Kao the Kangaroo

Kao the Kangaroo is an excellent revisit to the golden age of 3D platformers. Though it doesn't reinvent the wheel of the genre, it provides enough nostalgia and competence to solidify itself as a staple in today's market.

72%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, optimization

74% User Score Based on 548 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 36 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom €0.99

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About

Kao the Kangaroo is a family-friendly 3D platformer game that follows the adventures of Kao, a young and energetic kangaroo. Players will explore vibrant environments, solve puzzles, and battle enemies using Kao's powerful boxing gloves. The game features a rich storyline filled with humor and heart, as Kao embarks on a journey to rescue his sister and uncover the truth about his missing father.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 584 reviews

gameplay75 positive mentions

stability86 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and vibrant environments that evoke nostalgia for classic 3D platformers.
Gameplay is fun and fluid, with enjoyable platforming mechanics and a variety of collectibles to find.
The game successfully captures the essence of its predecessors while introducing new elements, making it appealing to both new players and fans of the original series.

The voice acting is often criticized as poor and unconvincing, detracting from the overall experience.
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with saving progress and inconsistent hit detection.
The story and dialogue are considered weak, with many players finding the humor forced and the plot predictable.

gameplay
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
11%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it offers a nostalgic and straightforward platforming experience, it suffers from a lack of polish and depth. Common criticisms include unresponsive controls, numerous bugs, and repetitive mechanics, particularly in boss fights. Despite these issues, some players found the core mechanics enjoyable and the level design visually appealing, suggesting that with further refinement, the gameplay could reach its full potential.
- “The gameplay is fun though, worth the very reasonable 30 bucks.”
- “Fantastic 3D platformer with amazing level design and wonderful game mechanics, feels like I'm playing a PS2 game in the modern day.”
- “If the quality of a platformer is determined by the quality of its mechanics and moment-to-moment gameplay, 'Kao the Kangaroo' succeeds with flying colors.”
- “However, don't buy this game; the dialogue is very simple, the voice acting feels AI-generated, and overall, the mechanics are unpolished.”
- “I experienced quite a few glitches, some visual and some gameplay-related, such as getting stuck in geometry, falling through the ground twice, dying while sliding and then being permanently stuck in a sliding animation, having to restart the level, and hanging off of a ledge at the wrong angle.”
- “It doesn't have anything fresh to offer in the gameplay department, and what's there has an unpolished, amateurish quality.”
graphics
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The graphics of "Kao the Kangaroo" are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful, and cartoonish art style, reminiscent of classic 3D platformers like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. While the visuals are generally considered beautiful and engaging, some players noted minor graphical bugs and a lack of optimization that can affect performance. Overall, the game's aesthetic is seen as a significant improvement for the franchise, contributing to a fun and visually appealing experience.
- “Artwork for the characters and environments is wonderful!”
- “It's fun and bright with a happy art style that is a pleasure to look at while playing.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, movement is smooth, combat is simple but satisfying, and it has meaningful collectibles and cool unlocks - it's really fun.”
- “One graphical design choice that frustrated me to no end was having to search for diamonds in water that is exactly the same color.”
- “Some graphical bugs are also there.”
- “Game doesn't feel optimized (my graphic card 1080 ti is burning on 2k, 120 fps, but I don't have this kind of problem playing AAA games).”
story
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The story of "Kao the Kangaroo" is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, often described as generic and poorly executed, with many players finding the characters uninteresting and the dialogue nonsensical. While some appreciate the game's cute and child-friendly narrative, others criticize it for being predictable and forgettable, suggesting that the gameplay and visuals overshadow the story's shortcomings. Overall, the narrative serves as a basic backdrop for the platforming experience rather than a compelling element of the game.
- “The storyline is super cute and there are plenty of tutorials so you aren't dropped into a game and expected to know everything.”
- “Overall, the story was perfect for a platformer, and the art style and character designs are why I made it to the end.”
- “Story is simple, but ultimately based on universal, transcendental ideas, which provide good enough motivation for the player and are a perfect fit for younger children, while all sorts of hidden jokes the game has are a nice nod to all of the old gamers who were growing up with the original Kao games.”
- “The story didn’t engage me whatsoever, the characters are uninteresting and literally don’t do anything.”
- “The story is just... it is really not good, poorly written, not engaging at all.”
- “The negatives for this game mainly come from the subpar story writing that barely tries to explain what the story is supposed to be, but yet at the same time takes on really predictable plot elements that you can see from a mile away.”
music
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
62%
12%
The music in the game is generally described as fitting but often bland and repetitive, with many reviewers noting that it lacks diversity and can feel generic or stock-like. Technical issues, such as music cutting out unexpectedly and not resuming properly, detract from the overall experience, leading to moments of awkward silence during gameplay. While some tracks are appreciated for their atmosphere, the soundtrack is largely considered forgettable and not memorable compared to previous titles in the series.
- “The game's score was composed by Patryk Scelina, and should he ever read this, I'd like him to know that his music was easily, easily the highlight of the whole experience.”
- “The soundtrack is very melodic, and the tunes are very singable.”
- “A big plus is the sound - the music in the last level of the amusement park is sensational.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable; some of the animations need some more work, the voice acting is awful, and the story is awful.”
- “The music felt uninspired and cut out or ended at odd places.”
- “A lot of the music is also pretty repetitive throughout the game.”
stability
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, significantly impacting stability and gameplay experience. Players report frequent game-breaking issues, such as getting stuck in the environment and losing progress due to unreliable autosave features. While some minor glitches are tolerable, the overall consensus is that the game's stability issues make it difficult to recommend.
- “It is buggy, broken, and a complete mess.”
- “I experienced quite a few glitches, some visual and some gameplay-related, such as getting stuck in geometry; falling through the ground twice; dying while sliding and then being permanently stuck in a sliding animation, having to restart the level; hanging off of a ledge at the wrong angle, etc.”
- “I can't recommend this game as it is right now due to a massive amount of game-breaking bugs and an even bigger amount of harmless, but annoying glitches (which can be fun in moderation, but oh boy, there sure is no moderation).”
humor
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it forced and cringe-worthy, particularly due to reliance on outdated memes and awkward voice acting. While there are moments of genuine hilarity, especially from glitches and silly dialogue, many feel that the humor often falls flat or feels overly campy. Overall, it appeals to fans of mascot platformers but leaves some craving a more refined comedic approach.
- “But the silly dialogue and humor (yes, even the eye-rolling moments) are quite fun.”
- “Pretty good game, voice acting is a little scuffed and the story is a little childish, but the humor is absolutely on point with so many references it's hard to keep track of them all.”
- “Unfortunately, the game in its current form is suffering from some pretty major bugs, some of which are hilarious (e.g., Kao getting hit by a spike trap and rocketing 60 feet into the air) and some of which are sadly bad enough to be game-breaking.”
- “I genuinely don't believe I have ever played a game this unfunny.”
- “[Bland level design and simplistic puzzles, unfunny and confusing writing, plagued by constant technical issues, missing basic accessibility options, no Aussie accents??]”
optimization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
62%
24%
Overall, the optimization of "Kao the Kangaroo" is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance on devices like the Steam Deck, issues such as stuttering during camera movement, graphical glitches, and audio bugs detract from the experience. The game benefits from a locked frame rate that helps reduce stuttering, but performance can suffer in areas with dense graphics, like grass or rotating objects. Additionally, cutscenes are criticized for their length and lack of optimization, which can disrupt gameplay flow.
- “The game is very well optimized, but the motion blur makes some people (myself included) sick.”
- “I hope everything will be fixed, the game is strongly playable at this point, even the optimization is well done.”
- “The performance and technical aspect of the game are good and overall balanced, but sometimes I notice small graphical glitches here and there and a huge audio bug at the beginning.”
- “I think the problem is that Hopalloo Island has a lot of grass which quite often may affect performance.”
- “Had also problems with performance in the DLC when there were a lot of rotating blade logs on screen.”
- “Cutscenes: we need some optimization (disabling?) for the cutscenes or faster skipping... the level where you run from the barrel/ape is annoying - you die, reload, and have to run through the tree again, followed by a long-lasting cutscene.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with players appreciating the unique and imaginative character designs but feeling that the characters themselves lack depth. While the art style and character designs contribute positively to the overall experience, the story and writing do not receive the same praise, leaving some players wanting more in terms of narrative engagement.
- “Overall story was perfect for a platformer, and the art style and character designs are why I made it to the end.”
- “Clever platforming when incorporating Kao's gloves, Kao's redesign and character designs in general look great, heartwarmingly nostalgic and pretty to look at, funny moments like Kao's giraffe neck while swimming.”
- “+ imaginative creature and character designs.”
- “As charming as the world and character design is, I can't say the same about the story and writing in general.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the nostalgic and visually appealing character designs, as well as humorous moments, others express frustration with technical issues and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. The unrefined movement mechanics and soft-locking problems during gameplay lead to feelings of disappointment, suggesting that the game may feel rushed compared to its peers.
- “Clever platforming when incorporating Kao's gloves, Kao's redesign and character designs in general look great, heartwarmingly nostalgic and pretty to look at.”
- “Funny moments like Kao's giraffe neck while swimming.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a nostalgia-driven cash grab, with players expressing disappointment over its reliance on nostalgic elements while also noting that content is unlocked solely through in-game progress rather than microtransactions. Despite the effort put into the game, many feel it ultimately prioritizes profit over genuine engagement.
- “The game feels like a nostalgia cash grab, making me sad.”
- “To me, the game feels like a cash grab someone put a lot of effort into, but it's still a cash grab in the end.”
- “Unlocked only by in-game progress and not with microtransactions?”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the absence of a run mechanic, which makes recovering from deaths at awkward checkpoints frustrating. This leads to a need for additional lives to manage the repetitive nature of gameplay. Overall, while the game has its merits, the grinding experience can detract from enjoyment.
- “The lack of a run mechanic made the weird checkpoints and respawn points tedious to recover from if I died.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is neat but tedious to play at times.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while the spooky music in the crystal levels enhances the experience, the overall sound design, particularly the voice acting and monotone music during boss fights, detracts from the tension and immersion. Many players feel that the lack of engaging audio elements results in a less impactful atmosphere.
- “Loved the crystal levels' spooky music; it adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
- “The game's sound design significantly contributes to the overall atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience.”
- “After quickly finding the voice acting kind of jarring to the game and dampening the experience, I turned them to 0% only to realize the game's sound contains very little atmosphere, which was a shame.”
- “During a few boss fights, the toned-down monotone music feels underwhelming and kills the already poor tense atmosphere.”
- “The game's sound contains very little atmosphere, which was a shame.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The reviews on replayability for Kao are mixed; while some players find it offers plenty of replay value, others criticize it for having limited challenge and technical issues, which detract from the overall experience and reduce its replay potential.
- “+ plenty of replay value.”
- “Kao just doesn't have much replay value.”
- “Kao just doesn't have much replay value.”
- “The game is buggy, with several glitches, pop-ins, and more. Camera control is poor at best, and it has very little challenge, which limits any replay value.”