Thank you Tate Multimedia for sending us a review code! I never really got into the Kao the Kangaroo series as a kid. My friends loved the games, but I stuck to the bigger 3D platformer giants like Mario and Crash Bandicoot. With the revival of the mascot platformer, we’ve received another reboot in the form of… Kao the Kangaroo, which is a decently fun game but hampered with issues on the Switch that make it hard to recommend wholeheartedly. Kao the Kangaroo begins with the titular character trying to find his dad and sister after they are kidnapped by an evil force. After training with his master Walt, he uses magical boxing gloves that allow him to defeat baddies with punching techniques. The game controls as a 3D platformer would as you control Kao across four different worlds divided into a variety of levels, jumping, punching, and dodging different enemies. The moveset is simple, as you are given your whole base moveset in the first levels. By punching enemies without getting hit, you can fill up a rage meter that will allow you to unleash a huge attack. In addition, you can also air slam and use an aerial tail attack to reflect projectiles. Later in the game, you’ll be able to wield different elemental powers (fire, ice, and wind), in order to change your surroundings, such as making a flaming boomerang or freezing the water on the ground. Three of these elemental charges can be held at a time and will only be used up once a respective obstacle appears.

As is the case in most platformers, there are a host of collectibles to check in each level. You have coins that are littered around levels and can allow you to purchase items like health containers or costumes. Some other important collectibles are the KAO letters, three per level which remain hidden unless you go out of your way to find them. Collecting these will give you an opportunity to purchase more costumes as well. Kaopedia entries will give you some more backstory on the world itself, while runes are vital for unlocking the next levels since you need a certain amount to open them up. The last collectible, gems, had no apparent use in the main game and the only reason I can see someone collecting these is due to 100% completion. You can also jump into Eternal Wells, which will grant some nice rewards if you can beat the platforming challenges within them. As a platformer, Kao the Kangaroo checks all the boxes for a serviceable reboot. The graphics look nice and cartoony, and when Kao zips around and punches enemies, it feels very fluid. The moveset is also rather unique for what’s given, and once I headed into the second world, more demanding techniques with the moves were needed. The boss battles were surprisingly tough compared to the platforming segments, and they were innovative enough to work with the moves at hand. It’s not too challenging of a game, but the platforming elements are solid when they work. However, there were multiple times when the controls felt too slippery and precise for the game, and as a result, I felt like some missed jumps were due to the game rather than my own skill. It’s also unfortunate that the elemental charge system is even in here in the first place. It feels like Balan Wonderworld, where the power that you need will normally be right in front of you, so it’s not innovative and feels cumbersome. I would have preferred that these powers were permanently with you once you acquired them, and you could switch between elements on the fly.

Another weak point here is the performance. There’s a ton of glitches that aren’t game-breaking, but are annoying and slightly put me out of the game. From a UI glitch that had placeholder text to finishing moves not registering sounds or even times that I would fall into a pit but not register my death until a few seconds after moving to the bottom, it’s a very unstable game. The framerate constantly slows down as well, but on the bright side, I didn’t get a softlock! Don’t even get me started on the voice acting here. Kao’s voice is easily the worst part of this game, if only because he’s the one that talks the most. However, it feels like this voice actor got his inspiration from Pauly Shore in Pinocchio: A True Story because the voice acting feels simultaneously flat and boisterous. Every time any of the characters try to make a joke, it isn’t funny, and even though most of the cutscenes are at the beginning and end of each world, it still feels like there’s too much of it. The quality isn’t so bad it’s good. It’s just… bad. Morally, there are a few references to eastern religion, such as meditating and spiritual guidance, but an actual religion isn’t explicitly stated. Players will also cast elemental attacks with some magical gloves, and there is some cartoon violence involved. However, animated green blood is shown with certain foes and defeated enemies will disappear after being hit. Overall, Kao the Kangaroo is a serviceable reboot of a long-forgotten franchise, but even if you want to play it with its issues, I recommend not getting it on Switch.