Kalanoro Reviews
Isometric action-adventure inspired by Madagascar's folklore
Not only is Kalanoro one of the cutest platformers you'll ever play, it also packs in tons of surprising challenges and lots of variety to boot. 🦝
While I admire the game’s positivity, spirit, and variety, in execution it also feels a bit uneven
I conclude this review of Kalanoro with the firm impression that this is a small-scale adventure with plenty of personality. It doesn’t set out to revolutionize the genre, but rather to offer a simple and fun experience. Its greatest strength lies in the combination of platforming, combat, music, and humor—elements that feel accessible right from the very first minutes. Some aspects could be more in-depth, and certain moments feel a bit too simple, but Kalanoro knows exactly what it wants to offer. It’s a colorful, lighthearted, and unique adventure that stands out for its personality and its quirky atmosphere.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Kalanoro is very approachable for newcomers to platformers, but I also think it’s fun for those who are more experienced and don't mind something a bit more simple. The world is fun to be in and I really enjoyed my time with this. The game is also about 6-8 hours if you’re trying to get every collectible like I was.Going for everything isn’t something I typically do unless I’m really into the game.
Kalanoro is weird and quirky in a good way. The Switch presentation certainly holds it back a little. Some of the bus management elements also feel more like padding than something I genuinely needed. But underneath those issues is a genuinely likeable game with plenty of personality. I enjoyed exploring Lemuria, hunting down collectables, throwing ridiculous weapons at enemies and, yes, using my hair as a weapon. The game’s casual difficulty also makes it an easy game to pick up for a bit in the evening without needing to prepare yourself for an epic battle of wills. If you have access to the PC version, I’d probably lean towards that for the cleaner presentation. But regardless of platform, there is something quite enjoyable about Kalanoro’s strange combination of platforming, exploration, music and silly humour. It’s a little rough around the edges, but sometimes those odd little games are the ones that stick with you.