Yooka-Laylee: Kickstarted to Creation
Here is our Yooka-Laylee review of one of the most anticipated games to come out of Kickstarter ever. A spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie created by a team composing of some of the original staff who made one of the most popular games on the Nintendo 64? What more could you ask for.
This game attempts to bring the buddy adventure game genre back to life and does so in many way but falls a little short of living up to the greatness Banjo-Kazooie has instilled. Nevertheless, Yooka-Laylee will take you on a trip down memory lane as it’s packed to the brim with nostalgic tropes and plenty of the components of a great adventure platformer.
So Who Are They?
Meet the new buddy combo, Yooka and Laylee, each with their unique skill sets. Yooka, a chameleon with the ability to inherit the properties of items he tastes, rolling around and turning invisible, and Laylee, a bat with sonar, flight and a touch of cheekiness. As with Banjo, each of these traits come in many forms throughout the game as you purchase new moves from Trowser, the snake (wink wink, nudge nudge). The controls of the game are quite well tested and I found no issues with handing, though there were some issues with the camera getting caught on objects.
Each level has its own transformation with the help of your octopus friend, Dr. Puzz. These transformations include the likes of a flower and a snow plough. Each transformation is utilized only in the level it is obtained which is disappointing as it shows how self contained the levels are. Most of the levels only require a transformation for 2 or 3 of the collectibles out of a possible 25 which makes them feel much more like afterthoughts.
The main antagonist of the game is the forever corporate, Capital B, with his sidekick, Dr. Quack. The main story of the game is collecting the Pagies for a magical book that have been spread throughout the land by Capital B’s book absorbing machine so he can have a monopoly on the book industry. The premise, while basic, does make for a narrative that at least give your actions within the game some meaning.
New Worlds to Explore
There are 5 beautifully designed levels, each with the unique theme. With 25 Pagies, 200 Quills, 5 Ghost Writers, 1 Rextro Token, health and power modifiers and crystal skull to be found per level, there is plenty of collecting to do. Once a level has been opened, you can pay a Pagie cost to expand for more content. Personally I found these levels much too large and would have preferred 10 levels half the size. With so many paths to follow, you can quickly find yourself lost on which direction is correct and where the final few collectibles are. Every level also includes a few tasks which change slightly but are nearly the same in their mechanics. Most levels are aesthetically pleasing but some reuse too many textures which can make one area but almost identical to another which makes for simple level design.
A Score to Fit
The music for Yooka-Laylee is composed by the legendary Grant Kirkhope. Best known for his work on the original Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, he also has composed score for Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong 64, just to name a few. The eclectic energy brought forth from these compositions is what really brings the game to life. Though the sound may be a little different from Banjo-Kazooie, it’s just the nostalgia hit the game needed.
The Verdict
There is much to be liked about this game, especially as a fan of games that follow this formula. I wouldn’t say it is a perfect representation of everything that Banjo-Kazooie was but it doesn’t have to be. It brought forth some elements from a newer generation that make it stand on its own two feet rather than be in the shadow of the past. While it does have its faults, hopefully a sequel is on the horizon.