Kao the Kangaroois one of the most unexpected announcements in some time, and it’s very obviously looking to shake things up. The 3D platformer by Tate Multimedia celebrated its 20th anniversary two years ago, and the developer has decided to celebrate it by rebooting the series from the ground up. AsKaotakes itself in a brand-new direction to come backfrom retro console obscurity, it’s chosen the perfect time to make a proper splash.
Considering the series' anniversary in 2020, Tate Multimedia most likely began work on the new game in order to celebrate it that year. Interestingly enough, as another way to celebrateKao the Kangaroo, the original trilogy was added to gog.com forPCfans to purchase. Once the games became the most widely available they had been in years, those who played the titles instantly wished there was more. With this circumstance, the newKao the Kangaroogame was the perfect project for Tate Multimedia to be working on in secret.
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Kao the Kangaroo Learns from Past Mistakes
The originalKao the Kangaroogamewas met with sub-par reviews by critics back in 2000, withKao the Kangaroo: Round 2being received better than its predecessor. Against what critics spoke of the game, fans who played it enjoyed the fun romp it provided through the little kangaroo character. It was compared to (or even seen as a rip-off of)Crash Bandicoot, with the second title being seen as being a bit similar toRayman 2.
Despite howKao the Kangaroobegan as a linear platformer in the same vein asCrash, the new game is much more open in scale while remaining linear, likeKao: Round 2ended up being. The beginning of the trailer seems to hint at a hub world filled with other kangaroos and even features the rail grinding seen inKao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano. It certainly paints an interesting picture, showing that not only hasKaoreturned, but also how his new game seeks to improve on the old versions while keeping what set them apart in the first place. It should prove interesting tofans and platformer enthusiastsalike to see just where the developers take Kao from here.
The Lack of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro
While it makes sense that Tate Multimedia moved to bring backKao the Kangarooin time for the series' anniversary, it also makes it very clear that this new game is taking inspiration from other returning platformers.In regard toCrash Bandicoot: N-Sane TrilogyandSpyro: Reignited Trilogy,Kao the Kangaroo’snew title is running very similar to them in terms of art style and character design. Considering how much Tate Multimedia took inspiration from similar titles for the original games, this isn’t much of a surprise.
When it comes toCrashandSpyro, though,lead development team Toys for Bobhas more or less moved away from those franchises, and instead has shifted current efforts to work onCall of Duty: Warzone. While fans had been given plenty to enjoy with both of the remastered trilogy collections along withCrash 4: It’s About Time, many players could still feel an itch for similar titles. WithKao the Kangaroo’snew art direction, consisting of similar design schemes with whimsical bright colors, there’s a strong chance that this new platformer could fill the void while newCrashandSpyrotitles are missing from the market.
While it all might just be coincidental, the way everything has worked out is turning things immensely inKao’sfavor. The cult hit kangaroo may end up once again bringing back the mascot platformer before the trail gets too cold in the second absence ofCrashandSpyro. If the demand for the marsupial’s adventures remains and pans out, then the success of Kao could lead toother cult classic platformers coming backas well.
However, all of this hinges on a very important factor, and that’s if the newKao the Kangaroocan perform well. Tate Multimedia’s franchise may have been turned into a cult classic, but it and the other titles it’s releasedreview poorly on average. While this new game appears to be made with plenty of time, effort, and dedication, there’s no telling how well it will be received until it’s in players' hands.
Kao the Kangaroois scheduled to release summer 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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