Kalanoro is the kind of game that makes a strong first impression simply by refusing to take itself too seriously. Developed by Red Raketa Studio and published by New Tales, this action-platformer heads to a colorful version of Lemuria inspired by Madagascar’s folklore, where a young protagonist named Kalakely sets out to oppose the witch Raneny by doing something rather more unusual than raising an army: she has to form a band. It is a deliberately silly premise, but one that gives the adventure a personality that many smaller platformers struggle to establish. Kalanoro is not trying to reinvent the genre, and its story is ultimately more of a vehicle for moving between locations than a particularly deep narrative, but its combination of folklore, environmental exploitation, music and goofy humor makes the journey easy to like.
That personality carries over nicely into the structure of the adventure. The player travels between different areas, exploring relatively compact stages filled with branching paths, collectibles, enemies, platforming challenges and the occasional puzzle. There is a good reason to stray from the obvious route, with gems and other resources to find, posters to place and secrets tucked away in corners that are easy to miss on a first run. The levels are not especially complex, but Kalanoro understands that exploration does not need to be complicated to be satisfying. The ability to track progress towards completing an area also makes returning to stages considerably more appealing for completionists, while the generally forgiving design means that experimentation rarely feels punishing.
The platforming is arguably where Kalanoro is at its strongest. Kalakely is agile, with double jumps, an air dash and hair-based abilities that can be used not only against enemies but also to interact with the environment and extend movement options. Traversal feels brisk and responsive for the most part, making it enjoyable to dash across gaps and poke around for hidden collectibles rather than simply following the critical path. The game also does a good job of keeping failure relatively painless, with nearby respawns and forgiving consequences that fit its accessible character. That does mean experienced platforming fans may find the challenge somewhat lacking, but Kalanoro is clearly more interested in keeping its movement fun than testing the player’s precision to the limit.
Combat follows the same philosophy of accessibility over depth. Kalakely can use her hair to pull herself towards opponents, stun them and perform different attacks, while the environments are littered with improvised weapons that can be picked up, thrown or smashed into enemies. There is something inherently entertaining about turning everyday objects into weapons, and the hair mechanics give the otherwise straightforward combat a distinctive hook. Weapon durability also encourages players to make use of whatever happens to be lying around rather than settling into a single attack pattern. Unfortunately, the combat system does not develop enough to match the creativity of its premise. Encounters can become repetitive, and the hair abilities operate on cooldowns that are not immediately obvious, which can initially make some attacks feel less responsive than they actually are.
Outside the main levels, Kalanoro adds a surprising amount of extra activity through its tour bus. This serves as a hub where players can interact with band members, cook meals, grow plants, craft items and prepare for the next stage of the musical campaign. Resources collected during exploration feed into these systems, while keeping the musicians happy can unlock further progress. The idea is charming and helps sell the notion that this is a musical road trip rather than simply another platforming adventure, but this is also where the game occasionally confuses personality with busywork. Having to cater to band members and deal with their potential recapture can feel like an unnecessary interruption when the stronger parts of Kalanoro are encouraging players to get back into the levels and explore.
The concerts themselves are a more successful expression of the game’s central concept. Once enough popularity has been built up, these musical interludes introduce simple timing and action-based minigames, giving the player a chance to see the assembled band perform while dealing with interruptions from Raneny’s forces. They are not substantial enough to carry an entire game on their own, and anyone expecting a serious rhythm-game component will probably be disappointed by their simplicity, but they provide welcome variety and reinforce the idea that building a band is actually part of the adventure rather than merely a story excuse.
Visually, Kalanoro benefits enormously from its colorful cartoon presentation. Lemuria is filled with bright environments, distinctive characters, eccentric enemies and plenty of vegetation, with the Madagascar-inspired aesthetic giving the game a clear identity without attempting photorealism. That works particularly well for the cheerful tone, and the overall presentation has enough visual variety to keep the different areas interesting. The underlying art direction is one of Kalanoro’s strongest assets, and the music likewise plays an important role, particularly during the concert sequences, helping to give the otherwise modest adventure a stronger sense of character.
Ultimately, Kalanoro works because its ambitions are modest but its personality is unusually strong. The story is lightweight, the combat lacks depth, the musical minigames could have been more substantial and some of the bus-management mechanics feel like padding rather than essential parts of the experience. At the same time, the responsive platforming, enjoyable exploration, playful combat gimmicks and colorful world make it difficult to dislike. The game also knows exactly what sort of audience it is targeting: players looking for a relaxed, accessible adventure will find plenty to enjoy, while those expecting a demanding platformer or sophisticated action system may find it too simple. With its compact scope and roughly six-to-eight-hour length for a more thorough collectible-focused playthrough, Kalanoro does not need to be an exceptional genre-defining adventure to succeed. It just needs to be fun, and its strange combination of lemurs, folklore, music, improvised weapons and weaponised hair gives it enough charm to make that case convincingly.
Score: 7.8/10