DISCLAIMER I have no nostalgic attachment to the 1997 PlayStation 1 original Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. In actuality, I only picked up the 2022 remaster because the physical edition was on sale and I wanted it for my collection. It should be apparent then that my initial feelings of this game were untainted by nostalgia for the original or honest interest in the remaster. Therefore, I can say with a clear conscience and no ill will that this game is incredibly mediocre.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is 2.5D platformer developed by Namco and originally released on the PlayStation 1 in 1997. Directed by Hideo Yoshizawa, known for his work on the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the game was originally planned to be an adaptation of the manga Spriggan with a plot centered around the Cold War and ancient artifacts of immense power. After licensing arrangements for Spriggan fell through, however, the original ideas were scrapped for a dreams motif and a more comical story. Upon release, Klonoa was met with near-universal praise but would never gain real traction in Western markets. Despite the poor sales numbers, the game would spawn a series of sequels, a 2008 remake released for the Nintendo Wii, and a 2022 high-definition remaster which is the subject of this review. With that said, in contradiction to the praise given to the original and the generally favorable reviews of the remaster, I believe the 1997 release fails to live up to other platformers released alongside it like Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Mega Man X4 and the remaster pales in comparison to other recently released classic compilations like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, or the Mega Man and Mega Man X Legacy Collections.
As for the story, players are whisked away to Phantomile, a dreamworld of floating islands and cutesy enemies in danger of becoming a land of nightmares thanks to Ghadius and his trusty sidekick Joka. The player takes control of Klonoa and his trusty Wind Ring to save Phantomile and defeat Ghadius. This paper-thin plot is relayed to the player via cutscenes full of nonsensical gibberish with translated textboxes of dialogue. While the overall narrative is par for the course when compared to other platformers of the era, it doesn’t leave a very lasting impression even when considering the plot twist ending. Maybe playing the 2022 remaster without experiencing the 1997 original was a mistake or I simply expect more out of games today than I would have in the era of PlayStation 1, but I just can’t see the appeal of Klonoa’s cutscenes or story, and found my self fast-forwarding through most of it.
The player must guide Klonoa through six different worlds and over twelve levels of platforming and light puzzle-solving to save Phantomile. In total these levels are a mixed bag and their designs range from uninspired to boring. Some are breezy jaunts through vibrant forest landscapes or forgotten ruins, while others are labyrinthine messes of color, trial-and-error platforming, and backtracking puzzles. Enemy placement throughout can sometimes feel arbitrary or downright devilish, and there's a distinct lack of the inventive level design that made contemporary platformers like Super Mario 64 or Crash Bandicoot 2 so memorable. The moment-to-moment gameplay to get through these levels doesn’t help things either. Grabbing enemies with the use of the Wind Ring’s Wind Bullet to use them as projectiles, platforms, or perform a double jump is a neat gimmick, but compared to the genre-defining freedom of Super Mario 64, the fast-paced gameplay of Crash Bandicoot 2, the subversive oddness of Abe’s Oddysee, or the action-packed Mega Man X4, Klonoa feels basic.
With less-than-stellar gameplay and what I’d consider boring level design, the 2022 remake has little else going for it. There are of course updated visuals and smoother framerates, but that's about it. There's no new content, no gameplay tweaks, not even a hint of effort to modernize the experience. Compared to well-crafted collections like the Mega Man/Mega Man X Legacy Collections and the glorious Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Klonoa's remake feels like an afterthought. A selection of concept art or a music player would have been at least something to make this compilation feel more like a celebration of the franchise rather than a quick cash grab.
Overall, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile isn't a bad game and the remake is well put together, but in the company of its 1997 contemporaries and the plethora of better retro game compilations out today, it is forgettable. The charming visuals and unique ring mechanic can't overcome the bland level design, repetitive gameplay, and uninspired remake treatment. If you're looking for a platforming fix, there are countless titles, both retro and modern, that offer far more excitement and innovation. Klonoa might have a wisp of charm, but it's not enough to save it from being lost in the vast library of platforming excellence.
Unless you're a die-hard Klonoa fan or a completionist ticking off every obscure 90s platformer, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is a game best left unopened. It's a decent reminder of a simpler time, but one that's ultimately surpassed by the platforming giants that were released alongside it.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is 2.5D platformer developed by Namco and originally released on the PlayStation 1 in 1997. Directed by Hideo Yoshizawa, known for his work on the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the game was originally planned to be an adaptation of the manga Spriggan with a plot centered around the Cold War and ancient artifacts of immense power. After licensing arrangements for Spriggan fell through, however, the original ideas were scrapped for a dreams motif and a more comical story. Upon release, Klonoa was met with near-universal praise but would never gain real traction in Western markets. Despite the poor sales numbers, the game would spawn a series of sequels, a 2008 remake released for the Nintendo Wii, and a 2022 high-definition remaster which is the subject of this review. With that said, in contradiction to the praise given to the original and the generally favorable reviews of the remaster, I believe the 1997 release fails to live up to other platformers released alongside it like Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Mega Man X4 and the remaster pales in comparison to other recently released classic compilations like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, or the Mega Man and Mega Man X Legacy Collections.
As for the story, players are whisked away to Phantomile, a dreamworld of floating islands and cutesy enemies in danger of becoming a land of nightmares thanks to Ghadius and his trusty sidekick Joka. The player takes control of Klonoa and his trusty Wind Ring to save Phantomile and defeat Ghadius. This paper-thin plot is relayed to the player via cutscenes full of nonsensical gibberish with translated textboxes of dialogue. While the overall narrative is par for the course when compared to other platformers of the era, it doesn’t leave a very lasting impression even when considering the plot twist ending. Maybe playing the 2022 remaster without experiencing the 1997 original was a mistake or I simply expect more out of games today than I would have in the era of PlayStation 1, but I just can’t see the appeal of Klonoa’s cutscenes or story, and found my self fast-forwarding through most of it.
The player must guide Klonoa through six different worlds and over twelve levels of platforming and light puzzle-solving to save Phantomile. In total these levels are a mixed bag and their designs range from uninspired to boring. Some are breezy jaunts through vibrant forest landscapes or forgotten ruins, while others are labyrinthine messes of color, trial-and-error platforming, and backtracking puzzles. Enemy placement throughout can sometimes feel arbitrary or downright devilish, and there's a distinct lack of the inventive level design that made contemporary platformers like Super Mario 64 or Crash Bandicoot 2 so memorable. The moment-to-moment gameplay to get through these levels doesn’t help things either. Grabbing enemies with the use of the Wind Ring’s Wind Bullet to use them as projectiles, platforms, or perform a double jump is a neat gimmick, but compared to the genre-defining freedom of Super Mario 64, the fast-paced gameplay of Crash Bandicoot 2, the subversive oddness of Abe’s Oddysee, or the action-packed Mega Man X4, Klonoa feels basic.
With less-than-stellar gameplay and what I’d consider boring level design, the 2022 remake has little else going for it. There are of course updated visuals and smoother framerates, but that's about it. There's no new content, no gameplay tweaks, not even a hint of effort to modernize the experience. Compared to well-crafted collections like the Mega Man/Mega Man X Legacy Collections and the glorious Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Klonoa's remake feels like an afterthought. A selection of concept art or a music player would have been at least something to make this compilation feel more like a celebration of the franchise rather than a quick cash grab.
Overall, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile isn't a bad game and the remake is well put together, but in the company of its 1997 contemporaries and the plethora of better retro game compilations out today, it is forgettable. The charming visuals and unique ring mechanic can't overcome the bland level design, repetitive gameplay, and uninspired remake treatment. If you're looking for a platforming fix, there are countless titles, both retro and modern, that offer far more excitement and innovation. Klonoa might have a wisp of charm, but it's not enough to save it from being lost in the vast library of platforming excellence.
Unless you're a die-hard Klonoa fan or a completionist ticking off every obscure 90s platformer, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is a game best left unopened. It's a decent reminder of a simpler time, but one that's ultimately surpassed by the platforming giants that were released alongside it.