Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
Score: 80% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Namco Developer: Namco Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: Platformer (2D)/ Puzzle
Graphics & Sound: One look at Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament, and you’re likely to think it’s a simple, child-friendly platformer. However, once you play it, you’ll see that beneath the game’s child-appealing visuals beats the heart of a tricky puzzler that just happens to look like a side-scroller. Some players will find Klonoa 2’s visuals unappealing, while other’s will love the game’s cute style. Fans of other Klonoa games will instantly recognize the game’s trademark approach. Level elements are big and bright, making them easy to see – even when you’re not using the backlit SP version of the GBA. Backgrounds use multiple scrolling layers to give the game depth, and even feature some simple animations. Enemies are limited to simple animations, but still fit with the rest of the game world. Still, cut-scenes flesh out the game’s story between levels. Jazzy, fast-paced tunes make up a majority of the game’s soundtrack. Each is keyed to fit with the theme of each game world. Though enjoyable, the tunes really aren’t something you’ll want to listen to outside the context of the game. This makes the purchase of earphones a necessity if you’re a parent planning on picking up Klonoa 2 for a kid – it’ll save your sanity on long car trips.
Gameplay: Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament takes place right after the last GBA game, Empire of Dreams. After an invitation mysteriously falls from the sky, Klonoa finds himself whisked off to a strange arena. He soon learns that he’s not alone and that the room is packed with other adventurers. A man named Garlen appears and tells the group that they have been chosen to compete in the Dream Champ Tournament, and that the victor will win the title of “Greatest Hero” and a sizeable cash prize. Although it is a puzzler, Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament plays like your typical platformer. The game’s 50 levels are broken up into five worlds, each with its own unique theme. Levels are broken up into sub-levels that you must pass to reach the end of the stage. Within each level are puzzles that require Klonoa to move boxes, climb, and perform tricky jumps. Klonoa also has to contend with a number of enemies who are out to make sure he doesn’t get to his goal. Instead of being a mere obstacle, these enemies are used to solve puzzles. For example, Moos can be used to double jump, Boomies can be used as bombs, and Erbils can propel Klonoa into the air or at enemies. The main goal of the game is figuring out how to use the tools you’re given to get past obstacles in the level and reach the goal. Once you run through all of the game’s levels, you can go back and try to unlock special EX stages and artwork. In order to do this, you must gain “S” rankings on all levels as well as collect all of the Sun Stones that are scattered throughout each level. Unlocking extras provides some replay and length to the game, which is welcome since the game itself isn’t very long. Even with some of the trickier puzzles, they can be completed in a matter of days.
Difficulty: Younger gamers, who the game looks to appeal to, may get a little frustrated with some of the game’s tougher puzzles, which show up as early as the first world. At the same time, though, I can really see the game working to help improve a child’s critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving, provided they have the patience to work through some levels. Even older gamers may have a tough time with some puzzles; a majority of which make you feel like a total idiot once you solve them. You’ll feel stupid, but at least you’ll have a good time.
Game Mechanics: Levels follow a standard layout. In addition to six normal stages, there are also front or back perspective boarding levels, forced scrolling levels, and boss stages. Most boss stages are set up as races against one of the other tournament participants, so you’ll have to not only beat the boss, but do it before the other person does. Boss levels make for some of the more challenging and outright frustrating areas of the game. This is due in large part to spotty mechanics. Boxes can be broken by throwing enemies at them. But unless you hit the box directly in the middle, it sometimes won’t register the hit. During standard levels it’s not a problem. However, when you’re in the forced scrolling and boss levels, you usually don’t have more than one shot at clearing your path. As a result, you usually end up having to repeat the entire level. The planning behind some puzzles is also a little off. Some are set up in such a way that you can actually get stuck in an area and have to exit out of it and try again. This adds a level of frustration to some levels, especially when you get stuck in the last section of a stage. Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament is a unique entry into the GBA’s lineup that isn’t for everyone, and may not even appeal to the audience the game seems to be marketing towards. Still, if you enjoy puzzle games or platformers, it’s worth checking out.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Ys: The Ark of Napishtim NBA