First Impressions: Hands On With Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee | Nintendo Life

NLife:
The cat - or should that be chameleon - is out of the bag. Fledgling UK studio Playtonic Games has lifted the lid on the stars of its début title - Yooka and Laylee - and has sent Rare-loving Nintendo fans into a frenzy of anticipation by confirming that the game will be coming to the Wii U eShop.
We were lucky enough to play an early build of the title formerly known as Project Ukulele when we visited Playtonic's offices recently, and we're happy to report that the old Rare magic is very much alive and well at the company. Below you'll find Damien and Thomas' impressions - based on a hands-on session with a build of Yooka-Laylee which amazingly is just three months old - so please do have a read and share your own impressions (and excitement) by posting a comment.

[Relientk77]

This looks fantastic

[Geobros]

Agreed. It reminds me old good days with banjo game...

[darthv72]

it looks fun. Others may say it looks to childish or simplistic. but that is what these guys were going for. Putting gameplay and fun factor above all else and molding the game around those key points.

i love it. there needs to be a return to this simpler time of when it wasnt about realistic graphics and blades of grass. when games were just...fun to play and you had fun playing them.

[bouzebbal]

Between Ratchet & Clank and now this,, i cannot be any happier!
This is the Rare i remember!

[opoikl]

They certainly got my attention, but this video also makes me realise what a great developer Naughty Dog is. I mean, all the building blocks are definitely there, but neither the art design, main characters, moves, music or collectibles hold a candle to the original Jak and Daxter. That game had heart and soul to spare compared to this early gameplay footage.

[3-4-5]

"What we are showing people is what seven guys in
three months have done, imagine what it will
look like further down the line.”

This game looks like a lot of fun.

I can see and hear so much of Banjo in that.

Really looking forward to this.

[Kingdomcome247]

It sure does. For me personally, no other genre in gaming can provide the pure joy that is found in a great platformer. I hope that their Kickstarter reaches all of it's goals/stretch goals, so that this can make it's way to as many platforms as possible as I don't have a WiiU yet. I plan on getting one though, as there are quite a few reasons for me to buy the WiiU this year, and if this only releases on the WiiU that will be one more big reason to own one in my eyes.

[jcnba28]

Looks really good so far. The coins look like the c-stick buttons on the N64 controller, wonder if that would done intentionally.

[Moonman]

This looks great!

[Edvin1984]

Buying it for sure this looks super cute my daughter will love it.

[colonel179]

I like everything so far, except the character design. I don't like the bat's nose at all, and the chameleon seems a little bit sonic-y (the pose and expressions)

[DasTier]

I agree, the characters just for have the same appeal as Banjo/Crash/Spyro/etc.

Can't help but think it would have been just lost in the shuffle had it been released back in the 3d platformer hay day.

[swice]

Never got a chance to play Banjo as a kid.

I WILL NOT let this pass me up this time. Looks fantastic

[greenmiker]

I like it...

[fei-hung]

The music was magical. Really transported me back to the good ol' N64 days, playing Banjo and DK64. Can't wait to play this :)

[LOL_WUT]

Yes, the music was right on point. I can't wait to see the villains and other various gameplay mechanics maybe some specific to each character? Like in Banjo. ;)

[Germany7]

Jrpgs are coming, and now 3D platformers!
Looks amazing, can't wait to play it.

[dcj0524]

It's the 90s again. Look at the styles that are popular too. 100% 90s

[Relientk77]

It's awesome so happy these genres are coming back in a big way

[jonrhoades87]

That's why I hope upcoming games like Yooka-Laylee, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and the upcoming Ratchet & Clank reboot do well because we NEED more games like these.

[gangsta_red]

Wow, looks bright and colorful, which is refreshing in this day and age of video gaming.

Good to see this game is coming and to the WiiU at that. Overload of nostalgia going on here.

I don't understand how games like this and Mighty 9 not draw the attention of their former employers.

[mad-dog]

great to see. Now the levels need some gameplay.

[Silver_Faux]

That music! So many good memories!

If only I had a Wii U :( Hopefully it does really well. Wish the Devs all the best.

[BubbsyKong]

brought a tear to my eye :P

[Metallox]

Looks ok. Just going to assume they're going to reduce that level of bright, which doesn't fit platformers at all.