Kao the Kangaroo Reviews
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.
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.
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
Kao the Kangaroo is in a werid place. The story, voice acting and dialogue all suggest it's meant for kids, but the design and various elements feel dated. In the older days these experiences were the norm, but today it might not be what players expect or even want. This, along with some annoying glitches and underwhelming combat leaves Kao the Kangaroo in a rough place. It still has some good moments, they're just lost in a sea of basically making a modern Dreamcast title.
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.
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.
Kao The Kangaroo is a love letter to the platforms of 90s and early 2000s, with all their strenghts and weaknesses.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Kao the Kangaroo will not go down in history, I think you probably guessed it. We have to admit that it represents an interesting and still accessible challenge for people who are new to the genre. Your children could find it a lot of fun and it could prepare them to tackle little more fleshed out games. It's absolutely nothing mean-spirited towards Kao the Kangaroo but just like the other games in the series, it lacks something to elevate it to the level of the best games in the genre. Its lifespan of about 8 hours is more than reasonable and that's why it can be interesting for newer gamers.
Review in French | 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.
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 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 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.
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.
Kao the Kangaroo might be a solid reboot that walks you down the memory lane for a few hours, but it won't be an experience that stays with you for a long time, just like any other game in this franchise.
Review in Persian | Read full review
But once again, underneath that is a solid 3D platformer that deserves to be played. I very earnestly hope that the technical issues can be resolved as I think Kao the Kangaroo is worth playing, especially if you have a fondness for the forgotten 3D platformers of the early 2000s. For now, go in with some caution and be ready to battle some bugs along the way.
This is the sort of game that’s easy-going, relaxing and enjoyable to play. You don’t need to think too much about it; simply turn the game on, switch yourself off and enjoy. And right now, that’s something we all need more of in our lives. If you’re looking for a platforming game that breaks the mould, this isn’t it. But if you simply want a solid entry into the genre, one that sticks to the rules but does so with finesse, you’ll love Kao the Kangaroo.
Kao the Kangaroo is a fun reboot that should get your attention. The save-system bug aside, Kao the Kangaroo is a simple and fun 3D platformer that anyone can enjoy. Yes, it doesn't provide much of a challenge and once you've played through you will have seen everything on offer. You're not getting the next Mario Odyssey-like game in terms of quality; it's clearly a developer trying to punch higher than it can really go. That said, the game itself is a lot of fun and a refreshingly easy take on the genre. If you're looking for your next easygoing platformer or just something that anyone in the family can enjoy, you should check out Kao the Kangaroo.
Kao the Kangaroo is a fun jump through memory lane that delivers an enjoyable (albeit slightly repetative) experience in classic arcade 3D platforming fashion. However the character, graphics and worlds lends itself
Kao the Kangaroo is a fun 3D platformer franchise revival with solid platforming and less-than-solid narrative.