@@panuru9175 dont waste your money on it. None of the old characters return at all and its NOT funny. Not a SINGLE good joke in the entire game. To make it worse, it's COMPLETELY woke in EVERY sense of the term. I'm not even the kind of guy who complains about politics but it was just so, so fcking much. Saints row was like, the complete opposite of woke. It's just sad shitty game, and it's not even fun. The graphics are ass minus the aesthetic charm of the original games, and half the shit in the game barely works.
In the last level of the kingdom of sorrow, you hear 4 distorted music tracks from the 1st game. Despite his courage, Klonoa still struggles with his memories from Phantomile. :'[
I don't think it serves a purpose for most viewers. Like who's gonna go back and buy Klonoa 1 on PS1 and Klonoa 2 on PS2 and play those versions, as opposed to playing the collection that just came out on switch or something? But I respect showing them as you first experienced them.
@@Kriss_ch. that’s probably the type of rewriting of history that he doesn’t like. He didn’t care for the rewriting of history when it came to Ratchet’s 1 remake and he probably doesn’t want people to forget the original, not the remaster that wasn’t made by the exact same people.
There's something peculiar about how so many game franchises with the same premise and feel of being in a dream realm started in Japan around the same time in the 90's, all from completely different companies. The biggest three are Kirby, NiGHTS and Klonoa but I'm sure there are more, and they share SO much in common both in terms of gameplay mechanics and aesthetics.
It's interesting to see how each approaches it too. Klonoa is covered in the video, while NiGHTs never explains much of itself past its rules and relation to the real world, and Kirby becomes this massive universe of strange creatures and worlds that's always adding more to itself.
Not to mention all three sharing similarly designed antagonists, with Kirby's Nightmare, NiGHTS' Wizeman, and Klonoa's Ghadius all having the massive, dark-blue capes that hide their lack of a whole body (besides floating hands) and possessing different but still striking golden headpieces.
Klonoa 2 taught me as a teen that there is so much beauty in embracing sorrow. Klonoa accepts the King and the King accepts his fate. Although short lived there seems to be such a deep connection and friendship in that moment. I feel this reflects friendship in life so much. Being able to feel sorrow for having that love come and go so quickly shows how impactful and meaningful that moment together was
The variety and sound quality of this game's OST is INSANE, especially for its time. This was one year after the launch of the PS2. ONE YEAR. From monastic cliffs, to an amusement park, to an underground war factory, and more its levels are all so distinct and original that they truly captured my imagination as a child. Who can forget activating the ark only to have to go back later in the game and destroy it engine by engine? Or being chased by the still-kicking Biscarsh through a city set aflame? Klonoa 2 really uses its mechanics to its fullest, both in action and in puzzles. In my eyes, it's as close to perfect as a platformer can be. I'm glad you finally got to experience it and I hope more people get to now with the collection.
I know exactly what you mean about, discovering Klonoa and being really into it as a kid, but for some reason not tryin hard to get the sequal (despite the PS2 demo being perfect). Game never felt like it was trying to force a franchise, and that was a plus for delivering the message it wanted, along with respecting actual beginning & end story structure, even if it worked against it from a sales perspective.
Klonoa 2 remains one of my all time favourite games and I'm so happy that people are discovering it themselves thanks to the Phantasy Reverie Series. That ending still destroys me all these years later.
I had a sort of similar experience to you, with having played Klonoa 1 in the past, but not getting around to Klonoa 2 until recently. Likewise, I also found Klonoa 2's ending to be an incredibly good follow up to Klonoa 1's ending. Though I have one slight difference in how I read the plot in the game. I read it that Klonoa did not remember the event of Klonoa 1. At least not directly. For a vast majority of the game, the events of Klonoa 1 is never referenced or brought up. Klonoa also doesn't seem to remember his role as the Dream Traveller until he's told about it. Then you get to the Kingdom of Sadness. It's explained in the game that the Kingdom of Sadness never went away, but that people simply decided to try and forget about it. The music that plays in Ruins of Hyuponia ( A level name that sounds a lot like Huepow), includes music that's from Klonoa 1. Most notably, the final level music, the song that plays during the ending, and the track that plays when grandpa dies. I took it that Klonoa, just like the people of Lunatea, ended up forgetting about their sadness. But that by the end of of the game, when Klonoa rings the bell of sorrow, he's decided to accept it and remember it.
Not sure about that. I read that that monologe at the begining of both games comes from Klonoa himself and he says he remembers this dream clearly. It could still be he dies not remember it in this new dream but atleast in his own world he clearly does remember.
I feel like a lot of us had this happen at some point where we never played a sequel or game we thought we would as a kid. There’s been some games I’m glad I played as an adult with a more mature mindset. Great content as always!
I always thought the King of Sorrow was like a mirror of Klonoa from 1, he appears similar to Klonoa and unlike Klonoa in 2 he wears a collar just like Klonoa had in 1. I like to think 2 is him dealing with his own sorrow in a way.
Wasn't the king of sorrow based on an early design? Like I've seen some scrapped designs for klonoa and one looked very similar to the king of sorrow's.
yeah i played 2 when it first came out and it was amazing but i only manage to play the first one a year or so ago when the remaster came out and imo i find the first game not as good as the second but still a good game
I love this game because it has so many different ways to interpret it's themes and characters. Even as someone who recently made an hour long analysis of Klonoa 2's entire story, I still got a lot from this video and your fresh perspective on its themes of maturity. I was always looking forward to a Klonoa 2 video from you ever since watching your video on Door to Phantomile, and it was certainly worth the wait!
Klonoa 1 and 2 were games I wanted to play ever since I found out about the first game years ago. I could never play them since I never had the platforms they were on, but also didn't want to resort to emulating them since I wanted to play them on official hardware. After playing them recently on the Phantasy Reverie Series collection, I've fallen in love with the series and even almost cried when it told me "Good Morning" by the end (Which was very fitting since it was 10 AM). There's just something so special about these games, and I hope Namco realise this and will create a sequel that is just as impactful.
If the games sells well and is critically acclaimed they will remake older games and make Klonoa 3. Many people are stating these games are selling well but I’m waiting for an official statement from NB.
My interpretation of Klonoa is it's about growing up, I'm just in my mid 20's and my life has changed alot in the last couple of years, multiple family members have died, including my dog who I'd known for almost 15 years, and had basically been there half my life, Klonoa seems to very much represent this growing up and accepting that not everyone can come with you, you have to let go of people even if it hurts like hell, you can't just stay in a fantasy where everything is perfect, because if you do life will show you otherwise, how is a silly game about a cat rabbit boy inflating enemies so deep?
I'm revisiting it for the first time in nearly 20 years, thanks to the recent collection. I think Klonoa 2 aged amazingly well, feeling like a playable Studio Ghibli movie at times. It's not the deepest and most complex platformer out there, but the sheer scope of its narrative, attention to detail, and that lovely 2.5D visual trickery make it a joy to play.
If only it had a bigger budget though. Maybe it's because I animate for a living. But I was hoping the animations would be way better at least. But they are just as stiff looking as it was in the 2nd game. Though I should clarify that the animation in both remakes are passible if a stiff looking
If you actually listen to the OST for the city stage in the kingdom of sorrow you can hear little bits of music from the first klonoa. Like the theme that played when you talked to grandpa and some of the music from the title screen maybe even a bit from the moon kingdom. They aren't much but I never understood why they did that? Like klonoas memories of phantomile peaking out because the kingdom of sorrow triggers sadness? Hell the name of the song is Hyuopo-nia.
The King of Sorrow reminds me not just of Klonoa, but also of Huepow like someone mixed the colors of them both. It almost feels like the King of Sorrow was born from the Sorrow Klonoa and Huepow feld in the moment of the ending from Klonoa 1.
Klonoa 2 was my childhood game and I always loved how emotional it got towards the end. Still gets me every time. Thank you for spreading the message! Gotta play the remake soon.
@@Nanairota the original ones are enought Spoiler... The first one on the phantasy reverie series is the only i can say it kinda looks like a remake...
As someone who played Klonoa 2 but NOT Klonoa 1 as a kid, I constantly tell my friends it's one of *the* most underrated games to ever exist. It sold less than 1/3 of its target on launch, and yet despite that it's rated on Metacritic as one of the top 100 2D platformers of all time. The 7th generation is full of these types of titles- NiGHTS Journey of Dreams, Klonoa 2, Golden Sun Dark Dawn, Ape Escape 3... all these amazing games that are sequels to famous PSX properties people won't give the time of day because they're not PSX (or GBA, in Dark Dawn's case). It makes me sad that there's just a whole slew of IPs that died in the 7th generation because they... I don't know, just released at the "wrong time" or something?
Highlight of game is Popka doing an inspiring speech to get Lolo to be confident in her abilities by calling Klonoa an idiot. Dream doggo thing is savage.
Having also experienced a similar situation to you and waited until the remasters to play it, I was initially disappointed coming into Klonoa 2 at how different the setting is and how little it ties to the original game, but getting to the Kingdom of Sorrow and hearing songs from Klonoa 1 kick in really set me on the path to thinking the entire world of Lunatea is symbolic of Klonoa's inability to let go of his time in Phantomile, and the King of Sorrow being his sadness made manifest. That revelation completely changed my perspective on the story and really made Klonoa 2 so much more meaningful to me.
11:42 The Klonoa 1 ending is just beautiful and i really love it, it's very special for me, it was the first time a story like this made me actually cry, and i know i sounds very dumb but it also saved me from 'unaliving' myself at some point of my life, it holds a really special place in my heart because it's so sad and calming and pacifying at the same time, i really really love it I really love klonoa
I’m glad more people are experiencing how great Klonoa 2 is. It was one of my first PS2 games (still own it) and its ending resonated with me as a kid, never forgetting it.
Wow. This got poetic and wistful, Charlie. As expected of Klonoa. Honestly, I consider Klonoa 2 a perfect sequel, and I've always appreciated the ways it builds up and contrasts with the first game like you've pointed out, since the first stage, which is kind of ominous and foreboding, with the unbriddled joy of the WIndmill Village at the beginning of 1. It really feels like a continuation of Klonoa's journey, there's 0 retreading on stuff from the first game, and the mechanics also evolve quite nicely, really made the most of the PS2, almost at launch! The look has aged so well too. Just, very nice. Made me want to revisit the game. Cheers.
I remember as a kid, I had one of those old Jampack Summer 2001 "Upcoming new game Demo-collections", and the Demo for Klamoa 2 was on it. (Quick explanation for young whippersnappers, they would litterally package like 30 playable demos from various titles franchises and developers from that same year (plus package them alongside video demos and other digitalized magazine stuff) and literally package it onto a disc then sell it like it were it's own game. (Obviously this was before live service before you could just install individual game demos from your consoles game store.) The first mission of this game, alongside demos for Soul Reaver 2, ICO, Zone of the Enders and others were all released together. All of them very dreamlike and surreal and creepy. I'll never forget how playing these games together as a 4 year old made me feel. After watching this video, I promised myself I would finally buy all of the full games for each and beat them all as a tribute to the emotions they made me feel, as well as to gain some closure to the OVERWHELMING sense of mystery I felt when I'd be getting REALLY into these games and suddenly they would STOP, and i wasnt able to play any further because they were just demos, which made it even MORE dreamlike. Hearing that all along Klamoa is a sort of commentary on the nature of dreams makes me want to end on both Klamoa games before I get back to living my life.
I played Klonoa 2 when I was like 7, it was one of my first games, and I think it profoundly affected me. The King Of Sorrow is one of those characters I'll always really like.
@June @VFXNinja Same here, you guys. Interesting implications aside, I just really like his design. I can't think of another character that's so simple, perfectly balancing being cute, cool and creepy, and sometimes leaning more into one of those qualities depending on what he's doing.
Klonoa 2 art style looks so much better on og ps2 than the remaster. Namco dropped the ball on the remaster, especially on switch which has performance issues.
I have a soft spot for the ogs as well, but the remasters are a sign we could get a third game in the future, maybe even the original creator could even come back to namco
It's barely any different. Just some optional bloom, bighter colors, and no outline on the characters. I can't speak for the switch port since I haven't played it, but in terms of style alone I can't see your complaint as anything other than exaggerated. (That said I really miss the ps1 version of klonoa 1 and felt like they dropped the ball by not using the original prerendered cutscenes. The final cutscene of door to phantomile in the rereleases looks unfinished)
Klonoa is my fav series to this day and I'm sad, that BandaiNamco gave up on this series. There was even a movie in production, but it was cancelled few years ago. Yet I'm still happy for remasters - maybe they're not perfect (played both of it, DtP is still better on PSX, but Lunatea's Veil is great), but it's nice introduction to the new people. Who knows, maybe we will have more Klonoa in the future?
I wish they could have done more to fix the jank with the controls/movement from the Wiimake, that's pretty much the only thing that angers me with PRS. The original PS1 version pardon the pun plays and controls like a dream, several parts that were easy on PS1 are far more annoying on Wii/PRS due to that lack of polish
Klonoa 1 was a really cool game and probably your best recommendation. After I watched that original video I tried out Door to Phantomile and liked it a lot. It's hard to tell when someone's recommending stuff from their childhood if the experience they had would still be fun for someone much older who didn't grow up with it, but in this case, it really worked for me. Klonoa's such a gem that I don't quite get why it doesn't have a bigger profile. I'm planning on picking up that new collection and trying Klonoa 2 for myself this summer. I'll hold off on the second part of the video until then, but I'm excited to have a good time with Klonoa again, and I'm glad you did one of these shorter videos on it.
I can't watch this video yet as I've not played Klonoa 2, but I picked up the original Klonoa via the PS3 shop on your other video's recommendation. Fantastic little game. Can't help but want a bit more from it in a way that helps the dreamy feel of wanting to sleep a little long but having to wake up Klonoa embodies so well.
Man I love this game so much! By far my favorite in the series and just of video games all together. Glad you enjoyed the experience GamingBrit. Klonoa continues to hold a special place for me.
I only played these 2 games recently as a 35+ year old adult, but even then they managed to grab me like almost no other games have in my adult life (the only exception probably being the 3 Ueda games that I only played recently too). There’s just something about the gameplay, the worlds, the soundtracks, the melancholic atmosphere of these games that has really stuck with me. I always wonder what it would have been like for me to experience the first game as a child in the 90s. I really feel like I missed out. I’ve bought the rerelease for the PS4 so I have an excuse to play them again.
Amazing video which enlight the themes of those 2 games, some may say it would be difficult to do a Klonoa 3 but I feel it could continue the themes by using the growing up allegory you used. For example, 3 could be about Klonoa finally arriving in his homeworld with people like him, however his world is harsh, horryfing, and just a terrible place. This will break Klonoa who see the very thing he was looking for is far from being what he hoped for, during a short time he would give up on his quest before being reminded what he did in the previous games : helping people in their worlds, this gives him a new motivation to continue and face off the vilain also broken by this world. The game will end on Klonoa who has found a new goal in life, saying goodbye to his friends, and go to new worlds to do what he always does. This I think would continue the themes of the series while not tainting it, and would build a great parrallel with growing up as when you enter in the adult world it’s difficult and you find yourself confused and broken, but at some point you find a new goal still in ligne with what you love to do (which yes I’m speaking out of personal experience). Now, it’s possible it could be different, but one thing is for sure, now that Klonoa is back (and for real), the story can continue.
Thank you for keeping the aspect ratio of your videos in 4:3. Makes em great for playing on a crt. Most youtubers who cover retro stuff dont do this and its really annoying haha.
Thing was, in D.T.P Klonoa was a child. A child that was innocent. Hence his reactions and behavior. Where as in Lunatea's Vale he's more of a preteen, where he finally is able to let go and accept.
I remember getting Klonoa 2 and Dynasty Warriors 3 for Christmas as a 7 year old in 2001 when I lived in NYC. The music from Klonoa provided a good escape from reality. Still my absolute favorite soundtrack.
Finished the Klonoa collection yesterday so I could finally watch this and yeah, yhe parralels between the endings of both games is so well done! It's amazing how much Klonoa has grown in the span of just one game.
I never got the chance to play Klonoa until it was remastered on the Wii...that ending was a gut punch for someone used to the happy endings of Sonic, Mario, Crash etc
I remember this game very vividly in 2001, I remember renting it from an blockbuster, and loving it so much. I remember my mother trying her hardest to find a copy for me but no one seemed to carry it. I just downloaded it for switch this weekend and the second I heard the music of the first level of Klonoa 2, I cried because it brought me back to being a kid and especially the time I spent with my mother. I miss my mother so much, playing this game took me back to simpler times. Great video.
Klonoa 1 was the saddest game I ever played and I first played it in japanese and it was so heart wrenching and I had no idea what was being said.... Man it was a powerful ending..... The emotion in the voices was so good.
Beautiful analysis. Klonoa 2 is one of my favorite games of all time (I played this one first, weirdly enough), and I'm so glad that you got to experience it for yourself.
A shame they didn't continue the series this was and still is one of my favourites games ever and it has a superb OST and and original aesthetic. Simply put, it's a masterpiece!
I played both games on emulators on my samsung tablet. While the first one was seamless with no bugs or stops, lunatea's veil was mostly incredibly choppy and I had to change graphics settings every time I entered a cutscene. It didn't take away the effect the story had on me, though. Even if the game just kinda crashed on the final cutscene when Klonoa says thanks and walks away, meaning i didn't get reflect on myself when he walks away and i didnt get to properly experience the screen that shows my name. I remember the first game's ending having me in tears and while the second game also did that, my crying wasn't nearly as bad as the first game either because the ending of Lunatea's veil was less bitter and more heartfelt or if the crash and buggy visuals took away the experience for me. Either way, these games forever changed me, and are some of the only games I've ever shed tears with.
Always kind of wondered what other themes Klonoa could've tackled, after this (outside of the GBA title; Empire of Dreams). Like the unhealthy preconceptions of growing up, the almost drug-like toxicity that can come from nostalgia (which I guess could almost be like two warring nations at odds with each other), or even having the events started by someone who pretty much is a transient like Klonoa, but essentially jumps between dimmensions and realities for selfish and nihilistic reasons, potentially even being pursiuded by some borderline Lovecraftian force, trying to bring order back by essentially capturing the supposed criminal causing all of the disarray.
I was anticipating this ever since I learnt that you played Klonoa 2 that one time you showed bits of patreon content. I had a similar experience as you, growing up with the first game and playing the second long after, in my late teens. The problem with that is that it doesn't leave me much to add that you haven't already said, ha ha! I like that you picked up on the subtext of the ending and the king of sorrow. I always thought they were really clever and cool, respectively, but I haven't heard anyone talk about them in much detail. Speaking of detail, I wanna add some on the final platforming level: I noticed it reuses elements from the moon kingdom, like the platforms that disappear after you land on them, the puzzle where you have to hit 3 switches in quick succession, the boomerang-throwing enemies, and the sections where giant, armoured enemies chase you across small platforms. Unlike the reuse of levels when you revisit them earlier in the game, it seems very intentional. Or at least, I always thought there was something to it. The track 'Hyuponia - Ruin of Sadness' is a dour medley of music from both games, which I think goes along really well with the level design once you notice both. I always wished Klonoa 2 was more well known, so I gotta thank you for making this video, TGB. I was gonna call you Charlie at first, but second-guessed myself. Would it have been fine? Better yet, why am I worrying? Regardless - cheers!
I just finished Klonoa 2 today. Klonoa 1 and 2 are among some of the best games on their respective consoles, probably even the top 10 imo. I had Klonoa 2 on PS2 for a while, but never got around to playing it until the remakes came out.
I absolutely loved the Ps demo disc with this game…. I could never find it in the store but thankfully found Klonoa 1 on the PS3 store. Thanks for the great content bruv
I originally bought Klonoa 2 from Blockbuster Video and retroactively went back to play the first title after an online friend bought me a physical copy through Yahoo Auctions. I have every game in the franchise, as it was released post-Klonoa 2, except Beach Volleyball and Heroes. The GBA entries aren't quite the same as thr PS1 and PS2 entries, but still something. A shame we never got a new Klonoa, likely because Namco knows they could never do the franchise proper justice.
Though personally I never grew up with Klonoa, I really feel you on getting around to playing games in a series that you just never gotten around to but when you did at a more mature age, you really are glad you got to experience at the time you did. It's a really good and special feeling that's worth experiencing. Personally in my case, though I didn't grew up with either game, I personally wish I did but at the same time I'm glad I did get around to them as an adult as it still hit me regardless of that and I love both games. Given you finally got around to talking about Klonoa 2, I really think you should owe yourself and I would love to see you give your thoughts on Klonoa Heroes for the GBA, which is my favorite of the series and makes for a perfect send off for klonoa, more so than the platformer games. Though it is not a direct sequel to the games, it does connect to all of the games(spin offs included) and ties into them into a thematic sense sort of feeling like the end point of what klonoa is sort of building up to. It's got the best story and characters of the series, but it's also a really fun action rpg with a great soundtrack with the same soul and care that the main platformer games have. Fantastic work as always.
It really makes me wanna see what they'd do for a 3rd game, especially when the first two got progressively more mature. Even when i first underminded the story of Klonoa 1 back then, i still really felt for him at the end, and apparently felt the same for the King of Sorrow (who's unnerving to this day)
I never played the first game, but as a young kid I played the first few levels of the second game so, so many times. It’s one of those memories that I never recall until reminded and it hits me like a brick with the nostalgia
Man, I've never even heard of this game but that moment between the two in the first game where the small one is trying to hold on to Clonoa hit me so hard. Now to find out where I can play these games.
The games have recently been remastered and released on all major platforms, but if you'd like to play the original versions (Klonoa 1 in the remaster is based on the Wii remake, so it has the gameplay of 2 rather than the original, 2 is the exact same game with overhauled graphics) I think you can still get it on the PS3/PSP store.
I'm surprised you didn't say so much about the camera work, from the early stages alone it's doing incredible stuff to deliver game play sequences and direct the player. Ah well, can't dwell on the past right?
I made the mistake of choosing to watch this while prepping potatoes for dinner, and had to stop because I kept tearing up lol Excellent insight and wonderful video as always :>
As someone who knew literally nothing about this series, it feels a little illegal for the story to hit like that. I came here for goofy silly time not overwhelming sadness.
The first generation ps2 came with a demo disc, and Klonoa 2 was one of the demos. Very atmospheric, instantly vibed it. Then I just sort of forgot it, all the way until now. I feel like a kid again
that meta narrative interpretation of klonoa leaving the dream world as you "moving on to another game" is so cool
Sup jocat
That it is, I've always told myself; "Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened."
Klonoa: ok bitches lets move into saints row 2022 XD
@@panuru9175 dont waste your money on it. None of the old characters return at all and its NOT funny. Not a SINGLE good joke in the entire game. To make it worse, it's COMPLETELY woke in EVERY sense of the term. I'm not even the kind of guy who complains about politics but it was just so, so fcking much. Saints row was like, the complete opposite of woke. It's just sad shitty game, and it's not even fun. The graphics are ass minus the aesthetic charm of the original games, and half the shit in the game barely works.
You said it was woke, then said it’s the opposite💀 Woke has completely lost it’s meaning due to political bs
In the last level of the kingdom of sorrow, you hear 4 distorted music tracks from the 1st game.
Despite his courage, Klonoa still struggles with his memories from Phantomile. :'[
2 is pretty much symbolism/sequel contrast in a similar vein to MGS2
@@zenksren8206 oooh, nice comparison
@@zenksren8206 I wonder if you could interpret Majora’s Mask in a similar fashion…
Erm, actually it would be the first level of the Kingdom of Sorrow because the last level is the snowboard stage 🤓
I never noticed that until you pointed that out!
I always admire your dedication to presenting older games on original hardware or at least in a video output that recreates it as much as possible
I don't think it serves a purpose for most viewers. Like who's gonna go back and buy Klonoa 1 on PS1 and Klonoa 2 on PS2 and play those versions, as opposed to playing the collection that just came out on switch or something? But I respect showing them as you first experienced them.
@@Kriss_ch. the new collection is an unpolished overpriced cashgrab, I think most people will care.
@@Kriss_ch. me I’m that person who will try to play on original hardware because I give a shit
@@Kriss_ch. It makes more sense for a video that's a personal retrospective of the games to display them as TGB played them.
@@Kriss_ch. that’s probably the type of rewriting of history that he doesn’t like. He didn’t care for the rewriting of history when it came to Ratchet’s 1 remake and he probably doesn’t want people to forget the original, not the remaster that wasn’t made by the exact same people.
There's something peculiar about how so many game franchises with the same premise and feel of being in a dream realm started in Japan around the same time in the 90's, all from completely different companies. The biggest three are Kirby, NiGHTS and Klonoa but I'm sure there are more, and they share SO much in common both in terms of gameplay mechanics and aesthetics.
Agreed
It's interesting to see how each approaches it too. Klonoa is covered in the video, while NiGHTs never explains much of itself past its rules and relation to the real world, and Kirby becomes this massive universe of strange creatures and worlds that's always adding more to itself.
Clockwork Knight, Pandemonium
Not to mention all three sharing similarly designed antagonists, with Kirby's Nightmare, NiGHTS' Wizeman, and Klonoa's Ghadius all having the massive, dark-blue capes that hide their lack of a whole body (besides floating hands) and possessing different but still striking golden headpieces.
Link's Awakening
Klonoa 2 taught me as a teen that there is so much beauty in embracing sorrow. Klonoa accepts the King and the King accepts his fate. Although short lived there seems to be such a deep connection and friendship in that moment. I feel this reflects friendship in life so much. Being able to feel sorrow for having that love come and go so quickly shows how impactful and meaningful that moment together was
"... The music is perfect."
Yep, sounds like Klonoa 2.
The variety and sound quality of this game's OST is INSANE, especially for its time. This was one year after the launch of the PS2. ONE YEAR. From monastic cliffs, to an amusement park, to an underground war factory, and more its levels are all so distinct and original that they truly captured my imagination as a child. Who can forget activating the ark only to have to go back later in the game and destroy it engine by engine? Or being chased by the still-kicking Biscarsh through a city set aflame? Klonoa 2 really uses its mechanics to its fullest, both in action and in puzzles. In my eyes, it's as close to perfect as a platformer can be. I'm glad you finally got to experience it and I hope more people get to now with the collection.
Let's not brush over that the Kingdom of Sorrow has a name: Hyuponia. I... _highly_ doubt that's a coincidence.
I know exactly what you mean about, discovering Klonoa and being really into it as a kid, but for some reason not tryin hard to get the sequal (despite the PS2 demo being perfect).
Game never felt like it was trying to force a franchise, and that was a plus for delivering the message it wanted, along with respecting actual beginning & end story structure, even if it worked against it from a sales perspective.
Klonoa 2 remains one of my all time favourite games and I'm so happy that people are discovering it themselves thanks to the Phantasy Reverie Series. That ending still destroys me all these years later.
I had a sort of similar experience to you, with having played Klonoa 1 in the past, but not getting around to Klonoa 2 until recently. Likewise, I also found Klonoa 2's ending to be an incredibly good follow up to Klonoa 1's ending. Though I have one slight difference in how I read the plot in the game. I read it that Klonoa did not remember the event of Klonoa 1. At least not directly.
For a vast majority of the game, the events of Klonoa 1 is never referenced or brought up. Klonoa also doesn't seem to remember his role as the Dream Traveller until he's told about it. Then you get to the Kingdom of Sadness. It's explained in the game that the Kingdom of Sadness never went away, but that people simply decided to try and forget about it. The music that plays in Ruins of Hyuponia ( A level name that sounds a lot like Huepow), includes music that's from Klonoa 1. Most notably, the final level music, the song that plays during the ending, and the track that plays when grandpa dies.
I took it that Klonoa, just like the people of Lunatea, ended up forgetting about their sadness. But that by the end of of the game, when Klonoa rings the bell of sorrow, he's decided to accept it and remember it.
Not sure about that. I read that that monologe at the begining of both games comes from Klonoa himself and he says he remembers this dream clearly. It could still be he dies not remember it in this new dream but atleast in his own world he clearly does remember.
I feel like a lot of us had this happen at some point where we never played a sequel or game we thought we would as a kid. There’s been some games I’m glad I played as an adult with a more mature mindset. Great content as always!
I always thought the King of Sorrow was like a mirror of Klonoa from 1, he appears similar to Klonoa and unlike Klonoa in 2 he wears a collar just like Klonoa had in 1. I like to think 2 is him dealing with his own sorrow in a way.
And dealing with his resentment towards Phantomile.
Wasn't the king of sorrow based on an early design?
Like I've seen some scrapped designs for klonoa and one looked very similar to the king of sorrow's.
@@Twinklethefox9022 AFAIK he's mostly based on the PS1 design, but idk for sure
It’s the opposite for me. I’ve played the sequel, but never got around to playing the first game until the recent rerelease.
Same, buddy. Looking forward to finally playing it.
Same. Also is klonoa supposed to be hard? I'm pretty good at 2 but the first one? I'm terrible at
yeah i played 2 when it first came out and it was amazing but i only manage to play the first one a year or so ago when the remaster came out and imo i find the first game not as good as the second but still a good game
I love this game because it has so many different ways to interpret it's themes and characters. Even as someone who recently made an hour long analysis of Klonoa 2's entire story, I still got a lot from this video and your fresh perspective on its themes of maturity. I was always looking forward to a Klonoa 2 video from you ever since watching your video on Door to Phantomile, and it was certainly worth the wait!
Now, Klonoa *does* know hurt.
Klonoa 1 and 2 were games I wanted to play ever since I found out about the first game years ago. I could never play them since I never had the platforms they were on, but also didn't want to resort to emulating them since I wanted to play them on official hardware. After playing them recently on the Phantasy Reverie Series collection, I've fallen in love with the series and even almost cried when it told me "Good Morning" by the end (Which was very fitting since it was 10 AM). There's just something so special about these games, and I hope Namco realise this and will create a sequel that is just as impactful.
If the games sells well and is critically acclaimed they will remake older games and make Klonoa 3. Many people are stating these games are selling well but I’m waiting for an official statement from NB.
Of course its the klonoa video that makes me tear up.
Great stuff King.
Why is Klonoa such a good series? And why is it so underrated!?!?
My interpretation of Klonoa is it's about growing up, I'm just in my mid 20's and my life has changed alot in the last couple of years, multiple family members have died, including my dog who I'd known for almost 15 years, and had basically been there half my life, Klonoa seems to very much represent this growing up and accepting that not everyone can come with you, you have to let go of people even if it hurts like hell, you can't just stay in a fantasy where everything is perfect, because if you do life will show you otherwise, how is a silly game about a cat rabbit boy inflating enemies so deep?
Dam
I'm revisiting it for the first time in nearly 20 years, thanks to the recent collection. I think Klonoa 2 aged amazingly well, feeling like a playable Studio Ghibli movie at times. It's not the deepest and most complex platformer out there, but the sheer scope of its narrative, attention to detail, and that lovely 2.5D visual trickery make it a joy to play.
What IS the most complex platformer out there?
@@DonaldvsSephy in terms of what specifically? Platforming difficulty and mechanics, overall difficulty, combat, etc?
The collection is worse.
If only it had a bigger budget though. Maybe it's because I animate for a living. But I was hoping the animations would be way better at least. But they are just as stiff looking as it was in the 2nd game.
Though I should clarify that the animation in both remakes are passible if a stiff looking
@@but_iWantedTo_speakGerman you are in the replies to like every message talking about the remaster what is your problem lol
If you actually listen to the OST for the city stage in the kingdom of sorrow you can hear little bits of music from the first klonoa. Like the theme that played when you talked to grandpa and some of the music from the title screen maybe even a bit from the moon kingdom. They aren't much but I never understood why they did that? Like klonoas memories of phantomile peaking out because the kingdom of sorrow triggers sadness? Hell the name of the song is Hyuopo-nia.
The King of Sorrow reminds me not just of Klonoa, but also of Huepow like someone mixed the colors of them both. It almost feels like the King of Sorrow was born from the Sorrow Klonoa and Huepow feld in the moment of the ending from Klonoa 1.
Klonoa 2 was my childhood game and I always loved how emotional it got towards the end. Still gets me every time. Thank you for spreading the message! Gotta play the remake soon.
The remake is worse.
@@but_iWantedTo_speakGerman It's been 20 years I don't care.
@@Nanairota the original ones are enought
Spoiler...
The first one on the phantasy reverie series is the only i can say it kinda looks like a remake...
As someone who played Klonoa 2 but NOT Klonoa 1 as a kid, I constantly tell my friends it's one of *the* most underrated games to ever exist. It sold less than 1/3 of its target on launch, and yet despite that it's rated on Metacritic as one of the top 100 2D platformers of all time. The 7th generation is full of these types of titles- NiGHTS Journey of Dreams, Klonoa 2, Golden Sun Dark Dawn, Ape Escape 3... all these amazing games that are sequels to famous PSX properties people won't give the time of day because they're not PSX (or GBA, in Dark Dawn's case). It makes me sad that there's just a whole slew of IPs that died in the 7th generation because they... I don't know, just released at the "wrong time" or something?
They died because they weren't flagships. Super Mario 64 really did wipe off every sign of platform competition for Nintendo. It's almost malevolent.
I didn't need to get the FEELS this late on a Sunday. Thanks for the video man. Gotta play that Klonoa remaster
Highlight of game is Popka doing an inspiring speech to get Lolo to be confident in her abilities by calling Klonoa an idiot.
Dream doggo thing is savage.
Having also experienced a similar situation to you and waited until the remasters to play it, I was initially disappointed coming into Klonoa 2 at how different the setting is and how little it ties to the original game, but getting to the Kingdom of Sorrow and hearing songs from Klonoa 1 kick in really set me on the path to thinking the entire world of Lunatea is symbolic of Klonoa's inability to let go of his time in Phantomile, and the King of Sorrow being his sadness made manifest.
That revelation completely changed my perspective on the story and really made Klonoa 2 so much more meaningful to me.
11:42 The Klonoa 1 ending is just beautiful and i really love it, it's very special for me, it was the first time a story like this made me actually cry, and i know i sounds very dumb but it also saved me from 'unaliving' myself at some point of my life, it holds a really special place in my heart because it's so sad and calming and pacifying at the same time, i really really love it
I really love klonoa
I love you so much, i thought no one else played this game. Warms my heart knowing theres a whole community that does.
Man I ain't even played the Klonoa games and I got all mushy at the end.
I’m glad more people are experiencing how great Klonoa 2 is. It was one of my first PS2 games (still own it) and its ending resonated with me as a kid, never forgetting it.
Wow. This got poetic and wistful, Charlie. As expected of Klonoa. Honestly, I consider Klonoa 2 a perfect sequel, and I've always appreciated the ways it builds up and contrasts with the first game like you've pointed out, since the first stage, which is kind of ominous and foreboding, with the unbriddled joy of the WIndmill Village at the beginning of 1. It really feels like a continuation of Klonoa's journey, there's 0 retreading on stuff from the first game, and the mechanics also evolve quite nicely, really made the most of the PS2, almost at launch! The look has aged so well too. Just, very nice. Made me want to revisit the game. Cheers.
I remember as a kid, I had one of those old Jampack Summer 2001 "Upcoming new game Demo-collections", and the Demo for Klamoa 2 was on it. (Quick explanation for young whippersnappers, they would litterally package like 30 playable demos from various titles franchises and developers from that same year (plus package them alongside video demos and other digitalized magazine stuff) and literally package it onto a disc then sell it like it were it's own game. (Obviously this was before live service before you could just install individual game demos from your consoles game store.)
The first mission of this game, alongside demos for Soul Reaver 2, ICO, Zone of the Enders and others were all released together. All of them very dreamlike and surreal and creepy. I'll never forget how playing these games together as a 4 year old made me feel. After watching this video, I promised myself I would finally buy all of the full games for each and beat them all as a tribute to the emotions they made me feel, as well as to gain some closure to the OVERWHELMING sense of mystery I felt when I'd be getting REALLY into these games and suddenly they would STOP, and i wasnt able to play any further because they were just demos, which made it even MORE dreamlike. Hearing that all along Klamoa is a sort of commentary on the nature of dreams makes me want to end on both Klamoa games before I get back to living my life.
I played Klonoa 2 when I was like 7, it was one of my first games, and I think it profoundly affected me. The King Of Sorrow is one of those characters I'll always really like.
@June @VFXNinja Same here, you guys. Interesting implications aside, I just really like his design. I can't think of another character that's so simple, perfectly balancing being cute, cool and creepy, and sometimes leaning more into one of those qualities depending on what he's doing.
Honestly one of my favorite of your video essays. Love the parallels between Klonoa's journey and your own experience of growing up
Klonoa 2 art style looks so much better on og ps2 than the remaster. Namco dropped the ball on the remaster, especially on switch which has performance issues.
I have a soft spot for the ogs as well, but the remasters are a sign we could get a third game in the future, maybe even the original creator could even come back to namco
It's barely any different. Just some optional bloom, bighter colors, and no outline on the characters. I can't speak for the switch port since I haven't played it, but in terms of style alone I can't see your complaint as anything other than exaggerated. (That said I really miss the ps1 version of klonoa 1 and felt like they dropped the ball by not using the original prerendered cutscenes. The final cutscene of door to phantomile in the rereleases looks unfinished)
Lovely analysis.
These games, their message and soundtrack will always have a place in our hearts ❤
You almost got me all teary-eyed, you bastard!
Klonoa is my fav series to this day and I'm sad, that BandaiNamco gave up on this series. There was even a movie in production, but it was cancelled few years ago. Yet I'm still happy for remasters - maybe they're not perfect (played both of it, DtP is still better on PSX, but Lunatea's Veil is great), but it's nice introduction to the new people. Who knows, maybe we will have more Klonoa in the future?
I wish they could have done more to fix the jank with the controls/movement from the Wiimake, that's pretty much the only thing that angers me with PRS. The original PS1 version pardon the pun plays and controls like a dream, several parts that were easy on PS1 are far more annoying on Wii/PRS due to that lack of polish
Klonoa 1 was a really cool game and probably your best recommendation. After I watched that original video I tried out Door to Phantomile and liked it a lot. It's hard to tell when someone's recommending stuff from their childhood if the experience they had would still be fun for someone much older who didn't grow up with it, but in this case, it really worked for me. Klonoa's such a gem that I don't quite get why it doesn't have a bigger profile.
I'm planning on picking up that new collection and trying Klonoa 2 for myself this summer. I'll hold off on the second part of the video until then, but I'm excited to have a good time with Klonoa again, and I'm glad you did one of these shorter videos on it.
Bro I didn't even play the game and that scene with Huepow grabbing the ring fucked me up. Incredible.
I can't watch this video yet as I've not played Klonoa 2, but I picked up the original Klonoa via the PS3 shop on your other video's recommendation. Fantastic little game. Can't help but want a bit more from it in a way that helps the dreamy feel of wanting to sleep a little long but having to wake up Klonoa embodies so well.
Man I love this game so much! By far my favorite in the series and just of video games all together. Glad you enjoyed the experience GamingBrit. Klonoa continues to hold a special place for me.
I only played these 2 games recently as a 35+ year old adult, but even then they managed to grab me like almost no other games have in my adult life (the only exception probably being the 3 Ueda games that I only played recently too).
There’s just something about the gameplay, the worlds, the soundtracks, the melancholic atmosphere of these games that has really stuck with me. I always wonder what it would have been like for me to experience the first game as a child in the 90s. I really feel like I missed out.
I’ve bought the rerelease for the PS4 so I have an excuse to play them again.
Ahh Klonoa.. a cute game about a Psyop and the sequel beimg about the following depression and ptsd.
Amazing video which enlight the themes of those 2 games, some may say it would be difficult to do a Klonoa 3 but I feel it could continue the themes by using the growing up allegory you used.
For example, 3 could be about Klonoa finally arriving in his homeworld with people like him, however his world is harsh, horryfing, and just a terrible place. This will break Klonoa who see the very thing he was looking for is far from being what he hoped for, during a short time he would give up on his quest before being reminded what he did in the previous games : helping people in their worlds, this gives him a new motivation to continue and face off the vilain also broken by this world. The game will end on Klonoa who has found a new goal in life, saying goodbye to his friends, and go to new worlds to do what he always does.
This I think would continue the themes of the series while not tainting it, and would build a great parrallel with growing up as when you enter in the adult world it’s difficult and you find yourself confused and broken, but at some point you find a new goal still in ligne with what you love to do (which yes I’m speaking out of personal experience).
Now, it’s possible it could be different, but one thing is for sure, now that Klonoa is back (and for real), the story can continue.
Thank you for keeping the aspect ratio of your videos in 4:3. Makes em great for playing on a crt. Most youtubers who cover retro stuff dont do this and its really annoying haha.
Thing was, in D.T.P Klonoa was a child. A child that was innocent. Hence his reactions and behavior. Where as in Lunatea's Vale he's more of a preteen, where he finally is able to let go and accept.
The soundtrack of these games be heartbreaking lol
I remember getting Klonoa 2 and Dynasty Warriors 3 for Christmas as a 7 year old in 2001 when I lived in NYC. The music from Klonoa provided a good escape from reality. Still my absolute favorite soundtrack.
Wasn't expecting to get my heart broken today but alright.
The depths you give to games I would dismiss out of hand is always imopressive. I tip my hat to you, good sir.
Finished the Klonoa collection yesterday so I could finally watch this and yeah, yhe parralels between the endings of both games is so well done! It's amazing how much Klonoa has grown in the span of just one game.
I never got the chance to play Klonoa until it was remastered on the Wii...that ending was a gut punch for someone used to the happy endings of Sonic, Mario, Crash etc
I remember this game very vividly in 2001, I remember renting it from an blockbuster, and loving it so much. I remember my mother trying her hardest to find a copy for me but no one seemed to carry it. I just downloaded it for switch this weekend and the second I heard the music of the first level of Klonoa 2, I cried because it brought me back to being a kid and especially the time I spent with my mother. I miss my mother so much, playing this game took me back to simpler times. Great video.
I got a little emotional there at the end, great vid, thanks for talking about Klonoa
Klonoa 1 was the saddest game I ever played and I first played it in japanese and it was so heart wrenching and I had no idea what was being said.... Man it was a powerful ending..... The emotion in the voices was so good.
Beautiful analysis. Klonoa 2 is one of my favorite games of all time (I played this one first, weirdly enough), and I'm so glad that you got to experience it for yourself.
Loved this one. Especially how you worded the ending too.. Amazing
A shame they didn't continue the series this was and still is one of my favourites games ever and it has a superb OST and and original aesthetic. Simply put, it's a masterpiece!
I mean, if the remasters sell well, we'll get a continuation...
Great vid, glad I came back to this channel
These videos are absolute fire. Even when I haven't played these games I still feel fully invested
i love/hate that your final thoughts on some videos of yours are so emotionally evocative,
I played both games on emulators on my samsung tablet. While the first one was seamless with no bugs or stops, lunatea's veil was mostly incredibly choppy and I had to change graphics settings every time I entered a cutscene. It didn't take away the effect the story had on me, though. Even if the game just kinda crashed on the final cutscene when Klonoa says thanks and walks away, meaning i didn't get reflect on myself when he walks away and i didnt get to properly experience the screen that shows my name. I remember the first game's ending having me in tears and while the second game also did that, my crying wasn't nearly as bad as the first game either because the ending of Lunatea's veil was less bitter and more heartfelt or if the crash and buggy visuals took away the experience for me. Either way, these games forever changed me, and are some of the only games I've ever shed tears with.
You're klonoa 1 review is one of my favourite videos, like the game, this sequel video is great
Thank you for giving the in-depth analysis this game has always deserved.
Always kind of wondered what other themes Klonoa could've tackled, after this (outside of the GBA title; Empire of Dreams).
Like the unhealthy preconceptions of growing up, the almost drug-like toxicity that can come from nostalgia (which I guess could almost be like two warring nations at odds with each other), or even having the events started by someone who pretty much is a transient like Klonoa, but essentially jumps between dimmensions and realities for selfish and nihilistic reasons, potentially even being pursiuded by some borderline Lovecraftian force, trying to bring order back by essentially capturing the supposed criminal causing all of the disarray.
I was anticipating this ever since I learnt that you played Klonoa 2 that one time you showed bits of patreon content. I had a similar experience as you, growing up with the first game and playing the second long after, in my late teens. The problem with that is that it doesn't leave me much to add that you haven't already said, ha ha!
I like that you picked up on the subtext of the ending and the king of sorrow. I always thought they were really clever and cool, respectively, but I haven't heard anyone talk about them in much detail.
Speaking of detail, I wanna add some on the final platforming level:
I noticed it reuses elements from the moon kingdom, like the platforms that disappear after you land on them, the puzzle where you have to hit 3 switches in quick succession, the boomerang-throwing enemies, and the sections where giant, armoured enemies chase you across small platforms. Unlike the reuse of levels when you revisit them earlier in the game, it seems very intentional. Or at least, I always thought there was something to it. The track 'Hyuponia - Ruin of Sadness' is a dour medley of music from both games, which I think goes along really well with the level design once you notice both.
I always wished Klonoa 2 was more well known, so I gotta thank you for making this video, TGB.
I was gonna call you Charlie at first, but second-guessed myself. Would it have been fine? Better yet, why am I worrying? Regardless - cheers!
Always a good time when TGBS pops up in my feed
I just finished Klonoa 2 today. Klonoa 1 and 2 are among some of the best games on their respective consoles, probably even the top 10 imo. I had Klonoa 2 on PS2 for a while, but never got around to playing it until the remakes came out.
I absolutely loved the Ps demo disc with this game…. I could never find it in the store but thankfully found Klonoa 1 on the PS3 store.
Thanks for the great content bruv
I like your longer videos, but it's great to see you come back to these shorter style videos again. :)
aah, I'm still tearing up when I see the ending of Klonoa 2, even in your video... > < thanks a lot, GamingBritShow...
Beautiful video man, just beautiful.
I originally bought Klonoa 2 from Blockbuster Video and retroactively went back to play the first title after an online friend bought me a physical copy through Yahoo Auctions.
I have every game in the franchise, as it was released post-Klonoa 2, except Beach Volleyball and Heroes. The GBA entries aren't quite the same as thr PS1 and PS2 entries, but still something. A shame we never got a new Klonoa, likely because Namco knows they could never do the franchise proper justice.
Though personally I never grew up with Klonoa, I really feel you on getting around to playing games in a series that you just never gotten around to but when you did at a more mature age, you really are glad you got to experience at the time you did. It's a really good and special feeling that's worth experiencing.
Personally in my case, though I didn't grew up with either game, I personally wish I did but at the same time I'm glad I did get around to them as an adult as it still hit me regardless of that and I love both games.
Given you finally got around to talking about Klonoa 2, I really think you should owe yourself and I would love to see you give your thoughts on Klonoa Heroes for the GBA, which is my favorite of the series and makes for a perfect send off for klonoa, more so than the platformer games.
Though it is not a direct sequel to the games, it does connect to all of the games(spin offs included) and ties into them into a thematic sense sort of feeling like the end point of what klonoa is sort of building up to. It's got the best story and characters of the series, but it's also a really fun action rpg with a great soundtrack with the same soul and care that the main platformer games have.
Fantastic work as always.
Klonoa seems interesting and almost surreal. I want to check the games out now the dream vibe looks really unique.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
I loved your first Klonoa video from way back
Edit: I got misty eyed at the end of the video
First time ever even hearing about Klonoa but 11:39 made me cry a bit
great video as always
Let's goooo YAHOO
It really makes me wanna see what they'd do for a 3rd game, especially when the first two got progressively more mature. Even when i first underminded the story of Klonoa 1 back then, i still really felt for him at the end, and apparently felt the same for the King of Sorrow (who's unnerving to this day)
Wonderful video ^_^ now if only we could get the bigger gaming youtubers to cover this classic!!
I never played the first game, but as a young kid I played the first few levels of the second game so, so many times. It’s one of those memories that I never recall until reminded and it hits me like a brick with the nostalgia
Man, I've never even heard of this game but that moment between the two in the first game where the small one is trying to hold on to Clonoa hit me so hard. Now to find out where I can play these games.
The games have recently been remastered and released on all major platforms, but if you'd like to play the original versions (Klonoa 1 in the remaster is based on the Wii remake, so it has the gameplay of 2 rather than the original, 2 is the exact same game with overhauled graphics) I think you can still get it on the PS3/PSP store.
@@scenikeight I'll look them up asap thank you, there was only a remake or remaster on the ps4 store.
You are such a king for uploading in 4:3
Great video.
Beautifully done
What a good and touching review
I'm surprised you didn't say so much about the camera work, from the early stages alone it's doing incredible stuff to deliver game play sequences and direct the player. Ah well, can't dwell on the past right?
Klonoa design is so good idk how he is so underrated
I guess in 20 years you'll finally talk about Metroid dread
I made the mistake of choosing to watch this while prepping potatoes for dinner, and had to stop because I kept tearing up lol
Excellent insight and wonderful video as always :>
As someone who knew literally nothing about this series, it feels a little illegal for the story to hit like that. I came here for goofy silly time not overwhelming sadness.
Still can't believe he hasn't talked about any of the Sly games yet.
Great Analysis
I've been waiting years for this video
The first generation ps2 came with a demo disc, and Klonoa 2 was one of the demos. Very atmospheric, instantly vibed it. Then I just sort of forgot it, all the way until now. I feel like a kid again
New Klonoa vid by TGBS? LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO