Kao the Kangaroo Reviews
Kao the Kangaroo will appeal to children and efficiently guide them through its diverse world with simple combat and puzzles. For a more mature audience, however, the mechanics will be overly primitive, and a closer look at the graphics won't please them either.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Ultimately, the main reason people play video games is to have fun. And Kao The Kangaroo delivers this in abundance. There is a fine line between taking inspiration from something, and just plain copying something. Kao The Kangaroo walks this line very precariously, and a couple of times it does verge on copying. Particularly collecting the letters K-A-O in each level, and the chase segments where Kao is running away from something towards the camera, have pretty much been lifted straight from other platformers (Donkey Kong and Crash Bandicoot, respectively). Despite the lack of originality though, Tate Multimedia have successfully created an extremely well-rounded platformer. Ticking all of the main boxes for visuals, gameplay, and aesthetics, it’s a slick, modern take on a beloved genre. If you’re willing to overlook a bland protagonist and a forgettable cast of characters, you will find a lot to love about Kao The Kangaroo.
When it comes to animal mascot games from the late 90s, and early 00s, the ones that immediately come to mind are Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and Jak & Daxter.
Kao the Kangaroo is a fairly pleasant platformer with some non-dealbreaker issues.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The return of Kao may not have been combined with an impressive entry into the platformers sector and there is certainly still a way to go against Kirby, Crash and Ratchet.
Review in Greek | Read full review
"Kao the Kangaroo is a decent reboot that may satisfy the series’ long-time fans. While it ticks all the checklist for being a classic platformer offering well-designed platforming, it has its own list of flaws. While the game looks quite charming from the outside, there’s anything hardly original or unique that justifies the price tag, particularly for a newcomer. Still, if you’re a fan of the series and have a soft spot for the series, pick it up during sale."
Considering the series has been dormant for so long, credit has to be given to the developers for their foresight: what we have here is not only a loving tribute to a cult classic but a thoughtful revisiting of one of gaming's most formative genres. Anyone who had fun with 3D Platformers in the 1990s and 2000s is going to enjoy KAO The Kangaroo; although the difficulty may leave something to be desired for die-hard fans, I'm sure they'll still have a blast.
Kao the Kangaroo is a surprisingly successful game, and a quality reboot for a series that, so far, has had little impact. The platforming sections are always fun, and the search for collectibles can keep you entertained for hours. It's just not a recommendable experience for any fan of 3D platform games for having an uninspired combat system and an almost inexcusable amount of bugs and problems. With a little more love and affection, this could very well be the rebirth from the ashes of this mascot, whose next entry we will look forward to with anticipation and interest.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While the presentation has some peaks and valleys, the game’s level design, platforming, and combat should surely grant this Kangaroo a seat at the table right next to the bandicoot and purple dragon that clearly inspired it.
If you love 3D collect-a-thon platformers, Kao the Kangaroo is worth taking a look at once its bugs are patched. It might not bring anything new to the genre, but it’s a short slice of what makes 3D platforming fun.
I really wanted to love Kao the Kangaroo. And while I did enjoy parts of it, the severe glitch I encountered kept me from progressing like I had expected to and effectively kept me from actually beating the game. Once Nintendo gets around to implementing the patch, I could potentially recommend the experience. But until version 1.2 goes live, I cannot recommend it to other platformer fans in good conscience.
Kao the Kangaroo is a serviceable 3D platformer. Derivative of its peers and totally indebted to them, the game has a hard time standing out, even though it offers solid, if forgettable, adventuring.
After the disappearance of Kao’s Father, Koby, and his sister Mia, Kao has taken it upon himself to don the Gloves that his father hid from the world to become the hero his home needs. With his coach, Walt the Koala, offering his concerns over the magical set of Gloves, it becomes clear that Kao is no ordinary little Kangaroo, and he is more than capable of giving anyone who gets in his way, the old 1-2 punch combo. This journey will take him through jungles, volcanos, icy mountain tops with hordes of Stinky Bugs, Slimy frogs, and burly Monkeys standing in your way.
The Kao the Kangaroo reboot was unexpected. Although it generally follows the formula of early 3D platformers – and thus will satisfy gamers looking for nostalgic gameplay – it’s light on challenge and long on cheesy dialogue. I do appreciate what they are going for here, but the execution could have been better. Plus, the bugs make this feel like a not-quite-finished product.
Kao the Kangaroo is very flawed, but also very enjoyable. It feels like I’m playing the 2022 equivalent to Gex, Chameleon Twist, or Toy Story 2: a game that smells like jank, but has enough charm and redeemable qualities (namely its excellent level design) to be worth a shot if you’re a fan of the genre. It will probably not going to wow you in any way, or leave a lasting impression, but it is proof that B-tier mascot platformers are alive and well in 2022.
Kao the Kangaroo breathes new life into the franchise with charming new characters and inviting visual designs, although the gameplay may remain too easy for some.
Kao the Kangaroo is not flipping the platforming genre on its head or reinventing the wheel, but it most certainly comes as a breath of fresh air in a space desperate for something other than Crash, Spyro, or even Astrobot. It is a simple and fun 3D Platformer meant for easy going and fun play sessions. It is a commendable goal for a game release in 2022, and it certainly ticks all the correct boxes. Ultimately, the game does not disappoint in its endeavours and is a solid platforming title to play and enjoy with family and friends.
My time with Kao the Kangaroo left me filled with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I enjoyed its simple yet engaging challenges and its world-building, which recalls the cartoons we watched as children. However, on the other hand, I found so many technical flaws that all the satisfaction that the game brings in its essence gave way to frustration. Perhaps with a good update, the game will get the polish it deserves. Until then, it's like a Schrodinger Game: it's both good and bad.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Kao the Kangaroo has become a nice platformer that tickles some memories of my favorite games of the past and that still delivers its own charme.
Review in German | Read full review
A surprisingly well-made platformer with above-average visuals and engaging characters. A perfect entry-level collectathon for a younger audience.