Klonoa: Door to Phantomile: Difference between revisions

From Videogame Morgue File

(Adding some more sources. Many of these are Japanese reviews excerpted from magazines I don't recognize, hence why they don't have names on the page.)
(Forgot to add this source (or add it back - can't remember if I erroneously deleted it in my last edit))
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox
{{InfoboxGame
  |image = Klonoa Door to Phantomile American cover.png
  |image = Klonoa Door to Phantomile American cover.png
  |developer = Namco
  |developer = Namco
Line 11: Line 11:
  |mobygames = https://www.mobygames.com/game/klonoa-door-to-phantomile
  |mobygames = https://www.mobygames.com/game/klonoa-door-to-phantomile
  |tcrf = https://tcrf.net/Klonoa:_Door_to_Phantomile_(PlayStation)
  |tcrf = https://tcrf.net/Klonoa:_Door_to_Phantomile_(PlayStation)
  |related = [[Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil]]
  |related = [[Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil]]<br>[[Klonoa: Empire of Dreams]]<br>[[Klonoa Beach Volleyball]]<br>[[Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament]]}}
}}


'''Klonoa: Door to Phantomile''' is a 2.5D platform game released for the PlayStation in 1997 (in Japan) and 1998 (the rest of the world).
'''Klonoa: Door to Phantomile''' is a 2.5D platform game released for the PlayStation in 1997 (in Japan) and 1998 (the rest of the world).
Line 47: Line 46:
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
* [https://archive.org/details/klonoadoortophantomileguidebook/page/n87/mode/2up Several pages of concept art from Famitsu's official guidebook] (Japanese; February 21, 1998)
* [https://archive.org/details/klonoadoortophantomileguidebook/page/n87/mode/2up Several pages of concept art from Famitsu's official guidebook] (Japanese; February 21, 1998)
* IGN published a multi-part history of the game's development (among other topics) in 2009 to promote the Wii remake:
** [https://www.ignboards.com/threads/the-concept-of-the-original.177814782/#post-177814782 "The Concept of the Original"] (part 2, wherein Hideo Yoshizawa explains the inception, setting, and story of the game; March 5, 2009)
** [https://www.ignboards.com/threads/character-design.178979586/#post-178979586 "Character Design"] (part 4, wherein character designer Yoshihiko Arai touches on Klonoa's design; April 7, 2009)
** [https://www.ignboards.com/threads/the-sounds-of-phantomile.179994149/#post-179994149 "The Sounds of Phantomile"] (part 5, wherein sound designer Kanako Kakino mentions the experience of composing the game's songs; May 7, 2009)
** [https://www.ignboards.com/threads/level-design.180345693/#post-180345693 "Level Design"] (part 6, wherein Yoshizawa discusses just that; May 18, 2009)


== Previews ==
== Previews ==
Line 61: Line 65:
|date=August 1997
|date=August 1997
|country=JP
|country=JP
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile preview in Edge issue 48.jpg
|title=Edge
|date=August 1997
|country=UK
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Namco PlayStation games at E3 1997 in GameFan volume 5 issue 8.jpg
|title=GameFan
|date=August 1997
|country=US
|description=Short preview of various PlayStation games previewed by Namco at E3 1997, ''Door to Phantomile'' included
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 98: Line 115:
|date=October 1997
|date=October 1997
|country=US
|country=US
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Japanese preview in NOURS issue 18.png
|title=NOURS
|date=Winter 1997
|country=JP
|description=From Namco's official magazine
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 153: Line 177:
|date=February 1998
|date=February 1998
|country=ES
|country=ES
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile preview in CVG issue 197.pdf
|title=Computer & Video Games
|date=April 1998
|country=UK
|description=Also includes a very short aside comparing the game to ''[[Yoshi's Story]]''
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 167: Line 198:
}}
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbEDW9KibYU|description=Video preview taken from a CD-ROM bundled with issue 39 of ''Next Generation''|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAE1hoiIFLY|description=Gameplay footage from E3 1997|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDmwBbOLoAo|description=Short preview from ''Game Catalog II'' (a Japanese TV show run by Famitsu; December 4, 1997)|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbEDW9KibYU|description=Video preview taken from a CD-ROM bundled with issue 39 of ''Next Generation'' (dated March 1998)|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}


== Magazine covers ==
== Magazine covers ==
Line 243: Line 276:
|country=JP
|country=JP
|description=Guide to various secrets
|description=Guide to various secrets
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile demo disc blurb from Official US PlayStation magazine issue 45.jpg
|title=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine
|date=June 2001
|country=US
|description=Blurb about the demo included with the issue's cover disc
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile demo disc column in Official US PlayStation Magazine issue 45.jpg
|title=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine
|date=June 2001
|country=US
|description=Description of the demo included with the issue's cover disc (also including a screenshot from [[Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil|the sequel]])
}}
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
Line 329: Line 376:
}}
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=154flz0ad8U|description=Japanese TV ad (with English subtitles by the uploader, Chris Aaron)|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a45bz9abYLY|description=Japanese store promo video|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}


== Interviews ==
== Interviews ==
* [https://shmuplations.com/klonoa Interview with several developers (originally printed in ''The PlayStation'' magazine in 1997; translated into English and posted online by shmuplations)]
* [https://shmuplations.com/klonoa Interview with several developers (originally printed in ''The PlayStation'' magazine in 1997; translated into English and posted online by shmuplations)]
* [https://www.ignboards.com/threads/the-concept-of-the-original.177814782/#post-177814782 "The Concept of the Original" (partial interview with director Hideo Yoshizawa about both the original game's development and its Wii remake; posted on IGN's forums on March 5, 2009)]
* [https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue_243_July_2009/page/n77/mode/2up ''Nintendo Power'' interview with Hideo Yoshizawa about many games he worked on, including ''Door to Phantomile''] (July 2009)
* [https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue_243_July_2009/page/n77/mode/2up ''Nintendo Power'' interview with Hideo Yoshizawa about many games he worked on, including ''Door to Phantomile''] (July 2009)
* [http://gaming.moe/?p=2894 Heidi Kemps and Johnathan "ProtonJon" Wheeler interview Hideo Yoshizawa and Keiji Yamagishi for gaming.moe, including some questions about ''Klonoa: Door to Phantomile'' and its Wii remake] (March 27, 2018)
* [https://www.famitsu.com/news/202206/23265727.html ''Famitsu'' interview with Tsuyoshi Kobayashi (a designer) and Yoshihiko Arai (who worked on the plot & graphics) about ''Door to Phantomile'' and its sequel] (June 23, 2022)
* [https://www.famitsu.com/news/202206/23265727.html ''Famitsu'' interview with Tsuyoshi Kobayashi (a designer) and Yoshihiko Arai (who worked on the plot & graphics) about ''Door to Phantomile'' and its sequel] (June 23, 2022)
** Unofficial English translations (partially done via DeepL): [https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/687829497350881280/famitsu-kprs-interview-part-1 Part 1] & [https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/687829492002127872/famitsu-kprs-interview-part-3 part 3] (part 2 is focused on ''Klonoa 2'')
** Unofficial English translations (partially done via DeepL): [https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/687829497350881280/famitsu-kprs-interview-part-1 Part 1] & [https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/687829492002127872/famitsu-kprs-interview-part-3 part 3]<ref group="note">Part 2 is focused on ''[[Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil]]''.</ref>


== Reviews ==
== Reviews ==
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Japanese review in PlayStation Magazine December 18 1997.jpg
|title=PlayStation Magazine
|date=December 18, 1997
|country=JP
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Japanese review from Hideo Yoshizawa tweet 1.jpg
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Japanese review from Hideo Yoshizawa tweet 1.jpg
Line 375: Line 430:
|country=JP
|country=JP
|description=Panel review
|description=Panel review
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Japanese review from Hideo Yoshizawa tweet 6.jpg
|title=
|date=1997
|country=JP
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 388: Line 437:
|country=JP
|country=JP
|description=Newspaper excerpt, possibly from ''Asahi Shimbun''
|description=Newspaper excerpt, possibly from ''Asahi Shimbun''
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Arabic review in Computer Games issue 11 watermarked.pdf
|title=Computer Games
|date=~1997/1998
|country=SA
|description=Printed right to left & watermarked
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 433: Line 489:
|date=March 1998
|date=March 1998
|country=US
|country=US
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Russian review in Strana Igr issue 22.jpg
|title=Strana Igr (Gameland)
|date=March 1998
|country=RU
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 439: Line 501:
|date=March 1998
|date=March 1998
|country=BR
|country=BR
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile review in Game Informer issue 60.jpg
|title=Game Informer
|date=April 1998
|country=US
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Polish review in PSX Extreme issue 8.pdf
|title=PSX Extreme
|date=April 1998
|country=PL
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 462: Line 536:
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile French review in Consoles Plus issue 77.pdf
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile French review in Consoles Plus issue 77.pdf
|title=Consoles +
|title=Consoles +
|date=June 1998
|country=FR
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile French review in Next Games issue 2.png
|title=Next Games
|date=June 1998
|date=June 1998
|country=FR
|country=FR
Line 470: Line 550:
|date=June 1998
|date=June 1998
|country=ES
|country=ES
}}
{{GalleryCard
|file=Klonoa Door to Phantomile Polish review in Neo Plus issue 1.pdf
|title=Neo Plus
|date=July 1998
|country=PL
}}
}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 507: Line 593:
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxgmWw6wqs|description=''Flights of Fantasy'' review|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxgmWw6wqs|description=''Flights of Fantasy'' review|container=frame|dimensions=360|alignment=inline|valignment=top}}


== Sales charts ==
== Sales ==
=== Japan ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Copies sold that week !! Total sold !! Chart position
|-
| 1997-12-14<ref name="niche">[https://nichebarrier.com/game/33972-klonoa-door-to-phantomile Niche Barrier's record of ''Weekly Famitsu'''s sales charts]</ref> ||colspan="2;" style="text-align: center;" | 48,950 || 3
|-
| 1997-12-21<ref name="niche" /> || 24,309 || 73,259 || 20
|-
| 1998-01-04<ref name="niche" /> ||style="background-color: gray;" | || 112,575 ||style="background-color: gray;" |
|}
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryStart}}
{{GalleryCard
{{GalleryCard
Line 517: Line 614:
}}
}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}
=== North America ===
Note that the below data was largely taken from the NPD Group's TRST system, which only accounted for a portion of approximately 81% of American game retailers (as officially stated in 2000). In addition, Walmart pulled out between [https://kidscreen.com/2003/10/01/npd-20031001 July 2001] and [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/walmart-lifts-restrictions-on-u-s-game-sales-data July 2011], dropping the officially estimated coverage to 60%.<ref name="aug2001">[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/38b67b08-a3c7-4233-8e66-b2084b77c1aa August 2001 TRSTS video games report (archived on the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Copies sold that period !! Total sold
|-
| 2000-07-01<ref>[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/bd896d2e-2e0a-4404-90e4-88ef46eef949 June 2000 TRSTS video games report (archived by the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref> || 325 (thus far that year)<br>86 (May 28 - July 1) ||style="background-color: gray;" |
|-
| 2001-01-31<ref>[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/7d0f8897-34f1-4253-939f-849a94a61f76 LTD sales report up through the end of January 2001 (archived by the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref> ||style="background-color: gray;" | || 25,830
|-
| 2001-03<ref>[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/3f281fff-9f88-4174-9ba3-f4496cbf673d March 2001 sales report (archived by the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref> ||style="background-color: gray;" | || 25,834
|-
| 2001-06<ref>[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/6c32790c-a3b1-45a0-b389-c618e33e37c1 June 2001 sales report (archived by the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref> ||style="background-color: gray;" | || 25,842
|-
| 2001-09-01<ref name="aug2001" /> || 62 (thus far that year)<br>5 (August 5 - September 1) ||style="background-color: gray;" |
|-
| 2001-09-30<ref name="aug2001" /> ||style="background-color: gray;" | ||rowspan="3" | 25,851
|-
| 2002-12<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030213103356/www.theonionring.com/Dec_TRSTS.html Archived copy of a TRST spreadsheet reporting on December 2002 game sales]</ref> ||style="background-color: gray;" |
|-
| 2003<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030418152635/http://www.theonionring.com/01-2003-TRSTS.html Archived copy of a TRST spreadsheet reporting on January 2003 game sales]</ref><ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/alt.games.video.sony-playstation2/c/EITNdEOBAfU/m/9r2L6ZD0F44J Post by Steven Hurdle in the alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 thread "Has the videogame market finally stopped growing?" (September 17, 2003)]</ref> ||style="background-color: gray;" |
|}
=== United Kingdom ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Total sold
|-
| 2000?<ref>[https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/86726cb4-f512-4f32-9638-a9ab063af948 "2000-STD-ANNUAL-SW-UK" (archived by the Video Game History Foundation Library)]</ref> || 1,794
|}
== Websites ==
* [https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/list/klonoa Official Japanese website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19980709085115fw_/http://namco.com/athome/titles/klonoa/index.html Official American website (archived via Wayback Machine)]
== Forum posts ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050222103915/http://boards.ign.com:80/Klonoa/b5920/69453641/?2 "Length"] (a brief conversation about how long it takes to beat the game on IGN's ''Klonoa'' board; began October 10, 2004, archived via Wayback Machine on February 22, 2005)


== Miscellaneous ==
== Miscellaneous ==
Line 557: Line 693:
{{GalleryEnd}}
{{GalleryEnd}}


== Websites ==
== Notes ==
* [https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/list/klonoa Official Japanese website]
<references group="note" />


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 11:51, 23 July 2025

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is a 2.5D platform game released for the PlayStation in 1997 (in Japan) and 1998 (the rest of the world).

History[edit]

Previews[edit]

Gameplay footage from E3 1997
Short preview from Game Catalog II (a Japanese TV show run by Famitsu; December 4, 1997)
Video preview taken from a CD-ROM bundled with issue 39 of Next Generation (dated March 1998)

Magazine covers[edit]

Features[edit]

Reader submissions[edit]

Advertising[edit]

Japanese TV ad (with English subtitles by the uploader, Chris Aaron)
Japanese store promo video

Interviews[edit]

Reviews[edit]

Flights of Fantasy review

Sales[edit]

Japan[edit]

Date Copies sold that week Total sold Chart position
1997-12-14[4] 48,950 3
1997-12-21[4] 24,309 73,259 20
1998-01-04[4] 112,575

North America[edit]

Note that the below data was largely taken from the NPD Group's TRST system, which only accounted for a portion of approximately 81% of American game retailers (as officially stated in 2000). In addition, Walmart pulled out between July 2001 and July 2011, dropping the officially estimated coverage to 60%.[5]

Date Copies sold that period Total sold
2000-07-01[6] 325 (thus far that year)
86 (May 28 - July 1)
2001-01-31[7] 25,830
2001-03[8] 25,834
2001-06[9] 25,842
2001-09-01[5] 62 (thus far that year)
5 (August 5 - September 1)
2001-09-30[5] 25,851
2002-12[10]
2003[11][12]

United Kingdom[edit]

Date Total sold
2000?[13] 1,794

Websites[edit]

Forum posts[edit]

  • "Length" (a brief conversation about how long it takes to beat the game on IGN's Klonoa board; began October 10, 2004, archived via Wayback Machine on February 22, 2005)

Miscellaneous[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. Part 2 is focused on Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil.

References[edit]