#Dead realm free demo how to
#Dead realm free demo series

#Dead realm free demo series

In terms of its visuals, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series manages to impress, as it presents these sprawling, abstract dream worlds at their absolute best. That’s not to say that they aren’t worth experiencing, however, as the rather perfectionistic approach to puzzle-platforming here is something that even today feels unique. This is perhaps the largest complaint one could have against either game they’re both a bit ‘vanilla’ in terms of how they approach platforming. Distinct enemy types such as an explosive foe or one with a particular hue who has to be used to destroy color-coded barriers help to introduce some complexity to this mechanic, but there’s a lingering sense that Klonoa could use more power-ups or abilities of some sort to spice up the levels a bit more. Klonoa’s primary ability with the Wind Bullet has to do a lot of heavy lifting, then, as it’s virtually the only major gameplay mechanic here. There are only a small handful of enemies you can come across and level gimmicks to distinguish worlds from each other rarely go beyond adding surface-level variety. One thing you won’t find much of in either game is a sense of mechanical variety. Even in the earlier levels, it can be surprisingly difficult to snap up everything, but the rewards are well worth it as you unlock additional levels if you 100% enough stages. In both games, there are six collectible items squirreled away in various places just off the beaten path, and there are 150 Dream Stones (basically coins) to pick up. On the next tier, you can focus on scooping up all the collectibles along the way, and this is where substantial challenge comes in. On one tier, you can simply focus on clearing each stage without worrying about any extras, and this is extremely easy to achieve. Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) In this way, it feels like both games have a sort of ‘two-tiered’ design, a bit like many of Nintendo’s 2D platformers.

#Dead realm free demo how to

Klonoa is more about figuring out how to use the available enemies to reach collectibles and out-of-reach places than it is about overcoming tough obstacle courses. Interestingly, the level designs are built around this Wind Bullet concept with more of a focus on puzzles than on raw tests of dexterity. From here, you can then toss them as a projectile or use them in mid-air for a double jump. Enemies can’t be stomped by jumping on them, you have to shoot them at close range with your Wind Bullet, which inflates them and lets you carry them above your head. The big gimmick here is that the linear path you’re following bends and curves through the environment, giving the illusion and feel of 3D movement. Compared to a typical 2D platformer, then, both of these games feature a little more narrative than is typical, but we appreciated the pacing and felt that it added notably to the overall experience.ĭespite the expansive and interwoven worlds featured, both Klonoa games are in fact simple 2D platformers at heart. It’s all relatively light-hearted and whimsical stuff, but there are some serious gut-punch moments at key plot points that take things in an amusingly dark and heavy direction after you’ve lowered your guard. Along the way, you’re aided in this journey by local residents of the dream worlds and take on a small handful of silly antagonists who wish to fill the world with nightmares. The story of Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series places you in the role of the titular cat-rabbit Klonoa, a “Dream Traveler” whose role is venturing to worlds within people’s dreams to help bring about balance and peace.

This remake of the first game and its sequel, 2001's Lunatea's Veil for PS2, is little more than a fresh coat of HD paint, but the two classics here still hold up as excellent platformers that no fan of the genre will want to miss. Launching on PS1 in 1997, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile - which was remade in 2008 on Wii - fell more in this latter camp, and though it seemed that Namco had largely abandoned the loveable Dream Traveler, he’s been given another shot with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series. There was lots of experimentation, and while platformers like Super Mario 64 and Spyro dived head-first into the new dimension, others like Crash Bandicoot tethered the camera and still kept a lot of 2D design at the forefront.

The fifth console generation represented arguably the greatest shift in game design the industry has ever seen, as developers all over the world wrestled with how to transition 2D tenets into the 3D realm.