Klonoa Heroes

"Like Klonoa? Thought so..."

Don't get me worng,I love Klonoa.Actually,I bought the PS2 just to play the game Klonoa 2,but while those Klonoa games were enjoyable and very playable,Klonoa: Legend of Star Medal marks the series first step into the RPG genre,and well,it just comes out as a rather bland and repetitive game,which is a shame to call an RPG (read on to find out).

Being an avid Klonoa fan,I knew that Klonoa:LSM was going to be a heck of alot different from the platform games.But K:LSM is just something else.It's very plain and it thus makes teh game unplayable.The game is in total japanese,but there isn't much dialogue (so to use the term `dialogue`,as there isn't any).K:LSM isn't your normal RPG.It's worse.

First of all switch on the game and be surprised that there is no menu screen the and game takes you straight to the level select screen.Woo! That was fast,I was anticipated to play the game,that didn't mean that they don't make a menu screen.But anyways,what was to come was a dissapointment.Further on,as you select Vision 1 (the levels in Klonoa games are called Visions,a term inspired from dreams,which has remained the series theme) and get to the level,then be surprised at the repetitive graphics and bland texturing.So to speak,the gameplay isn't much to talk about either.You don't need to know anything before you play K:LSM,as you'll figure them out the minute you press the keys.You only use the diagonal keys,and the B,A keys.Both of the action keys performs 'capture' move.Klonoa shoots a short,red or blue corresponding to the keys,move that you will use throughout the whole game to attack the enemies with.

Oh! and there are only two enemies that you fight in the first few levels,which also follow later in the game.The energy bar of the enemy is either red or blue,and by pressing the key respectively you dispose off enemies.You do this throughout the whole game.And you don't need to kill them too.Just go ahead,and enter the area where the arrow points and viola! you've cleared the level.The levels are very short,minute.You take a few steps and the level is complete.well,doesn't the game sound exciting? Well,it gets more.The plain,un-inspired texturing and pixelated object,characters distract the player and make it frustrating for the player to play the game.It doesn't change through-out the games.The levels themselves are very short and so it's good you don't have to see the overused graphics again and again.

Gameplay consists of disposing off the enemies,repeatedly,and collecting items and treasure chests.There are many 'hidden'.hidden? I found them when I walked straight when I first played through the first few levels.Your HP and stats also gradually increase,altho I'm sure nobody will bother with the repetitive combat.

And now comes the part where it becomes a shame for me to classify K:LSM an RPG.It has nothing that vaguely resembles an RPG.Even a blind man could tell that,since Klonoa is oozing with unexpected game elements and confusing events that it becomes impossible to play anymore.So a basis of an RPG is to talk around,explore and fight monsters.There is no dialogue,you wander aorund aimlessly until you reach the end a few steps ahead.You explore by turning right,walking straight into an item (which is nothing more than a treasure chest),take the treasure,walk straight and the level ends.You `fight` cute little,chubby creatures also featured in the previous Klonoa series.

And that's where it ends.K:LSM consists of nothing more than a crappy game with below average and un-acceptable gameplay content.

Hardcore fans and casual gamers are both advised to avoid the game like plague.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 03/25/03, Updated 03/25/03