Kao the Kangaroo (2000 video game)

Kao the Kangaroo
Developer(s)X-Ray Interactive
Titus Interactive Studio (GBA)
Publisher(s)
SeriesKao the Kangaroo
Platform(s)Windows, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance
ReleaseWindows, Dreamcast
  • POL: November 23, 2000
  • EU: December 8, 2000
  • NA: February 16, 2001[1]
Game Boy Advance
  • NA: December 11, 2001
  • EU: December 14, 2001
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Kao the Kangaroo (Polish: Kangurek Kao) is a platform video game developed by X-Ray Interactive for Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast and Game Boy Advance. During development it was known as Denis the Kangaroo.[citation needed]

Plot

Kao is a young kangaroo living with his family in the jungle when they are one day captured by a ruthless hunter and his goons. It's up to Kao to drive the invaders from his home and save his family.

Release

The game was marketed worldwide by Titus Interactive, both for PCs and for the Sega Dreamcast console, releasing in Europe on December 8, 2000. The game was released earlier in Poland by Licop Empik Multimedia as a PC exclusive. It scored a major success, exceeding 45,000 units in Poland alone where it remained in the Top 10 for a considerable time.[citation needed]

The Game Boy Advance version was released in December 2001.[citation needed]

The game, alongside its sequels, was added to GOG.com in February 2021.[2]

The game was released on Steam[3] and the Epic Games Store[citation needed] on April 27, 2023.

Reception

Kao the Kangaroo received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic; the Dreamcast version received an average score of 63 out of 100, based off 8 critic reviews, the PC version and average of 60 out of 100 based off 4 critic reviews, and the GBA fared notably poorer, with an average score of 52 out of 100, based off 8 critic reviews.[4][5][6]

Greg Orlando of NextGen called the Dreamcast version "A marsuperior adventure. Pardon the horrible pun – please.", awarding it three stars out of five.[7]

Legacy

A sequel, Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2, was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and Windows on April 15, 2005. About 5 months later, a remake of the second game called Kao Challengers was released on October 28 only for the PSP. Later in 2005, a second sequel called Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano was released only for Windows. A reboot, also called Kao the Kangaroo, was published in 2022.[23]







References

  1. ^ Walker, Trey (February 16, 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo hops into stores". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 29, 2001. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. ^ @Kaothekangaroo (February 15, 2021). "Today is the day that most of you've been waiting for! Thanks to http://GOG.com we are very excited to announce: Kao the Kangaroo - ❗️the whole classic trilogy❗️ is now available on http://GOG.COM and with special %🥊" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Kao the Kangaroo (2000 re-release)". Steam. Valve Corporation. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "KAO the Kangaroo (2000) critic reviews (DC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "KAO the Kangaroo (2001)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "KAO the Kangaroo (2000) critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Orlando, Greg (April 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo (DC)". NextGen. No. 76. Imagine Media. p. 83. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Thompson, Jon. "Kao the Kangaroo (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Group. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  9. ^ Steinberg, Scott. "Kao the Kangaroo". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Mielke, James "Milkman" (April 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo (DC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 141. Ziff Davis. p. 103. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  11. ^ MacIsaac, Jason (March 13, 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo (DC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 15, 2002. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Bonnie (February 15, 2002). "Kao the Kangaroo (GBA)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Kao the Kangaroo (DC)". Game Informer. No. 96. FuncoLand. April 2001.
  14. ^ Liu, Johnny (February 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo Review (DC)". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Provo, Frank (February 27, 2001). "KAO the Kangaroo Review (DC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 21, 2001. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Provo, Frank (January 31, 2002). "KAO the Kangaroo Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 9, 2002. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Walker, Trey (March 9, 2001). "KAO the Kangaroo Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 26, 2001. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Lafferty, Michael (December 31, 2001). "KAO the Kangaroo Review on Game Boy Advance". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 1, 2004. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  19. ^ Chau, Anthony (February 13, 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Harris, Craig (January 30, 2002). "Kao the Kangaroo (GBA)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  21. ^ Chau, Anthony (March 8, 2001). "Kao the Kangaroo (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kao the Kangaroo". Nintendo Power. Vol. 150. Nintendo of America. November 2001. p. 148.
  23. ^ "Kao the Kangaroo is back". Steam. Valve Corporation. June 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2024.