Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

I had doubts concerning Playtonic's ability to evolve past their '90s game design mentality, but they've proved this naysayer wrong with a strong rebound performance! [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 18SH]

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.

A proposal that maintains a great difficulty curve and a unique structure, which borrows from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for the most skilled.

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.

Donkey Kong Country fans rejoice: this is the spiritual successor you’ve been waiting for. The worst thing you could say about it is that the overworld exploration may prove to be too involved for those who are in it purely for the runny-jumpy stuff, but those who are happy to mix platforming with top-down adventuring and don’t mind adapting to the constantly changing pace will find the best of both worlds here. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a fantastic sophomore effort that pays tribute to Rare's past and establishes Playtonic as one of the UK's most exciting studios.

Playtonic offers us a new and excellent title of Yooka and Laylee. Although it can be improved in some aspects, it is very fun and entertaining, with excellent controls, good level design and a great soundtrack. It is also a very replayable title.

Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a great platform game with a clever and defiant level design, a colourful main world that you will love exploring thanks its puzzles, and the soul of the best games of the classic Rare.

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.

Yooka-Laylee finally succeeds in bringing the platformer to the next level. With an original structure, made of puzzle and reverse narration, this new episode brings a fresh OST and some great ideas, while being sometimes too difficult or unprecise. A really good game for nostalgics and newcommers.

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.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is, at its worst, an enjoyable 2D platformer. Some of the level design is a tiny bit pedestrian, but the dynamic duo have a versatile moveset that helps make rolling around levels fun. Where this game shines is in the sum of its parts. The individual levels might not be outstanding, but combining those with alternate versions and a light and engrossing overworld make the whole package that is Playtonic’s second game a thrilling one. They might not have regained the crown from Retro Studios in the realm of Donkey Kong Country-like games, but they certainly retained the googly eyes.

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.

If you can either appreciate a masochistic final challenge or are happy to simply not worry about it, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is an excellent platformer from a team of veterans showing they can still produce nostalgic experiences that stand up to the best of the modern era. There’s an undeniable charm present throughout thanks to the gorgeous art design and a stellar soundtrack, and the combination of an extensive 3D overworld and tight 2D platforming makes for a thoroughly enjoyable adventure reminiscent of the platforming golden age.

The cartoony Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair is funny experience you certainly should give a try. The game delivers lots of addictive gameplay and collectibles. This adventure isn't flawless however.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair doesn’t have the charm of the original game, but it is a very good 2.5 platformer. Remember that this is a spin-off and not a sequel and you’ll enjoy yourself more.