Yooka-Laylee

 PC
Yooka-Laylee Image
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73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 312 Ratings

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  • Summary: Yooka-Laylee is an all-new 3D platformer from the creative talent behind the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country games. Our new heroes, Yooka (the green bloke with no pants) and Laylee (the wisecracking lady-bat with the big nose) were conceptualised from the ground up for stellarYooka-Laylee is an all-new 3D platformer from the creative talent behind the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country games. Our new heroes, Yooka (the green bloke with no pants) and Laylee (the wisecracking lady-bat with the big nose) were conceptualised from the ground up for stellar platforming gameplay, created by the same character artist behind the rebooted Donkey Kong family and legendary N64 heroes Banjo and Kazooie. Using an arsenal of special moves like Yookas tongue grapple and Laylees tactical sonar blast, players will explore and expand gorgeous 3D worlds drawn up by esteemed environment artist Steven Hurst (Banjo-Kazooie series, Viva Pinata) and through skill discover the plethora of delicious collectibles hidden within.

    FEATURES:

    * Heroes Built for Fun: Our new buddy-duo were dreamed up specifically for entertaining platforming gameplay and exceptional colour coordination. We think we've captured the spirit of our past heroes while introducing our most inventive moves yet.

    * An Arsenal of Abilities: Sonar blasting, tongue whipping, sky soaring a move roster built for platforming fun and unlocked with added freedom. Additionally, there may or may not be a move involving a giant fart bubble.

    * A Dream Soundtrack: David Wise (Donkey Kong Country) and Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie) combine in what's sure to be a melodic masterpiece! Seriously, clean out your ears - they're in for a treat.

    * Collect-em-up 2.0: A roster of shiny collectibles with gameplay progression at their core (as well as other, more valuable materials). Every collectible type in our new game will expand gameplay in a meaningful way. Yes, we employ the man responsible for DK64's myriad of trinkets, but we've had a stern word. Our main collectible, Pagies, are used to unlock and expand new worlds in Yooka-Laylee.

    * Expandable Worlds: Experience more of the playgrounds you love by spending collectibles to expand your favourites into bigger, more challenging worlds.

    * A Cast to Last: A huge cast of memorable characters to meet (or beat) brought to life by the art and audio teams behind Banjo-Kazooie and destined to endure in future games as part of Playtonic Universe. Expect all manner of grunts, squeaks and squawks.

    * Introducing Play Tonics: Discover these unique gameplay modifiers and use them to customise gameplay to suit your style. Will you run faster, hit harder or fly further? Also, are they named after our studio or vice versa? We'll never know.

    * Arcade machines: Each world hides at least one secret arcade game encasing old-school gaming goodness. Complete its retro-tastic challenge to claim your Pagie!    … Expand

Trailer

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Yooka-Laylee - Release Date Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. The Escapist
    Apr 4, 2017
    90
    This time around, Kickstarter actually did come to the rescue, delivering a game that is very much worthy of being called the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. Yooka-Laylee is a game for fans who miss the N64 days of running around a huge, open map, collecting a bunch of stuff and having a bit of a laugh. It's cute, it's funny, and a few minor technical issues aside, it's exactly what it promised to deliver.
  2. Gaming Age
    Apr 7, 2017
    83
    Yooka-Laylee is a great experience, and well worth playing if you are a long-time fan of the work that Rare did. This is a game for veterans and newcomers alike though, and there is plenty here to hook a new player or new generation. A lot of the mechanics are a throwback to how things were before, and I don’t necessarily mind that. Some people however may find it slow and tedious at times. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Yooka-Laylee and would recommend you give it a try if you are even the least bit curious about it.
  3. Game Informer
    Apr 4, 2017
    80
    Though camera problems and outdated level design are present at times, the moments of exhilaration, discovery, and satisfaction far outweigh those pitfalls. It feels like ages since I've played something like Yooka-Laylee. This is a game that was built for those who look back with fondness on the classics that spawned it, and in that regard, it delivers completely.
  4. Hooked Gamers
    Apr 6, 2017
    80
    When it comes down to it, Yooka-Laylee just feels good to play. It’s great to control, it’s fun to explore, and it scratched the collectible itch in me in a way that few games have managed to properly accomplish nowadays. If you’re a fan of wide open 3D platformers, or are wanting to take a nostalgia laden trip through one, Yooka-Laylee is certainly the game for you.
  5. Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
    May 7, 2017
    73
    Quotation forthcoming.
  6. PC Gamer
    Apr 4, 2017
    68
    A decent revival of the N64-era 3D platformer, but with all the flaws that carries, as well as some new ones of its own.
  7. Let's Play Video Games
    Apr 4, 2017
    35
    Sure it looks visually nicer, and the ability to play it with a dual analogue controller fixes some of the control issues Banjo had on N64, but that’s far from enough to redeem this game...I don’t know what else to say. Yooka Laylee, you’re just a poor facsimile of something I used to love. You really didn’t impress me.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 94
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 94
  3. Negative: 18 out of 94
  1. weardo05
    Apr 12, 2017
    10
    this game is a great game a real throwback that is faithful to tea or bat .phics are fine for a platformer and the music still has the samethis game is a great game a real throwback that is faithful to tea or bat .phics are fine for a platformer and the music still has the same feel to it like as the original Banjo games… Expand
  2. huskobon
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    A fun return to the classic Action/Adventure. It's got all the charm, the gameplay, and enjoyment of nostalgia. Sound and music are a fatefulA fun return to the classic Action/Adventure. It's got all the charm, the gameplay, and enjoyment of nostalgia. Sound and music are a fateful return to that feeling we all used to love when playing Banjo-Kazooie! Game was made by a team of legends, and it shows!… Expand
  4. godzilla772
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    This genre of gaming is what I grew up playing as a kid and what made me love video games. The camera is some what of a problem but I got usedThis genre of gaming is what I grew up playing as a kid and what made me love video games. The camera is some what of a problem but I got used to it fast and it never prevented me from enjoying this game. I firmly believe Playtonic came through with all the promises they made with their kickstarter and if anyone says the game play is "outdated" then they truly where never fans of the Banjo series.… Expand
  5. Tr4nceTV
    Apr 12, 2017
    9
    I'm usually one that hates character on character interaction in games, but I can definitely sit through them in Yooka-Laylee. I enjoy so muchI'm usually one that hates character on character interaction in games, but I can definitely sit through them in Yooka-Laylee. I enjoy so much of the exploration in this game, and a lot of the trial and error. Yeah you don't have your hand held on where to go, but that's the fun! The music is great, I love the art, and the dialogue can be very cheesy, but still funny.

    The camera hasn't give me as much problems as others it seems, or maybe I'm just not too bothered by that. Either way, I've been paying attention to detail for this game and I love how it allows me to explore a bunch of random areas. It really forces you to think. "Can I get to that spot? Let me try. OH! I can! Awesome!"

    Like I said, a lot of trial and error going on, and without a guide it really gives your brain a little workout.    … Expand
  6. YoloSwag4Doge
    Apr 17, 2017
    8
    Yooka Laylee is exactly what I expected it to be. I didn't expect the game to give me the same magical feeling of awe I got as a child playingYooka Laylee is exactly what I expected it to be. I didn't expect the game to give me the same magical feeling of awe I got as a child playing BK. Nor did I expect it to scare the living sh1t out of me like BK did. I anticipated a spiritual successor to the BK and BT games that would effectively play off my nostalgia and Yooka Laylee has done that in spades. The music, the graphics, the characters, the worlds and the puzzles are all very much, to my mind, similar to what I played with in BK & BT. And it feels really good to, in effective, relive those old memories.

    Could the game have raised the bar and been so much more? Perhaps with the right time and money it could have. I sincerely don't think it's really better than BK and BT as far as content goes, but it is definitely an improvement over the graphics, controls and camera. (Though the camera can still be rather derpy at times, I don't find it nearly as bad as it was in the originals). Honestly, it feels like a modernized emulation of the originals and I'm okay with that. I enjoy it for what it is. I certainly would've preferred more maps and I feel that the maps that are there could've been more interesting.

    Now, that being said, I don't find it to be super exciting. There's some challenging mini games throughout. Some I've found frustrating, others enjoyable. Which is the same experience I had in the originals. But overall, I just find it relaxing. There's a simple satisfaction to learning new moves, collecting various items and completing puzzles. I can't say that the puzzles are super hard. Some certainly make me think, but I haven't found myself getting crazy stuck on anything so far. And I'm glad. Because I do not miss the days of being an 8 year old kid, burning my tiny insufficient brain to a crisp trying to figure out simple puzzles that to me seemed like trying to figure out rocket science.

    For me it's an awesome, satisfying game that's delivered on my expectations. But if you're looking for something innovative or particularly ground breaking in comparison to BK or BT I doubt you'll be very impressed with Yooka Laylee.    … Expand
  7. duk242
    Apr 24, 2017
    6
    I don't know about this game. I loved Banjo Kazooie way back in the day and this game feels a lot like it. However: Times have changed, I'mI don't know about this game. I loved Banjo Kazooie way back in the day and this game feels a lot like it. However: Times have changed, I'm older now and the gameplay of it doesn't seem to interest me as much anymore.
    * The Graphics are pretty
    * The voice overs are infuriatingly annoying (all the voices going WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH on repeat)
    * The controls are infuriating (I don't know if it's just me, or if I'm just really bad at using an XBox controller).
    * Story line felt... weak?
    * The characters are kinda cool and quirky.    … Expand
  8. fykins
    Apr 25, 2017
    0
    This game is not worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as banjo kazooie. There are just so many reasons not to get this game, justThis game is not worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as banjo kazooie. There are just so many reasons not to get this game, just another early access game that turned to trash. Oh sure they took your money upfront and that's exactly why they don't need to deliver at launch time.

    There's plenty of titles for less than $20 on steam that are better games than this.    … Expand

See all 94 User Reviews

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52
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