, Developer: Namco Publisher: Namco Release: 07/25/01 Genre: Platformer
Klonoa was a breath of fresh air for platformers during the 32-bit era. While many developers were going full 3d like Mario 64 Klonoa was a throwback to the 16-bit era. At a time when most developers were stumbling creating 3d guppies not fit to hold up the end of your table Klonoa excelled by combining the old with the new, using 3d graphics with 2d gameplay. It played with depth and camera angles in creative ways and showed 2d mechanics were not old, everyone else was just bad at it. For the sequel Namco takes it to the next level with better graphics, a fun story, and phenomenal level design. It also came at a pivotal time when the PS2 finally began to show its potential. Even though Klonoa 2 was a launch window title it remains one of the PS2’s best games.
Klonoa 2 takes place in the world of Lunatea. The world is in perfect balance thanks to the four bells that protect the world. But the warning of a fifth bell emerging threatens to throw the world in chaos. As a dream traveler Klonoa is summoned to Lunatea to help save the world. Alongside the priestess in training Lolo and his sidekick Popka sets out to ring the bells and hopefully prevent disaster. The story is light but enjoyable. The cast is likable and experiences growth during their journey and will tug at your heart strings a few times. You might even feel sorry for the villain a little bit.
Mechanically Klonoa 2 is identical to its predecessor. Using your ring you can shoot wind bullets to grab enemies. These enemies can either be thrown as a weapon or used as a stepping stone to double jump. While simple the game challenges you to use these mechanics in interesting ways at every turn. Further depth is added by the addition of new enemies with unique properties. Boomies explode after a set amount of time and can blow up objects or press switches. Kitons enable you to fly briefly. Likuries are the coolest one. These enemies absorb any enemy they are thrown at and change color. There is also a delay as they come back to you which the game uses for creative scenarios. This is used extensively in the second half of the game lending it a puzzle solving element.
Screenshots are from the PC version
The level design is why Klonoa 2 is such an amazing game. The mechanics are simple but the ways the game asks you to use them evolves over time. Initially all they ask of you is to grab enemies and use them to leap over pits. Soon enough you are using them to leap to a trampoline that sends you flying over a pit of fire and then you grab a Kiton to progress, all while an indestructible tank chases you. The Maze of Memory is a house of mirrors that flips gravity and inverts the map, causing confusion. This is funny as you are on a linear path. It is one of my favorite levels of any game that generation. Even when revisiting previous levels it has a twist, such as navigating the poison gas in Noxious La-Lakoosha or using light to survive the Dark Sea of Tears.
There is a level of spectacle not present in the first game that gives Klonoa 2 an extra level of pizzazz. The game plays with dramatic camera angles at every turn but succeeds where games like Sonic Adventure fail by always sticking to its 2d format. While many are simply to give you a picturesque view of the environments many times it is for gameplay. The boss battles frequently play with different angles such as the battle against the Mobile Tank. They also break up the pacing a bit on some of the longer levels, one of my few gripes with the game.
Surprisingly Klonoa 2 achieves the difficult task of being fair yet still challenging. The early levels are straightforward. But soon they present challenges that will test your platforming skills and make you think. Navigating a complex room full of enemies and using them in a specific order becomes the rule of the day. Checkpoints are frequent as are hearts because they are necessary. If you die a few times the game will take pity and throw you an extra life to keep you going. When it kicks in to high gear it is legitimately stressful. The second to last level, Kingdom of Sorrow is some of the most difficult platforming I have done in years. My hands were sweating by the end. The boss battles have easily identifiable patterns yet it still comes down to execution. Balancing like this is always tough but I feel Namco thread the need perfectly.
The first game was a bit short. Klonoa 2 is nearly double the length but still might be short for some. For those that want more of a challenge and more content collecting the six dolls to earn a Momett Doll as well as 150 dream stone in each level will take some time. Doing so is worth it as they unlock plenty of bonus content like extra levels, art, and a boss rush.
In Closing
Klonoa 2 nails it in every single category. Namco truly outdid themselves with Klonoa 2 and created one of the best reasons to own a PlayStation 2 early on. The level design is fantastic, the gameplay is tight and measured and the pacing means you will never get bored. Whether it is the original PS2 version or the excellent re-release on modern platforms you owe it to yourself to play this game.
