Yooka-Replaylee, A Review

To be honest, I never thought Yooka-Laylee was crying out for a remaster. Some parts could’ve looked better or played smoother, sure, but that’s what sequels are meant to fix. I would’ve preferred a fresh story for our colorful duo instead of a touched-up version of a not-so-old game. That said, I’m glad Yooka-Replaylee exists; it’s a noticeably better experience than what we got eight years ago.

This isn’t about simply polishing the game with Unreal Engine 5 graphics, it’s something between a remaster and a rework. Every segment of the game has either been expanded or completely redesigned. It’s noticeable that the developers were guided by the complaints the original game received. 

Criticisms about the confusing camera were resolved so that in various mini-games, the camera now zooms out and fixes itself in place without the player having to constantly rotate it. Complaints that it was easy to get lost on levels were literally addressed by adding signposts that fit naturally into the humorous atmosphere of the game.

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How Yooka-Replaylee Redefines Its Gameplay

The entire gameplay design of Yooka-Replaylee

has been changed here so that it makes more sense and is closer to modern 3D platformers than to the 27-year-old Banjo-Kazooie that inspired the game. Here’s an example: in the original, there were no coins to collect. There were other items, but they were designed to be challenging to find or reach. 

Coins were added in Yooka-Replaylee to make the gameplay generally more interesting: they guide the player, serve as a resource to purchase bonus costumes, image filters, etc. They’re also something you lose when enemies defeat you. With the addition of collectible coins, there’s simply less empty walking around compared to the original.

Aside from the mentioned environmental signposts, the levels themselves are now much better designed. For starters, you can complete them entirely without having to return later in the game. You now have a clear map with a list of activities, the ability to fast travel from one side of a level to another, and so on. Some levels have been expanded with new areas, but the game itself hasn’t been supplemented with additional worlds. 

We still have five different worlds and one central hub, which isn’t exactly a great amount of variety these days. It also doesn’t help that the first two worlds are more interesting and fun than the last three, leaving the impression that the developers ran out of creative ideas toward the end.

A Game That Doesn’t Want You to Struggle

Yooka-Replaylee also lays all its cards on the table by giving the player all possible moves right from the start. The purchase of new moves has been removed, and there’s no longer a double jump instead, you must bounce off the ground. On one hand, this is a good thing because you won’t encounter situations where you need a specific move for a mini-game or challenge but don’t have enough collected items to unlock it. On the other hand, it shows just how much Yooka-Replaylee aims to accommodate the player.

Unfortunately, as meaningful and positive as these gameplay changes are, they’ve also largely killed almost all challenge. Now we have checkpoints, so there’s no returning to the beginning of a level that’s useful, of course. But overall, some mini-games have been simplified, probably to make the game easier for younger players. For example, in the original, there was a memory mini-game where you had to match cards while avoiding a scanner in the middle of the board. Now, that enemy is gone, and only the timed matching remains.

My main complaint about Yooka-Replaylee is that the game leaves all its difficulty up to the player, but not in a meaningful way. Like Super Mario, it offers an Assisted Mode where your health is doubled. Great but this is combined with health upgrades. 

That means I can spend 250 easily earned coins for three extra hearts or 25 feathers (which are harder to earn) for just one extra heart? Which one do you think is more worth it? The game offers the option to play with only one piece of health, but again, that goes against the entire upgrade-purchasing design, which was added because all moves are unlocked from the start.

How Yooka-Replaylee Finally Looks the Way It Should

Earlier, I said that Yooka-Replaylee isn’t just a remaster that polishes up the original game. However, visually, this version has advanced a lot compared to the original. This is most noticeable in the lighting, which has seen a generational leap the game no longer looks washed out in shadowy areas. There are also charming presentation touches, such as fur on the bat or snow that sinks under your feet. 

The game definitely looks beautiful now, and this is finally the full vision that the developers had for it. The musical side has also been improved with orchestral performances that sound excellent, and if you prefer the old soundtrack, you can switch to it. Voice acting hasn’t been added, but conversations are much more tolerable since character mumbling no longer lasts through entire lines of dialogue.

The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 and, contrary to previous experiences, performs very well. I played the PC version at 2k resolution and maintained 70–90 fps all the time. There were occasional short stutters when entering new areas, but not often enough to be problematic. This might have been my least problematic experience with any UE5 game so far.

In Conclusion 

So, Yooka-Replaylee improved many things but also slightly disrupted the balance of the gameplay itself. It’s still a fun platformer with a certain charm, but this remaster hasn’t catapulted it into the ranks of legendary 3D platformers. It merely adjusted it to be more accessible for modern audiences. Which raises the question: for whom exactly?

Existing owners of Yooka-Laylee can get the new version at a 30% discount, for around €20. That’s not a bad price, but we’re talking about a remaster of an eight-year-old game. If you haven’t played the original, the decision is fairly easy because the remaster is only €10 more expensive. Even with its lower difficulty, the changes in structure and presentation make Yooka-Replaylee a much better and overall higher-quality game. This isn’t the best example of a 3D platformer, but the chameleon and bat still deliver a charming ten-hour adventure.

🎮 Game Rating

8.2 / 10 Yooka-Replaylee is a polished, charming rework that improves visuals, navigation, and quality of life but sacrifices challenge, making it more accessible yet slightly less exciting for veteran players.

👶 Recommended Age

Ages 7 and up The game’s light difficulty, cheerful tone, and absence of violence make it ideal for children, though older players may find it too easy.

🌟 Gemini AI Summary

Yooka-Replaylee is a thoughtful rework of the 2017 platformer that addresses past criticisms through better level design, visual upgrades, and streamlined gameplay. It introduces coins, maps, and checkpoints for smoother pacing while running beautifully on Unreal Engine 5. However, its accessibility comes at the cost of reduced challenge. Though not revolutionary, it’s a polished and endearing modernisation that delivers around ten hours of fun for younger players and nostalgic fans alike.