Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2

About

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by Tate Multimedia and was released on May 31, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Play as Kao! The cutest and bravest kangaroo of all video games returns. Experience the joy of playing a classic 3D single-player platformer filled with various challenges, including fighting, racing and solving puzzles. Bounce through 25 levels set in 5 unique, colorful worlds to rescue your animal friends captured by the evil Hunter and his henchmen!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,054 reviews

gameplay63 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

Strong nostalgic appeal capturing the essence of early 2000s 3D platformers.
Colorful, varied level designs with unique themes and collectibles to explore.
Generally accessible and forgiving difficulty, suitable for younger audiences and casual play.

Controls can feel clunky and imprecise; keyboard support and camera controls in particular are often criticized.
Camera angles and movement occasionally cause frustration, especially in chase or precision platforming sections.
Combat is simple and sometimes unreliable with issues in hit detection, making boss fights occasionally frustrating.

gameplay
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 offers classic, simple 3D platforming with nostalgic charm, featuring varied level design, collectible-driven gameplay, and light combat. While the gameplay is generally fun and accessible with diverse mechanics and segments, it suffers from clunky controls, poor hitboxes, inconsistent camera, and occasional lack of polish that may frustrate experienced players. Overall, it’s an enjoyable, straightforward platformer that appeals mostly to fans of early 2000s titles, though it lacks depth and modern refinements.
- “Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 (2003 re-release), developed and published by Tate Multimedia, stands as a faithful reminder of the early 3D platforming era — a time when colorful mascots, collectible-driven gameplay, and varied level design defined the genre’s identity.”
- “The addition of varied gameplay segments, including vehicle sections and small minigames, helps break up the pacing and keeps the experience from feeling too repetitive, even if these diversions aren’t always equally polished.”
- “The campaign spans multiple themed worlds, each offering its own visual identity and gameplay twists.”
- “Frustrating platforming, there's annoying temple run sections in every level, 'hidden' mechanics—meaning you aren't told how things work until you do them, and sparse checkpoints.”
- “Kao's controls are janky: losing control of Kao after you get hit is the worst possible mechanic, and especially levels that involve dodging incoming projectiles are no fun because of the poor aim assist of the boomerangs.”
- “The controls are cumbersome in spite of the simplicity of the gameplay, bugs are numerous, the interface is inconsistent (from some levels you cannot go back to the hub, and if you leave the game it forces you to finish the level the next time) and the game is full of clipping problems and weird hitboxes.”
graphics
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as nostalgically charming, featuring colorful, vibrant, and cartoonish visuals reminiscent of early 2000s 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro. While the graphics show their age and feel basic or dated by modern standards, many appreciate the cohesive aesthetic and improved resolution support, which maintain appeal especially for fans of classic platformers. Some criticism centers on clunky camera angles and lack of modern graphical options, but overall, the visuals successfully evoke a retro style that complements the gameplay experience.
- “The colorful graphics, upbeat soundtrack, and lighthearted atmosphere make it a joy to play even years after its original release.”
- “Visually the game certainly shows its age; however, the cartoony graphics and environmental design are charming in their own way and still hold up with the improved resolution.”
- “Somehow this game managed to slip under my radar back in the day I hadn't heard of it, but in a way I am glad it did because now I feel like we have been given a new game that is as good as the old classic 3d platformers. It's got it all: the classic gameplay, the music is great and brings me back to those old better days of gaming, and the graphics look amazing; running it in 2k I was shocked how great it looks. I would definitely recommend this to everybody, old school and new.”
- “Bad camera with inverted controls for some moronic reason, horrible voice actors who don't know how to voice act, bland visuals, bad camera angles mixed with awkward combat with hit detection that seems to change depending on what angle the camera is in, you'll fall to your death if you don't perfectly land on platforms even though you should have made the jump and the cherry on top was the game kinda just started with absolutely no story, introduction, explanation or tutorial.”
- “No ability to change video / graphics settings.”
- “It's not much of a surprise to see that the graphics are outdated.”
story
145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
68%
15%
The story in this game is generally described as simple, lighthearted, and functional, serving mainly to connect levels and objectives in a classic 3D platformer style. While some players appreciate its nostalgic, straightforward rescue mission narrative and charming animal characters, others criticize its bland plot, poor storytelling, awkward voice acting, and lack of depth or emotional engagement. Overall, the story is considered adequate but uninspired, often overshadowed by gameplay and nostalgic appeal.
- “The game’s story is deliberately simple, following Kao as he escapes captivity and sets out to rescue his kidnapped friends from a recurring antagonist.”
- “The story is straightforward but engaging, with enough twists to keep the player interested.”
- “One aspect that really stood out to me was the story.”
- “Bad camera with inverted controls for some moronic reason, horrible voice actors who don't know how to voice act, bland visuals, bad camera angles mixed with awkward combat with hit detection that seems to change depending on what angle the camera is in, you'll fall to your death if you don't perfectly land on platforms even though you should have made the jump and the cherry on top was the game kinda just started with absolutely no story, introduction, explanation or tutorial.”
- “The story isn't really explained at all (at least so far), with the cutscenes and levels feeling kinda disjunct in terms of plot and theme, but it's not like I'm expecting a stellar story in the first place.”
- “At present, it's a lacklustre, unimaginative hybrid of all of them which does none of them well, with a forgettable cast barely tied together with a feeble plot and truly atrocious voice acting.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The music in Kao the Kangaroo is generally praised for its upbeat, catchy, and nostalgic soundtrack that enhances the game's lighthearted and charming atmosphere. However, some users found it repetitive, especially during boss battles and across similar level themes, with occasional issues of quiet or missing music. Overall, while not universally memorable, the soundtrack is considered a strong, enjoyable element that complements the gameplay and evokes classic 3D platformer vibes.
- “The colorful graphics, upbeat soundtrack, and lighthearted atmosphere make it a joy to play even years after its original release.”
- “It’s got a great soundtrack, diverse and interesting gameplay, a good sense of progression, and a surprisingly high difficulty without becoming frustrating.”
- “Somehow this game managed to slip under my radar back in the day i hadn't heard of it, but in a way i am glad it did because now i feel like like we have been given a new game that is as good as the old classic 3d platformers, its got it all, the classic gameplay the music is great and brings me back to those old better days of gaming and the graphics look amazing running it in 2k i was shocked how great it looks, i would definitely recommend this to everybody, old school and new.”
- “The music itself also strangely is very quiet, even at the default volume.”
- “The final fight against the hunter doesn't even have any unique music.”
- “Some mechanics are repeated like being chased, riding down a river, etc. There isn't new music, it all repeats itself (for example, every ice level plays the music it used for the first ice level, same for all the other levels).”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by charmingly silly situations, funny character animations, and a lighthearted tone that many players find genuinely amusing and relaxing. While the voice acting is widely criticized as amateurish and unintentionally hilarious, this flaw often adds to the game's comedic appeal rather than detracting from it. Overall, its quirky charm and humorous details contribute significantly to the game's personality and enjoyment.
- “The controls are smooth, the levels are varied and fun to explore, and the game’s sense of humor gives it plenty of personality.”
- “The odd voice acting, wonky animations, and absurd character design is perfect, and it makes the game really funny.”
- “One thing I found funny was that at some levels there were wanted posters of Kao and that made me think how they caught him and took a picture of him so they could produce the wanted posters later.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The stability of the game is mixed, with many users reporting bugs, glitches, and buggy controls or camera issues that sometimes impact progression, while others experience smooth gameplay without crashes. Some praise its nostalgia and visuals despite these flaws, but occasional game-breaking glitches and control inconsistencies remain a notable concern. The port performs well on certain platforms like Steam Deck, suggesting platform-dependent stability variations.
- “It also runs great, looks old but gold, has character models that creep me out to this day (so bonus points for being nostalgic), and I never experienced any bugs or crashes during my playthrough of the game.”
- “Runs great, looks good (for what it is), and controls are easy to pick up.”
- “Looks and runs great at 2160p.”
- “From janky controls, to glitches, to game progression issues.”
- “There are a few game breaking glitches that make you restart the game or you have to die to fix it.”
- “Game glitches on the ocean level: keeps resetting on the turtle being back in the cage; also the controls and camera angle are very bad and stiff on that level.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a mix of nostalgic and wholesome emotions, with players forming bonds with quirky characters and feeling a childlike joy. However, its emotional impact is tempered by frustrating controls, technical issues, and a fairly mundane story, leading to moments of both elation and stress. Overall, it offers heartfelt moments but lacks deep narrative engagement.
- “I have formed many emotional bonds with all of the fun and wacky characters such as my personal favourite, the beaver.”
- “It made me feel like a kid again.”
- “When I beat it I cried for 30 minutes because it was over, until I realised I could play it again!”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Grinding in the game is generally manageable and not overly tedious, with some challenging or repetitive sections that may require multiple attempts but benefit from quick respawns. While certain platforming segments and collectible hunting add mild grind elements, the overall experience stays within a short to medium playtime without becoming frustratingly grindy. Players looking for casual to standard-length gameplay with occasional retries will find the grinding aspect reasonable and not detracting from the fun.
- “From what I have played so far, it is mostly fun and not too challenging, but parts can be tedious like the ice skating on rail sections which, if you fall off, you have to start over and over, or jumping across a river only to be shot into the water at the last second and having to start over.”
- “Three more clunky stories is on the snowboard level where you can sometimes jump onto the grind rail but it does not activate the grinding mechanic, leading to a lot of frustration fighting the game more than anything.”
- “This is great when you have to repeatedly retry stuff, but it's a pain for doing it the first time because it's tediously slow doing the scenes and the voice acting is awful.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
The game’s atmosphere is widely praised for its colorful, nostalgic graphics and charming, upbeat soundtrack that create a lighthearted and inviting experience. While some note the music is more atmospheric than memorable and the difficulty low, the overall mood remains fun, relaxing, and reminiscent of classic platformers, making it enjoyable even years after release.
- “The colorful graphics, upbeat soundtrack, and lighthearted atmosphere make it a joy to play even years after its original release.”
- “The music, the general atmosphere, and the gameplay (which is surprisingly diverse for such a short game) are all super charming and inviting.”
- “While the game is pretty old, its style, atmosphere, platforming/movement mechanics, and animation allow it to shine even today.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The game is generally well-optimized, delivering stable and smooth performance even on low-end or older PCs. While it may not be fully optimized for modern systems, it runs reliably without crashes, effectively balancing nostalgia with solid technical performance.
- “Throughout my time playing this game, the performance was stable overall.”
- “Childhood favorite game well optimized and is still fun to play.”
- “Good optimization for low end PC.”
- “Not optimized on modern PC, but still brings me back to the old days platform games.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Reviews highlight that "Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2" features character designs that evoke nostalgia and charm, with Kao's design being particularly well-liked. While some find the designs quirky or generic, many appreciate their uniqueness, humor, and fitting style reminiscent of classic 3D platformers. Overall, character development through design is considered a strong and enjoyable aspect of the game.
- “Fun, gives me a nostalgic feeling and epic character design.”
- “The environments were beautifully rendered and the character designs were charming and unique.”
- “Character design is generic.”
- “If you like old 3D platformers like Rayman, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, and Crash Bandicoot that have equally creepy character designs.”
- “Out of all the character designs in 'Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2,' I kind of liked Kao’s design the most.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
Replayability opinions are mixed: some users criticize the game for feeling rushed and repetitive, leading to low replay value, while others find it offers good replay potential, rating it around 8.5/10.
- “Received it for free and yet even for a dollar and couple cents it's worth it for the replay value it offers.”
- “Replay value: 8.5/10”
- “ [replay value] ”
- “Overall, the whole experience feels way too rushed, with many copied and pasted formats showing lazy development, which encourages zero replayability.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization is perceived as aggressive and focused on extracting money, leading to a lack of motivation for players to continue engaging with the game.

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55%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

PC Review - 'Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2'
Worthplaying.com
55%

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9h Median play time

8h Average play time

5-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is a casual platformer game.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Gamecube and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 was released on May 31, 2019.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 was developed by Tate Multimedia.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Kao the Kangaroo, TY the Tasmanian Tiger, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure, Pumpkin Jack and others.

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2

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PC Review - 'Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2'

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