Yooka-Laylee

🎮 Steam ⏳ 32 hours ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Nostalgic Platforming Roots #

The first Yooka-Laylee entry is a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, created by former Rare developers, and it clearly aims to revive the late-’90s 3D platformer formula. The game succeeds in delivering a colorful, charming world full of quirky characters, lighthearted humor, and a nostalgic collectathon experience. Its bright visuals, varied level designs, and catchy soundtrack capture much of the playful atmosphere that fans of the genre love. And although I’m not a big fan of collectathons, particularly I prefer regular 3D platformers, I still play some of these, from time to time.

Content Rich, Flawed Design #

There’s also a lot of content to explore, with expansive worlds and plenty of hidden items if you enjoy hunting for secrets. However, the game also inherits many of the flaws of its inspirations. The camera and controls are often frustrating, making platforming less precise than it should be. Navigation can feel clunky due to confusing level layouts and the lack of helpful tools like a map, which turns exploration into wandering at times. And this is very unfortunately since this was supposed to be a modernized version of the classics of the same genre, all these elements should have been improved.

Charm Versus Frustration #

Some challenges and boss encounters feel dated or poorly balanced, showing rough edges in design and pacing. While the game’s retro charm appeals to nostalgic people, modern audiences may find these issues more irritating than endearing. Overall, this title delivers on its promise of reviving the classic 3D platformer, but it does so with a mix of charm and frustration. For those who grew up with games like Banjo-Kazooie, it’s a heartfelt throwback worth experiencing despite its flaws. For those expecting a polished, modern platformer, however, the game may feel too dated and uneven.