Yokaa-Laylee Is a Nostalgic Ride So Far

With review codes hitting media last night, it is obvious that Team 17 and Playtonic Games know they have a winner on their hands. The media is playing a game 3 weeks ahead of launch? The Embargo lift date is a week ahead of launch? Developers and publishers only do this when the title they are putting out is a home run, and so far, I think Yooka-Laylee is a HOME RUN – through only one hour of play. Things could change, and will change, but that’s how I’m feeling early on.

It’s more than just a great game, however. It’s a nostalgic experience. Right away, you are transformed back to the days of the Nintendo 64 where you were playing as that loveable bear and the outrageously honest and outspoken bird. Jump ahead to 2017, and you’ve got a similar cast of characters, a loveable lizard and an outrageously honest and outspoken bat! All the subtle hints to Banjo-Kazooiee spread around the worlds of Yooka-Laylee is welcomed. Those that never played the N64 classics won’t be missing a lot, but those who have will enjoy this new title that much more.

It’s not just the character train similarities, though. It’s the colourful worlds, how you access the worlds, collecting pages from your book (ala Jiggies) and collecting quills (ala Musical Notes). You will interact with a lovely yet somewhat shady snake Trowzer, who is nothing like Bottles except that he sells you moves! In Yooka-Laylee you roll to get up steep slopes instead of utilizing fast bird feet, and roam around expandable worlds as opposed to complete worlds. The differences are there to make Yooka-Laylee fresh and new, but everything that made Banjo games great has been rehashed here in some way.

We will do more previous as we get closer to launch, and of course a full review of Yooka-Laylee on April 4th. Until then, keep it with us here on GamesReviews.com for frequent content updates on this title, and everything we like – or hate…but let’s be real… – about it!