N-Philes

Released shortly after the Game Boy Advance launched, it's disappointing yet not all that surprising that Klonoa: Empire of Dreams didn't meet with much success. The game didn't look particularly lively, especially compared to the lush graphics that were seen in launch titles like Rayman Advance and Pinobee, and the franchise itself had not been too popular since it was released on the Playstation anyway. I had heard nothing but great things about Klonoa, but for a reason I can't quite put my finger on, I held off on buying the game until it became nearly impossible for me to find. When I finally got my hands on the title in early 2005, I discovered a great platformer with cool puzzle elements and enough breaks in-between to keep me hooked even after it was all over with.

The first thing that hit me was how corny the storyline is. Empire of Dreams starts out innocently enough: Klonoa is sleeping soundly when suddenly he is arrested for dreaming! "Why is it so wrong to dream?!" Klonoa shouts when he meets the emperor. In an effort to let the people fantasize in peace, he's then given the task of defeating the four monsters that terrorize the land. So... yeah, the plot stinks. Fortunately, the story is not why people play platforming games, otherwise Mario would've certainly been out of a job by now.



At first glance the game seems similar to Mario, yet when you play it soon becomes clear that the game is less about straightforward platforming and more about using your skills to solve the numerous puzzles that inhabit each level. Klonoa himself doesn't have any abilities, so you need to use items and enemies to do everything from double-jumping to using blocks as weights to keep gusts of wind from blowing you past the platform you need to go on. The puzzles aren't very complicated, but they're cleverly designed and keep you engaged at all times. The ones that did manage to stump me had me wondering why I didn't see it sooner when I finally solved them; I would always try something complicated when it wasn't the answer at all.

The majority of the game is made up of these puzzle-filled levels, but there are also stages in each world that take a breather from the brainteasers and trek into the more established areas of straight platforming. In these stages, you can ride Klonoa's air board through the world and try to collect as many of the gems as you can, while in the others you can put your classic platforming skills to the test in on-rails action that requires some accomplished run 'n jump skills to get through. What makes these levels great is how Klonoa needs to get around; he can jump, but without using enemies as boosts he wont be able to get far. And so some of the best moments in the game come from double-jumping off one enemy only to grab on to another and repeat to reach your destination. All of these stages are home to 100 gems that can be collected, and while gathering them doesn't seem like the greatest thing to do, it's really the best way to get the most out of a level and see everything it has to offer.



At the end of the day, if you wanted to try this game, you probably already have. Good thing, then, that these articles are for those who may not have even noticed the release of a game like this. Empire of Dreams may not offer the best graphics or sound out of the GBA platformers available, and you may not be able to touch it on your shiny new DS, but because of its great blend of platforming and puzzle-solving it offers an experience that other games just can't match.