For anyone who has played Banjo-Kazooie, knowing the upcoming arrival of Yooka-Laylee is definitely a good news. This one here is confirmed to be a full-pledged sequel to the titular series. Apparently though, it's gaining mixed reviews from gamers and critics alike.
According to PCWorld, calling Yooka-Laylee a clone of Banjo-Kazzoie is a complete disservice. That's because it's a game developed specifically to stand as a sequel, contrary to what most people believe. In fact, in one way or another, it does not significantly veer away from its predecessors (Nintendo 65) compared to the more recent sequel Nuts & Bolts back in 2008.
In Yooka-Laylee, players get to play both as Yooka and Laylee (hence the title). The former is a chameleon while the latter is a bat. The duo are journeying their home in a location called Shipwreck Creek in an ordinary day. However, an evil character by the name of Capital B came to existence all of a sudden. He decides to devour all of the books in the world for reasons only he knows.
The beauty about the game is the obvious projection of a struggle between Art and Capitalism, though this does not necessarily compose the entire plot. Nevertheless, the developers did not go into discussing deep philosophical topics (say about art consumption under the influence of capitalism). One of the protagonists, Laylee, was simply mad because the bad guy used her favorite book as a coaster for a drink. It turns out that this book is full of golden pages (called Pagies) that, when acquired, allow the pair to enter the special Grand Tome books. The latter, in its most organic form, give access to other worlds.
However, being a game funded through Kickstarter, Yooka-Laylee lacks the aesthetics it needs to reach greater heights. It's not like it's a bad thing, but it's just simply what it is. In a review from Metro, the studio could have possibly smoothen out some of the game's noticeable rough edges. Still, for the reason mentioned, the developers just can't.
Overall, Yooka-Laylee is a game worth trying out. This is a great treat, especially to those who have fallen in love with the Banjo-Kazooie series. But since this title isn't backed by a large studio or something, not all aesthetic elements of an impressive title is there. Nonetheless, the beauty of the game along with its story help in giving this flaw a shade to cover.
