Remakes don't bother me. I completely understand why studios or AAA companies might order a ground-up remake of an old classic or why a director may feel the need to revisit a game with a newer, more modern flair (old or otherwise.) It's an easy way to gauge interest for a series that's dormant or test if fan feedback is as strong as assumed. For me, a good remake aims to iterate and interpret aspects of the original while creating a new experience with the same fundamentals. Full on remakes have the opportunity to recontextualize how a game is presented not only in presentation, but gameplay direction as well. I know RE2make is brought up a lot in this discussion, but that game is a really interesting iteration/reimagining of the original RE2's gameplay premise while maintaining its beats and fundamentals enough to where it isn't jarring. OOT3D offers an amazing artistic direction to an already amazingly directed game, especially when viewed in higher resolutions. Both of these examples show the odd blurred lines of what a "remake" can be. I consider OOT3D a remaster, but it completely overhauls all visual aspects of the original while still staying in line with the initial direction. I don't consider RE2make a remake and instead refer to it as a direct reimagining, but it still follows the guidelines a remake would. The label "remake" has been diluted so much over time, it's hard to have a proper discussion about one without applying your own definition to the topic, so I ask you read this review with mine in mind.
"A remake should iterate and interpret visual and mechanical aspects of the original while offering a unique enough experience with the same fundamentals in order to create an enjoyable alternative to said original."
Through this definition, it's clear some games just don't have that "remake" potential. Klonoa is one of these games.
Gameplay wise, Klonoa 2008 is close to if not the exact same as the original. All levels are designed the same, Klonoa controls accurately, and enemies and bosses function similarly barring a few damage scaling changes. Everything on that end is the same. It is the same video game as it was back on the PS1 but made to be a little more accessible with checkpoint changes. For this, Klonoa 2008 retains a lot of points for me. The game is still fun. Artistically, things get nastier. The original Klonoa, while not a complete technical marvel for the PS1, relies a lot on the hardware's unique capabilities to offer something really special, visually. Speaking in terms of art direction and visuals through usage of hardware, Klonoa 1 is the Donkey Kong Country of the PS1. You cannot have the equivalent of Klonoa's visuals on any prior hardware. It makes use of every tool in it's box expertly to present you a very well executed and thought out presentation. Cohesion and consistency in the uniqueness of Klonoa's style is paramount. It is its charm- it is its entire soul. The only 2 reasons I can think of as to why you would ever opt to play a watered down, washed out, misinterpreted, babyified version of Klonoa are:
A) This version is all you have access to. You can't seem to emulate the original for some reason and a Wii is the only console you own.
or
B) You're one of those weird fucks who likes to call games "dated" because you can see polygon seams.
I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that Klonoa's art should be hung up in a museum or whatever, but looking at the two side by side show a clear lack of soul and ambition in Klonoa 2008. Maybe it was made to fill corporate quota, maybe the game was developed under mitigating circumstances- I don't know. With the hindsight of Phantasy Reverie, this game could absolutely be worse, but as it is, it's the unfavorable choice between itself and the original. I'll be nice to it and mention it has a lot of cool options, like extra costumes for Klonoa or the ability to toggle between English and high quality restored Klonoa-ese.Something Phantasy Reverie would forgo, opting to use the bit-crushed PS1 ripped audio and rerecorded audio simultaneously. Seriously, what the fuck were they thinking? You can't even toggle it to English, not that you'd ever want to.
As it stands, I can only really speak to the originals quality in comparison to this instead of the other way around. If you ask me, a 16:9, up-scaled native remaster of the original would've been greatly appreciated, but hindsight is 20/20. I've always been a Remaster > Remake guy myself, but that's a different talk entirely. I advise you to play the original with your pants around your ankles, and not this one.
"A remake should iterate and interpret visual and mechanical aspects of the original while offering a unique enough experience with the same fundamentals in order to create an enjoyable alternative to said original."
Through this definition, it's clear some games just don't have that "remake" potential. Klonoa is one of these games.
Gameplay wise, Klonoa 2008 is close to if not the exact same as the original. All levels are designed the same, Klonoa controls accurately, and enemies and bosses function similarly barring a few damage scaling changes. Everything on that end is the same. It is the same video game as it was back on the PS1 but made to be a little more accessible with checkpoint changes. For this, Klonoa 2008 retains a lot of points for me. The game is still fun. Artistically, things get nastier. The original Klonoa, while not a complete technical marvel for the PS1, relies a lot on the hardware's unique capabilities to offer something really special, visually. Speaking in terms of art direction and visuals through usage of hardware, Klonoa 1 is the Donkey Kong Country of the PS1. You cannot have the equivalent of Klonoa's visuals on any prior hardware. It makes use of every tool in it's box expertly to present you a very well executed and thought out presentation. Cohesion and consistency in the uniqueness of Klonoa's style is paramount. It is its charm- it is its entire soul. The only 2 reasons I can think of as to why you would ever opt to play a watered down, washed out, misinterpreted, babyified version of Klonoa are:
A) This version is all you have access to. You can't seem to emulate the original for some reason and a Wii is the only console you own.
or
B) You're one of those weird fucks who likes to call games "dated" because you can see polygon seams.
I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that Klonoa's art should be hung up in a museum or whatever, but looking at the two side by side show a clear lack of soul and ambition in Klonoa 2008. Maybe it was made to fill corporate quota, maybe the game was developed under mitigating circumstances- I don't know. With the hindsight of Phantasy Reverie, this game could absolutely be worse, but as it is, it's the unfavorable choice between itself and the original. I'll be nice to it and mention it has a lot of cool options, like extra costumes for Klonoa or the ability to toggle between English and high quality restored Klonoa-ese.
As it stands, I can only really speak to the originals quality in comparison to this instead of the other way around. If you ask me, a 16:9, up-scaled native remaster of the original would've been greatly appreciated, but hindsight is 20/20. I've always been a Remaster > Remake guy myself, but that's a different talk entirely. I advise you to play the original with your pants around your ankles, and not this one.