▷Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair review: the return of the legendary duo 🥇

The duo Yooka and Laylee have entered the world of platform in 2017, when Playtonic Games has decided to refresh the genre with a new game full of adventure and possibilities. Today, the unlikely duo is back on a new adventure with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. Let's see if the good feelings we had during the test of the game were expected.

The two adventurous friends, this time, are called to defend the kingdom ofape regina Phoebee from the return of the wicked Capital B, intent on conquering the world by mentally controlling the soldier bees. Our task will be to travel up and down the various "chapters" of the kingdom and free the trapped bees to try to defeat the usurper of the throne.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair - Review

Yooka and Laylee will have to face 40 levels to free prisoners in dangerous maps and platforming sections. Thanks to the skills of the two heroes we will be able to jump, roll, grab objects with Yooka's prehensile tongue and take advantage of the help of Laylee to glide after a long jump or crush enemies with a violent head butt.

The game levels are all fairly straightforward but offer fun challenges with all the elements expected of a classic Platform: persistent enemies, spinning blades, water levels, fireballs and so on. Through a large 3D map that acts as a "Game board“, We will have the possibility to freely choose in which order to face the various chapters. In reality, this same map is a gigantic level full of puzzles, secret areas and little puzzles to overcome. From here, as we progress with the game, we will have the possibility to unlock new areas, meet the bizarre characters of the kingdom and change the very nature of the map and the connected chapters.

The level design of the game gives us simple but very effective schemes with new skills to unlock, ever new levels e lots of collectibles. In addition to goose feathers (Quill), the bizarre currency of the game, it is in fact possible to collect, within each level, 5 gold coins. These will be needed to unlock new areas and get on with the game and so on complete it 100%. The main map, on the other hand, is full of precious tonics sown around and at times, hidden behind simple riddles or puzzles. Acquiring Tonics (and then unlocking them) will provide special extras. Some of these give Yook-Laylee new abilities, such as taking an extra hit or rolling longer, while others are purely cosmetic changes to the game or characters.

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Lots of possibilities

Through the use of tonic we will therefore be able to actively act on difficulties game itself by varying the gameplay. Aside from those that change its appearance, such as the black and white filter or the 4: 3 view, some filters can empower enemies by allowing them to take more hits. These elements, in addition to providing you with extra Quills at the end of the level, greatly increase the degree of challenge. The possibilities are plentiful with 60 tonics to find and test, and add to the variety of the game with exciting new mechanics.

One of the strengths of Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is, in fact, its ability to constantly reinvent itself. Through the main map we will in fact be able to make some interesting changes to the various levels. These changes are not limited only to cosmetic changes but will change the entire level-design allowing us to reach otherwise inaccessible areas and thus free new soldier bees. We will then be able to actively act on a certain world, for example by flooding areas or freezing it. It will be fun to find out how a chapter will change as a result of our actions.

Equally interesting and innovative is the possibility of attempting to complete the final level from the very beginning of the game. The terrible Capital B in fact, it can be dealt with immediately an unlimited number of times. The challenge, however, is, as per the title of the game, almost impossible to win without getting on with the game. Each bee you release in the game will give you the chance to take an extra hit in the challenge with the final boss. No matter how much skill or mastery you think you have, you will need a lot of shield bees before you can win.

The colorful world of platformers

The lively world of Yooka-Laylee is presented in a colorful and detailed graphic, smooth and without any problem in terms of frame drops. In the same way, the character design returns to shine again with interesting and detailed characters inspired by those of the platformers of our childhood. It must be said, however, that, unlike the characters, the levels do not have any distinctive features, getting lost a little in the number. Note of merit instead for the soundtracks, cheerful and well diversified.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair review - the final verdict

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a shining example of how the platforming genre, between triple A games and hyper-realistic graphics, still has something to tell. The classic style and faithful to the "historical" titles of this genre is flanked by an innovation of intelligent and effective mechanics. An unmissable chapter for platformers and adventure games lovers.