PREVIEW -
Klonoa is a blue fox/racoon/squirrel/Sonic the Hedgehog kind of creature.
He's pretty cool looking in the sense that he's a pretty creative character.
This isn't the first time that Namco has made a game with Klonoa. On the
contrary, this is the third game, and possibly fourth if the Playstation 2
version comes out before it. It's titled Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, and
it looks DAMN good.
The story starts out simple enough. Klonoa accidentally wanders into a world
where it is impossible to sleep. After seeking information, the blue guy finds
out that this world's Emperor has forbidden anyone in the world to sleep. So far,
the story doesn't exactly say why the Emperor did just a horrible thing,
but hey, it doesn't need to. Anyways, Klonoa gets the help of many of this world's
people, and then heads off to defeat the Emperor's four beasts that reign terror in
different parts of the world. I'm guessing that there will be fun levels to get to
each of the four beasts (apparently over 40 stages), and then possibly a level before the final showdown with
the Emperor... that is, if he is the ending boss.
The classic WonderSwan (WonderSwan was a black & white handheld only in Japan) edition
of this game had some great and innovative ideas, but it just didn't click together right.
The small black and white sprites in collision with a very short game made it hard to see
in the small, short levels. But the puzzles were very creative, and if Namco follows in those
footsteps with a much wider level span (as I said before, Namco has announced over 40 stages)
and the added graphics and colour we see in these screenshots, this could be a very nice game.
Klonoa's controls are simple enough, but very fun. Klonoa can lift many different things like rocks, etc.
and carry them to where-ever they need to go. Klonoa also has a very nifty attack where he
where he slams baddies with an inflation move. Once used on an enemy, they will puff up like
a balloon and hang in the air for a few seconds. Afterwards, Klonoa can use their incapitated bodies
to use as platforms. Platforms are very important in this game, if you don't figure out the right way
to stack up the rocks to get to higher places, you won't get anywhere.
Namco has already announced that this game will be launched to the U.S some time in 2001, which means
it is most likely near finished. Namco is releasing other games as well. In fact, Namco Museum
was released very shortly after launch. Another game in the works with Namco is the Pacman Collection. It looks like the year may be bright for Namco.
