He goes hippity-hoppity down the path, punching out those who incur his wrath. Or maybe a nice little tail whip will deter those who would stop him from returning to homeland.

KAO the Kangaroo, a Game Boy Advance release from Titus, is somewhat typical of arcade-style console games, though the graphical elements are quite good.

The storyline has KAO kidnapped from the Outback, the feisty kangaroo must punch and hop his way home through 27 levels (16 levels in four distinct worlds, plus bonus levels if KAO can collect the right components and teleport to them) and 16 enemy types. To make it, KAO will not only have to use his own personal form of transportation, but will also snowboard, fly and jet ski.

The action of this game is reminiscent of Rayman Advance (Soft Entertainment and Digital Eclipse Software) with a path that is basically horizontal, though there are alternative routes uses ledges either above KAO or below. Jump too far below and you will hear a plaintive wail and a gray winged (obviously deceased) kangaroo will flit from the bottom of your screen quickly to the top as it heads for kangaroo heaven.

The reason KAO would want to move vertically is to collect power-ups. Collect 120 small coins (and they are all over the place) and KAO will get an extra life. One big coin equals 10 of the small coins. Hearts (big and small) provide energy to our hero. One nice feature is that if you pass and collect a flagstick, the flag begins to flutter and should your attempt end prematurely, instead of going all the way back to the very beginning of the game, you can resume from the flag.

Controls are kept simple. The D-pad controls direction and can be used in concert with the B button to perform some actions. The A button has the kangaroo doing what kangaroos do, hopping. The L button, used with the D-pad, allows KAO to look around, and the R button, combined with the A button, permits KAO to use another weapon – the bottom slam.

The sound of the game is typical of the console system, so don’t expect to be wowed.

Graphically the game is very good, not only in the environmental elements, but the animation as well. The game resembles a cartoon in which you (as the player) control the general mayhem. The colors are bright and lush, and this program looks quite nice.

This is not the most original game, as far as game play is concerned. But it does provide some distraction and entertainment. Older, serious game players should probably bypass this title, but for the younger set, this is a game they may thoroughly enjoy.

This program is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 7
The style of action has been done before, and this game is merely average in that department.

Graphics: 8.3
The animation, environmental elements and overall look of the program are very nice.

Sound: 7
Nothing beyond average here.

Difficulty: 7.5
There are three difficulty levels to challenge most skill levels, and the controls elements are kept rather simple, though you may have to spend about five minutes to get them down.

Concept: 7
This style of game has been done before. The twist is the kangaroo as the central character and adding other elements, such as the snowboarding and jet skiing.

Overall: 7.5
This is entertaining, though not very original. But with its solid graphical elements, it should appeal to some GBA players.