Random Video Game Review - Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

A little while ago, Playtonic Games (a private company comprised of mostly former Rare employees) relased their first game Yooka-Laylee which was set out to be the spritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. Now they are back with their follow up game that aims to be better in every way. One thing that people really like in games like this is a challenge and we got one in the form of the titular Impossible Lair which in a change of pace can be taken on soon after the first level rather than players having to spend countless hours before taking it on. So with that in mind, let's dive into Playtonic's next game:

So our titular heroes are out to stop Capital B once again as he attempts to conquer the Royal Stingdom. Desperate the belovant ruler and B's sister Queen Phoebee recruits Yooka and Laylee to save her kingdom and stop her brother. Now as I mentioned, you can start the Impossible Lair very early on if you are keen to take it on without any help. But most wise players will want to explore the world and tackle levels before doing the titular lair. To help take on the lair, players can enter books in which they are treated to a 2D.5 style platforming level in which they must save each bee of the Beetalion which are extremely helpful to Yooka and Laylee. Additonally there are Twit coins and quills which can both be acquired and used to access new areas of the overworld and to buy tonics that can give the heroes new or improved abilites as well as change the level to look like say a blockbuster film or make it look like a VHS which gives the game some nosalgic value. Most of the characters from the first game return with some willing to help while others are just there to be a nusience. And there are lots of hidden things in the overworld as are the levels which can be played as it is or with some manipulation of the overworld can be played in a different way.

Will having some similarites to the Donkey Kong Country games, this game is pretty good. A great move by the developers for allowing players to attempt the Impossible Lair from the start which kind of allows the wise ones to spend most of their time preparing for it. Its a worthy follow up to the first game and is great fun in almost every way. Completionists will definitely have fun with this one I'm sure and the titular lair may be named impossible, but it can be done with preperation. 9/10