Klonoa Beach Volley / Klonoa Beach Volleyball (PS) (2002)
Developer: Namco

Review by Faididi and Co.


More entertaining than bikini babes tossing balls


Story: Average

Those familiar with his earliest adventures know that Klonoa's life isn't a totally fun-filled, brainless romp through existence. However, the poor kid for once gets a break in the form of his very own volleyball game. Nothing really makes sense here; various characters from the past installments simply show up to challenge each other at the sport. First, we have Klonoa, the puppy-like hero who is forever destined to rescue magical realms in distress. Coming from Door to Phantomile are Joka and Nahatomb. Joining the party from Sekai ga Nozonda Wasuremono (Lunatea's Veil) are Lolo, Popka, Leorina, and Ta't. Then, there are Chipple, who hails from Yumemiru Teikoku (Empire of Dreams), and Gantz, who comes from Klonoa Heroes. There's even a Moo, for those who can't get enough of those funny little guys.


Gameplay: Excellent

At heart, Namco's Klonoa Beach Volley (Klonoa Beach Volleyball) is what it sounds like: a beach volleyball game starring characters from the Kaze no Klonoa series. In the championship mode, up to 2 Players can take control of a team as it strives to win a series of 5 matches. In the exhibition mode, up to 4 Players can enjoy as many matches as desired. Unlike the typical spin-off, however, this game offers far more than just basic sports action dressed up in pretty graphics.

Perhaps the best part of Klonoa Beach Volley is its awesome aiming system. A surprising degree of control is given over where the characters aim the ball, whether they're attacking or tossing. To be more specific, think of each half of the court being divided into a three-by-three grid, similar to a tic-tac-toe board. Depending on how the D-Pad is pressed, the characters can direct the ball toward the corresponding section of the court as they attack or toss. As such, Klonoa Beach Volley allows for a far wider variety of shots and passes than other volleyball games.

Adding more depth are the super attacks, which can help the teams net several points at once. Relying on these super attacks is risky, because they must be earned by scoring points in certain patterns, but succeeding with them can result in the teams quickly catching up or pulling ahead by a wide margin, blowing away the competition in style. Coupled with the aiming system, the super attacks allow for an exciting number of tactics.


Controls: Excellent

The intuitive, responsive controls give the characters fantastic command over where they hit the ball. Running, receiving, tossing, and spiking are all very easy to do. The exhibition mode allows you to set several parameters, from the match length to the type of ball used, and it even allows computer-controlled characters to be paired with manually-controlled characters. The training mode consists of friendly interactive exercises, and it's one of the most colorful tutorials ever.

Borrowing a clever feature from CS Development's Kuri Kuri Mix (The Adventures of Cookie and Cream), Klonoa Beach Volley can support up to 4 Players with only two DualShocks, too. Pairs of Players may share the different halves of the DualShocks, with one person using the left side and the other using the right side. Thanks to the smart setup of the controls, playing the game like this doesn't result in any loss of function, making this a handy option for those who don't have multitaps (which the game also supports).


Graphics: Excellent

Klonoa Beach Volley has amazing graphics, with colors that seem even brighter than those of Door to Phantomile. The fully 3D characters and environments are rendered smoothly, while the beautifully decorated courts show off plenty of activity. For instance, large flags and banners can be seen flapping in the breeze at the beach court, and furry creatures can be seen swinging among the trees at the jungle court. The super attacks look neat, with their slow-motion effects and all.


Audio: Excellent

No less impressive are the sound effects, from the forceful whacks of the characters hitting the ball to the super attacks thundering away. Further livening up things are the plentiful ambience effects, such as the creaking of windmills at the village court or the splashing of the river at the jungle court. The actors from the past installments return to deliver the great vocal effects (in Japanese, not the constructed language), keeping the matches noisy in a good way. The music fits the game's atmosphere perfectly. Each court has its own inspired tune, although some of the pieces are remixes of those from Door to Phantomile.


Overall: Excellent

Standing high over conventional volleyball games, Klonoa Beach Volley is the best kind of spin-off. Its superb controls, appealing characters, and attractive visual and audio effects ensure a wonderful time for Klonoa fans, even if they're normally not into the sport.


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