Kao the Kangaroo Reviews

Kao the Kangaroo is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10
May 27, 2022

Kao The Kangaroo is a hard one to sum up, then, because while it definitely feels low-budget, clunky and frustrating at times, it's also a platformer packed with plenty of fun and memorable moments. It feels like the developer went the extra mile to inject some ambition into this game and craft something that deserves a place alongside the behemoths of the genre, even if it can't meet the lofty heights of a Crash Bandicoot or a Super Lucky's Tale. It's nice to see Kao punching above his weight in 2022, and not just being relegated to an easy cash grab.

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo makes me miss the old ways of doing things. While it doesn't do much to challenge you, it's still lots of fun. If you want to chill out with a cozy platformer, you can't go wrong with this game.

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8 / 10
Sep 25, 2022

A great little 3D platformer that does it's best to give players a solid and exciting experience featuring a much more refined and redesigned Kao core experience and story. Kao the Kangaroo should impress with its solid controls and strong visual design - if players can accept the drops in visual quality on Switch then this is a hearty recommendation to all players of such titles.

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7.2 / 10.0
May 28, 2022

I mostly enjoyed my time with Kao the Kangaroo as it brought me back to the early 2000s when 3D platformers were plentiful and memorable. It may not be a shining example of the genre but it's fun enough for those who are nostalgic for the good old days.

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Liked
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo gave me the nostalgic feels of 3D platformers back in the day and it feels very refreshing today. It felt like seeing that old friend you haven’t seen since school and you’re a little nervous when you see them again. But after you get chatting you soon realize why you became friends in the first place. Kao is a solid collectable 3D platformer but doesn’t do much to evolve the genre. For most, that’s going to work just fine. Even if you have no experience with the series this game is a good jumping on point. Awful dialogue and some performance issues on Switch hold the title back though. But if you love your 3D platformers this is well worth bouncing on.

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50 / 100
May 27, 2022

Kao's 2022 venture is serviceable and by-the-numbers at best. Its developers have their hearts in the right place in using this 2000s mascot in their new 3D platformer reboot, but this sure isn't even a bronze medal effort if we're being honest.

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6 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a polished platformer that, to its credit and detriment, feels like a time capsule. It's so much of a throwback that its simplistic nature is both its greatest attribute while also holding it back from being a great playing game in the year of our Lord 2022.

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7.8 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a well-meaning game, and despite some missteps, it is in my opinion one of the better 3D platformers of modern gaming. Heck, I’ll go as far as to say that I enjoyed Kao far more than I did the recent Crash 4, which was an incredible disappointment to me. For what Tate Multimedia is charging for this game, I say Kao the Kangaroo is easily worth buying for any 3D platforming enthusiast.

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75 / 100
May 27, 2022

Kao The Kangaroo is a clear child of his time, for better and for worse, he is far from the great current platforms both in quality and content but his proposal is fresh and pleasant. We are facing a fun, entertaining and well-cared game that transports us fully to the 128-bit era and fans of this type of game are very grateful for it.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

WhatIfGaming
Rizwan Anwer
7 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo is a decent offering. While the Kangaroo still has to earn his spot next to the much-beloved Bandicoot or the dwarf dragon in our hearts, the recent revival of Kao, paired with the unlikeliness of us ever getting another Spyro or Crash game in the future makes the marsupial an offering for fans who are looking to scratch that platformer itch. The forced insertion of associating everything with Australian culture, inconsistent and sometimes infuriating gameplay and the very weak story are only a few of the complaints I have, but if you are a fan of platformer adventure titles, and can turn your brain off at certain parts and just enjoy the game as a videogame, there is some fun to be had here.

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Avoid
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo shows the basis for something glorious, but this reboot never packs the necessary punch to be a competent and worthwhile 3D platformer. If anything, Kao the Kangaroo is strong evidence that Tate Multimedia has not learned anything from their previous releases. The newest iteration of their character stumbles through a glitchy and eye-rolly world that only comes off as a could-be cookie-cutter for a better game.

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8 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

Kao the Kangaroo (2022) is the perfect modernised reboot of the classic early 2000s 3D platformer. The game delivers a lot of nostalgia despite being a new game in the series, taking me back to my childhood when games were simple yet highly addictive and fun to play. The story offers around ten hours of gameplay, more if you’re wanting to grab the platinum trophy, which is a perfect length in my opinion. Whether you played the original games or not, fans of 3D platformers should certainly check this out – it’s just so colourful, fun, and satisfying to play.

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8 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

A surprisingly well-made platformer with above-average visuals and engaging characters. A perfect entry-level collectathon for a younger audience.

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79 / 100
May 28, 2022

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

5.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2022

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

Recommended
May 27, 2022

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.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 30, 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.

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7 / 10.0
May 30, 2022

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.

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May 31, 2022

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.

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8 / 10.0
May 30, 2022

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.

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