Yooka-Replaylee

Nostalgia is the fuel that burns constantly through Yooka-Replayeein the same way it did with the original. There are many examples of games that aim to pay homage to their forbears, but they usually include twists and clever complements to the works they take inspiration from. Yooka-Layleealways appeared to prioritize Rare’s platforming classics over its own identity, and as such it can feel like a parody or a pastiche rather than a game with a unique voice. If you didn’t like Yooka-Laylee, you might diminish Replayleeas merely polishing a turd, but that’s not a fair assessment to make. It’s a true effort to correct a game that was divisive upon its initial release, and the result is a platformer that is sparkly and has been polished well. Yeah it’s still a nostalgia trip riding on the coattails of Rare’s finest, but Yooka-Layleewas always meant to be a tribute rather than an innovator in the genre. Replayleeis definitely the best way to play this game and you should definitely check it out, but you better love Rare platforming classics and gratuitously incessant character voices.