A/N: this is a gaming review I've recently posted on and . I just wanted to share it with you too. On a side note, if you would like me to write a review on a specific game, let me know about and if I managed to play it, I'll gladly make one under request.

The game is "Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil".

Klonoa: Videogames' Veil

By

Madhog thy Master.

If you're a hardcore gamer, or you claim yourself to be one, than you're probably into side scroller / platform games, which unfortunately happen to be a fading genre nowadays and only entities like Nintendo usually keep them in fresh production... Then, there is Klonoa, the dream traveler, the improvised young hero of multiple worlds he could reach through his dreams, just as we do, in essence, when we play games... We travel into mystical realms with their own unique characters, game plays and stories. The fact that Klonoa's trademark is his Pac-Man hat, only reinforce my opinion that he's basically the metaphorical symbol of videogaming fandom aka a reference point for us gamers, mostly hardcore. His games are a further proof of this idea: the first Klonoa game was released in 1997, an age already devoted to brand new 3D environmental statuses brought by games like Super Mario 64 and Final Fantasy VII, and yet, in this new age, Klonoa dared to be a side scroller... Not only that, his game managed to redefine the entire supposed-to-be-dead genre by the original invention of the 2.5D, which made the fundamentally 2D experience of the game deeper with the great add of a 3D rendering. Among the very courageous style, what really made this game great were two things, the original game play (which forced you to utilize your own enemies as fundamental items or power-ups in order to progress in the game) and, more on a personal level, the storyline. The games are usually depicted as kids' genuine material with enjoyable plots that would fascinate them to the point of commotion... But in truth, behind the subtle veil of a child's play, lie deeper and more profound analysis usually related to the never cleared difference between Reality and Dreams (something that is usually defined by a rather relative concept) and other adult themes such as hatred, betrayal and even... Death, which could just have been illusive, just like a dream.

With that said, here's the game I'm reviewing right now, Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil, the official sequel of the first game, released on PS2 at its first year and winner of several magazines' prizes including, "best PS2 game on its first year" or something like that.

Now this game is simply awesome! It has all the things that made this humble franchise great in the first game, only improved: the levels are longer and harder, the boss fights are unique, the enemy / power-ups has some fresh add (like super electric jumping or other enemies' assimilation), the story is better and the characters are deeper and better defined. This time, our cabbit hero finds himself in a mysterious world named Lunatea which happens to be separated in several reigns named after a particular feeling or emotion they're inhabitants used to be filled with: Tranquility, a peaceful realm ruled by a female-centric religious monarchy; Joy, an eternal amusing park; Rage (if I'm not mistaking), a country consumed by a never ending civil war; and Doubt, the xenophobe reign of indecision... By such depiction, we can already imagine Lunatea to be like a whole individual tormented with several psychological issues; and things only got worse when a 5th realm begins to appear seemingly out of nowhere, a sadly forgotten realm, Sorrow.

With Klonoa, Lolo, a shy would be priestess and Popka, a bizarre and in-your-face talking dog puppet thingamajig, you must go and ring the realms' respective bells and harness their elemental powers before the occasional power thirsty villain... But, naturally, narrative twists were just behind the proverbial veil, hence this game's title.

Despite the immense critical appraisement this game has received, it still managed to pass rather overlooked at its release, which is a total and utter shame considering the virtually limitless possibilities this franchise could have achieved, but instead of being treated with the respect it deserved, this original side scrolling experience remained nothing more than an anomaly covered (ironically enough) by the overwhelming veil of more successful and famous games... At least until Nintendo found something to say about it. If you have a Wii, then you should definitely play the brand new remake of the original Klonoa from 1997 and if you happen to own a PS2 (which you probably wouldn't have been so stupid to sell it), then you should go to and freaking buy yourself an amazing, Wisdom inducing copy of Lunatea's Veil and then, you shall thank me later.

Because dreams are what keep ourselves alive. Let's not forget them.

Waa-hoo and see you!

Madhog thy Master 3:16.