Klonoa didn’t invent 2.5D, but it sure as heck owned it! And in 2022, it’s amazing to look back on.

It’s a harmonious union of dimensions that utilises the tried and true 2D platforming staples with a splash of exciting, new 3D technologies. The games see the player jog along a 2D plane as they twist and turn through sprawling 3D environments, occasionally spiralling back on themselves. Klonoa, on the other hand finds an elegant middle ground. As a new generation of 3D consoles came about in the mid-90s, many developers got in way over their heads as they rushed into an additional third dimension (see Bubsy 3D released in 1996 if you don’t know). Klonoa cleverly combines 2D and 3D elements, bridging the gap between the two innovatively. They’ve revitalised the duo of classic games, all while retaining that colourful quirkiness unique to turn of the century platformers we all know and love. Following a Wii-make (a remake on the Nintendo Wii) of the first game in 2008, Klonoa has been largely absent from the video game landscape, but given the current platforming and remaster renaissance, it was about time he popped back up!ĭevelopers Monkey Craft have taken the reigns on Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, the team who looked after Katamari Damacy Reroll in 2018, and they’ve done a stellar job. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series packages and remasters the classic Namco (now Bandai Namco) games Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, initially released for the PS1 and PS2 in 19.

After a mighty long time in IP limbo, he returns to the Switch looking to have some fun! Klonoa everybody’s favourite hat-wearing, dream-travelling, wind-bullet-shooting cat-rabbit-thing is back for two colourful adventures in one.

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