Game #1303: Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

 The dream isn't dead.

 You wanted more Klonoa? Well, you get twice the usual amount of Klonoa with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, a two-pack remake compilation of the first two Klonoa games!

 The good news is that as far as gameplay is concerned, these are pretty much identical to the originals, so I won't go over how it plays or what each game is, as there's no need to. I'd rather speak about the remakes as a whole... or as two halves of a whole? Anyways...

 While the gameplay remains brilliant and simple, well... Klonoa 1 had this beautiful sprites against 3-D backdrops that made the game stand out. The second game instead of having sprites had cell-shaded character models. Both games looked gorgeous in their own way. I won't say here and claim that the games are ruined, because they are not, but now the feature generic 3-D graphics. Nothing about these games, graphically, stands out from other games. What's more, since both games run on the same engine, Klonoa 2 feels like little more than an expansion pack featuring a slightly taller Klonoa. They could've at least went for cell-shading on both games. Again, for most people this is a nit pick, and it could very well be, but the original games feel ever so slightly more charming.

 On the other hand, both games are so cute, and play so well... that they feel right at home on the Nintendo Switch. It's as if this is where Klonoa should've been from the start, so yeah, I'd rather play it on the Switch.... even if I experienced a few framerate drops here and there. Both games now feature a new easy mode, I didn't try it, but you get more hitpoints, infinite lives and longer reach on your grab, which sounds perfect to make the games more accessible.

 Klonoa 1 is pure bliss, the has only two buttons: Jump and grab, and once you grab an enemy you can use it as a projectile or as a double jump. With these mechanics you'll get to platform your way through an admittedly short, but very sweet, adventure romp. The story is super depressing too! Klonoa 2 adds more puzzle elements, sometimes you'll have to use new enemies that supercharge your jump upwards, enemies that turn color as they absorb other enemies and what not, heck, bosses now have multiple phases, and there are new skating stages too. The plot is super depressing too! Both games are fantastic in their own right, I love the original's simplicity, but I also love how they evolved the gameplay without messing with how basic Klonoa's moveset is.

 I do think the original games look better, even if they didn't look as sharp, but here's the thing... both Klonoa games are prohibitedly expensive nowadays, but with this cart you get both games, they play JUST as fantastic as before AND you even get accessibility options... So yeah, there's absolutely no reason as to why you shouldn't get this cart instead of splurging on the original too. Now then, if we could only get Namco to remake the GBA Klonoa games using this engine too....

 9.5