Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2

And in this corner…

EU release: 15th April 2005
NA release: 21st March 2006
JP release: N/A
Developer: Tate Interactive
Publisher: JoWooD Productions (EU), Atari (NA)
NGC Magazine Score: 59%
Mods Used: Widescreen Code

The first Kao the Kangaroo was a Crash Bandicoot-style game with linear levels and similar fixed cameras. It was released on PC and Dreamcast. Round 2 was originally released on PC in Poland in 2003, but had a wider release on consoles a few years later, just before the PC-only release of the third game a few months later.

Round 2 doesn’t remind me of Crash Bandicoot at all (other than the Australian Marsupial angle), but rather another platformer – Rayman 2. The level structures and gameplay elements are clearly inspired by it. Just like Rayman 2, you won’t use Kao’s fists too much, with a greater focus on throwing boomerangs (which just go in a straight line). You have limited ammo, but ammo constantly respawns just before every enemy encounter, so it’s very much like Rayman’s orb attack.

The thing is, being like Rayman 2 on paper doesn’t make it play like Rayman 2. Platforming is stiff and Kao’s jump is not satisfying. You can collect stars to make further jumps, but the difference is negligible. There are a few sections to add variety – a snowboarding level, some races, but even these feel like you’ve already played them.

Which pretty much sums up the whole game. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it (other than perfect homing on some enemy attacks), but every single bit of the game feels like you’ve already played it before.

Fine

These moments are all mildly entertaining, but the fun doesn’t last for long and leaping around the standard themed levels we’ve seen all too many times before is never exciting.
Tom East, NGC Magazine #106

Remake or remaster?

A re-release is fine.

Official Ways to get the game

Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is available on PC.