Yooka-Replaylee Review – Investment Policy

The Nintendo 64 is what really got me into gaming – seriously, it changed everything for me. Even as a little kid, like five years old, I played a bunch of different types of games, but platformers just clicked with me and became my absolute favorite.

Growing up, I really loved 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. I even enjoyed lesser-known, quirky games like Glover. Basically, if a game let me jump around, battle enemies, and collect items, I was hooked!

I still love platformer games to this day, and I always eagerly try out new ones when they come out. When Yooka-Laylee was released in 2017 – a game clearly inspired by the classic Banjo-Kazooie – I thought it might become a new favorite. However, it turned out to be just okay. I still believe it was better than some people give it credit for, but I have to admit it wasn’t quite the masterpiece I’d hoped for; it was more of an average game.

I was really eager to try out Yooka-Replaylee at a demo in Las Vegas last April. I wanted to see if this completely rebuilt game could finally do the original IP justice. My first look was promising, but I needed to see more before I was fully convinced – I’d been disappointed before, so I was cautiously optimistic.

Okay, as a huge fan, I’m so excited Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is finally out! I honestly think it’s incredible. It’s a massive step up from the first game, and I’d even say it’s one of the best collect-a-thon games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. I can’t wait to share all the details!

New And Improved In Every Possible Regard

No matter how you felt about the original 2017 game – whether you loved it or were let down – Yooka-Replaylee is sure to please. The developers listened to all the feedback and fixed any problems, and they’ve improved the game in many ways I didn’t expect.

The polish level of the presentation is sky-high.

The game is visually striking and consistently beautiful. The character and world designs have been completely updated, putting it among the best-looking 3D, cartoon-style games available, alongside titles like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Details like Laylee’s soft-looking fur and the worn textures of Hivory Towers, even down to the small tears in Capital B’s clothing, really stand out. Simply put, the game looks fantastic.

The game features the original soundtrack, but now beautifully performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a real highlight – I’m already hoping it gets released on vinyl! Everything about the game feels incredibly polished and refined, making it a truly high-quality experience from beginning to end.

The game isn’t just visually updated; the story is now more connected and enjoyable. While some of the original game’s funny, nonsensical lines are back, a lot of new dialogue and story elements have been added. The controls, especially the camera, are much better, and there are new characters to meet. Plus, you start with all the power-ups, and movement feels incredibly smooth.

[The devs] clearly love this IP, and I think many more of you are going to love it now, too.

And there’s still plenty more! The update includes new things to do, collectibles in different places, 104 different cosmetic items to earn, helpful improvements to monitor your advancement, 35 tonics that change how you play, and even fast-travel to get around quickly. We’ve added a lot!

This isn’t just a simple update of the original game. The team at Playtonic has completely overhauled everything they could, and after playing the new version, Replaylee, the amount of work they put in is truly impressive. It’s clear they’re passionate about this game, and I think a lot more people will feel that way now, too – I certainly do!

While playing on my standard PS5, I occasionally noticed the game’s frame rate dip during busy moments. Yooka also got briefly stuck in a couple of doorways, and the game froze once, requiring a restart. These were small problems that didn’t really affect my overall enjoyment, but I wanted to mention them as part of this review.

Five Beautiful Biomes With A Great Hub World

As a big fan of the first game, I was so excited to jump back into Yooka-Laylee and it felt great to revisit those worlds! You’ll be exploring the five levels we all know and love – from the sunny Tribalstack Tropics to the icy Glitterglaze Glacier and even the wacky Capital Cashino. I get why some people might have been a little disappointed to hear it’s the same areas again, but honestly, it was awesome to be back!

Even though some of the basic structures will seem familiar, the biomes have been significantly improved with better visuals and more content. This will give you a completely refreshed experience, no matter how many times you’ve played before.

There’s just something special about every single location you’ll experience here.

I definitely have some favorite levels. If I had to pick just two, I’d say Galleon Galaxy and Capital Cashino were the best overall. However, all five levels are really well-designed. I especially appreciated that the strongest levels were at the end. That said, I enjoyed the first three areas too. Ultimately, ending the game with the best content really helped maintain a strong and consistent experience throughout.

One of the best parts of a good 3D platformer is often its central hub world, and Replaylee’s is particularly impressive. It reminds me a lot of Gruntilda’s Lair from Banjo-Kazooie – it’s incredibly detailed and packed with things to discover, do, and overcome.

As you play, you’ll collect Pagies to move forward – they’re similar to Jiggies in Banjo-Kazooie or Power Stars in Mario. The central hub world in Replaylee actually has fifty Pagies hidden within it, which shows that it was designed as a full level itself, not just a way to get between the main levels.

Each place you visit in this game is unique and memorable. I’m so impressed, I know I’ll be replaying these levels repeatedly for a very long time.

Thousands Of Things To Collect

Many players will be drawn to Yooka-Replaylee for its collectibles, and there are *a lot* of them! If you’re aiming for full completion, you can expect to collect well over 1,000 items.

You’ll feel rewarded constantly.

Let me explain what you can collect in the game: 300 Pagies, 750 Quills, 40 Pagie Pieces, 25 Ghost Writers, 5 Pirate Treasures, 5 Rextro Tokens, 5 Mollycools, 104 different cosmetic items, and 35 Tonics. Some of these items might sound strange now, but there are a *lot* of collectibles overall.

The main collectibles, called Pagies, are the most important because you need them to unlock new levels and eventually fight the final boss. While there are 300 Pagies total, you only need to collect 125 to finish the game. That might still seem like a lot, but it’s quite achievable if you don’t feel the need to complete absolutely everything.

If keeping track of all the collectibles feels like too much, don’t worry! Just like in Super Mario Odyssey, the Pagies are hidden throughout the world in clever places, and getting even one feels really good. We’ve also placed Quills similarly to Odyssey’s purple coins, so you’ll be rewarded often as you discover everything the map has to offer.

You’ll generally find items where they logically fit, even if they’re well-hidden, or you’ll discover them as you play. After about twenty hours, I’ve found everything except for two missing collectibles needed to reach 100% completion. I’m determined to find them, even if it means losing sleep! Hopefully, someone will create a guide soon to help.

Replaylee strikes a great balance – it offers a lot to do, but doesn’t force it on you. As someone who likes to complete everything, I found myself completely hooked! Regardless of how you play, you’re bound to have a good time, and it’s really satisfying to watch your collection grow with every little increase.

So Much Room For Activities

Oh, you’re gathering collectibles? That’s fun! So, what else is there to do in the game? I’m really happy you asked! As you explore to find Pagies and other items, each level in Yooka-Replaylee is packed with tons of different activities and challenges.

The game features a huge variety of activities, including mini-games, races, mazes, platforming, boss battles, combat arenas, stealth sections, memory challenges, and even casino-style games like slot machines and roulette. You’ll also find things like golf, fast-paced delivery missions with a helicopter, item hunts, puzzles, and first-person shooting sequences – and plenty more surprises!

Yooka-Replaylee’s levels give you activities and challenges out the wazoo.

Seriously, there’s SO much to do in this game beyond just the main story! It’s not just about finding the easiest way to collect everything, there’s a ton of hidden stuff. Plus, the transformations are back, which is awesome! You can turn into things like a snowplow, a helicopter, even a school of fish – all to help you unlock everything each level has to offer.

If you’re still craving more content (and we know you are!), let us introduce Rextro’s Arcade Cabinet. It’s a collection of eight brand-new levels inspired by classic retro games, giving you even more chances to earn Pagies. Basically, Playtonic packed a game *inside* the game, so you can keep on gaming even while you’re already playing!

I can’t help but walkaway endlessly impressed at just how much is contained within Replaylee.

I absolutely love the challenges in Replaylee! They’re not super hard, but they add so much fun and personality to a game that already has it in spades. Honestly, I’d buy a whole game just focused on those challenge levels if Playtonic ever decided to make one – just putting that out there!

I’m constantly amazed by how much detail is packed into Replaylee. Like me, you’ll probably find yourself searching for every single Pagie on the map – a fantastic new feature – just to experience everything the game has to offer.

Approachable Fun For Everyone

Yooka-Replaylee has a lot of different things happening at once, and it can feel overwhelming. Even though you start with all nine special abilities, that might be too much to learn right away. Parents might also be concerned if all of this will be easy for their children to understand and manage.

I never, ever stopped having fun.

Replaylee isn’t a very difficult game, and the fact that you only need to collect 125 out of 300 Pagies to finish it shows that. If you’re familiar with playing typical Mario games, you should be able to handle this one easily. While a couple of the bosses might have tough attacks for beginners, the only boss you *have* to beat is the final one.

Plus, you can explore the game however you like, collect Pagies in any order, and move forward whenever you’ve gathered enough to unlock new areas. It’s a pretty relaxed experience, and most players should be able to reach the end without too much difficulty.

If you’re an experienced platformer player looking for a real challenge, this game might not be for you. As someone who’s pretty good at these types of games, I didn’t find it overly difficult. However, I consistently had a blast playing, and ultimately, that’s what matters most.

…the type of game I feel like I could continue gushing about forever.

Replayee is a game that won’t frustrate you with difficult challenges, but it’s almost impossible to play without laughing. As someone who’s completed many challenging games from FromSoftware, I can honestly say that earning the Platinum trophy in Yooka-Replaylee was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had recently.

I absolutely love this game and could talk about it endlessly! If you know me well, be warned – I’m going to strongly encourage you to try it. I’m already planning to get it as a gift, but don’t wait until the holidays – you should play it now!

Closing Comments:

Okay, seriously, Yooka-Replaylee feels like they took everything amazing about those old Nintendo 64 collect-a-thons and completely modernized it. It’s gorgeous – the levels, the characters, everything! And the music? An incredible orchestral soundtrack. There’s SO much to do in every little corner of the game, it’s packed with challenges and activities. It runs flawlessly, honestly, and it’s just a fantastic platformer. It’s overflowing with heart, charm, and just pure fun. Playtonic really knocked it out of the park, taking what they started with their previous game and improving it tenfold. This one’s a total winner.

2025-10-08 16:13