Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a 2.5 Side-Scrolling Platforming game for PS4, PS5, XBONE, XSX/S, Switch, and PC, which was developed by Monkey Craft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is a 2022's video game compilation which features two remasters of the classics such as 1997's Klonoa: Door to Phantomile for PS1 and 2001's Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil for PS2.
Back in the old days of 80s and 90s when video game platformers is a main thing for gaming industries.
The genre known as Side-Scrolling Platformers pioneered by the likes of Nintendo's all-time classics started with Super Mario Bros which is a huge game changer for NES that changed the gaming industries that later influenced on several of the game's companies attempting to create their own successful franchises which stars everyone's favourite mascot such as SEGA's Sonic The Hedgehog, Naughty Dog's Crash Bandicoot, and Insominac Games's Spyro the Dragon that all everyone remembers them as their all-time favourite franchises, as well listed as their favourite iconic video game heroes that I've mentioned above which is why video games became quite popular for kids, families, and of course fans community.
There are some gaming companies are attempting to make similar success as what I've mentioned before about popular platforming franchises, but sadly it did not so stuff like SEGA's Alex Kidd, SEGA's Ristar, 7-Up's Cool Spot, Crystal Dynamics's Gex, and Sunsoft's Aero the Acro-Bat are decently fun titles back in the 90's era but also the examples of being totally long-forgotten due to lack of success nor any planned next future installiment after decades ago.
There's one of the obscure platforming franchise that many of you may or never heard off before, so let me introduce Klonoa, a video game series created by Namco was started with the 1997's PS1's title such as Klonoa: Door to Phantomile which follows titular role named Klonoa and his companion set their adventure to save the dream world of Phantomile from an dark spirit named Ghadius intent on turning it into a world of nightmares.
The game received positively for its clever platforming, impressive visuals, and presentation, and also listed as one of the best platformers for Playstation libraries.
The game spawned a direct sequel such as Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil for PlayStation 2 in 2001, as well as multiple other titles such as Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, Klonoa Beach Volleyball, Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal, and Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament.
The original game also received an remake titled as Klonoa for Wii in 2008-09, as well as two remasters includes first and second installiment in compilation titled as Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series for PS4, PS5, XBONE, XSX/S, Switch, and PC in 2022.
First of all, I haven't heard of the franchise till I've discovered this online where stuff like YouTube and gaming article are much easier to uncover reviews, top 10s, and news which is why I started to interested on the game, but unfortunately the original copy for PS1 is sure pricey which cost over £100 to £130 that puts me off from buying it, where as the wii remake are slightly cheaper about £50 which I was originally planned to buy it for the Wii, but not till I found out the two remastered games was announced back in February 2022 which was confirmed by Bandai Namco Entertainment that the video game compilation for PCs and consoles was set to be released in summer 2022 to coincide with the series' 25th anniversary which is why I decided to get the remastered copies for PS4 instead.
So I finally had the copy of Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series from the retail store, a month after the game's release, and head back home, then pop the disc into the console and start playing.
So after beating the two games in one package, I was so amazed with how unique the Klonoa games has played especially being remastered into the modern console platform offers an welcome addition for both newcomers and classic fans with fully 4k resolution and added features such as adjustable difficulty brings a nice bonus to the two original classics.
Along with additional features that I've mentioned above, the rest of these two games plays just absolutely great that did delivers the original series justice.
I'm going to uncover the many goods and some bads part that I'm going to discuss the details of gameplay, visuals, and presentations further on my review.
So without go further do, let's start the review.
Presentation
On the main menus, the game packages with two titles such as Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil, so you can pick any of these games you like to play.
The first game sets in a land of Phantomile fuelled by a dreams that people have at night. It focuses on an anthropomorphic animal named Klonoa and his friend Huepow set their first adventure to save the dream world of Phantomile from an evil spirit named Ghadius searching for a magical moon pendant so he can turn Phantomile into a world of nightmares.
The second game takes place after the first game where Klonoa went for an another adventure to save the world of Lunatea and help unveil the mysteries of the enchanted world with the help of new cast of friends such as Lolo and her sidekick Popka.
The story in both game is pretty solid. The plot in the first game is what really makes my heart attached to it with full of sweet storytelling and has some moments which really adds the game's charms.
You have powerful friendship between Klonoa and his companion going for the magical adventure and get to know each other, as well as uncovering the history behind the special pendant is what really makes the game so special, where as the follow-up does also share with the great things like setting out for another adventure with new friends to search for the mysterious elements and does have some humour in cutscenes, but it isn't quite emotionally as the original has to offer, but it still sounds really good.
I also give the both game's credit for having in-depth cutscenes in each levels which delivers more storylines and has easy to understand what was going on in the event to keep the game interesting to watch.
It has decent numbers of characters in both game such as Klonoa is more of tuxedo cat-alike with long ears which I really liked his design. He has large yellow-eyes, wears short pants, t-shirt, shoes, gloves, and of course his Pac-Man cap is looking quite appealing. His personality are known for being friendly, good-natured, and kindness to help others and saving the various worlds made the character's development pretty interesting.
In the first game, you have cute-rounded Huepow who has a strong sense of justice, and won't hesitate to get involved into any dangerous situations. He is also very caring companion especially being with someone like Klonoa during the adventure, while in second game has Lolo, a kind-hearted priestess-in-training who helped Klonoa save a city from destruction and sought to save her home world, and of course the dog-like creature named Popka who is shown to be rudeness and lost-tempered at the beginning, but he's likely to reduce his behaviour in later part of the game (oh Popka, you yellow-furred moron).
I also liked the villains in both games like in first game has Ghadius who is tall-dark king wants to obtain the moon pendant to open the door to moon kingdom, as he plotted his evil plans to use his dark power to turn the whole dream world into nightmarish places. He kinda looked like Marilyn Manson wore a long-cloaked cape and gold-beak helmet with red devil-eyes is what I find him sinister looking, but incredibly awesome. He also has crack-headed sidekick named Joka, a freakesh-looking clown with red-grinded teeth and inverted-cross eyes shows lot of his violent persona and is extremely loyal to his highness as he tries to please him.
In second game, it had Leorina, sky-pirate chick is cold and acts quite hostile toward Klonoa, while she had her sidekick named Tat, a black and white furred cat who is shown to be protective with Leorina and loves to wind people up due to her two-form of split personalities.
Aside with the story and characters, the presentation design in both games is looking incredible. As you can see the game has the fantasy settings of entire environments to make it look magical and adventurous to appeal any of youngsters who loves this kinds of style.
Each locations such as the wind village has bright colourful environments with old-fashioned houses, clear blue sky with puffed clouds, and has big windmills. The tree village has jungled themed settings with cranky looking woods and trees, foggy environments, and cottage house. The wind kingdom has mystic looking places with big empty ruins and cracked surfaces and objects. The coronia temple are more of diesel-style levels with large factory and hot surfaces. The moon kingdom has crystal objects scattered around, posh looking castle, and spaced themed settings. The sacared grounds has nice water falls and ponds, greenery objects, smart-looking homes, and mystic caves with bunch of mushrooms and fireflies. The joilant fun park has fancy carnival stuff like theme park rides, prize winning games, and circus show. The volk city has underground sewers filled with garbages and liquid wastes while outside of the underground has bunch of shops and restaurants. The airpine wonderland has snowy environments, huge mountains, and bunch of trees covered in snow. The labyrinth of illusions has weird mazes, full of wacky rooms, and has upside-downs perspective design.
These are the levels which I finding it really colourful and detailed that really fits the game's overall settings mixed with many wacky adventures and magical fantasies which made Klonoa series so ambitious for platforming games.
Overall, it has sweet storytelling, decent characters, and incredible presentation settings.
Gameplay
Both games plays in 2.5D perspective which feature 2D side-scrolling with 3D environments. You take control of Klonoa as your goal is to beat the level by reaching to the end of stage, as well as defeating many bosses in each world.
You move him left and right with the d-pad or left thumbstick to push, and pressing the cross button which makes him jump but holding the X button allows him to do flutter jump in mid-air.
Klonoa will use his ring projectiles as a standard weapon by hitting the square button which allows him to grab enemy in short range, but while grabbing the enemy you can perform any manoeuvring moves such as throwing them to enemy or objects as a projectile weapon or use them as a springboard to perform a larger jump.
Enemies can be thrown into the foreground or background along with 2D plane depending if you see any of objects or switch behind the level, and there are stages are laced with obstacles that must be traversed by using the combination of these techniques such as double jumping on each 5 enemies in columns to being able to reach the higher platform and bypass obstacles without falling off the stage.
There are some kinds of enemies that are required for progressing through each levels such as the boomies which you'll use them to toss and explode to break barricades, the likuries which absorb the enemies they thrown at resulting in them changing color which allow player can use them to break matching color crystals, the erbils that give Klonoa ability to jump higher than normal, and the kitons which the player use them to fly above for a short time.
Klonoa has a limited amount of health in the form of hearts, which is reduced when coming in contact with enemies and certain obstacles, so you will able to find and obtain hearts item can be found in egg or somewhere else in the levels which refill the amount of health, and you will see the alarm clocks serve as a checkpoint which takes you back to the same spot as the alarm clock been located after multiple of deaths, and every stage also contains six star items can be found hidden somewhere in the level unlocks other in-game features which I will explain it for later on the review.
So far the controls is pretty simple and easy to use, so all you need is just simply jump on the platform, tossing enemy around, and learning to perform any manoeuvring moves that I've mentioned above is just what you all need to play. Sometimes it can be really pain to do double jumping technique which requires player to make the timing right with the short-ranged ring projectile needs to reach closer at the enemies, but I'm not sure whether its the hitboxes had the weird collision or is it the timing that needs to be corrected, so thankfully the remastered collection had the difficulty options which can resolve the short-ranged ring projectile to being able to reach further really helps me, but don't get me wrong both the game is still plays fine once you get used with the controls the more you will enjoy it.
Both of these games shares with great puzzles as well as segments such as gather all 4 missing colourful orbs to open mechanical door, hitting 3 switches to activate mechanical wooden cogs, the sky eclipses in outdoors changes the form of enemies that you can't harm them, destroy all 4 coloured statues to unlock doorway, riding on hoverboard while avoiding these hazardous obstacles, the illusion stage that flip the platforming level upside-downs, evading big huge red-robot at the street town stage covered with fires, using flolo to light up a stage before it goes dark, and destroy all 3 engines is something that I find the game quite unique for the platforming genres especially the 2.5D games in general.
I got to say the boss stage is pretty good indeed, so you have stuff like Rongo Lango can leap high in the air to pound on its target as well as creating a colourful ring as projectile, Baladium sends out eyes that explode as well as several of missiles, Joka can summon monsters and swings his fists in wide circle, Ghadius will rain spherical projectiles in vertical line as well as launching three bullet-shaped projectiles, Folgaran has ability to shoot floating mines, Leptio has ability to split himself into his clones to confuse you, Mobile Tank Biskarsh can perform body slam, Polonte will block you with the pink spike objects, and there's more bosses to fight against, so I like how the learning patterns designed where you can spot their weak points as well as evading their projectiles adds up the fun factor of the whole game.
The game also features 2-player co-op mode, as seen from second game, where the second player can only use support jump to give the first player an extra boost while jumping which is okay, but I don't think it's a proper 2-player mode if there are no second playable character to play in the game, so maybe stick with the single-player mode instead.
Like I've mentioned before about difficulty options, you will have easy mode which makes the range of ring-projectile much easier to reach, and has infinite lives and more hearts with less damage are only recommended to young kids or for those who are new to the franchise, where as normal mode will just plays like the original with limited lives and 3 hearts delivers the true platforming experience, so once you beaten the game will unlock the hard mode with one hit death and 1 life that makes the game even challenging to play which I got to say it's the great addition to the remastered collection.
Overall, it has easy to learn controls, great segments and puzzles, and fun boss battles.
Graphics
The graphics is looking solid for both remasters with upgraded visuals, and being able to run 60 FPS and supports 4k resolution especially if you had PS5 and XSX/S console which you will hardly notice any frame drops or visual clipping, but as I played on my PS4 version the games works absolutely well with no issue whatsoever.
The beneficial of visual upgrade is that the whole environment of stages is completely enhanced with vibrant colours, bold structures, clean textures, and crispy special effects that made the game looked even nicer for modern gaming platform.
I got to love the mixture of 2D and 3D environments in each levels such as for example: the outdoor of wind village has big reservoir pool and waterfall hills at the draw-distance of background while windmills and bridges is placed on foreground, as well as the boss battles has circular motion that rotates around the level is just looking spectacular.
The animation of characters especially with Klonoa and his friends are just too cute in the game which I really liked it.
Overall, it has visually upgrading stages, nice mixture of 2D and 3D environments, and really cute character's animation.
Music and Sounds
The original soundtrack as a whole does gives me a similar vibes of Super Mario, Kirby, and Yoshi series filled with cheerful songs, some catchy tunes, and of course has emotional stuff is what made these music quite fitting to the game's personality, and I got to love listening the "Stepping Wind" from the second game which was sang by Kumiko Watanabe, who is also a main voice of Klonoa.
It was composed by these original composers such as Kanako Kakino, Eriko Imura, and Kohta Takahashi has previously worked on both the first and second game did a charming job of scoring the music really holds up well as today.
The sound design are very environmental on each stage to give the game an atmospheric feel to it with background noises and some jingle effects going on, and I got to love Kumiko's voice for Klonoa's catchphrase for both games "WAHOO!!!".
Overall, it has charming soundtrack, atmospheric sound design, and really cute voice.
Special Features
The game features unlockable stuff like music test, hidden levels, hard mode, picture gallery, time attack, costumes, and others.
I'm pretty sure both the PS4 and XBONE owners will likely receive the free digital upgrades for PS5 and XSX/S.
Overall, an solid unlockable content and has free digital upgrades.
Advantages
Sweet storytelling
Decent characters
Great segments and puzzles
Fun boss battles
Enhanced visuals
Charming soundtracks
Disadvantages
Weird hitboxes collision
2-player co-op isn't really 2-player mode
Final Verdict
Presentation 8.5/10 - sweet storytelling, decent characters, and incredible presentation settings.
Gameplay 8.5/10 - easy to learn controls, great segments and puzzles, and fun boss battles.
Graphics 8/10 - has visually upgrading stages, nice mixture of 2D and 3D environments, and really cute character's animation.
Music and Sounds 8/10 - charming soundtrack, atmospheric sound design, and really cute voice.
Special Features 8/10 - unlockable stuff like music test, hidden levels, hard mode, picture gallery, time attack, costumes, and others.
Overall 8.5/10 - Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a cheerful remasters of these two cult-classics platformers that I am so glad to play these kinds of games were doing something unique and different really grabs my attention.
A platformer game takes place in magical dream world filled with fun and creative platforming action, nice mixture of 2D and 3D environments, adorable protagonist, and well-written storyplot that made the series so great on previous generation console era like PS1 and PS2, but as an fully remastered on both PCs and modern consoles today it's still holds up pretty well as now with upgradable visuals, adjustable difficulty, and just plays good as the two originals which the developer Monkey Craft did such a terrific job.
Sadly what I've learned about the whole series is that even with the positive overall reception from critics and fans back in the old days, it didn't get a recognition it deserves due to poor commercial sales of Klonoa 2 for PS2 in 2001 as well as 2008's Wii remake of first game resulting the franchise being abandoned by Bandai Namco that the fans of the cult-classics series would not able to see another entry at the light of day till it's finally given a second chance with the 2022's fully remastered collection that everyone been waiting for ages to see the return of the forgotten series that they loved finally getting hands-on to re-visit their nostalgia.
That being said, I loved Klonoa because it's one of the underrated series that many of you who loves the platforming genres in general have not played it before should check these games out.
I am hoping that Bandai Namco will consider making the sequel if this remastered collection gets many love it deserves as well as having the decent amount of overall sales unit, so that we will able to see another Klonoa's adventures in the near future.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Skip it
Rent it
Buy it
If you like my recent blog, please hit like and comment below for further questions.
This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment