Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS1) - 100% ~ 04: The Reveal of Joka's Dark & Twisted Personality
0Vision 4 doesn't have any cutscenes, until the end of 4-2 so, I'm mostly gonna talk a bit about 4-1's level a bit. I know people say 4-2 is where the game gets dark, but I want to say that 4-1 is where the game gets dark. The atmosphere in this level is a lot gloomier and bleak than the previous Visions, even Vision 2-1 despite that Vision taking place in an almost dead village. Even the music is more gloomier than before. It's not something you'd expect from the game that had colorful & lively atmospheres befor this point. You're going though the Ruins of the Wind Kingdom, a place that was once inhabited that was by the ancestors of Breezegale.
The platforming from this point is gonna be a little more tricky to overcome, as well as the enemies, as this level introduces the Spindles which you can only attack using a double jump, The Gilbz that hide in Shells that prevent Klonoa from grabbing them & shoot out 2 Spike Balls out of their guns and will pop out their head afterwards to taunt where you at that point you can grab them, the Plowms which are Ghost-Like Creatures (fitting, cuz halfway in the level you'll pass through what looks like a small graveyard) that teleports to mess with you & the Burnies which hold on to orbs that uses fire to protect themselves and you need to jump over the flames when they temporarily extend and land next to them to grab them. The challenge in this Vision is what you'll expect for the rest of the game, and I love it.
Vision 4-2 takes place in the Leviathan's Ice Cavern, which are located somewhere in Jugpot which is used as another shortcut to get to Breezegale. While I don't have much to say for this Vision, this is one of my favorite Visions in the game. The level looks really pretty and colorful and the platforming challenges is really good & interesting.
Klonoa & Huepow reaches back to Breezegale & are relieved that Grandpa is safe, but unfortunately Joka shows up at the same time &.... This is where the game takes a dark turn along with showing Joka's true Personality. Joka along with a Moo shows up in hovercrafts. In order to get the Moon Pendant, Joka goes ahead and just BOMBS KLONOA'S HOUSE, KILLING GRANDPA IN THE PROCESS. (Fun Fact: The music for this cutscene, along with the music for the Mine Cart segments from Vision 1-2 & 3-1 was edited in the European version to accommodate for the slower 50hz speeds.) The Moo then takes the Moon Pendant to give to Joka. An enraged Klonoa goes after Joka, who at this point of the game, is made as a really good villain in my opinion. Joka taunts about having the Moon Pendant & Joka send out a "final parting gift", which is another Monster he has to kill Klonoa once & for all, called, Baladium.
Baladium has some interesting attacks, but he's ultimately really easy to beat in 35 seconds. Baladium's wings flashes different colours and it lets you know which attack he'll do. If his wings turn Red, he sends out eyes that explode when you swing back towards him. If it turns Blue, He sends out obelisk-like obstacles that you have to avoid when you swing back towards him. One of these is pink that you can destroy for extra health. If it turns Green, He sends out several propeller missiles that launch towards you as you swing back towards Baladium. If it turns yellow, Baladium sends a Zagard (an enemy exclusive to this Boss fight) onto the bridge. To defeat Baladium, you have to grab a Moo, & throw it in the one of the coloured crystals on his hood. Baladium is interesting in concept, but underwhelming in execution.
After defeating Baladium, Klonoa & Huepow rushes back to Grandpa only to find him slowly dying with Klonoa having him in his arms. This is the part where people remember the most about the game besides the ending. Up to this point Klonoa was a Cute & Upbeat game, but here the game destroys your heart with one of the most unexpected death scenes ever. It's a scene I bawled my eyes out the first time I've seen it. It's also something that sticks with you.
Before Grandpa dies, he tells Klonoa that his destiny was to bring the Moon Pendant back. After his passing, Klonoa lets out a blood curling scream, and is now Heartbroken over his death. Huepow tells him how he feels, but they need to focus on getting the Pendant back. Klonoa asks how they'll do that, since Joka is going to the Sun Temple. Suddenly, Pamela appears flying in the air. She heard everything from King Seadoph & Chieftess Granny, so out of concern, she helps Klonoa & Huepow get to the Temple of the Sun.
(Game Progression)
1200/1950 Dream Stones Collected
48/72 Phantomilian Civilians Freed
(Game Info)
Systems: PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2
Release Dates:
PS1
JP: December 11, 1997
NA: March 10, 1998
EU: June 5, 1998
PS2
JP: July 21, 2005
Publishers: Namco (JP PS1 & PS2 Versions) | Namco Hometek (US PS1 Version) | Sony Computer Entertainment (EU PS1 Version)
Developers: Namco
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