Klonoa
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Games America, Inc. Developer: Paon Corporation Media: CD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Platformer/ Action/ Family
Graphics & Sound: How many PlayStation games from 10 years ago would you really want to play again? There were arguably some classics, but there was a ton of "shovelware" as the system was hitting the peak of its popularity. Klonoa in its "Door to Phantomile" iteration was released in 1998 and didn't make as big a splash as it should have. Gamers know it as a solid platforming title that took advantage of a 2.5D perspective, told a great story, and presented just the right amount of challenge without becoming inaccessible to more novice gamers. The funny thing about bringing a redux version of the original game to the Wii is that the side-by-side screenshots from 1998 aren't that much different! Players won't pick this up purely for nostalgia, but those interested in reliving the fun of 10 years ago will find that Klonoa has been left intact for the most part. What has been upgraded that matters is the dialogue, now featuring spoken parts. The voice acting is good, and much more enjoyable than the "mumble-mumble-mumble" of old, similar to Animal Crossing or the like. There are probably many differences in a side-by-side comparison with the original, in terms of backgrounds and characters models. Everything runs smoothly without slowdown, and the transitions between one part of a level to another happen seamlessly. Cut-scene animation tells some of the story, but there are plenty of other narrative segments that use in-game assets. The greatest thing about the game is still the music! I would have paid $20 more for a copy that included the soundtrack, just to listen to the tunes backing up Klonoa's exploits through Phantomile. Few games really have music that stands on its own merits, and the greater accomplishment here may be that the music is strong but does not overpower the gameplay.
Gameplay: Describing Klonoa can be a bit difficult. First, we don't have any idea what kind of creature he is... Floppy ears, maybe some kind a rabbit? There are certainly other "rabbity" looking enemies throughout the game, so we'll go with that. The storyline of Klonoa is easy enough to describe, since it slots into a "Boy Rescues Girl" box without too much planing required. As with most circumstances like this, an evil force stands between the boy/rabbit and his girl, plus lots of mystical forces at work around him. The sense of adventure in this game is part of what makes it so much fun to play. You'll move across radically different environments that are short, but very sweet. Uncovering secrets makes it fun to return to areas you've previously explored, and several special modes are opened once you complete the game that extend the shelf life. Lack of multiplayer is just being true to the original, but some extra features as unlockables would have been fun. There have been games on Nintendo handhelds since the release of the original Klonoa on PlayStation, so one wishes at least one of them could have been included as a bonus. The core game won't take much time to beat if you are a dedicated platforming fan. Some slippery sections with no margin for error can prove frustrating, but Klonoa offers multiple play mechanics that allow less experienced players to simplify things. The only weapon Klonoa uses is a wind-shot that is actually anthropomorphic, portrayed as a little character that comes from the strange ring Klonoa finds in the woods. The 2.5D platforming perspective gives almost as many options as full 3D, without the annoying camera issues that always come with 3D. Collecting coins and special items while traversing the game world is your mainstay, along with some bosses that consistently require indirect attacks that use Klonoa's special ability to pick up and throw objects.
Difficulty: The platforming is definitely challenging in some areas, more than I remember. Perhaps we were just better Platformer gamers back then? Certainly that genre enjoyed a packed release schedule, then compared to now. There isn't adjustable difficulty in the game, but there are alternate paths to explore that cater to seasoned gamers striving to collect every coin, gem and special object. Skipping these will reduce the difficulty level considerably, but it isn't always clear which is the more challenging path as it begins to branch. When you die, you know you're on the more challenging path... A health bar that can be replenished helps avoid unnecessary replays of an entire level, but the heart pick-ups you'll collect to gain health are few and far between in most levels. There isn't a "continue" option in Klonoa, so losing all your accrued credits will send you back to the title screen. Waypoint items are scattered throughout every level, helping to mark your place when you do die. The only moments of real frustration in Klonoa are when these waypoints are too far apart and have extremely challenging platforming between them. This scenario will send you back to the title screen a few times, but not so often it will take the fun away.
Game Mechanics: There are two options for control in Klonoa, one with the Nunchuk and one without. The "without" option is more true to the feel of the original, but lacks the precision you may want during some of the platforming segments. Everything in the game is basically about platforming, but most times you are just jumping up "stairsteps" rather than "fall and you die" platforms. The big idea behind Klonoa is the mechanic used for jumping higher or further, which involves Klonoa's skill in grabbing enemies and shooting them with his ring. The grabbing is done with one button press, and you can immediately follow with a second button press to jump, reaching higher and farther than would normally be possible. Klonoa also has an extended jump that allows him to glide a short distance or hover in place, by flapping his ears. This is accomplished by holding down the jump button. The combination of assist-jumping and hovering makes it relatively easy to figure out any jump in the game. There are some puzzles you'll have to solve by throwing enemies, and some are timed to react to enemies that explode after a short countdown. The best moments in Klonoa are about halfway through, when you've mastered these basic mechanics and the developers start to line up longer lines of enemies and obstacles that you'll sequence through. The learning curve is very generous, the controls are simple, the story is endearing, and the presentation still feels fresh. Sure, there are updates, but the original Klonoa is very much the core of this package. Wii owners are incredibly fortunate to have the chance to play a true platforming classic. It is light entertainment, but thank goodness for something that falls between Super Mario Galaxy and the Wii's growing supply of "shovelware."
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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