Namco's Wii remake of its 1997 PlayStation platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is featured in the following gameplay videos.

The game will feature a graphical revamp, in addition to optional Wii Remote-specific controls when it hits stores later this year.

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The good news? Namco's Wii remake of its beloved 1997 PlayStation platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile will arrive in North America later this year. The bad news? We still have no idea what Klonoa actually is. Some sort of long-eared dog? A rabbit?

Its title shortened to just Klonoa, the Wii release packs the same two-button gameplay as the PlayStation original, with a fresh new coat of paint, some "new secrets," and motion controls, such as moving the Wii Remote to throw an enemy.

Fortunately, those motion controls are purely optional, as the side-scroller supports a variety of control schemes, including the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, Wii Remote only, Classic Controller, and even the Nintendo GameCube controller.

"Klonoa's return marks an exciting re-boot of this beloved franchise with old-school gameplay, spectacular graphics and an instantly recognizable character," said Namco Bandai marketing director Todd Thorson. "Klonoa's time-tested gameplay and intricate level design make for an awesome experience on Wii."

Yesterday brought word that Namco Bandai was remaking its cult-classic PlayStation platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile for the Wii. Today, we have screenshots. The side-scrolling platformer and its long-eared dog-cat-rabbit-thing protagonist will arrive in Japan this December. Namco has yet to announce a North American release.

Namco Bandai has announced plans to bring its beloved 1997 PlayStation platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile to the Wii, 1UP reports.

Built around the "easy to learn, difficult to master" mentality, the game sported a two-button control scheme, allowing its long-earned dog-rabbit-thing protagonist Klonoa to jump and grab enemies. The Wii version will unsurprisingly pack a graphical revamp, and will have players holding the Wii Remote sideways to replicate those controls.

Though a traditional side-scrolling platformer at heart, the game's path had players weaving in and out of the landscape in 3D-like manner. And while many assumed Klonoa to be a light-hearted romp due to its colorful graphics, the original packed an oddly sobering tale.

The series has remained mostly dormant since its 2001 PlayStation 2 sequel, only living on through some Game Boy Advance spin-offs. A volleyball offshoot was also produced for the original PlayStation, but never arrived in North America.

Klonoa Wii will hit Japan on December 4, priced at 4800 yen ($45). A North American release has yet to be announced.