The Chameleon and Bat Duo Flies Again
Way back in the 90s, the N64 was host to a certain musically named bear and bird duo that took the gaming scene by storm. I am, of course, referring to Banjo-Kazooie. The childlike world, full of rhyming witches, lifelike jigsaw pieces, and talking animals, seemed to resonate with almost everyone who played. Simply put, they caught lightning in a bottle… perhaps a Jiggie in a canvas would be a more apt analogy.
Former developers from this title decided to team up again, creating Playtonic Games, and in 2017, Yooka-Laylee, to not so great critical reception. Of course, the game had its fans, after all it takes a lot from its roots in Banjo-Kazooie, leading us to 2025 where the remastered, and appropriately titled, Yooka-Replaylee has released.
The One Book Quest
Much like the base version, Yooka-Replaylee sees the chameleon and bat duo set out on a treasure hunt aboard their trusty Bat-Ship-Crazy boat, unfortunately resulting in a crash. The silver lining comes in the fact the peculiar island they wash up on, is home to the self-titled “strongest power in the universe”, the One Book. To save this book from its abduction at the hands of Capital B, Yooka and Laylee must set off on their hardest journey yet… And that’s where you finally come in.
The gameplay remains largely the same as the original, at least on a basic level. You must traverse worlds in search of Pagies, quills, puzzle pieces, and so much more. Classic collect-athon gameplay. So rather than bombarding you with aspects and features you’re already aware of, let’s jump straight into the key changes you’ll find here with Replaylee.
The Remaster’s Hand
Gameplay is arguably the most affected by these changes, in fact down to the very stages themselves, things have been altered. To begin with, whilst the overall theming of stages stays the same, the content inside can drastically differ. What were once often empty worlds with occasional activities, are now chock-full of NPCs to take missions from, coins to collect, or simply make your own path in. Not only has more been added, but previous content that was deemed below a certain standard was booted out the door, making room for more engaging content.
The final factor to this is the fact collectibles have been moved in position to be more thought out, a change that makes a huge difference. All these changes without doubt work for the better, yet it still can’t help the Frankenstein’s monster feel of the game, like an amalgamation of Banjo-Kazooie and all later entries which leaves Yooka-Replaylee almost lacking in identity.
Whilst not new in their introduction, the move-set of this flying-reptilian duo is now available from the get-go, a change making way for mountains more fun. This kit of abilities combines the pair’s animalistic traits, making for – what I think – is one of the title’s saving graces; it consists of a jump, tail-whip attack, roll (think spin-dash), glide, ground-slam, slurp, and sonar abilities to detect invisible things or people… wow, that was a mouthful. Yes, the move-set is extensive, and yes, you’ll likely use some more than others, yet chaining them all together, and how they’re all mandatory for some form of challenge, creates a cohesive, flowing arsenal of abilities you’re unlikely to grow sick of. Throw in some ice, fire, and many more power-ups for extra measure, and Yooka-Replaylee flies higher for moves than its derivative gameplay does.
Tonics and Treasure
If you’re up for a challenge, or maybe an easier experience, newcomer Tonics will be your best friend. These peculiar potions allow for alterations to the gameplay, introducing modifiers such as you can only take one hit. There are some more beneficial ones, however, as a concept, they make room for plenty more replay value, whilst not overstaying their welcome or being forced into your hands, purchased through coins you find in worlds.
What is the incentive to collect these aforementioned Pagies, quills, coins, and others, you may be asking? Well, it’s rather simple and takes a page out of Banjo-Kazooie’s book (see what I did there). Areas in Capital B’s lair are blocked off and need Pagies to be unlocked, ultimately progressing to the end of Yooka-Replaylee, with quills, coins, and others being used to unlock upgrades… told you it was simple!
This also begs a larger question on the level design of the title, and as you guessed, I’ll be happy to answer.
Open Worlds and Familiar Flaws
Worlds are vast open areas consisting of challenges, collectibles, and NPCs, that somehow manage to remain interconnected and flowing. This is all thanks to layout, and that trusty move-set I mentioned before; the layout of each world is as such that as you finish a NPCs’ quest, or the many gauntlets of platforming, you’ll be on a path straight to another which, when taking into consideration your many movement options, feels satisfying, flowing, and most importantly, effective. My only criticism would be the quests given. For every shooting range or fun race, a pathetic fetch quest or requirement to defeat a certain enemy will appear, dragging Yooka-Replaylee, and its pacing with it.
One aspect I certainly can’t complain about is the soundtrack. Magnificent. Euphoric. Life-changing. All these would be apt descriptors to accompany this superb and stellar symphony, more than picking up the slack for other shortcomings of this title. Add in the newly updated visuals, unique vibe of each environment, and the overall charm to this game’s world, and presentation is never lacking.
A Faithful Collect-a-thon
Yooka-Replaylee is not a masterpiece of 3D platforming, far from it in fact, yet if you just lower your expectations for this to be the next Banjo-Kazooie, enjoyment will soon follow. A stunning soundtrack, world, and overall charm, harmonise with the troubled, yet enjoyable gameplay, and the accompanying arsenal of moves. Simply put, Yooka-Replaylee is fun, but not groundbreaking.
Important Links
Yooka-Laylee gets reworked as the gorgeous Yooka-Replaylee – https://www.thexboxhub.com/yooka-laylee-gets-reworked-as-the-gorgeous-yooka-replaylee/
Yooka-Replaylee is a Gorgeous Reworking of a Classic! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/yooka-replaylee-is-a-gorgeous-reworking-of-a-classic/
Buy Yooka-Replaylee – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/yooka-replaylee/9P5W99STCHM7/0010
