Klonoa getting US release, shorter title

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 9th 2009 at 2:52PM }

Whoa. Click to embiggen.

It's been over a decade since Klonoa: Door to Phantomile came out on the original PlayStation, received heaps of critical praise, and completely tanked at retail. The Wii remake will have its own chance at being unsuccessful this year when it's released by Namco Bandai under a new, shorter moniker: Klonoa.

We're hoping Wii owners in the US won't ignore this charming platformer. The Wii Remote seems perfectly suited for the game. A large part of the game involves grabbing and throwing enemies, and that should be easily handled with a simple shake of the Remote. Those that want more traditional controls will be able to use a GameCube or Classic controller.

The charming character designs and colorful environments certainly make the game one of the more eye-popping on Wii. Check out the latest screens in our brand-new gallery.

Gallery: Klonoa (Wii)

Tags: klonoa, namco-bandai, wii

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2009 2:57PM

Probably give it a shot if i can find space in the crowded coming year (i've been looking at it, and i should be booked solid until September, and even then i'll be occupied if that TMNT game winds up being any good)

Hopefully if this game performs well, we could get an original Klonoa for Wii. The world needs more beautifully rendered sidescrolling 3D platformers

Eggman @ Jan 9th 2009 2:59PM

You probably want to get glasses then. Or stop being such a dumbass.

Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2009 2:59PM

http://ps2media.gamespy.com/ps2/image/article/647/647565/top-25-psx-games-20050906110802843.jpg

yeah... Totally can't see the difference

....

Eggman @ Jan 9th 2009 3:01PM

This is the best news all day. Looks like 2009 will be an excellent year for the Wii already. Hopefully Fragile gets picked up for US release too. Throw that in with Arc Rise Fantasia, Muramasa, Mad World, Punch-Out and whatever else ends up showing up this year and I'll be very very happy.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 9th 2009 3:03PM

So what if it looks like a PS1 game(Hint: It fucking doesn't!)?

It's all about having fun.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 9th 2009 3:05PM

I'll get it.

But, Namco, you'd better advertise it. At least ONE TV commercial.

John Z @ Jan 9th 2009 8:17PM

They don't NEED to. How many people here are saying "first day" (myself included)?

Oh, also: F$#@ YEAH.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 9th 2009 8:35PM

Internet users = vocal minority

Zertoss @ Jan 9th 2009 3:08PM

Go see an optometrist Yatcho. Go see one now.

McWeen @ Jan 9th 2009 3:09PM

I hope it does well and the release the 2nd one on the Wii as well.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2009 3:16PM

Yes, we fucking get it already. WII GAMES LOOK LIKE A LAST GEN GAME!!! Luckily most people don't give a crap about that, and would rather care about gameplay, you know the thing that actually matters in a game.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2009 3:18PM

You do realize by coming into a Wii thread to bash a game that you won't play simply because it's on the Wii(since that's apparently all your good for lately), you've failed at ignoring the game since you cared enough to troll this specific title?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2009 3:19PM

Heard alot of good things about this series and since I missed it when it was on playstation, I'll definitely give this a shot.

CaptainProtonX @ Jan 9th 2009 3:24PM

Coming to the Playstation? Will it utilize the Pocket Station?

Do I need a memory card to save my progress?

Russ Carroll @ Jan 9th 2009 3:30PM

Very excited for it. It's been completely redone (which it would need as it was on the PS1, not the PS2). Colorful with solid game play, sounds perfect...unless you were hoping for YET ANOTHER SHOOTER FTW!?

ducttapeBigSexy @ Jan 9th 2009 3:40PM

How am I supposed to continue bashing Wii if it keeps getting true, hardcore games released on it? Way to ruin my trolling, Joystiq!

AceRadd @ Jan 9th 2009 3:43PM

Loved this game back in the day. I played through it again the other day for old times sake, and it's still fantastic.

Definitely picking up the Wii-make. Sort of wish they'd kept the original PS1 Klonoa design though (huge eyes and big dog-collar), but I'm just really obsessive about character designs in general anyway.

samfish @ Jan 9th 2009 4:04PM

And I can't tell if you have a face or if that's just a giant twat attached to your neck.

Megadanxzero @ Jan 9th 2009 4:06PM

I've not played any of the console Klonoa games (No idea how many there are even) but I loved one that was on the GBA a few years ago, so I'll probably get it if Namco Bandai actually bother to release it in Europe... I've always liked 2D platformers with 3D graphics, that was always pretty popular back in the PS1 days

Yourself @ Jan 9th 2009 4:09PM

Man, I really wish they hadn't "upgraded" him to look like a Sonic buddy reject. Klonoa kicks ass - as a matter of fact, a friend and I just had out my Gameboy Player so we could play Klonoa 2. Hopefully the game stays trues to its roots, as recently I've lost a lot of faith in the "future" of 2D gaming.

emagius @ Jan 9th 2009 4:36PM

He looks fine in the screenshots. Are you thinking back to the proposed redesign that was shot down?

aneurysmi @ Jan 9th 2009 4:12PM

"Those that want more traditional controls will be able to use a GameCube or Classic controller."

(Applause)

Anam @ Jan 9th 2009 4:30PM

How can you read that with no eyes?

Giroro @ Jan 9th 2009 4:13PM

So the Wii is getting PS1 ports now?

When will the madness end???!?

Freebie @ Jan 9th 2009 4:21PM

Learn the definition of port plz. (Hint: this game is not a port)

bm @ Jan 9th 2009 5:45PM

"Woo we're getting a Chrono Trigger remake on DS!"
"That RE4 remake on the Wii sure looks nice."

"Resident Evil 1 was also ported to the Gamecube."
on Klonoa: "So the Wii is getting PS1 ports now?"

Levi @ Jan 9th 2009 8:51PM

Who are you quoting bm? Anyone who thinks Resident Evil on the GC is a port is fucking retarded.

Wiinterfang @ Jan 9th 2009 10:43PM

BM was just explain the difference between a port and a remake in a sarcastic switcharoo.

of course if you already knew that and forget I type that. ( I'm have a terrible sarcasm radar)

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Jan 9th 2009 4:17PM

"I'm completely ignoring this insipid shit."

Funny, that's what I say to myself every time I see one of your posts.

Anam @ Jan 9th 2009 4:20PM

Maybe the problem is the name "Klonoa." When you have a weird, seemingly-abstract name like that, it causes problems because even if you manage to make people interested in it, you're making it hard for them to remember what it is called or how to spell it.

Lesson: Don't make it hard for people to Google your product.

jorojoserojas @ Jan 9th 2009 4:23PM

True that. "Okami" is a great example.

Anam @ Jan 9th 2009 4:41PM

That's probably true. Even though I always thought Okami had a nice ring to it, there were probably a lot of people who couldn't remember it.

Customer: "My son wants that game with a weird, Japanese name."
Employee: "Ma'am, there are many games with Japanese names."
Customer: "Oh... then I'll take that Spiderman game."

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, in honor of the Jan. 6 Massacre) @ Jan 9th 2009 4:42PM

Lesson: Okami was a Clover game and therefore it was destined to die a beautiful yet gruesome death. Klonoa on the other hand, is an established franchise that people will recognize.

Giroro @ Jan 9th 2009 5:24PM

No, it is not.

Zertoss @ Jan 9th 2009 5:27PM

When I bought Okami from Gamestop, my conversation went something like this:

Me: I'd like a copy of Okami, please.
Clerk: ... What?
Me: O-Ka-Mi.
Clerk: ... I'm sorry, can you repeat that?
Me: OKAMI.
Clerk: ... Uh...
Me: OH, COMMIE!
Clerk: Um...
Me: Wii game with a wolf on the cover.
Clerk: Oh! I'm sorry! I'll ring that right up!

bm @ Jan 9th 2009 5:34PM

And that, my friend, is how we keep ending up with bullshit like "Battles of War", "Age of War", "Age of Swords", "Battles of Swords", etc. Pretty soon people will struggle to differentiate between the different titles that are all combinations of two or more painfully generic words. "Wanda and the Colossus" sounded infinitely better than "Shadow of the Colossus".

Keep the original titles coming I'd say.