Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

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81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 124 Ratings

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  • Summary: Yooka & Laylee are back in a brand-new platform hybrid adventure. They must run, jump and roll their way through a series of challenging 2D levels, face a puzzling Overworld and rally the Royal Bee-tallion to take down Capital B and his Impossible Lair.
    * The overworld isn't just a hub to    Yooka & Laylee are back in a brand-new platform hybrid adventure. They must run, jump and roll their way through a series of challenging 2D levels, face a puzzling Overworld and rally the Royal Bee-tallion to take down Capital B and his Impossible Lair.
    * The overworld isn't just a hub to hop from level to level, it provides a whole separate gaming experience. Explore and unlock more 2D levels by completing objectives and puzzles, rescue Royal Bees and find collectibles.
    * Alternate Level States. Think you've got a level figured out? Try it in its alternate state! Flip switches in the overworld to create new landscapes.
    * Bee-at the Impossible Lair. Players are free to tackle Capital B's Impossible Lair at any time; however, they may find it too much of a challenge without the help of the Royal Bee Guards.    … Expand
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Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair - 2D Platforming Gameplay | PAX West 2019

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Universo Nintendo
    Jun 4, 2020
    90
    It’s such a shame that Nintendo have little interest in developing a sixth DKC, but at the same time it’s incredible how Playtonic nailed the formula so well. Fun levels, on point difficulty, visuais and soundtrack very well executed and a slew of new ideas really makes The Impossible Lair feel like a sequel to a series that we like so much, and not just a cheap knock-off.
  2. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Oct 3, 2019
    90
    Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair marries a variety of platforming mechanics in a meaty campaign with tons of challenges ahead. It’s as polished as it is focused and as true to the genre as you can get. Now, sign me up for the next one.
  3. Attack of the Fanboy
    Oct 23, 2019
    90
    Even with plenty of superb 2D platformers releasing in recent years, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair easily belongs alongside the best the generation has to offer thanks to excellent level design and platforming that is evocative of past classics from the genre.
  4. Nintendo Insider
    Oct 3, 2019
    80
    Overly familiar in many ways but not without a splash or two of its own inventive ideas. Sure, some are more successful than others but in the end, you’re left with a challenging and reliably entertaining platformer and a great extension of the Yooka-Laylee brand.
  5. FNintendo
    Oct 19, 2019
    80
    Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair may not recreate the whole platforming genre but the experience included in this game is nothing short of welcoming for both fans of platform games and beginners. Boasting a world that's a pleasure to explore along with a humorous dialogue that's full of personality, Yooka-Laylee's spin-off is a delight to play and a recommended work for everyone.
  6. Gameblog.fr
    Oct 8, 2019
    80
    Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a great homage to the Donkey Kong Country series, mixing its 2D mechanics with a 3D worl map to explore. The last level is always accessible to try out, but the collectibles you will find along your journey gives the game a tiny feels of an RPG. With so many secrets to fond across both the levels and the environment, there are plenty interesting things to look out in PlayTonic's second game.
  7. GameSpot
    Oct 6, 2019
    60
    Having to backtrack through stages to eventually reach and tackle the Impossible Lair would be more tolerable if the final encounter wasn't such a steep difficulty spike, but in truth it's likely you'll tire of its routine platforming well before that disappointment sets in. The Impossible Lair is definitely a better attempt at capturing the magic of platformers than Yooka-Laylee's first crack at it, but it's still not remarkable. If you're itching to return to a bygone era, then The Impossible Lair might scratch it. Just don't expect much beyond that.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 41
  3. Negative: 4 out of 41
  1. TSNintendogamer
    Apr 28, 2022
    10
    Ok, this is game of the year 2019 for me. It's so great it truly is the revival of rare. I love the level design both in the levels and inOk, this is game of the year 2019 for me. It's so great it truly is the revival of rare. I love the level design both in the levels and in the overworld. The game is pretty hard even if you do beat all the levels to get the bees. I love the jokes the game makes too. The music is great and it honestly has the best overworld ever because to get to a level, you have to solve puzzles... genius.… Expand
  2. ClinOton
    Oct 13, 2019
    10
    Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair’s brilliance is something that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. The Donkey Kong CountryYooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair’s brilliance is something that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. The Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze comparisons are to be expected and well deserved they are...these comparisons are initially what hinders Yooka Laylee. Tropical Freeze sets the bar too high in many respects, from dynamic graphics, level variety, the sound track, overall character likability, artistic aesthetic choices that immerses you in a world that you believe in and enjoy coming back to again and again. Yooka Laylee falls short in all of these categories...and yet it just keeps getting better and better on closer inspection. The play control is exceptional, I believe it’s that added Mario spin at the end of jumps that sets it apart...this spin is not an after thought but something that is well thought out and imperative to master. When mastered it leaves you wishing that Tropical Freeze had something similar. The roll, jump and split second twirl giving you that extra distance is factored into the level design with love and full comprehension of its importance. Everything from the sound track, play control, world and character design choices and even the impossible lair that at first seems unfair keeps getting better and better with closer inspection. This game stands on its own merits as a must play platformer!… Expand
  4. Outriders
    Oct 8, 2019
    10
    Bardzo dobra gra platformowa. Piekna i kolorowa i bardzo grywalna. Czołowka platformerow na switchu
  5. ImARater
    Jul 24, 2020
    9
    The levels are clearly inspired by the new DKC games, even though they don't reach the quality of them. But it was an interesting idea thatThe levels are clearly inspired by the new DKC games, even though they don't reach the quality of them. But it was an interesting idea that you can change them with interactions on the over world. And there we are at the best part of the game. It makes SO MUCH fun exploring the over world because of the many fun puzzles there are. The game is better than the first game in my opinion. Important to notice is that this game feels, other than the first game, finished.… Expand
  6. 2bitplayss
    May 20, 2021
    8
    really solid platformer kinda like donkey kong tropical freeze.. the level design is really good and i love that the level changes for examplereally solid platformer kinda like donkey kong tropical freeze.. the level design is really good and i love that the level changes for example a level with windmils and platforms then you do somthing on the overworld and now in th elevel there is a storm. stuff like that is great. and the 3d overworld has many fun puzzles. the backrounds also look good and that is important its mutch more enjoyable to look at like look at new super mario bros. the art style is so generic there is nothing going on there. here on the other hand.... anyway great game… Expand
  7. Gontrand00
    Dec 7, 2020
    7
    Even if this game has some great qualities, it kinda feels rushed. Another game that could have being amazing but was a little bit wasted.Even if this game has some great qualities, it kinda feels rushed. Another game that could have being amazing but was a little bit wasted.

    +Nice universe, we can see the touch of people who worked with Rare before
    +Kinda funny, relaxing and quirky
    +First quarter of the game feels nice, well balanced
    +Lot of collectibles, which I always enjoy
    +The overworld which is fulled with good ideas

    -Frustatingly hard starting the half of the game, for no apparent reason other that ''the game needs to make you suffer''
    -Not the best gameplay either : Yooka can roll but it's not as precise as in Donkey Kong, the character also feels like it's weighing a ton since it doesn't jump well, the platform sometimes are slippery for no reason (and you die because of that)
    **** = this is the worst part and makes the game being unfun at some point. You can never really go fast because the way the ennemies are programmed is that they are always **** with your flow, you cannot even dodge half of them or you'll die. Which is pointless since it doesn't even give you a chance to dodge them if you are good enough.
    -The collectibles are also a bad thing in this game : the 5 coins to find in every level are not that bad to find for the first quarter, but after chapter 10 they are insanely hard and unfair. You need to die several times to get to know how to reach a specific coin. But the thing is that you also need them to progress.
    -The way to move in the overworld feels so sluggish by moments. You can have nice puzzles to solve and that really add some fun to the game, instead of just being levels after levels, but it really need more polish.
    -The loading time at the beginning, every time you start the game. It litterally takes a MINUTE everytime to load the game. That's not possible anymore.

    All in all a good game, but you need to be sadistic to finish this game 100% because it's actually not fun to do. With more polish, better gameplay and a better difficulty-curve, this could have been as good as the DK series for sure. I really hope the devs are gonna make another game like that but without those flaws.    … Expand
  8. GermanGarmendio
    Oct 9, 2019
    0
    I love the first game, seriously! But this is one of the worst games i have ever played:

    -First of all, the story. The story is bad, since    I love the first game, seriously! But this is one of the worst games i have ever played:

    -First of all, the story. The story is bad, since a lot of boring new characters appear and the humor that characterized the first installment doesnt appear at all.
    -The graphics are pretty nice but the 30 FPS are not tolerable.
    -The gameplay is generic so dont expect too much.
    -Dlc and general gameplay. Is broken! And the DLC add more frustration!
    Dont buy this game! :P    … Expand

See all 41 User Reviews

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#41 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

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