Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 489 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair Game Cover
Playtonic has absolutely smashed it with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. It builds on the team’s experience with platformers and manages to improve on its predecessor in every way. One of the best platformers I’ve played in years.
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"Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is a platforming game with stunning 2.5D visuals, where players traverse through a series of 2D levels and an overworld filled with puzzles and objectives. The overworld offers separate gameplay experiences and hidden collectibles, while alternate level states and the Royal Beettalion can aid in taking down Capital B's Impossible Lair. The game encourages players to tackle the final challenge at any time, but preparation and collection of allies is crucial for success.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 489 reviews
gameplay45 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully crafted overworld that is engaging and full of secrets to discover.
  • Levels are well-designed with a good balance of challenge and accessibility, allowing for enjoyable gameplay.
  • The soundtrack is fantastic, with catchy tunes that enhance the overall experience.
  • The final level, the Impossible Lair, presents a significant difficulty spike that may frustrate players.
  • Some controls feel slippery and imprecise, leading to occasional frustrating deaths.
  • The game lacks a proper tutorial for some mechanics, which can lead to confusion during gameplay.
  • gameplay159 mentions

    The gameplay of "Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is a blend of old-school platforming reminiscent of the Donkey Kong Country series, featuring tight controls and a variety of mechanics that keep levels engaging. While many players appreciate the creative level designs and the introduction of tonics that modify gameplay, some criticize the game for its frustrating mechanics, such as the random damage system and occasional clunky controls. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable and challenging experiences, though opinions vary on its execution and pacing.

    • “The gameplay itself is in that old-school Donkey Kong Country style, but it definitely feels pretty good to go through the levels.”
    • “The game boasts a reasonable and continuous learning curve that perpetually introduces new mechanics in a controlled fashion.”
    • “Every level so far has felt lovingly crafted, the gameplay is challenging but rewarding, and it's just incredibly fun.”
    • “Simply put, the gameplay is extremely dull and repetitive as a whole.”
    • “The refined twitch gameplay is at odds with waiting for slow elevators and enemy spawns.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game felt bare, kind of clunky to play with a lack of flow to the level design and game mechanics.”
  • music155 mentions

    The music in "Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting the diverse and atmospheric soundtrack that complements each level's theme. Composed by notable talents like Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, the tracks are described as catchy, vibrant, and integral to the game's charm, making it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some players found the music less memorable outside the game, the consensus is that it significantly elevates the gameplay and enjoyment.

    • “Musically, this game borders on perfection.”
    • “The soundtrack is also great, not very listenable outside the game, but very atmospheric and fitting for the situations in the game nonetheless.”
    • “The music is outstanding, truly an OST that will be put on repeat many times over the following years, each track fits the level perfectly in both theming and pace, I highly recommend picking up the OST too.”
    • “Fun but it gets dull after a while... I mean the music, overworld, text clouds - it all gets very annoying.”
    • “Music makes me feel like I'm playing a game for three year olds.”
    • “Very little about the game's art direction, characters, story, level design, or music stands out as especially unique, creative, or excellent.”
  • graphics69 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming aesthetic, with many reviewers noting the beautiful 3D environments and character models that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country. However, some criticism arises regarding the lack of visual variety across levels, as many locations appear similar, and certain cosmetic filters are seen as diminishing the overall appeal. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable experience, complemented by a catchy soundtrack and solid gameplay mechanics.

    • “The graphics are really nice with gorgeous 3D environments and character models despite the limitations of a 2D perspective, and is comparable to DKC Tropical Freeze which is great as this is probably the closest you'll ever get to a game like that on Steam.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, very colorful and charming, the strong art direction has easily helped give Yooka-Laylee their own identity in the gaming world.”
    • “Tight controls, bright, vibrant visuals and another great soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope, what more can you ask for?”
    • “Despite my praise for the graphics, there isn't that much variety to the visuals as a lot of locations look very similar to each other.”
    • “I don't like how most of the unlocks are just sh*tty graphics filters that make the game less appealing to look at.”
    • “Yooka-Laylee (both the original and Impossible Lair) feels very aesthetically bland.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and whimsical dialogues, often likened to stand-up comedy, appealing to both children and adults with its quirky charm. Players enjoy the self-referential jokes and humorous interactions with characters, although some find the meta-humor less effective. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its engaging and enjoyable experience.

    • “The dialogues were very funny, which was also very enjoyable; it was as if every conversation was a stand-up comedy skit.”
    • “The humor has this hilarious Adult Swim twist that makes it so children and adults can find something to love and laugh about.”
    • “It's hilarious how self-aware the developers are that their first game wasn't the best it could be, as they sprinkle in jokes about it every so often as you progress.”
    • “The dialogue is a bit annoying and not funny.”
    • “The attempts at humor fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I found the jokes to be stale and lacking originality.”
  • story22 mentions

    The game's story is generally seen as underwhelming and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels secondary to the gameplay and level design. While some appreciate the lighthearted and whimsical elements, such as the cute characters and Saturday-morning-cartoon vibe, others criticize the thin plot and abrupt start that leaves players feeling disconnected. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling driving force.

    • “The graphics are bright and beautiful, the story and characters are endearing, and the level design is excellent.”
    • “A worthy successor to Donkey Kong Country, the music is incredible, the story made me laugh out loud numerous times, the collectibles are fun to collect.”
    • “It's a cute story with just the right amount of Saturday-morning-cartoon motivation to kick the player into action.”
    • “This version feels very restricted, not only in gameplay, but in story development too.”
    • “The story just starts partway in with no lead-up or explanation as to why the duo even knows something is happening.”
    • “Very little about the game's art direction, characters, story, level design, or music stands out as especially unique, creative, or excellent.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the need to replay levels and boss fights after losing lives, which can lead to a repetitive experience. The requirement to collect resources for tonics and the lengthy nature of certain levels contribute to a sense of monotony, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. While some elements of exploration and varied gameplay help alleviate the grind, many still feel that the overall experience can become a drag.

    • “Every single time you lose a life, which is going to be often, you must replay a tedious and easy boss fight.”
    • “Not to mention you need to find these tonics first by playing through the game normally and then buy them by grinding the golden quills you find in the levels, which requires going through the very same levels I already don't like for multiple attempts.”
    • “Overall, getting through the stages feels like a tedious drag.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game suffers from a significant number of stability issues, including frequent freezes, frustrating glitches, and awkward interactions that can disrupt gameplay. Players report instances of being stuck in environments, unreliable mechanics, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience, though none are deemed game-breaking.

    • “Sometimes the game freezes after breaking the honeycomb, which forces you to alt+F4 and replay the same level again.”
    • “This game has a ton of largely frustrating bugs and glitches that can make you not trust your tools and movements anymore.”
    • “There were some awkward glitches throughout the game, like getting stuck in places you shouldn't be and some enemies not being as threatening occasionally.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its strong performance, particularly in the 2.5D platforming genre, with most users reporting a polished experience and no significant framerate drops. However, some players experienced stuttering issues when vsync was enabled, indicating a potential inconsistency in performance under certain conditions.

    • “Very polished platform game with great performance.”
    • “Technically spotless, no framerate drops or other performance issues.”
    • “The final point I want to touch on, and this one is important, is the performance.”
    • “The game was stuttering quite badly with VSync on, despite Steam saying that it was a solid 60.”
    • “Performance is well-optimized.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by strong character designs and movement mechanics, which are generally well-received. However, some players feel that the overall execution lacks polish, impacting the overall experience. While there are enjoyable aspects, frustrations with gameplay and accessibility hinder a full endorsement of the game.

    • “The devs really nail the character movement, character design, movement, and collectibles!”
    • “Fantastic character design, good progression, and solid minigames (with a few exceptions).”
    • “One of my many issues with the first game was that it felt very amateurish with its lack of polish in the animations, world, level, and character designs.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with a captivating soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience, even if it may not be enjoyable outside of the game. Each layer of the game contributes to a unique and engaging ambiance that draws players in, making the overall experience feel deeply atmospheric.

    • “The soundtrack is also great, not very listenable outside the game, but very atmospheric and fitting for the situations in the game nonetheless.”
    • “Every layer has its own unique atmosphere that sucks you in instantly.”
    • “The tunes really stick to your mind and make playing extremely atmospheric.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express that the game can evoke strong emotions, particularly frustration from challenging elements that may overwhelm some. However, successfully solving its numerous secrets provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment, contributing positively to the overall emotional experience. Despite some annoyances, the game is generally perceived as fair, which helps mitigate emotional distress.

    • “Moral of the story: don't buy this game if near impossible challenges in games destroy you emotionally.”
    • “The secrets are plentiful in this game and made me feel pretty damn smart for solving some of them.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the game's impressive replayability, especially for fans of platformers and the Donkey Kong Country series, noting that it offers significantly more content and gameplay than one might anticipate for its $30 price point.

    • “If you're a fan of platformers or enjoyed any of the DKC games, this game is genuinely a must-play and offers far more gameplay and replayability than you'd expect for a $30 price tag.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Buy Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

Play time

20hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
18-78hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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