Kao the Kangaroo Reviews

Kao the Kangaroo is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo makes no secret of its inspirations and while this isn't the toughest platformer going, it's refreshingly straightforward.

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6 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

I initially thought that Kao the Kangaroo would, at the very least, be a great recommendation for younger players. Then I remembered that I and generations of kids cut their teeth on games like Mario, Crash Bandicoot, or Ratchet & Clank – kid-friendly platformers that still offer plenty of mechanical depth, polish, and design creativity. Children are much more capable than we sometimes give credit for, and Kao’s by-the-numbers design would likely bore all but the most nascent of gamers. Kao the Kangaroo isn’t a total disaster by any means. It just feels aggressively average and forgettable which, sadly, has been the case for the mascot for years.

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7 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

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7 / 10
May 30, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is an often-delightful throwback to a simpler time, paying homage to the 3D platformers of yesteryear while retaining just enough of its own identity. Most importantly, its platforming and combat are both on point, and thanks to its likeable characters you'll want to see it through to the end.

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6 / 10
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo succeeds in delivering a nostalgic platformer vibe with everything you’d expect from that mixed in, including coins and collectibles that encourage exploration, along with a bright, cheerful atmosphere. With some of these issues fixed, the bugs and glitches especially, I could easily see this game scoring closer to a 7 or 8. However, because of the number of bugs I encountered and how disruptive some of them were, I can’t in good conscience give this game anything higher than a 6, much as it pains me to do so.

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7.8 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Simple and fun, Kao the Kangaroo is a platformer that despite having minor flaws is worth playing: it's a fine tribute to the 3D platformers of the heydays.

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7 / 10.0
May 30, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a fun throwback to platformers of the noughties, but it has a few issues that really hold it back.

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70 / 100
Jul 1, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo makes a valiant effort in this reboot, but it still feels like half the game it should be. Many mechanics feel unexplored, the final world is a single level with a boss fight, and it's very glitchy. Still, it's a fun enough romp for what it is and I hope we see more of this marsupial in the future.

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May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo’s core mechanics are solid and some of the things it adds to the series, like the elemental gloves, help keep things interesting, but it’s nothing that the genre hasn’t seen before, and some of those changes end up actively taking away from the experience. There’s good to be found here, but it’s weighed down by so much jank and a lack of innovation that it doesn’t feel like the welcome back that Kao deserves.

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6.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a fairly decent, if unspectacular, platformer that harks back to a golden age of the genre's 3D era in many ways. Sadly, it falls short of being a notable addition to a heavily stacked part of gaming's history. That could well be its strength when it inevitably becomes an unexpected platforming touchstone for a new generation of young gamers in the way Croc, Gex, Crash, et all did for previous ones.

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6 / 10
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo makes his big return in 2022, but the game feels like it's leapt straight out of PS2's back catalogue. Despite many rough edges and old-fashioned design principles, it ultimately succeeds in delivering a fun, breezy 3D platformer for fans of the series. It manages to evoke feelings of nostalgia despite being a brand new title with its simple gameplay and colourful worlds. It does fall apart under modern scrutiny, but it just about gets away with it, thanks to its harmlessly old-school approach.

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6 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo offers a pretty solid platforming experience and its graphics and soundtrack offer a pleasant nostalgic experience. Its environmental design is so charming, and the characters are loveable despite their poor voice acting. However, this experience is stopped short by bugs, repetitive gameplay, and poor storytelling. With a number of fantastic 3D platformers released in recent history, it's hard to recommend Kao the Kangaroo. If Tate Interactive would have kept this game in its developmental pouch a little longer, a lot of its big issues could have easily been resolved. Heck, we already waited almost 20 years for this game, we could have waited a few more months.

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Unscored
May 26, 2022
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83 / 100
May 27, 2022

Kao The Kangaroo is an excellent 3D platformer that captures the magic of the golden era. The solid mechanics and great level design make this nostalgic adventure a joy. Even though it’s not particularly difficult and sticks to conventions, it will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Jun 9, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a lot better than I expected considering it was a revival of a game that was even lesser know when it originally launched. I miss these types of platform games and we truly still don’t get enough of them. While the difficulty is nearly non-existent it is still worth checking out for gamers that grew up with the likes of Ty, Tomba, and the Jersey Devil. A simple time when mascot platform games were a dime a dozen, now they are few and far between.

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7 / 10
May 27, 2022

Short and extremely easy, Kao the Kangaroo won't win over anyone that isn't itching for a new 3D platformer. But it's still fairly enjoyable and a solid way to spend a few hours for anyone looking for a collection-based throwback.

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Chris Wray
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a mixed bag. Far from bad, it offers decent platforming across several well-designed levels, though some issues hold it back. Some bugs certainly impact gameplay, with camera control also a gameplay-inhibiting factor. The lack of real challenge throughout most of the game will also be a limiting factor for replay value, though there is a level of exploration and several collectibles to find. While certainly not up there as one of the best platformers, Kao isn't a bad way to pass your time, and it's fortunately not priced as high as most new releases.

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7 / 10
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo may have been on hiatus for a while, but we're glad to see that he's back in good form. Well-paced level design, an appealing art style, surprisingly satisfying combat, and lots of collectibles to snag all come together to make for a thrillingly retro 3D platforming experience.That said, elements like an occasionally misbehaving camera and performance issues hold this adventure back from being the really excellent revival it could have been. If you still find a lot to love about games like A Hat in Time, Demon Turf, or Banjo-Kazooie, then we're confident that you'll have a great time with Kao the Kangaroo despite its minor issues. If you're a bit tired of such games, however, this isn't going to do much to change your mind. Overall, we'd recommend investigating Kao the Kangaroo if you're the slightest bit interested; despite some rough edges, this is a charming platforming experience.

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May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a fun 3D platformer franchise revival with solid platforming and less-than-solid narrative.

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Liked
May 27, 2022
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