Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

Genre: Compilation / Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a Compilation of modern remakes/remasters of two classic family-friendly Platformers – Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, first released on the original PlayStation in 1998 and then remade for Wii in 2008, and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, originally released on PlayStation 2 in 2001. This pair of remakes, released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2022, marks only the second time the original Klonoa has seen a release outside of its original platform, and the very first time Klonoa 2 was available on a platform other than the PlayStation 2.

Here is what I thought of both games in this Compilation:

Game	Genre	# of Players	Grade
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile	Platformer	1-2 Co-Op (Local)	B+
tl;dr Klonoa was one of the first games to be dubbed “2.5D”, and this game’s use of 3D elements in its 2D gameplay is still one of the best and most creative uses of this style that the Platformer genre has ever seen. On top of this, the presentation is absolutely lovely, featuring bright colors, adorable characters, and an imaginative world. The biggest problem here is that the controls can feel a bit imprecise at times, and the “wind bullet” players use to grab enemies has a painfully short range unless you drop the challenge level of the game down to its lowest setting. I should note that this game is based on the Wii port, and the polished visuals even above and beyond the original make this release an improvement even over that remake. It’s not perfect, but it’s still an absolute gem of a game.
Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil	Platformer	1-2 Co-Op (Local)	B+
tl;dr This game doesn’t play very differently from the first game, but rather it is a gentle evolution of the formula, adding a few more environmental elements while keeping the core gameplay simple. I would argue that improved level design, more elaborately-designed environments, and slightly tighter controls make this the better game between the two, but this game still has the biggest flaw that was present in the original – an atrociously short length for your grab move unless you ratchet down the difficulty level. Still, even with this flaw, the great gameplay and charming presentation make this a must-play for fans of the genre.

In short, both of these games are really wonderful, feature similar gameplay, both have a wonderful presentation, and both have the same main flaw due to the short reach of its protagonist. On balance, I think the minor improvements made to the second game make it the better one of the two, but really both are quite excellent.

I should note that we are talking about remakes of the Wii version of the first game and the PlayStation 2 sequel, so the environments aren’t super-detailed by today’s standards. However, the character designs are excellent, the visual style is wonderful, and the resolution and framerate are both silky-smooth. Apart from the versions of this compilation released on more-powerful hardware, I would say that this is easily the best these games have ever looked.

The sound, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag. The music here is still wonderful, but the character voices have some issues. While I respect this game for keeping the unique voices of the original releases, voices that just wouldn’t sound right if they were replaced… I also wish more had been done to clean up the tinny voice recordings, especially in the first game. It’s not a major complaint, but it’s still worth noting.

Both of these games don’t include much in the way of added features, but there are three of note. Firstly, there’s a new easy mode that gives players additional health and extends the reach of their grab. As I noted earlier, I really wish you could enable these features separately, as I felt like the short length of the grab was one of the worst problems with these games, but I don’t want to tank the already-low challenge level just to rectify that issue.

Another new feature is a “tutorial” that explicitly instructs you when any new gameplay element is introduced, and outright tells you how to fight the bosses. I felt like this addition was largely unnecessary, though perhaps younger kids might appreciate it.

Finally, a new two-player mode has been added that allows a second player to assist the primary player with an added jump. This new element feels tacked-on, and given that these aren’t especially tough games, I don’t think most players will find this help necessary.

Of course, before wrapping this up, I need to address the question of value, and at $40, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a pretty fantastic deal – a quick glance at eBay reveals that players wanting to buy the original games used would currently be looking to spend at least a combined $90 or so, and those versions don’t include the improved visuals and extra features of this collection… and you’ll need a Wii and PlayStation 2 to play them. There is one nitpick I have here though – Namco is selling an additional $20 add-on for this game that includes a soundtrack, artbook, and added cosmetic skins for your character, something that not only seems overpriced, but really seems like it should have been tossed in with the rest of the compilation. In the end, this is still a great value, but it definitely seems like this bit of greed kept this compilation from being an even better value.

Still, while some elements are dated and the selling of bonus content as an add-on seems kinda’ gross, overall this is a phenomenal package of two excellent, charming, adorable Platformers that have been brushed up to look as good as they’ve ever been. If you’re a fan of Platformers, this Compilation is a no-brainer.

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tl;dr – Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a Compilation of modern remakes of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, a pair of charming family-friendly Platformers that both do a superb job of combining 2D gameplay with 3D elements, all wrapped in a presentation that’s absolutely wonderful, if a tad quaint and outdated. There are a few places here or there where I feel like these games could be further improved, and the selling of bonus content for an additional $20 seems unnecessarily greedy, but overall it’s hard to see this Compilation as anything but a wonderful package that any Platformer fan should absolutely snatch up.

Grade: B+

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2022 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Platformer, Best Port / Remake, Best Compilation / Collection, Best Game for Kids and Casual Players

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