Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal
A top-down action RPG with color-based combat and stat customization.
Namco developed and published this action role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, releasing it only in Japan. It marked the first Klonoa title to blend standard action gameplay with role-playing features.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Namco (Klonoa Works)
- Publisher
- Namco
- Director
- Toshiyuki Nakanishi
- Designer
- Toshiyuki Nakanishi; Aisaku Yamanaka
- Series
- Klonoa
- Released
- December 13, 2002 (JP)
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Klonoa Heroes departs from the series' usual handheld gameplay by adopting a top-down perspective. Players control Klonoa, Guntz, or Pango as they defeat enemies and earn experience points in the form of Dream Shards and gold. Klonoa uses the Wind Ring to fire blue or red wind bullets; Guntz's handguns and Pango's bombs function similarly. Each enemy has a blue or red color affinity, and matching the attack color deals extra damage. Characters can acquire different weapons and use restorative items found in chests or bought from merchants. Leveling up lets players allocate points to attack, defense, or agility, and these allocations can be changed at any time outside of level sections. The game consists of eight worlds, each divided into small levels called visions, ending with a boss monster.
Story
Klonoa Heroes is set in an alternate universe where Klonoa dreams of earning a Hero Medal. In Breezegale, he and his friend Chipple seek a rare Hikari Sakura flower. After retrieving it, Klonoa learns from his dog-like companion Popka that monsters threaten the town. He visits childhood friend Lolo, a priestess-in-training, who warns of monsters on Bell Hill. Klonoa is ambushed by Moos but rescued by Guntz, a motorcycle-riding bounty hunter with a bronze Hero Medal. Guntz takes the Hikari Sakura, but Klonoa defeats him and returns the flower to Lolo. Guntz later invites Klonoa to join him as a partner, and they leave Breezegale for bounty hunting. During a mission, Guntz encounters Janga, who killed his father. Both are captured but escape with help from Pango, a bomb expert pangolin seeking a cure for his son Boris's sleeping sickness. Janga works with the mad clown Joka. At the Sky Temple, Klonoa receives a blank Hero Medal. Joka kidnaps Lolo and steals a book containing the cure. Klonoa and Pango track them to Volk, deducing a rocket launch. They defeat Joka but fail to save Lolo. The trio travels to the moon, where they find mastermind Garlen, who orchestrated the attacks and sickness to harvest nightmare energy. His goal is to resurrect Nahatomb, a corrupted hero turned demon, who created Star Medals to drain dreams. Nahatomb needs Lolo as a living battery for revival.
Songs
The theme song is "Sign of Hero" by Kumiko Watanabe and Kanako Kakino. On March 22, 2011, Namco released the full soundtrack as "Klonoa Heroes: Legendary Star Medal Music Collection", which includes the studio version and a karaoke version of the song. Previously, only a downscaled GBA synthesized version was available, with part of the full version heard in a commercial animated by Studio 4°C. The soundtrack became available on iTunes, and on December 20, 2022, it was made available on numerous other streaming platforms alongside the soundtracks for Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal released?
Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal was released on December 13, 2002 in Japan.
Who directed Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal?
Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal was directed by Toshiyuki Nakanishi.
Who designed Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal?
Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal was designed by Toshiyuki Nakanishi and Aisaku Yamanaka.
Is Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal single-player or multiplayer?
Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal offers single-player play.
More in Namco Games of the 2000s
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