PAGE 19 GAMBIT
Again , we ’ ve come a long way and game design isn ’ t the same as it was in that pre-2000s era of 3D gaming . So much of Yooka-Laylee , outside of the main levels felt more of a hindrance to the overall enjoyment . Maybe it ’ s just me , but I remember these hub-worlds being a little more easy to understand and navigate as a kid . This isn ’ t a deal breaker in the grand scheme of things , but what might be is the camera system .
It ’ s been over twenty-years since Super Mario 64 hit and in that time we ’ ve learned a lot about how to implement a camera in these sorts of games . Unfortunately , Yooka-Laylee is far more Mario 64 than anything modern in this respect . You are going to be spending a good portion of your time fighting the camera which will lead to a number of cheap deaths and some unneeded frustration .
Yooka-Laylee isn ’ t a hard game , but the forced dedication to nostalgia does make it frustrating at points . I don ’ t mind a spiritual successor to a franchise by a new or old team , but I do expect for it to also evolve with the times . I can point to DOOM doing just that , being a classic franchise that gets updated to take advantage of not only modern graphics , but of modern design .
I absolutely love Kickstarter , but a game like Yooka-Laylee shows how designing to a niche audience can limit a games success . I came into the Banjo-Kazooie game in my adult life , so I have no deep connection with it . In this respect , all the small issues with Yooka-Laylee are highlighted as I ’ m not wearing any sort of nostalgia glasses . I often felt like I was playing a remastered N64 game and I ’ m not sure how I feel about that .
All that said , Yooka-Laylee is a gorgeous looking game . It ’ s bright and colorful and you ’ ll be running about some truly vivid worlds . I tend to complain a lot about how modern “ adult ” gaming seems to really love earth-tones and angst , and
"... the music is hands-down the highlight of the experience "
playing through Yooka-Laylee really highlights this . It ’ s hard not to play through the game without having a big smile on your face most of the time .
Gameplay is about what you would expect . Yooka and Laylee have a number of abilities , and working in tandem is still a fresh concept , even today . The duo can run , jump and glide about stages , although the controls do feel a little loose for my liking . You have the ability to well , upgrade your abilities on your adventure via all the collectibles you pick up . Upgrading will allow you to access new stages , or go back to old stages and reach new section .