and Minecraft parkour
The Canon of Balls is an upcoming open-world platformer combining influences from Dark Souls, Super Monkey Ball, Shadow of the Colossus, and Minecraft, according to a Rock Paper Shotgun preview. The game features an unconventional protagonist: a horrified statue’s face with a fleshy pink tongue housed within a rolling cage. Players can utilize the tongue as a springboard to navigate challenging platforming sequences.
The title blends Dark Souls’ unforgiving difficulty design with the rolling ball mechanics characteristic of Super Monkey Ball, set within a spooky open-world environment. Rock Paper Shotgun’s preview suggests the game stands apart as a deliberate and specific throwback project, drawing comparisons to similarly ambitious independent games. While acknowledging the game may prove frustrating at times, the reviewer expresses optimism about its potential, suggesting it could successfully synthesize its diverse influences—including parkour-inspired movement from Minecraft—into a cohesive and engaging experience.