Thanks to Hamada for helping with edits.
Recently, I beat Klonoa: Door of Phantomile, a PlayStation side-scroller by Bandai Namco. The game is immaculate, a treat to play and write about. In fact, its world is a wonderful, robust place worthy of further discussion — so, in light of recent revelations, let’s revisit Door and its dreary villain.
Ghadius, seen in 1997’s Klonoa: Door of Phantomile (Image: Bandai Namco)
Every aspiring platform mascot needs an antagonist to fight, right? Klonoa brainchild Hideo Yoshizawa certainly believes so. The cute critter’s first adventure pits him against such an evildoer, one whose nature complements their game nicely…
Ghadius’ History
Long ago, Ghadius served as Phantomile’s Dark King, the embodiment of nightmares. It wasn’t a respected position, with everyone ultimately shunning him in favor of the other deities — particularly his opposite number, the Light Spirit. A jealous Ghadius assaulted her, a move that ended with him being sealed away by his contemporaries. After some time, Ghadius escaped and hatched a new plan: summon Nahatomb, the unholy emissary of destruction who would erase Phantomile. Thus, Klonoa begins. The titular star and his partner, Huepow, first meet Ghadius and his sidekick, Joka, early on, and his shadow is felt throughout Door. Unfortunately, beating Ghadius doesn’t stop his scheme, as he sacrifices himself to release the Lovecraftian horror — though, thankfully, it proves no match for our heroes.
Originally, Ghadius was a clown named “Rarapuupu.” Concept art for his cloaked look uses the color red more prominently than his in-game model does. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Following his death, Ghadius hasn’t been seen much. He skipped every Klonoa spin-off, even those set in alternate continuities (Joka, conversely, remains a recurring nuisance). A few comics reference Ghadius’ reign terrorizing Phantomile, while a number of puzzle games honor him. And his debut was retold through a 2008 Wii remake of Door of Phantomile, which tweaked his design and dialogue. Additionally, players now have the option to hear Door’s cast speak with proper voice acting. Ryuzaburo Otomo and JB Blanc portray Ghadius in Japanese and English, respectively.
So, what’re my thoughts on Ghadius?
A welcome reprieve from the milquetoast titles I usually cover, Klonoa: Door of Phantomile is a charming platformer. Grabbing and throwing mooks is its core mechanic, one the game is wonderfully balanced around. As you go, you’ll strike boxes and enemies from different angles, testing your positioning, timing, and ability to discern their weak points. All six main “Visions” also close with a boss battle, the final of which is Ghadius (afterwards, players enter the “Final Vision,” a duel with Nahatomb). After all the damage he caused directly and indirectly, you’ll certainly be eager to confront the mastermind.
Contrasting other platformers, Klonoa’s story is an integral part of the experience. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Admittedly, though, there’s seemingly little substance to Ghadius early on — he’s just evil, bursting into maniacal laughter with little provocation. Thankfully, strong presentation elevates him. His disturbingly deep voice is as memorable as his design, a vicious veneer that looks alien within this idyllic dreamland. Ghadius’ most eye-catching asset is his mask, a glimmering gold piece punctuated with piercing red eyes. Its long beak, however, brings to mind a plague doctor’s mask. Meanwhile, his lengthy, dark robe looks dreamy, yet ominous, cold, and empty. Together, these accessories imply Ghadius’ long, sinister reach, while their hues nicely complement each other. Sometimes, Ghadius’ red gloves emerge from out of his cloak, accentuating his sterile image. And, of course, the demon’s skin — the small glimpses we see of it, anyway — looks lifeless.
After Door reveals its darker underside (Joka outright nukes Klonoa’s grandpa at the midway point, a loss appropriately treated with frankness), it finally delves into Ghadius’ character. Altogether, he’s bitter and jaded, explaining how his scheme is justified revenge for Phantomile rejecting him. Which, honestly, plays into a reasonable, relatable fear: nobody wants to be alone and disliked. Plus, his preamble foreshadows the game’s final twist. We later learn that Klonoa was unnaturally dragged into Phantomile, and Ghadius noticeably addresses him as “strange dream.” Being an outsider himself, it makes sense this magical deity would sense other aberrations.
Ghadius’ abilities fit him perfectly — he rains hazards on the hero while limiting his movements. (Image: Bandai Namco)
As for Ghadius’ boss fight, it’s good. By this point, Door’s seemingly exhausted how it can play with its core mechanic. Then this heel manages to provide a new spin on things — literally; Ghadius sticks the “cabbit” inside a glorified hamster wheel. Not only must players aim at a moving (albeit large) target, now they must do so while simultaneously standing on a rotating surface. It’s also an uncomfortable, claustrophobic setting, restricting Klonoa’s ability to evade.
This brawl spans three phases. First, Ghadius showers Klonoa with his standard grunts, the Moos. Some are vulnerable to being grabbed if struck during their descent. Should Klonoa touch one of those four glowing spheres, however, he’s teleported to the top of the wheel. Afterwards, he must jump across, dodging Ghadius’ lasers to reach another teleporter, sending him back inside. During the second phase, the masked madman shoots projectiles. These bounce around the arena, and are tailed by grabbable Moos. Finally, the creep wisens up. His primary attack during the third phase is a triangle of energy, which he throws downwards after telegraphing an angle. However, a few Moos reside in this thing, and it isn’t sturdy. If Klonoa’s default Wind Bullet projectile hits one of the green stones holding the shape together, it breaks apart, freeing the Moos. Altogether, this is a fun fight, one that never goes too long without giving you a chance to retaliate. And Ghadius’ defeat cleanly segues into the showdown against Nahatomb.
Ghadius isn’t as tough in the Wii version. The vomit green background also lessens the celestial ambiance, don’t you think? (Image: Bandai Namco)
Kindly, Ghadius remains in control of his plot throughout Door, avoiding a tired cliché other villains suffer from. Sure, his scheme is ultimately foiled, but Ghadius successfully spawning Nahatomb is still an achievement. Honestly, though, while Ghadius isn’t the series’ most interesting villain, he’s a fine one to kickstart it. Someone like him was necessary to help cultivate Door’s darker, more somber moments, and though his death is likely permanent, Ghadius will live on in the memories of Klonoa and Klonoa fans — and I’m glad a version of his game will grace modern systems, introducing them to a new, wider audience.
Congratulations, Ghadius! Meet your doom!
Phantomile suffers no lasting consequences from Ghadius’ hijinks, and Klonoa’s now purging other beleaguered realms of troublesome toughs. I look forward to facing them someday! (Image: Bandai Namco)
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