Bandai Namco has shown the launch trailer for the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, a collection that is available today on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam in exchange for 49.99 euros. This is the Japanese publisher’s way of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Klonoa, a character who debuted at the end of 1997 on PlayStation with a first installment that arrived in the West in 1998.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series includes Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil Remastered by Monkeycraft (Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World). “The graphics have received a stylish makeover, while the beloved world of Klonoa and its classic gameplay have been faithfully preserved,” says Bandai Namco. In addition, both titles have a difficulty selector so that newcomers to the franchise have an easy contact and the option of cooperative play for two users.
On a technical level and beyond improved graphics, we have 60 FPS and a resolution that, depending on the console, can reach 4K. The collection has remastered Klonoa: Door to Phantomile based on the 2008 remake for Wii, while Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil adapts the game for PS2, which until today was the only platform on which this installment was available. Regarding the gameplay, Klonoa is a series of 3D side-scrolling action games and there is no change in this regard. Everything remains as before.
Klonoa’s first installment was received with good reviews, but it was commercially unsuccessful. Despite this, Bandai Namco put out a sequel and a spin-off series on the Game Boy Advance. The release of the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series aims to reinvigorate the intellectual property to bring it to modern consoles and perhaps new audiences. Producer Ryo Ishida acknowledges that if this collection has the support of the community, there may be opportunities to expand the franchise.
Below is a comparison trailer between the remaster and the original game.