The Skeletal Avenger in scythe and top hat returns for a new and monstrous adventure!
It has been some time since Kraino, the charming and irreverent bony mascot of GameAtomic, first appeared in Kraino Origins. Now, exactly two years later, we are thrilled to welcome back the stylish and merciless skeletal avenger, who once again takes the spotlight in Kraino Rebirth.
Created by the solo developer Angel Dorantes, founder and owner of GameAtomic, this latest offering from the independent studio is a dazzling and brutal Hi-Bit action platformer. Kraino Rebirth places us back in the role of Kraino, an unstoppable skeletal warrior engineered in a lab to sow chaos, death, and destruction. However, he unexpectedly gains self-awareness and chooses to embrace a path of redemption.
In celebration of the game’s Kickstarter campaign launch on Friday, September 13, Angel has graciously provided us with an exclusive preview of the first hour of Kraino Rebirth. We plunged into its spectral and infernal world, cleaving through swarms of relentless undead with our scythe. Now that we’ve reached the end of this thrilling preview and delved into the heart of Kraino’s mission, we’re excited to share our experience and insights.
The Journey of Angel Dorantes
The love story between Angel Dorantes and video games mirrors, in many ways, the journey shared by so many of us in the gaming world—a passion that has burned brightly for over 25 years. Like any great romance, Angel’s journey has seen him grow alongside video games, from a wide-eyed child captivated by the magic of 8-bit worlds to an adult who, despite the passing years, has never lost that same spark, viewing the medium with the same wonder and excitement that first captured his heart. As he himself admits, this passion is something he’s never been willing—or able—to part with, not for a single moment.
From the NES era and Super Mario Bros to the dawn of Sony and Microsoft’s first consoles, through the golden age of console gaming, Angel has been a seasoned veteran who’s never skipped a console generation or missed out on the iconic titles that defined each one.
However, in 2012, something shifted. It wasn’t merely the medium that evolved, but Angel’s relationship with it. Rather than just being a consumer, he chose to become one of its creators. It was a bold, transformative decision, reshaping both his life and career as he ventured into game development. Starting as a solo developer, crafting games for iOS and PC, the path was far from smooth, particularly given his limited experience at the time. Yet, in a remarkably short period, Angel made significant strides, releasing three mobile games and a PC title. Simultaneously, he began collaborating with Wayforward, contributing to Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia, and assisting startups in the creation of original IPs, taking on roles as lead programmer, lead level designer, and creative director.
After accumulating a wealth of experience in the gaming industry, Angel returned to his roots, reigniting the passion that had always driven him. Once again a solo developer, he has crafted two love letters to his gaming past: Kraino Origins, released in 2022 on PC and Nintendo Switch, and now Kraino Rebirth, his newest project and the sequel to his previous success.
Now that we’ve shared a glimpse into Angel’s journey, it’s time to dive deeper into the heart of his upcoming creation.
Even a skeletal warrior, born to spread evil, can find a path to redemption
Introduced by a brief cinematic sequence leading into the title screen, the narrative of Kraino Rebirth didn’t take center stage in this preview. However, don’t misunderstand—this isn’t to imply that the story won’t play a crucial role in Angel’s creation. Instead, it feels as though the developer has deliberately chosen to keep much of the narrative shrouded in mystery.
What little we did uncover came from closely listening to the exchanges between the skeletal warrior and his demonic foes. Despite the sparse details, we’ll attempt to peel back part of the veil surrounding Kraino Rebirth’s plot, drawing on what we can infer from its predecessor, Kraino Origins.
As we teased in the introduction, the game places us in the role of a dapper skeletal warrior, clad in a top hat and wielding a scythe, his hollow eyes glowing an acid-green—the same eerie hue as the gems adorning his gleaming armor. His name is Kraino, and he was never intended to be the hero of this tale, but one of its many villains.
Kraino was originally brought to life in a laboratory by the sinister Dr. Batcula, created to reinforce the doctor’s already formidable army of demonic aberrations. However, what the deranged scientist didn’t anticipate was that his latest creation would not be a mindless brute, nor a mere puppet to execute his twisted schemes, but a sentient being endowed with consciousness, personality, and an unyielding will.
Defying his malevolent creator, Kraino’s rebirth begins. Born to embody evil, he evolves into the most improbable of heroes—the lone force capable of confronting the legions of darkness and offering humanity a flicker of hope after years spent beneath the oppressive yoke of shadow.
Not Just a Simple Revamp of Kraino Origins
What, then, is Kraino Rebirth? Is it a remake, a remaster, or perhaps a reboot? In truth, it’s none of these. While the developer refers to it as a “reanimated version” of Kraino Origins, reducing it to merely a more polished iteration of the original would be both inaccurate and unjust.
Angel’s vision goes well beyond just fine-tuning the visual aspects. The pixel art style is undoubtedly more vibrant, boasting a lively color palette and an aesthetically captivating design. But Kraino Rebirth also reimagines the gameplay itself. Though it retains the essence of its predecessor, it leans further into the mechanics of the Metroidvania genre, offering a more deeper, enriched experience.
Our adventure began in a spectral graveyard under a full moon—an ominous backdrop for a night-time quest. From this eerie beginning, the game’s action-packed experience unfolds, showcasing the developer’s meticulous craftsmanship in both world-building and level design. The game world, save for a few exceptions, remains consistently diverse and visually captivating, with levels crafted with impressive precision and care.
Players must navigate through relentless waves of enemies and traverse a sprawling world, driven by a singular, critical goal: to keep our skeletal hero alive. To assist in this daunting task, we are provided with a generous health bar, replenished by collecting blue orbs dropped by defeated foes. Additionally, an extra gauge allows us to restore Kraino’s health, wield his formidable ranged weapon—a diabolical mini-gun—and cast his most powerful spells.
The gameplay is smooth, engaging, and deeply satisfying, enhanced by the developer’s ingenious approach to platforming—challenging, especially when enemies strike during jumps—and the interactive environment. In-game objects not only serve as tools of destruction and environmental manipulation but also as strategic assets, such as crushing enemies with boulders.
Though the overall difficulty might not be particularly high—potentially disappointing those seeking a more rigorous challenge—the game remains far from monotonous. This is largely due to its ingenious design, featuring secret chests, hidden items, upgrades, and dungeons that ensure a consistently engaging experience. Additionally, the diverse enemy design ensures that, despite some enemies lacking originality, feature exquisitely unique animations that add depth to the gameplay.
The boss design, too, is impressive. In the demo, players will encounter two bosses. While their hitbox management may not always match the precision of some basic enemy types, the bosses are well-crafted, offering intelligent, entertaining, and suitably challenging encounters. The difficulty level is kept accessible, aided by the substantial damage output of Kraino’s blade, which helps maintain a balanced experience.
Let’s draw some initial conclusions
How can we best summarize our initial impressions of Kraino Rebirth? Simply put: extremely positive. While Angel’s demo is not without its imperfections and areas for refinement, it has proven to be fluid, technically robust, and, most importantly, thoroughly enjoyable.
What stands out most—and what we’re confident players will appreciate—is the bold shift in gameplay that Angel has introduced. While it retains some of the beloved features from Kraino Origins, the game has undergone a significant evolution, offering a richer and more immersive experience.
Whether or not you’ve played Kraino Origins, there’s much to admire in this project—from the well-structured game world and enemy design to the engaging combat system and diverse platforming solutions.
If we may offer a few suggestions, a slight increase in difficulty and a more focused attention to animation quality could enhance the overall experience. Additionally, expanding the diversity of the enemy roster—beyond mere variations with different auras or elemental effects—could further enrich the gameplay experience.
The Kickstarter campaign for Kraino Rebirth is now live! If you’re intrigued by this project or simply wish to support the developer, consider backing it by selecting one of the available pledge tiers.
PC players can also enjoy a special treat: a free demo of the game is now available on itch.io to coincide with the Kickstarter launch. This is the perfect opportunity to dive into the adventure, join our skeletal hero, and battle the hordes of Batcula.
Kraino Rebirth is scheduled for release in 2025 on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. (Specific details on which PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be supported are still pending.)
For more information and to stay updated on Angel Dorantes’ new project, visit the game’s page on X and follow us for the latest news and developments.
That’s all for today. Until next time!
