For many people of a certain generation, there's a unique nostalgia that comes from playing a classic mascot platformer from the late 90's or early 2000's. Game publishers have figured this out in recent times, and so more and more mascot platformers are getting remade or remastered. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is one of the more obscure IPs to get a hi-def treatment - the original Klonoa games have always been cult classics, but they've remained relatively unknown through the years. Nonetheless, Bandai Namco has released this HD collection in honor of the series' 25th anniversary, bundling 1997's Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and 2001's Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil together for the first time.
On the surface, Klonoa's premise seems like typical platformer fare. Both games chronicle the adventures of Klonoa the Dream Traveller, an adorable bunny-cat-thing who hops and floats through a number of equally cute worlds in 2.5D. He's accompanied by a gaggle of friends and supporting characters in each game, some of whom have predictable roles while others have weirdly darker secrets and hang-ups. The one recurring element between both games is Klonoa's mysterious ring, which shoots wind bullets to capture enemies. Enemies can be used as projectiles or to double-jump, and much of the games' platforming and puzzles revolve around that deliberately basic mechanic. But everything is not as it seems, as Klonoa ultimately discovers the true nature of these worlds and his role within them.
It has to be said that these are very solid remasters of Klonoa and Klonoa 2 (which hasn't been on any other platform since the PS2). All the things that fans fell in love with over 20 years ago are here, and for the most part, those things are as charming as ever. The bold, vibrant coloration and character designs still hold their appeal, firmly rooted in the Sonic aesthetic of the late 90's. The original sound design is also great with all its uplifting music and effects, despite the fact that dialogue can be grating. Above everything else, though, the surprisingly melancholic plot twists reframe the stories of both games and are even better with the benefit of hindsight. That doesn't make them narrative masterpieces, but the unexpected meditations on escapism and isolation were what set the Klonoa games apart from other platformers at the time - and still do today.
However, other than a good HD touch-up, this remastered collection brings very little to these titles and doesn't do much to celebrate Klonoa's 25th anniversary. There's no bonus content of any kind beyond the addition of an easier mode and extraneous co-op options. The games themselves aren't exactly exciting anymore, either; puzzle solutions are usually obvious immediately, and platforming challenges are mostly tests of patience rather than tests of skill (there's a lot of waiting involved). The central mechanic of grabbing and throwing enemies just isn't that interesting compared to other more kinetic platformers - which was also true when the original games came out. Even so, they're both still fundamentally enjoyable despite their lack of challenge, and at least Klonoa 2 offers more variety with its branching levels and hoverboarding.
It might be easy to say that Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is simply a pair of remastered games that can't compare to more modern platformers, but that's only half-true. Although their relatively low sales and cult status meant that the formula wasn't really given the chance to evolve, almost anyone can still jump into these games and have a good time. The lack of meaningful new content on par with Klonoa's Wii remake from 2008 is disappointing, but the content that is here is still worthwhile. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a nice offering to underserviced fans, and can also be a good package for newcomers - or even people who are picking up a platformer for the first time.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Screen Rant was provided with a PS5 code for the purposes of this review.