Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair review: Release date, price, consoles

Yooka-Laylee is back in the Impossible Lair, but how does the new release compare to other side-scrolling platform games?

Just two years after the Banjo-Kazooie inspired Yooka-Laylee graced our screens for the first time, the loveable duo is back with a bang in Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair.

Trading in the 3D platformer game style of the first Yooka-Laylee for a fresh 2D approach, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a fine addition to the genre, which includes titles like Super Mario Maker 2 and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

The game sees Yooka the chameleon and Laylee the bat trying to rescue Queen Phoebee’s Royal Beettallion to take down the villainous Capital B, who is using his Hive Mind invention to control the minds of the bees in the Royal Stingdom.

Don’t like bee puns? This isn’t the game for you. Picture: Supplied

It’s safe to say that if bee themed puns aren’t your cup of tea, then you may find parts of this game very annoying, but if you can look past this, it’s well worth playing.

What sets this game apart from others in the genre is the twist with this final boss fight. Players can actually attempt the final boss fight at any point in the game, meaning this game can be finished in less than 30 minutes.

However, this boss fight takes place in the Impossible Lair, which like the name suggests is extremely difficult, as it is very long, punishing, full of nightmare death traps and also has no checkpoints. As you progress through the game you will rescue more bees which will give you additional damage resistance to make the Impossible Lair easier, but still difficult to complete.

The game is a lot of fun and not just for kids. Picture: Supplied

Outside of the Impossible Lair, the game is difficult in patches, but is not unfair by any means. The concept of lives has been overhauled, meaning levels can be attempted as many times as you want, with no game over screens. Rather, you will lose some of your in-game currency (quills) upon death, but it is relatively easy to collect more.

Also if you find one area of the game too difficult you will be given an option to skip to the next checkpoint, but you will miss out on some of the games collectables. While the story is light and these features might make the game sound a bit easy, it is by no means just a children’s game, and is enjoyable for people of all ages.

The game is enjoyable for people of all ages. Picture: Supplied

While most side scrolling platformers see players just moving from right to left, Yooka-Laylee is full of hidden pathways, so you’ll want to fully explore areas to find as much Quills and coins as possible. These can be used to purchase tonics, which can make your game easier, as well as accessing new areas in the overworld.

The top-down 3D overworld is another great feature of this game which functions as more than just a loading area between levels, and is something of a mini game itself, filled with puzzles to unlock new areas and collectables.

The graphics are great, with the game running at a pretty solid 60 frames per second, and the lighting and use of colour throughout the game is something special, while the original level design is a great feature, alongside the fantastic soundtrack.

The use of colour and graphics really is something special. Picture: Supplied

VERDICT

While Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair does take a lot of inspiration from other games in the genre, its unique level design and gameplay features, like the Impossible Lair, as well as level customisation makes this a great addition to the genre. Yooka-Laylee is challenging, but still a fun platformer, that is well worth playing, especially if you enjoyed the first Yooka-Laylee, or are a fan of other side scrolling platformers, like Donkey Kong or Mario games.

Rating: 3.5/5

RELEASE DATE, PRICE, CONSOLE DETAILS

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is available for purchase from today, October 8, 2019, and is developed by Playtonic Games, and published by Team17 Digital Limited.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair can be played on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and on Microsoft Windows.

While regular retail price is around $69 on the Nintendo Switch console, most stores seem to be selling the PS4 and Xbox One versions for just $49, so if you have multiple consoles you may want to avoid the Switch version. Make sure you shop around for the best deal.

Wilson Smith is a video games writer @wilson_smithdt

Originally published as Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair review: Release date, price, consoles