Kraino Origins

It may be over in the blink of an eye, but Kraino Origins proves itself to be a well-crafted and deeply enjoyable old-school action platformer while it lasts. If you’re looking for an affordable and brief entry in the genre, this is definitely one that we would recommend.

Kraino Origins is a brief platforming game that allows plenty of room for replayability. It's challenging enough to keep going without wanting to rage quit. The graphics are charming, the music is fun, and the controls are simple and smooth.

Kraino Origins is a new platformer with retro premises that joins the Switch library. While its pixel art provides beautiful scenery, its challenges guarantee a very intense gameplay, making the adventure, even if short, have a charm as elegant as Kraino, who wears a stylish suit and a nice purple hat.

Given that the game can be finished or even completed in a couple hours and just how obvious it borrows from a title like Shovel Knight, it's tough to wholeheartedly recommend Kraino Origins. Indie games are at their most endearing when they blaze an entirely new trail or offer a unique look at what we've seen many times before. Neither of those objectives are met in Kraino's adventure, and the lack of any noticeable style or charm means that the game rests on its gameplay laurels. They aren't enough, however, to elevate Kraino Origins over the majority of action-platformers on Switch.

With a colorful but still retro look and style, Kraino Origins has some old-school appeal but feels a bit generic overall

Born and raised with retro in its roots, Kraino Origins is a great title for retro enthusiasts seeking to experience something reminiscent of Ghosts 'n Goblins or Castlevania, though I do wish the combat had been a little less rough on the edges.