Explore 8 More Incredible Platformer Titles
Klonoa was one of Namco’s beloved mascots before he was shafted in favor of their more popular properties. However, he’s finally back with an all-new HD reimagining of his first two titles. These games offered fans a new spin on the 2.5D platformer genre with its explorative gameplay and colorful world. Klonoa is a worthwhile treat for any platformer fan. If you’ve finished playing Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks. Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in. So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the sequel to Retro Studios’ 2010 game Donkey Kong Country Returns. This game adds more playable characters and new foes for the Donkey Kong family to combat. However, it maintains the enjoyable 2D platform elements that make it a worthwhile experience. Like Klonoa, Tropical Freeze has a variety of enemies and obstacles for Donkey Kong and his friends to overcome. The enemies and stages provide enough of a challenge to warrant players’ replay value. The Nintendo Switch version offers an easier time than its Nintendo Wii U counterpart, thanks to this game’s inclusion of Funky Kong. Funky Kong serves as this game’s easy mode because of the incredible advantages he’s given compared to the other Kongs. Funky Kong serves as a gateway for new players to appreciate the scale of this title despite fans losing out on the challenge. Then again, there are levels where Funky Kong enthusiasts may plummet. This is a vibrantly stunning 2D platform game that everyone needs to play.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury was one of Nintendo’s best-upgraded ports. This game featured an all-new mode that allowed players to follow the team-up quest between Mario and Bowser Jr. Many fans enjoyed this portion because of how grand its scope was for level design. Either way, this game blends the joyous nature of Mario’s 3D and 2D adventures under one roof. It features a plethora of power-ups and collectibles for Mario to collect. Players can also play this title with three other friends. Like Klonoa, this game offers some great 2D game mechanics. Visually, the world designs in the Super Mario 3D World portion of this game don’t offer much variety. It follows Mario’s typical trends from deserts to grassy plains. If you haven’t played Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for the Nintendo Switch, then I suggest you do so.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
From one 2.5D platform title to the next, we arrive at Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This game took Kirby in an entirely new direction regarding his platforming endeavors. This game contained wonderful level design, creative enemies, and new copy abilities for Kirby. Like Klonoa, Kirby’s character evokes a sense of charm and mystery. While Kirby appears as this bundle of cuteness, he’s known for fighting the most nightmarish monstrosities. Enemies like that pop up frequently in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. While they’re toned down to fit with Kirby’s child-friendly vibes, many will notice how off-putting some of his enemies may appear. At the same time, this game offers an amazing array of platform and puzzle elements like Klonoa does. This game has many secret passageways and collectibles for you to find. If you haven’t played a Kirby game before, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent place to start.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Yoshi follows close behind Kirby as Nintendo’s next cutesy mascot. With his dinosaur aesthetic and remarkable personality, Yoshi’s a bundle of joy. While he’s known for assisting Mario in rescuing Princess Peach, Yoshi’s embarked on many quests in his time. His latest endeavor in Yoshi’s Crafted World shouldn’t be overlooked. Like Klonoa, this game contains beautiful visuals, cutesy enemy designs, and phenomenal platform elements. Yoshi’s Crafted World offers a tad more originality with its world and character design though. This is because everything evokes a sense of arts and crafts. Yoshi’s entire body is made of yarn and the obstacles he comes across are made of cardboard and paper mache. Unfortunately, this game doesn’t provide much of a challenge like Klonoa does. Everything feels extremely easy and doesn’t offer much of a challenge. This is one of those games you’ll wind up playing when you need a break from more challenging titles. It’s a great game that entices players to relax and chat with friends. If you’re looking for a platform game with a more laid-back tone, check out Yoshi’s Crafted World.
Cuphead
Cuphead is leagues above Yoshi’s Crafted World with its difficulty curve and adrenaline-pumping run-and-gun gameplay. This game provides Klonoa fans with phenomenal platform elements within its retro-cartoon aesthetic. Like other platformers, this game features well-designed levels and tricky bosses. This game contains phenomenal jazzy music and battle effects that’ll have you twiddling your finger to the beat of its music. It’s a more challenging endeavor than Klonoa though. While the bosses follow a typical pattern, it’ll take gamers several play sessions to discover each boss’s weaknesses. This is a game that benefits players for their patience and well-timed movements. Although the game features countless rest stops where you can purchase better weapons and abilities, you’ll earn compensation at a gradual pace. This requires you to make smart decisions when visiting the game’s shops. One terrible purchase can lead to consistent mind-numbing and tense scenarios for you. If you’re looking for a video game that will help you improve as a gamer, check out Cuphead.
Toodee And Topdee
Toodee and Topdee is a unique game that blends 2.5D Platformer and Top-Down Puzzler mechanics well. In it, players take control of Toodee and Topdee who embark on a quest to recover a missing semicolon to restore order to their universe. As mentioned earlier, this game bodes two different forms of play. As Toodee, you’ll explore levels from a 2D platformer’s perspective. You’ll hop across obstacles, avoiding all enemies and solving challenging puzzles. Topdee’s goal is to assist you with your traversal through his top-down puzzle abilities. Think of Topdee’s gameplay as being in creative mode in Minecraft. Topdee can assist Toodee by placing objects for him to hop on or removing them to reveal a hidden path in a level. This game promises excellent two-player co-op and rewards players who exhibit excellent teamwork. Despite the advantages, this game delivers enough obstacles to keep things from feeling easy or bland. Check this one out if you’re looking for a unique indie platform game.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The Ori series will leave a lasting impression on any gamer. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a great follow-up to the first game. It includes difficult platforming levels, ingenious puzzles, and one of the greatest soundtracks in gaming. This game plays akin to classic Metroidvania titles and offers a vast world full of challenges and beautiful scenery to explore. Like Klonoa, this game features some colorful foes that can pack a wallop. However, this game feels more atmospheric than Klonoa. This is all due to its use of color and soothing OST. Every environment looks like a classic painting brought to life with its vivid colors and jaw-dropping terrain. At the same time, the game may bug players at times for its lack of instruction on how to traverse its locales. Frustrations aside, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a must-play game for platforming enthusiasts.
Sonic Mania Plus
Sonic Mania was a highly-acclaimed gem when it was released in late 2017. This game not only brought Sonic the Hedgehog back to his roots, but it featured some new levels and energetic music. Eventually, Sega wanted to capitalize on its success by offering an expansion of the title with Sonic Mania Plus. Sonic Mania Plus included DLC from the original 2017 game and new features regarding characters, levels, and music. This game features classic Sonic characters like Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel from 1993’s SegaSonic the Hedgehog. A pinball bonus stage, a four-player competition mode, and remixed levels were all added to this game’s “Encore Mode”. Besides that, this game’s stunning pixelated graphics, adrenaline-pumping platforming, and colorful characters should please you. So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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