The Timeline of Klonoa
2023.10.25 Update: Now includes screenshots!
Wahoo! Today I’m going to be talking about the now-forgotten (later revived) video game series made by Bandai Namco, Klonoa!
Klonoa is a video game series developed and published by Namco (later Bandai Namco since 2005), as well as the name of the titular character of the series. The character’s traditional voice actress is Kumiko Watanabe (Eric Stitt in the remake of the first game). The character is an anthropomorphic cat-like creature.
Klonoa was designed by Yoshihiko Arai. Arai’s first design, “Shady”, had a shadow-like appearance. However, he felt that the lack of color did not seem tasteful, and dropped the design. His next design was created with characteristically animal eyes and long ears, as Arai felt that a person’s eyes and silhouette are the features noticed when they are first met. He added a large hat with a Pac-Man emblem on it and a collar to give the character a childlike and energetic quality. The design was kept and used for Klonoa.
When you get 100 “dream stones” (similar to the Rings in many Sonic the Hedgehog games and the wumpa fruits in the Crash Bandicoot games), you get an extra life. Like the games in the series, some hearts represent Klonoa’s hit points (similar to many Zelda games). If he runs out of hearts or falls off the stage, he will lose a life, while running out of lives will cause the game to be over.
Notes
- This article will include Japanese translations, spin-offs, and cameos
- All NA box art (except the Japan-only ones and the Beach Volley one) is in the article
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (renamed Klonoa for the Wii remake)
- Known in Japan as Kaze no Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (風のクロノア door to phantomile, “Klonoa of the Wind: Door to Phantomile”) in both original and remake
- Released on 12/11/1997 (JP), 03/10/1998 (NA), and 06/05/1998 (EU) for the original PlayStation, then on 12/04/2008 (JP), 05/05/2009 (NA), and 05/22/2009 (EU) for the Wii remake as Paon DP handles the game’s development
- NA Wii version box art shown in the post
This is the first game in the series, which is a side-scrolling platform game viewed from a 2.5D perspective (similar to the Crash Bandicoot games some levels in the game do this). The player moves the titular protagonist, along the path in a two-dimensional fashion, but the game is rendered in three dimensions.
In this game, he wore magenta pants, a light blue cap (which has BN’s mascot Pac-Man on it), a red dog collar, and reddish-brown sneakers. The player defeats enemies by utilizing his weapon, the “Wind Bullet” (he retains this in the spin-offs and the second game), a ring that fires a burst of wind.
In the remake of the first game, the game was given English voices (which can be changed in the Options menu). Kumiko Watanabe and Ryuzaburo Otomo would reprise their roles in subsequent games and crossovers, others were re-cast in the remake of the first game.
The unlockable outfits for the Wii remake are:
- His Wii remake outfit (default)
- Original Door to Phantomile outfit
- Klonoa 2 (Zipper Shirt) outfit
- Summer outfit
Kaze no Klonoa: Moonlight Museum
- 風のクロノア ムーンライトミュージアム, Kaze no Kuronoa Mūnraito Myūjiamu (lit. “Klonoa of the Wind: Moonlight Museum”)
- Released on 05/20/1999 for the WonderSwan
- Japan only, since the said the handheld game console will not be released outside of Japan
This is his first portable adventure, as it was the first game in the series to place him in a fully two-dimensional world, and established the system that his Game Boy Advance titles later used.
Moonlight Museum was first announced a month before its release in April 1999 as a side-story to the original Klonoa: Door to Phantomile for the PlayStation. The game was in development simultaneously with Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil for the PlayStation 2, with the production of both games headed by Hideo Yoshizawa. While the Klonoa 2 team focused more on “action”, Moonlight Museum’s crew was instructed to focus on the “puzzle” aspect, a trend that would continue for subsequent handheld games in the series.
Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil
- Known in Japan as Kaze no Klonoa 2: Sekai ga Nozonda Wasuremono (風のクロノア2 世界が望んだ忘れもの); “Klonoa of the Wind 2: The Lost Article That the World Wished For”
- Released on 03/22/2001 (JP), 07/25/2001 (NA), and 11/09/2001 (EU) for the PlayStation 2, though the copyright date still says 2000
The game is the direct sequel to the first game, as the player returns to the role of Klonoa like in the first game. His personality was changed as well, instead of having a wide range of fears as he had in the first game.
The biggest change to Klonoa’s design came in his third appearance in this game, where he went through a radical wardrobe change, gaining a blue shirt with a large zipper pin, dark blue shorts, and a blue cap. His face was altered a bit as well and gave more focus to the fur around his mouth. Klonoa later gains his trademark red high-top sneakers with white shoelaces and soles while the tongues of his sneakers always stick out as he retains his yellow gloves.
The game takes place in the fictional dream world of Lunatea, which is composed of four kingdoms. The Kingdom of Tranquility, La-Lakoosha, is a peaceful kingdom (which shares similarities to the Mushroom Kingdom in the Mario franchise) that lies the north of Lunatea and where the High Priestess resides. The Kingdom of Joy, Joilant, is a kingdom to the south of Lunatea and resembles an amusement park. The Kingdom of Discord, Volk, which lies to the west, resembles several metalworking factories and its people wage a neverending war. The Kingdom of Indecision, Mira-Mira, is secluded and snowbound all year long. Each kingdom contains a bell housing its element. The characters in the second game are (enemies excluded in the article):
- Lolo (pictured above, voiced by the late Tomoko Kawakami): Klonoa’s childhood friend, clad in a pink hat with a green feather (removed at the end of the second game), pink short-sleeved dress, gold bracelets, black leggings or tights, and brown and white shoes. A slightly clumsy but courageous priestess-in-training human-like lion who first showed up in Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil. Like Huepow (renamed “Hewpoe” in the first game's remake), she can transport him inside Klonoa’s ring to let him perform the Wind Bullet. Lolo’s talkative friend is Popka (Wasabi Mizuta), who resembles a dog with pointed features and a pair of green jewels for eyes. His first appearance is in Klonoa 2 and also appears in Klonoa Heroes and Dream Champ Tournament.
- Leorina and Tat (Yuriko Fuchizaki and Satomi Koorogi, respectively): First introduced as an antagonist in Klonoa 2, with Tat as her loyal sidekick. She is referred to as a sky pirate and a clever thief but later is revealed that once she was a priestess in training much like Lolo. They later become allies near the end of the second game.
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
- Known in Japan as Kaze no Klonoa: Dreaming Empire (風のクロノア 夢見る帝国, Kaze no Kuronoa Yumemiru Teikoku)
- Released on 07/19/2001 (JP), 09/11/2001 (NA), and 03/29/2002 (EU) for the Game Boy Advance (released on the Wii U’s Virtual Console on May 22 in Europe, May 29 in North America, and September 3, 2014 in Japan)
Falling somewhere between the first two games, Empire of Dreams is a two-dimensional adventure game with puzzle elements that takes place in the new realm in the Klonoa series, the Kingdom of Jillius. The game was (ironically) released in North America during the September 11 attacks, while others were either delayed or canceled during the attacks.
Klonoa Beach Volleyball
- Known in Japan as Klonoa Beach Volley: Saikyō Team Ketteisen! (クロノアビーチバレー 最強チーム決定戦!, Kuronoa Bīchi Barē: Saikyō Chīmu Ketteisen!, “Klonoa Beach Volleyball: Strongest Team Playoff!”)
- Released on 04/25/2002 (JP) and 09/20/2002 (EU) for the original PlayStation, which predates Haruichi Furudate’s Haikyu!! manga series
- Never released in North America
This is the only Klonoa title to feature a multiplayer mode (before the release of the Phantasy Reverie Series), allowing up to four players to compete in pairs against the other team using a multitap. The game was never released in North America as it was limited to Japan and Europe (with the characters speaking in English in the latter).
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
- Known in Japan as Kaze no Klonoa G2: Dream Champ Tournament (風のクロノアG2 ドリームチャンプ・トーナメント, Kaze no Kuronoa G2 Dorīmu Chanpu Tōnamento)
- Released on 08/06/2002 (JP) and 02/23/2005 (NA) for the Game Boy Advance (released in 2015 (NA) and 2016 (JP) for the Wii U)
As the third game in the Klonoa handheld series, the game retains many of the gameplay elements of the previous titles, while adding in a few of its own. The game got a North American release three years later since no Japanese release for the Wii U will be listed.
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament takes place sometime after the events of Empire of Dreams. The game begins shortly after Klonoa defeats the King of Despair, and receives an invitation letter that floats from the sky telling him that he has been selected to compete in the prestigious “Dream Champ Tournament” among other accomplished adventurers for the title of “Greatest Hero” as well as a cash reward.
Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal
- Kuronoa Hīrōzu: Densetsu no Sutā Medaru, lit. “Klonoa Heroes: Legendary Star Medal” (クロノアヒーローズ 伝説のスターメダル)
- Released on 12/13/2002 for the Game Boy Advance
- Japan only
Taking a unique twist on the standard gameplay of the Klonoa handheld games, Klonoa Heroes instead relies on the player moving Klonoa, Guntz, or Pango across the screen from a top-down perspective, having them defeat enemies and earn experience points in the form of Dream Shards (small, crystal-like objects) and gold, which is used for currency, along the way. Klonoa once again utilizes his familiar weapon, the Wind Ring, but this time the “wind bullet” he can fire from it can be either blue or red. Guntz’s handguns and Pango’s bombs work the same way. Characters can acquire different weapons throughout the game.
Cameo appearances and crossovers
- Klonoa and Guntz (allies), Janga and Joka (“Joker” in the Wii remake of the first game; enemies), and Lolo (minor character) all appear in the Japan-only PS2 game Namco X Capcom.
- Klonoa makes cameo appearances in Moto GP, Alpine Racer 3, and Taiko no Tatsujin (the latter of which is where Don-chan originated, who also appears in the 3DS game Yo-kai Watch 2 as a befriendable Yo-kai), as well as certain Tales series. Alpine Racer 3 is only available in Japan and Europe as there will not be a North American release for that game.
- Klonoa appears in Soulcalibur V (as a keychain) as a DLC for Character Creation
- Klonoa in Tekken 7 as part of downloadable panel art along with other Bandai Namco characters.
Update 2022.05.11
Klonoa fans, rejoice! Klonoa is returning as Kaze no Klonoa 1&2 Encore (風のクロノア 1&2アンコール), known as Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series in the West, which will be released in July 2022. Here are the changes:
- The game will have a two-player cooperative feature. A buddy can join you!
- Kumiko Watanabe will be reprising her role as Klonoa, despite losing her husband Koji Tsujitani back in late 2018 following a stroke.
- We’re still waiting for either Satsuki Yukino, Houko Kuwashima, or Saki Fujita to take over the role of Lolo since ovarian cancer killed Tomoko Kawakami, the character’s original voice actress, on June 9, 2011, though the said cancer killed Madeline Kahn back in late 1999 before Kawakami. That’s more than a decade ago!
- It is currently unknown whether Yuriko Fuchizaki (Sig from the Puyo Puyo series) and Satomi Koorogi (Togepy/Togepi from the Pokémon franchise and May from Guilty Gear) would reprise their roles as Leorina and Tat respectively.
- Both games will be remastered and the development will be handled by Monkey Craft, despite ShiftyLook, Bandai Namco’s subsidiary, being shut down on March 20, 2014.
- Klonoa will celebrate his 25th birthday!
Update 2022.07.14
- Since the release of the Phantasy Reverie Series, the game will sadly re-use the voices from the first two games with no plans for new voice actors.
Conclusion
That’s the end of the rather forgotten (later revived) series made by Bandai Namco. With the news of the Phantasy Reverie Series around the corner, it’s time for us to step back in Klonoa’s iconic red high-top sneakers.
