Klonoa is one of my favorite games of all time and an underrated gem that everyone needs to know about. It's an inventive platformer that utilizes a 2.5D perspective better than any game I've ever played, with a charming artstyle, great story, and clever level design.
Klonoa is a 2.5D platformer where you play as the titular character as he tries to stop the evil Ghadius from turning his world of Phantomile into a world of nightmares. You'd think this is a pretty cutesy platformer with a basic "save the world" plot, but you could not be further from the truth. Klonoa's story may start out lighthearted, sure, but it takes some dark turns in its second half that left me absolutely devastated once the game ended. I'm not kidding, this is probably one of the saddest video game stories of all time. I don't want to spoil anything more, but just keep in mind that nothing is as it seems. The dark shifts aren't the only reason I like this game's story, though. The characters are all memorable and likable, and the creators of the game made their own fictional language that they have the entire cast speak in. Seriously, Namco did not need to go this hard for Klonoa, but I am so glad they did!
When I said this game was a 2.5D platformer, I wasn't kidding. Klonoa carefully toes the line between 2D and 3D like no other game I've ever played. Gameplay-wise, you can only move left and right, grab and throw enemies, and jump, not unlike your standard 2D platformer. However, the level designs are pretty much fully modeled 3D environments with twists, turns, and branching paths. Some of the later levels even become full-on mazes not unlike the dungeons from Zelda games, with keys, doors, and elevators that take you between multiple planes. You can even throw enemies into the background and foreground to hit switches and collect items, adding even more depth to the gameplay. It's really hard to explain the masterful blend between perspectives in Klonoa, so why don't I show you?
See that windmill in the background? You can go to it!
Yeah, you can interact with pretty much everything in this image.
Even the bosses are fought in 3D space!
So yeah, the level designs in this game are some of the most unique and interesting I've seen in a 2D platformer. Each level has their own interesting gimmicks from waterfalls to a day-night cycle, and there's not a single one I don't like. The difficulty curve is pretty much perfect, slowly ramping up without getting too tough, but if you still find the game too easy, there's also a genuinely difficult bonus level that'll have you pretty much juggling enemies in midair. The bosses are pretty excellent too, most of which are fought utilizing the 3D space. The boss fights usually have you running around and dodging their attacks while searching for enemies to throw at them.
Klonoa isn't a super long game, but I'd say it's the perfect length where it gets to explore all of its ideas without overstaying its welcome. The main campaign only has 12 levels and 7 boss fights, but the levels are pretty long especially near the end. Each level has 6 Phantomillians to save, and once you save them all, you get that aforementioned bonus level, along with a bunch of cute extras for beating said bonus level. There are also 150 Dream Shards in each level (100 of which get you an extra life), but they don't net you anything for finding all of them.
And finally, there's the presentation, which is still top-notch. Klonoa goes for a blend of 2D sprites and 3D environments that not only still looks great today but helps to sell the 2.5D gameplay even further. There's a remake of Klonoa on the Wii that goes for full 3D graphics, and while it looks great, it just doesn't quite feel the same. Back when this game came out in the 90s, it got a lot of criticism for being "too cute". I'd like to think that we've grown past that viewpoint by now and can respect this game's visual style a bit more, because it's genuinely great. The soundtrack is also amazing in Klonoa, it's one of my favorites in video game history. The music juggles between an upbeat and adventurous tone and genuine melancholy, while also playing around with tempo shifts in unique ways.
Overall, I love Klonoa, and I still think it's one of the greatest platformers ever made. From the clever 2.5D gameplay, to the fun boss fights, to the complex level design, to the amazing soundtrack, to the emotional story, to the pacing, to the graphics, it's a nearly flawless game, in my opinion. If you haven't played Klonoa yet, I highly recommend you do, it's an often overlooked PS1 gem that needs all the recognition it can get.
5/5 Stars
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