New Game Plus - A Retro Gaming Podcast · New Game Plus

Episode 480: Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament

·52 min·4 clips

Why did two hosts choose Halo 2 over GoldenEye, sparking a heated debate?

Hosts Dustin, Kenny, and Nolan of the retro gaming podcast New Game Plus debate the best split-screen game of all time, with Halo 2, GoldenEye, and Portal 2 all getting votes. Their retro game of the week is Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament for the Game Boy Advance, a 2005 platformer they played for seven days. The game's story involves Klonoa, an animal hybrid, entering a tournament to become the greatest hero, sponsored by a character named Garland. Gameplay revolves around a "Wind Bullet" mechanic that lets Klonoa grab enemies to use for double jumps or to throw as projectiles, treating them more as puzzle pieces than foes. The hosts note the game has 45 stages across five worlds, including puzzle stages, action stages where Klonoa runs toward or away from the screen, and boss races against other champions. A ranking system scores players on collectibles like three mandatory Moonstones and optional Sunstones, with S-ranks requiring perfect play. Collecting all Sunstones unlocks bonus levels, adding to what the hosts call a "beefy" 8-hour main story for a handheld title. Kenny praises the clever, well-paced puzzle design that escalates in complexity without becoming punishingly difficult. Nolan criticizes the game for being too simple, lacking character evolution or intricate bosses, and finds the core mechanic grows stale. Dustin lands in the middle, appreciating the unique enemy-based platforming but desiring more variety to stay engaged. The hosts agree the graphics are vibrant and clear, though Klonoa's character model is underwhelming, and the music is serviceable but unmemorable. They highlight a useful shoulder-button feature to look around stages and optional tutorial tips from an in-game buddy. The tone is conversational and lightly competitive, filled with friendly banter and inside jokes about comedy classes and anime preferences. Retro gamers who enjoy thoughtful, non-violent puzzle platformers with a unique central mechanic will appreciate this episode. Listeners seeking fast-paced action, deep combat, or narrative-driven games might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A handheld Klonoa chat that pairs split-screen arguing with collectible-heavy platformer specifics.

New Game Plus turns a Game Boy Klonoa pick into a running joke about naming and status, then uses that joke to get into Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a Game Boy Klonoa dive that opens with a split-screen argument.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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