Namco has always been one of my favorite publishers having established itself in the market in the generation 32bit launching arcade titles for consoles such as Tekken, Ace Combat, Time Crisis, or Ridge Racer. It was well-known previously for games like Galaga, Pole Position (of the oldest games of cars) and the most famous of all: Pac-Man. The company's library of games had been extended to virtually every genre achieving successful examples in the market, but there was a genre where Namco had not marked its position: Platforms.
Platform games had a key role in the decade of '80 and '90 being a genre that brought the leading figures of video games including the mascots of the three major companies at the time - Mario (Nintendo), Sonic (Sega), and Crash Bandicoot (Sony). Namco also tried his hand at Sony with the game in question: Klonoa!
Klonoa was for me a game that has long aspired to play. The character itself was quite appealing having captivated younger players to play the game mainly in Japan that reached very high sales figures (unfortunately for lusas land something wrong happened). But interestingly one of those bonds is not passed by most players today a game costs higher values ​​than normal. But what's so special? It will be worth playing it? It's that cool? What ... (MIRA! .. WHY THE TRACKS YOU !!)
Graphics: Given the parameters of 1997 (launch year in Japan), Klonoa: Door To Phantomile end up highlighting the positive mixing 2D sprites with 3D visual of the scene. Sprites themselves end up not being good in 2D 2.5D but rather seen the animations even behave as if they were in three dimensions. This different mix achieved a bestial receptivity on the part of players having but one of the most important points, to captivate a mass of fans when it was presented at E3 '97.
Sprites itself is giving magic to the game, with drawing anime style very well recreated. The scenarios only give the necessary depth to enhance the graphical beauty of sprites. Another curious point is relative to model scenarios of the game. Although the game model is 2D levels are set in a spiral and you can see how other parts of the background level, which later will tread. And this ultimately bring a different beauty usual, especially during its launch. This led to criticism in general quite praised the look of Klonoa.
Gameplay: There's not much to be said and at the same time makes it special at various times. It is a very simplistic game platforms, where you only need two buttons in addition to the directional: Jump and Grab. Are those strange ears Klonoa has, that give a deeper dynamic to the gameplay. The grip allows you to use all the bugs we've captured as a tool to go jumping higher, up mos flight, or shoot as a weapon (Remember what Mario was the Koopas? It's something like that ...). And then there is the aspect "bi-three-dimensional" (Bi-Tri .. ?? This is Joseph Castelo Branco or something ??) where sometimes you will need to throw the bugs to the scene, outside the level line. This happens mainly in the bosses where it is necessary to shoot them with something to defeat.
Sound:. Door to Phantomile is a game with many typical features of Japan The design is much the anime style, the characters are strange and very different from what has already been done on this side of the world, but above all, the voice acting It is a Japanese dialect (in the style of Sims) incomprehensible (like I perfectly understand the language). And that becomes surprisingly pleasant, like a breath of fresh air! Along with the soundtrack calm most of the time, being only slightly more electrifying in the final moments of each area (usually ends with a boss). The feeling behind it is quite different from what we usually when we have a hands on platform game. And Klonoa this direction several times brought me to memory another equally good counterpart - Rayman.
Longevity: It's a short game, a little shorter than what I want it. But it is highly replayable. And then this parameter which Klonoa is distinguished from all that has been designed so far. Platform games to date have always been extremely simplistic as the game's argument. If we take into Mario, Sonic, Donkey Kong, Rayman, etc ... We can notice that at the outset we know who the hero, who is the tyrant, and how the game will end. Klonoa end up to meet it but in a phased manner, with little argument leads to be revealed as we go forward in the levels. At various times reminded me of an RPG, with the personal development of the character to be the main attraction of the game. At one point this is the reason that makes us want to advance in the game (instead of simply wanting to come to an end or to see new levels). A plot of this deep in a game platforms was something completely new to me. Even today this mix is ​​unusual to see, and it was funny to see that fit perfectly and gave way quite interesting to play.
Klonoa with time turned out to be a hidden gem for its uniqueness. As for criticism there is little point. It might be pointed out the lack of challenge, but that's nothing to be serious enough to spoil what this game is special. A strong reason that led me to make a list so large and varied of the PSX games, it was exactly this: to find gems like this, little spoken and as beautiful as other reference games more "mainstream". I already have discovered games as well as Koudelka, Star Ocean: The Second Story, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Blood Omen: Legacy Of Kain, or even Bloody Roar 2. I hope to find more and would strongly advise to play Klonoa: Door To Phamtomile . It's a simple, short and undoubtedly spectacular full of Nipponese touches (the Otakus are sure to love!). So it's my verdict:
Graphics: 8.0 (A well-designed mix between 2D and 3D)
Gameplay: 7.8 (Simple, very simple .. But nothing disappointing and surprising)
Sound: 9 (It leads me to a magical world, I love klonoa OST)
Longevity: 8.8 (A game that you will certainly stay in memory and you will give reasons for them to play it)
Final score: 8.2 (. Not the best 2D platform game I've ever played, but certainly as unique as Mario, Sonic or Rayman recommend!)

I loved your introduction, putting the game into context and talking about Namco. As for the review itself, you did very well. It is the first time I read about "longevity"; I guess it would be akin to depth. You structured your text well and you gave plenty of details to show what the game is about.

Slight suggestion: try to separate your paragraphs a little more; it would make reading easier.