Kao the Kangaroo

The best way to describe Tate Multimedia’s title would be as a Madeleine de Proust. It really does feel like a throwback to the platform games of the early 2000s, and holy guacamole that feels good! Strongly reminiscent of titles like Rayman 3D, Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie, it certainly does not reinvent the formula, and one might even find it too unoriginal. There is indeed no risk-taking as regards the gameplay or the features. Nevertheless, even though Kao the Kangaroo rehashes a time-tested recipe, it does it with style and grace. It feels like we are jumping back in time twenty years with all the best features video games had back then: a fun, colourful title, adapted to all audiences and pleasant to play if one can sweep the few technical problems under the rug. Here, Tate Multimedia offers a nice tribute to the old-school 3D platformers – and with an extra dash of ambition – this title could have become a true classic. If your childhood or teenage years seem too far away, let Kao and its adventures be your ride to nostalgia!