Sunday 28 June 2009

Danday Reviews: Klonoa '09

Console: Wii
Age Rating: 3+ (EU) A (JP) E10+ (US)
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Paon

Klonoa is a video game series by Namco that I assume is meant to tag along with Namco's mascot, Pac-Man.
To me, however, I think that Namco's yellow druggie doesn't really cut it for me.
I would prefer the long eared, non-consistently clothed titular character any day.
Now don't say that the above sentence was negative. Oh no, I LOVE Klonoa, he is one of my favourite video game characters, up there with Sonic and Mega Man.
But what makes Klonoa games so good and fun?
Well, I'm going to be showing you Klonoa, or Klonoa Wii, or, as I call it, Klonoa '09.
The game, as shown by the Japanese name, is a re-vamped port of Namco's 1997 brilliant, yet underrated, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile.
The story is the exact same thing. Klonoa and his ring spirit friend, Hewpoe are out on a quest to stop Ghadius from filling the world with nightmares.
The game play is similar too, with only some minor changes, such as the ability to slow down enemies, via a Whirlwind move.
The graphics in the game are a definite candidate for the best looking Wii game, up there with Super Mario Galaxy (admittedly) and Sonic and the Black Knight (What? The game looked awesome)
One big gripe most reviewers have with the game is the difficulty being FAR too easy, and, unfortunately, they're right.
Though there is other stuff to do, such as the time attack mode, or collecting missed stuff in the other Visions, the main story can be completed in around 3 or 4 hours.
The cut scenes in Klonoa: DTP were a cross between emotionally scaring to a bit tongue-in-cheek. Namco have kept that in the '09 version. Two famous cut scenes....
CAUTION! BEYOND THIS LINE, SPOILERS WILL BE REVILED. IF YOU DON'T WANT THE GAME RUINED, LOOK AWAY NOW.
...Grandpa's death and the ending still have that emotional touch in them.
YOU CAN LOOK BACK NOW.
Another downside most reviewers have is the voice acting.
I disagree, I think the English voice acting in this game is actually BETTER than the Phantomile language. Sure, there are some downsides, such as the last cut scene not being as touching as the PS1 one, but the Phantomile language for Klonoa sounds FAR to over-the-top. But Hewpoe does speak ALOT in this game, but you'll overcome it.

All in all, Klonoa '09 is such an amazing port of an already amazing game. The graphics, the game play, EVERYTHING in this game has kept what made the original such a great game.
And it's cheap too! You can find it for about £15!
It's a definite buy for one of the best games on the Wii.

Score: 9.9/10

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