Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series [Nintendo Switch] | REVIEW

We’ve seen the revival of plenty of old-school platforming heroes over the last few years – some of which are big-name superstars and others that have more of a cult following. I think Klonoa falls into that latter category, with the flappy-eared feline hardly a big gaming icon, but still beloved by those who played his games back on the original PlayStation. Now, with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, players can re-visit those titles, with this remastered release offering a whimsical and vibrant pair of adventures that have certainly stood the test of time.

Check out some screenshots down below:

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Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series includes two games: the Wii remake of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and the PlayStation release of Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, with enhanced visuals and performance available in both titles across this remastered release.

Both games feel very much the same from a gameplay perspective, with players scurrying across an array of colourful locales in 2.5D platforming action. There are platforming challenges to complete, enemies to beat up (and use to throw against other enemies), bosses to conquer, collectibles to find, and captives to rescue… basically, it has all of the hallmarks players would expect from the genre in the 90s.

What helps make the Klonoa games feel more unique is the way that the levels embrace their 2.5D nature, with their semi-3D design showing off the action from a more unique perspective that still feels refreshing twenty-five years on from the first game’s original release. It’s complemented by the wondrous and vibrant designs of the levels themselves, which all come together nicely to ensure that the adventure is certainly a joyful one. If you’re looking for good vibes, you’ll certainly get them from Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series.

“There are platforming challenges to complete, enemies to beat up (and use to throw against other enemies), bosses to conquer, collectibles to find, and captives to rescue… basically, it has all of the hallmarks players would expect from the genre in the 90s. “

The overall design of both games has stood up well over the years. I’d be lying if I said they weren’t a bit simple at times, but a good balance of creative level design and difficulty ensure players will still face some fun challenges across the world. It’s not a hard game, but completionists will have to utilise Klonoa’s skills carefully if they want to find every collectible. Fortunately, it controls well so you won’t have to deal with clunky movement when getting around, though some sequences in the game do demand a LOT of precision to get through fuss-free.

What makes levels feel particularly intuitive is the way that they utilise enemies. Enemies aren’t just there to cause problems for Klonoa, but are actually imperative to progress – whether that’s when throwing one to activate a switch or bouncing off one to access hard to reach platforms. Whilst a lot of platformers see you simply spinning enemies away or bopping them on the head to get them out of your path, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series challenges players to use them to their advantage. It’s a neat feature that encourages players to think their actions through rather than just try to steamroll their way through levels.

Add to that some fun and creative boss battles, newly introduced difficulty modes, and a co-op mode for two player action, and it’ll be easy to see there’s lot to enjoy in Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series. It looks and plays well on the Nintendo Switch too, with the frame rate consistent throughout and the visuals sharp and snazzy. And hey, there’s even a cool little snowboarding mini-game in Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil… what more could you want?

Check out some screenshots down below:

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Well, for one, I think there could’ve been a few more extras included in the package – maybe extra costumes, an art gallery, or just some old design documents that celebrate the game’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Admittedly, you can grab some of that stuff as paid DLC, but it leaves a bit of a nasty taste and feels like a bit of a cash grab when it would’ve been nicer if included as part of the base package. It’s not that the two games offered feel bare-boned or anything, but rather that Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series could have been a more substantial celebration if those extras were included from the get-go.

Developer: Bandai Namco, Monkey Craft
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Website: https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/klonoa/klonoa-phantasy-reverie-series