In an interview, Ryo Ishida explains that bringing Klonoa to a new generation was no small feat.
Klonoa might not be a household name, but its supporters swear it’s one of the most innovative platformers out there. Loaded with a surprisingly deep story and a unique gameplay twist for the genre, it has become a cult favorite. Despite that, Klonoa has never gotten the spotlight that mascots like Mario, Sonic or even Crash Bandicoot have, with its only mainline titles being featured on PlayStation, PlayStation 2, the Nintendo Wii .
“As this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Klonoa IP series, and since there is not a new game in the series that has been released since 2008, this time we are presenting Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series,” Ishida tells Digital Trends. “By including the two games that represent most of the Klonoa IP in this remastered version, we hope new users enjoy the games’ appeal.”
A unique flavor in a new era While bringing Klonoa to a new generation wasn’t an easy task, Ishida and Namco Bandai felt it was one worth taking. In fact, Ishida says that one of the main goals was to bring the past platforming icon to all six current-gen platforms with the intention to spread and promote the appeal of the Klonoa IP to everyday users as much as possible.
“Despite the cute and bright appearances of the game, the deep and contrasting story was something I personally resonated with,” Ishida says. “I hope new players experience the depth of the action and enjoy the great adventures of Klonoa that take place alongside the stages, as well as the unpredictable climaxes in the story.”