Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (lost mobile port of PlayStation 2.5D platformer; 2008): Difference between revisions
PowerStone05 (talk | contribs) (base writeup. I did a good amount of research trying to make sense of the mobile phone market in Japan at the time to understand this. Despite this, there are still alot of unknowns surrounding the game's release and the phone services themselves.) |
PowerStone05 (talk | contribs) (adding/changed sentences with news about the i-mode store shutdown.) |
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{{InfoboxLost | {{InfoboxLost | ||
|title=<center>Klonoa: Door to Phantomile ( | |title=<center>Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (mobile port)</center> | ||
|image=Klonoaiapplititleshot.png | |image=Klonoaiapplititleshot.png | ||
|imagecaption=Title screen of the mobile port of ''Klonoa: Door to Phantomile''. | |imagecaption=Title screen of the mobile port of ''Klonoa: Door to Phantomile''. | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
}} | }} | ||
''Klonoa: Door To Phantomile'' is a 2.5D platformer originally released on PlayStation in late 1997. In the game you play the titular Klonoa, a cat-like being who travels to various worlds throughout the games. While the world itself is 3D, the allowed paths of movement are restricted to 2D, often referred to as 2.5D. Klonoa traverses levels by picking up enemies with his Wind Ring and utilizing them for double jumps or as ammo, in addition to solving puzzles to progress in levels. | ''Klonoa: Door To Phantomile'' is a 2.5D platformer originally released on PlayStation in late 1997. In the game you play the titular Klonoa, a cat-like being who travels to various worlds throughout the games. While the world itself is 3D, the allowed paths of movement are restricted to 2D, often referred to as 2.5D. Klonoa traverses levels by picking up enemies with his Wind Ring and utilizing them for double jumps or as ammo, in addition to solving puzzles to progress in levels. | ||
The game was critically well-received at the time and sold well in its home country of Japan, but sold fairly poor comparatively abroad. | The game was critically well-received at the time and sold well in its home country of Japan, but sold fairly poor comparatively abroad. | ||
==The Port== | ==The Port== | ||
In late 2008, the game was ported to Java and released in Japan for DoCoMo mobile phones through its i-appli service. The game was later released as a S! App and as an EZ app for their respective phones. The developer of the | '''In late 2008, the game was ported to Java and released in Japan for DoCoMo mobile phones through its i-appli service'''. The port doubled as a way to promote the then upcoming Nintendo Wii remake of the game.<ref name="Fam">Weekly Famitsu #1040</ref><ref name="KlonoaBlog1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20211001234057/https://klonoa-at-blog.tumblr.com/post/663314126051868672/from-weekly-famitsu-november-21st-2008-get Fan blog detailing the port.] Retrieved 01 Oct '21</ref> The game was later released as a S! App and as an EZ app for their respective phones. The developer of the ports was Windream,<ref name="WD">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200430105610/http://windream.co.jp/deve/Klonoa.html The developer's webpage for the port.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> who had also done mobile ports of other Namco titles. The ports were never released outside of Japan. | ||
The game could have been purchased on its own and/or have been part of a compilation of titles accessible via subscription called Namco EZ Games.<ref name="NamcoEZ">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090223135514/http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/mobile/imode/namcogames/ Archived page from Namco for their Namco EZ Games subscription service.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> | The game could have been purchased on its own and/or have been part of a compilation of titles accessible via subscription called Namco EZ Games.<ref name="NamcoEZ">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090223135514/http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/mobile/imode/namcogames/ Archived page from Namco for their Namco EZ Games subscription service.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> The S! App version included a new widescreen mode for phones that supported it. In addition, '''the Softbank 930P model came preinstalled with a trial version of the game''', with the option to purchase the full game.<ref name="SoftBank">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090429002549/http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2009/20090129_01/ SoftBank's press release mentioning the port.] Retrieved 01 Oct '21</ref><ref name="SoftBank2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090414000510/http://softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2009/20090129_01/page_02.html Archived SoftBank page with a list of then upcoming games.] Retrieved 01 Oct '21</ref><ref name="Ktai">[https://web.archive.org/web/20210927032253/https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/43825.html Archived K-Tai Watch article covering the Namco phone ports.] Retrieved 01 Oct '21</ref> | ||
By 2015, the web links to Namco's page from the developer were dead. New phone plans for the i-mode service were discontinued in 2019<ref name="DoMo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20210923201933/https://iphonewired.com/news/5269/ News article announcing the phone service's discontinuation.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> | By 2015, the web links to Namco's page from the developer were dead. New phone plans for the i-mode service were discontinued in 2019,<ref name="DoMo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20210923201933/https://iphonewired.com/news/5269/ News article announcing the phone service's discontinuation.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> making it more difficult to access the network and because of this, it is unknown if it was even still available to purchase/subscribe to as recent years. On November 30, 2021, the i-Mode download store was shut down, making any i-Mode related title completely non-downloadable.<ref name="iMode">[https://web.archive.org/web/20211203192605/https://datahorde.org/reflecting-on-the-i-mode-shutdown-with-rockmancosmo/ Blog with tweets discussing the i-Mode store shutdown.] Retrieved 03 Dec '21</ref> The accessibility for S! App and EZ app is unknown but likely in similar circumstances. | ||
As of 2021, the only evidence of the game's existence is a page with screenshots from the developer's website<ref name="WD"/> and two gameplay videos that were uploaded to NicoVideo shortly after release.<ref name="Nico1">[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5419295 First portion of the gameplay footage.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref><ref name="Nico2">[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5421611 Second portion of the gameplay footage.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> No dump of the game is known to exist. | As of 2021, the only evidence of the game's existence is a page with screenshots from the developer's website<ref name="WD"/> and two gameplay videos that were uploaded to NicoVideo shortly after release.<ref name="Nico1">[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5419295 First portion of the gameplay footage.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref><ref name="Nico2">[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5421611 Second portion of the gameplay footage.] Retrieved 22 Sep '21</ref> No dump of the game is known to exist. | ||
==Known | ==PS Version Known Changes and Differences== | ||
• The game could have been played in a 1:1 aspect ratio or a widescreen aspect depending on the version if the phone supported it. | |||
• | • Widescreen mode has an altered HUD to fit the aspect ratio, what appears to have a revised indicator for rescued villagers along with an indicator if being played with an external controller. | ||
• The port contains unique arrangements of the music to fit within the mobile hardware's limitations. Sounds and voices were similarly altered. | • The port contains unique arrangements of the music to fit within the mobile hardware's limitations. Sounds and voices were similarly altered. | ||
| Line 39: | Line 41: | ||
• Boss health meters were changed from psuedo-3d sprites to a single bar. | • Boss health meters were changed from psuedo-3d sprites to a single bar. | ||
{{Video|perrow = | ==Gallery== | ||
|service1 = | ===Videos=== | ||
|id1 = | {{Video|perrow =2 | ||
|description1 = | |service1 =nico | ||
|id1 =sm5419295 | |||
|description1 =First half of the only known gameplay footage. | |||
|service2 =nico | |service2 =nico | ||
|id2 = | |id2 =sm5421611 | ||
|description2 | |description2 =Second half of the only known gameplay footage. | ||
}} | }} | ||
===Images=== | |||
== | |||
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px> | <gallery mode=packed heights=175px> | ||
Klonoaiappli001.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website. | Klonoaiappli001.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website. | ||
| Line 62: | Line 59: | ||
Klonoaiappli010.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode. | Klonoaiappli010.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode. | ||
Klonoaiappli011.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode. | Klonoaiappli011.gif|A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode. | ||
Klofamitsuad.jpg|An ad for the port from an issue of "Weekly Famitsu". | |||
Kloktai1.jpg|A photo from a demo setup. | |||
Klokait2.jpg|A photo from a demo setup, showing the game running on hardware. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 68: | Line 68: | ||
[[Category:Lost video games]] | [[Category:Lost video games]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Completely lost media]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:30, 3 December 2021
Title screen of the mobile port of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile.
Status: Lost
Klonoa: Door To Phantomile is a 2.5D platformer originally released on PlayStation in late 1997. In the game you play the titular Klonoa, a cat-like being who travels to various worlds throughout the games. While the world itself is 3D, the allowed paths of movement are restricted to 2D, often referred to as 2.5D. Klonoa traverses levels by picking up enemies with his Wind Ring and utilizing them for double jumps or as ammo, in addition to solving puzzles to progress in levels.
The game was critically well-received at the time and sold well in its home country of Japan, but sold fairly poor comparatively abroad.
The Port
In late 2008, the game was ported to Java and released in Japan for DoCoMo mobile phones through its i-appli service. The port doubled as a way to promote the then upcoming Nintendo Wii remake of the game.[1][2] The game was later released as a S! App and as an EZ app for their respective phones. The developer of the ports was Windream,[3] who had also done mobile ports of other Namco titles. The ports were never released outside of Japan.
The game could have been purchased on its own and/or have been part of a compilation of titles accessible via subscription called Namco EZ Games.[4] The S! App version included a new widescreen mode for phones that supported it. In addition, the Softbank 930P model came preinstalled with a trial version of the game, with the option to purchase the full game.[5][6][7]
By 2015, the web links to Namco's page from the developer were dead. New phone plans for the i-mode service were discontinued in 2019,[8] making it more difficult to access the network and because of this, it is unknown if it was even still available to purchase/subscribe to as recent years. On November 30, 2021, the i-Mode download store was shut down, making any i-Mode related title completely non-downloadable.[9] The accessibility for S! App and EZ app is unknown but likely in similar circumstances.
As of 2021, the only evidence of the game's existence is a page with screenshots from the developer's website[3] and two gameplay videos that were uploaded to NicoVideo shortly after release.[10][11] No dump of the game is known to exist.
PS Version Known Changes and Differences
• The game could have been played in a 1:1 aspect ratio or a widescreen aspect depending on the version if the phone supported it.
• Widescreen mode has an altered HUD to fit the aspect ratio, what appears to have a revised indicator for rescued villagers along with an indicator if being played with an external controller.
• The port contains unique arrangements of the music to fit within the mobile hardware's limitations. Sounds and voices were similarly altered.
• Klonoa's movements are flat against the ground, unlike the PS version where his movement has a little bit of a bounce.
• The opening FMV had to be downloaded separately from the main game. To save on data charges however, the user had the option to skip directly to the game itself.
• Cutscenes and dialogue boxes are altered to fit the aspect ratio.
• Cutscenes are mostly still images with a few moving sprites.
• Levels are divided into smaller portions and have loading screens upon transitions and deaths.
• Mirror Spirit's HUD indicator box and sprite are altered.
• The Balue cutscene in Vision 1-1 uses an arrangement of "Melancholy Soldier" instead of "Balue".
• Boss health meters were changed from psuedo-3d sprites to a single bar.
Gallery
Videos
VideoService "nico" not recognized.
VideoService "nico" not recognized.
Images
A screenshot from the developer's website.
A screenshot from the developer's website.
A screenshot from the developer's website.
A screenshot from the developer's website.
A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode.
A screenshot from the developer's website showcasing the port's widescreen mode.
An ad for the port from an issue of "Weekly Famitsu".
A photo from a demo setup.
A photo from a demo setup, showing the game running on hardware.
References
- ↑ Weekly Famitsu #1040
- ↑ Fan blog detailing the port. Retrieved 01 Oct '21
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The developer's webpage for the port. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Archived page from Namco for their Namco EZ Games subscription service. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ SoftBank's press release mentioning the port. Retrieved 01 Oct '21
- ↑ Archived SoftBank page with a list of then upcoming games. Retrieved 01 Oct '21
- ↑ Archived K-Tai Watch article covering the Namco phone ports. Retrieved 01 Oct '21
- ↑ News article announcing the phone service's discontinuation. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Blog with tweets discussing the i-Mode store shutdown. Retrieved 03 Dec '21
- ↑ First portion of the gameplay footage. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Second portion of the gameplay footage. Retrieved 22 Sep '21