Is there a good chance it'll come stateside?

Who knows with Namco...They have the most bogus localization strategy on any publisher in existence... =\

I'm looking forward to this, this is supposed to be a great game.

Want!

<3 Klonoa.  I will smack them if they don't localize it.

I really hope this gets localized. I've heard nothing but great things about it.

wow, where have you been?

Eh, I felt like all I was doing was bitching about Nintendo and modern gaming in general so I decided I should just leave for a while.

if anyone is interested Namco sent me a Klonoa Survey via email.  If you want to check it out here is a link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2qr8HR0wgsGpd4_2f0Yk6kFQ_3d_3d

I went through a few parts and it seems like it is a lot about the character design......hat or no?  floppy ears or no?  YOU DECIDE, lol.

This is quite possibly one of the stupidest things Namco has done in the past, uh, week...

Why can't they just LEAVE HIM AS HE IS?

Klonoa confirmed in Soul Calibur 5

So the good news is Namco is actually thinking about localizing this game.  The bad news is, they want to give him a lame Poochie style extreme makeover for America.

Oh well, as long as the actual game makes it over here I'll be happy.  As long as any changes are only cosmetic I'm fine, but if they start messing with the gameplay itself, then RAAAAGGEEEEE.

oh i just noticed kotaku put up the image i was referring to:

http://kotaku.com/5071318/klonoa-may-get-poochied-for-american-wii-release

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/Maxi_80/Video%20Games/klonooooooooa.jpg
Here is the image that WuTangTurtle is talking about.

good gawd

don't splash water on it, and don't feed it after midnight.

Might as well change it to Wall Man or Shadow the Hedgehog.

Those ears aren't hands.

Konoa: Door to the Pheromone


is how eye red it.

The new one looks like a Ratchet clone.

I told them to use the guy on the left.

What are you referring to by "Poochie style?"

A character in The Simpsons (more specifically, a focus-group character created for The Itchy & Scratchy Show in hopes of increasing the show's popularity)...Everyone hated him... ='D

How is he going to fly without floppy ears?

A star-powered jet pack.

he looks like a vgcats......cat.

You must be too young for old Simpsons. :(

I just noticed that the comparison image is skewed: The old Klonoa is an ingame pic, the new one concept art. Makes the new design look cleaner.

No, I'm too old to watch your baby cartoons.

What game is that shot from?  I noticed it was fuzzy, but the cel-shading was good enough that I didn't even question that it was hand drawn (assuming it's not a sprite with oddly angular hat, shoes, and gloves).

I'd assume it's the current ingame model or something before Marketing decided to intervene.

I'm old enough that I don't even regard Poochie as "old" Simpsons.  Hell, it's been so long since I've even watched the show that Poochie is like a more recent episode in my mind even though it came out when I was in high school.

F*ck.  Poochie IS old.  He's older than Klonoa though by only a couple of months.

I'm very much of the idea that if the IP needs to be retooled in order for the company to be confident in it, then why use that IP?  Why not just make some new character?  The whole idea of sequels and spin-offs and franchises is that the IP's name recognition helps sell the product.  The whole reason to even make any Klonoa product is because Klonoa should be a strong enough brand to make a profit.  If it's not then from a business perspective why bother?  If they have to Poochify Klonoa then the Klonoa name is worthless.  Anyone who knows Klonoa will not appreciate the make-over while anyone who would like the make-over will have never heard of Klonoa in the first place.

The only justification is a lack of creativity.  If they make a new character they have to make a new game and recycling this one is obviously easier and cheaper.  Maybe I've just become too cynical but it seems like a bunch of suits met in a boardroom to discuss new kid-oriented product for the Wii and decided that remaking an old game would cut costs and they could just retool the character design to something they figure would appeal more to today's kids, who wouldn't realize they're playing a ten year old game anyway.

Hell, I just don't trust any reused content on the Wii.  I just think they're trying to scam the Wii userbase because evidence shows that they can.

Well, many people who played an IP for kids when they were young seem to want a grown-up version of the IP when they're in the blood-and-gore age bracket, resulting in games like Shadow The Hedgehog...

I don't think many past puberty wanted Shadow the Hedgehog... =(

Has that ever really worked out?  I can't recall any game character ever going through a transformation like that and coming out for the better.

Bomberman.

Megaman X.

Prince of Persia.  ;D

:reggie:

I'm not sure how bomberman changed.  I forgot about megaman x, looks a lot cooler I'll give it that.  As for Prince of Persia his latest change, I just don't like.

Castlevania Judgement

Bomberman didn't change for the better.Look up Bomberman Zero. I think it was a Xbox or 360 title.

Maxi doesn't understand sarcasm.Look up Sarcasm. I think it is on Dictionary.com.

I will do that later Vudu.Thanks.

!

omg i forgot about that abomination.

Marvel Comics in association with Hudsonsoft, presents a Ridley Scott film.

Robert Downey Jr. is...

Bomberman

I just watched this game's japanese trailer, and I think it looks great. I hope this games is released everywhere else other than Japan.

I'll cry if this game doesn't get localized.  But I'll also cry if they actually use that awful Klonoa redesign.

I'm expecting Namco to make me cry. );

The vid clearly shows that Klonoa looks just like old Klonoa. Unless of course when they localize it they change their minds.

Wasn't that the point?  Modify Klonoa's character design for the US release in an attempt to make him more appealing to westerners? 

As long as we get the game I'll be happy.  Namco is one of the worst companies when it comes to localizing games, and if messing with Klonoa's design is what it takes for it to come over then I'm for it.  As long as that's all they change and not the actual gameplay itself.

Well, the redesign didn't have large enough ears to fly so maybe they'd cut that...

Not if his boots are Rocket Boots. :o

Rocket Boots would make him even more extreme. 8)

Stopit you guys.  You're making me cry. D;

So I've never played a Klonoa game, but I was curious how this remake looked compared to the original. This guy did a tour of level 3-1 on the Japanese Wii version. http://wiifolder.com/?p=142

I then did a search on youtube and found a video walkthrough of the same level. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmhKzT0A9uA

All in all, the game seems to play exactly the same just now with "next gen" graphics and cinematic cut scenes.

I never played ANY of the Klonoa games so this is a godsend. Even if its a port of an 11 year old game I am sure there were many like me who missed out on the games. I wouldn't be surprised if Banco is trying to re-start the franchise on the Wii, eventually leading to a brand new game.

I got the GBA game Empire of Dreams from the bargain bin but haven't seen any others for sale so a remake is welcome.

Just watched some videos of it at IGN, reminds me of Mario and that's always a good thing.  I'll have to get it when I have some monies ;D

This game is rad ass. Its enemy inflation mechanic makes it distinctive from other platformers. It also has very enjoyable music. I've got the PS One copy and I'm still planning on picking this version up - especially if it has some extra content (mirror mode, for one). I just hope Namco (or whatever team it has been passed onto) doesn't adjust the difficulty to make it easier. I remember it providing a decent challenge by the end, but Klonoa 2, while also enjoyable, was too easy. That, and that it still comes to the States despite its apparent floppage in Japan.