PDorr's Featured Game No.3: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile

[PDorr3]

http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/boxshots/1/197741_psx.jpg

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Playstation

The reason I picked this game as my featured game today is simply because it probably is one of the BEST platformers ever made. Never played it? you are missing out on alot.

For those of you who do n ot know what this game is like, its a side scrolling platformer that incorporates a 3d background and settings, but its not free roaming, its an on rails type of game. There are many things to collect as in any platformer, hidden in each level.

What makes this game so different is how it seemlessly incorporates the puzzle elements into the platforming gameplay. The game throws many puzzles at you that make you use the enemies to bypass obstacles. Some puzzles are downright brutal, but with proper planning they can be done.

http://www.findmeagame.com/images/0/636920.jpg

As you can see from this picture you can drop below the top platform, and the camera will rotate as you go around the bend. It might not seem so special but believe me, it works well.

The game is bright and cheery, with cute characters, and great visuals. Do not let that scare you away, this game is not for kids! the difficulty is so great sometimes that no 8-10 year old could figure out without help.

The game is an R6, its pretty hard to find, but you can get yourself a copy on ebay in the $35-$45 range.

Have you played this game? please feel free to discuss.

Past Featured Games:

1)Heart of Darkness
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54609
2)Zombies Ate My Neighbors
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54698

[poopnes]

One of my top 5 favorite games ever. I rented and rented this game from Blockbuster back in the day. I finally stumbled onto a copy for $17.99 at a Babbages (in 2001 I believe), but had long since sold my PlayStation. So I went to a local pawn and paid $70 for a mini PSone just so I could once again enjoy this game.

I loved the story, especially the ending, wasn't expecting it to be so sad. And I loved the bunus level that opened up when you rescued everybody. Skills!

I did not enjoy Klonoa 2 or the GBA offerings though. They just didn't have the "feeling" of the original.

[Nez]

Its a great game, but I have yet to finish it. I do belive I'm on the last level, but I've been to busy lazy to finish it. Today I'll give it another go.

[Frankie23]

Great game, I often recommend it to people.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I rented it a lot of times from the local video place. They started to sell off like half of their PS1 games about a year ago, so I got the same copy that I had rented, for a cool 8 bucks. No instruction booklet, but the disc was in perfect condition, as is the back insert.

[Simply Dave]

That game is awesome. I used to rent it from time to time and my son and I would play the heck out of it. I really wish I could find a copy of it somewhere in the wild but it looks like I may have to resort to ebay.

[PDorr3]

One of my top 5 favorite games ever. I rented and rented this game from Blockbuster back in the day. I finally stumbled onto a copy for $17.99 at a Babbages (in 2001 I believe), but had long since sold my PlayStation. So I went to a local pawn and paid $70 for a mini PSone just so I could once again enjoy this game.

I loved the story, especially the ending, wasn't expecting it to be so sad. And I loved the bunus level that opened up when you rescued everybody. Skills!

I did not enjoy Klonoa 2 or the GBA offerings though. They just didn't have the "feeling" of the original.

this is one of the few games that ever brought a tear to my eye. I can tell you the game is worth playing through just for the ending alone.

[Crush Crawfish]

I really have to sit down and play this one. I was lucky enought to find a minty complete copy at a gamestop a while back. I've heard nothing but good things about it.

[junglehunter]

Wicked game. Pretty much the only platformer (along the same lines, of course) that I liked better was Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2). Great level design and the puzzles are a nice feature and aren't overly difficult. The real treat I find to be in all of the Klonoa games are the whacky boss battles. I remember the last boss of this game giving me quite a run for my money. Top notch! 8-)

[Cauterize]

PDorr, can i just say, you have freakin awesome game taste!

Every game you have reviewed/chosen since doing this, i absolutely love!

Klonoa Especially!

Keep up the good work!

[Cthulhu]

Indeed, excellent game. My copy of it isn't worth too much... I got it from Game Crazy when they were selling off some old rentals. I have the original case and the game apparently was never put on the shelf (it's in perfect shape) but it has the full-disc "DO NOT REMOVE" sticker on the disc itself x_x

The game is still playable though, and that's what really matters. It's all that and a proverbial bag of chips. LOL

[InsaneDavid]

This is one of the most underrated games of all time. It's also one of the few games where after someone plays the demo (on the Ridge Racer Type 4 extras disc) they become CONSUMED with finding a copy. I picked one up sans booklet at GameStop a few months ago for $14.99 and next to my copy of Starblade Alpha it's the jewel of my PlayStation archive - simply because it's so well done.

From the time you start until the time the game is over Klonoa has something that many titles no longer bring to the table - incredibly high production value throughout. You can tell that the creators really took extra care to make this a great gameplay experence.

While I enjoyed Klonoa 2 Lunatea's Veil on the PS2, it wasn't as good as the original, but it still had some great puzzles and threw a few new things into the mix without completely breaking the original gameplay. The GBA titles just seemed stale which should go to show how impressive the graphics are on the PS1 and PS2 games. I actually like the visual presentation more in this, Klonoa Door to Phantomile. Also the intro sequence has some of the best smoothly rendered CG seen on the PlayStation.

[shvnsth]

picked my copy up in the $5 gamecrazy sale, complete. def going to sit down and play it, 2d platformers are awesome, even if they have 3d backgroudns

[daikaiju]

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP's views on the fantastic, often overlooked game. The platforming / puzzle element is done to PERFECTION. Not only does it occasionaly engage the mind, but the PHYSICAL dexterity to execute many of the jumps in this is truly demanding at times - although it has that intangable quality that always brings you back for more. Not to mention as previously stated as well - the ending - WOW. No matter how many games you've played, you didn't see THAT one coming. I would rate it the saddest game I've ever played!

[Rugal]

Love this game to death. I paid $13 for it and i then found out that it is quite hard to find. :D