The chameleon and bat duo return to wreak havoc in Yooka-Replaylee.
If you were there in 2017, you probably remember the original Yooka-Laylee as a fun adventure about a chameleon and a bat collecting magical Pagies to stop the notorious Capital B. Yooka-Replaylee wore its inspiration from Banjo-Kazooie on its sleeve. Considering the founders of Playtonic Games were former members of Rare, the team behind Banjo-Kazooie, it makes a whole lot of sense.
Who better to craft a spiritual successor than the people who had already defined the genre decades ago? Yet despite its charm, the original game struggled to fully realize its potential. The movement could feel clunky, and the levels sometimes lacked cohesion. It had heart, but it wasn’t quite the masterpiece it should have been.
With Yooka-Replaylee, Playtonic didn’t just polish the original; they rebuilt it from the ground up. It’s effectively a new game, keeping the core identity of the original. From the moment you enter the game, it’s clear that every misstep of the original has been addressed. Laylee and Yooka themselves are now fully realized with a furry and tactile appearance, and the worlds are packed with personality.
The story has been adjusted as well, though it largely follows the original narrative. Interestingly, Yooka-Replaylee acts as a retelling of the first game, meaning that both games remain canon. Certain characters from the original, such as the sleeping totem enemies scattered throughout the levels, are gone.
Capital B, who previously seemed less menacing due to references to a shadowy board of directors, is now a more compelling antagonist, which strengthens the narrative. While the ending is slightly more abrupt than in the original game, first-time players are likely to find it satisfying. The previously annoying Dr. Quack quizzes have been removed entirely, which eliminates tedious interruptions and allows the story to flow naturally.
One of the standout improvements in Yooka-Replaylee is the gameplay and progression system.
In the original, unlocking moves and abilities was often a grind. Players had to locate Trowzer in distant parts of the world to gradually acquire new abilities, which could be frustrating and interrupt the flow of exploration. Now, the game provides your entire move list from the start, cleverly integrated into the lore: whatever is written in the magical book becomes real, so Laylee immediately gains access to all her abilities.
This allows you to approach exploration and combat with complete freedom. Moves have been tweaked to feel smoother. The triple tail attack is more fluid, the spin jump now travels horizontally instead of awkwardly vertically, and the rolling attack no longer consumes stamina, making traversal feel natural. Even the flying ability has been reworked into a “slurp” mechanic, used only in specific puzzle areas to restore challenge.
Trowzer, one of the most charming characters in the game, has also received a significant overhaul. In the original, he was responsible for teaching and selling moves, which often made him a gatekeeper for progression. Now, he appears in every tome, selling upgrades such as increased health and energy, amongst others.
These items are purchased with colored quills found throughout each world, adding a collectible incentive. You can freely enhance your abilities, mix and match tonics, and upgrade moves.
Vendi has returned and provides optional tonics and cosmetic options that allow for more customization. Vendi encourages experimentation, but it’s completely optional. This includes changing the combat mechanics, adding more health points, changing the difficulty, and unlocking new outfits.
I found myself visiting Vendi and Trowzer as soon as I entered a new world, eager to see what new things they are going to give me. Certain tonics can drastically change combat or traversal, such as increasing damage from spins or allowing attacks to defeat enemies in a single hit. Additional tonic slots unlocked via Trowzer let you combine effects for a truly unique playstyle.
Levels in Yooka-Replaylee are significantly fuller than in the original. The first game often left you wandering for minutes without meaningful interaction. Now there’s always something to do or see. You’ll find Pagies, quidds, and hidden secrets sprinkled throughout every area.
Collectibles have undergone a massive upgrade.
The total number of Pagies has more than doubled, from roughly 145 to 300, thanks to new puzzles and boss rewards. Every world is now fully accessible from the start, eliminating backtracking to expand incomplete progress. Instead, progress is gated by optional challenges or hub world gates that require a certain number of collected Pagies, similar to Banjo-Kazooie’s note doors.
Quidds, the new currency system, serve as a type of coin; they reward exploration, act as a buffer against death, and provide new challenges. When you die, you lose Quidds rather than facing a full game over. Red Quidds encourage precision parkour, while green Quidds reward sprinting and speed-based challenges.
Also, the Rextro arcade challenges, previously inconsistent and frustrating, now have a coherent structure. You can even play as Rextro. These mini-games are essentially small puzzle platformers, where collecting medals translates into earning Pagies, and the experience feels much more satisfying than in the original.
Kartos challenges, too, have been redesigned. Previously, you could jump, shoot, and boost freely with little consequence. Now, each level is so tightly designed that mastering the controls is rewarded, akin to the simplicity of a game like Geometry Dash. To earn all three Pagies, you have got to work your ass off.
The controls themselves have received significant enhancements, though there are a few minor complaints.
Movement feels fluid, and attacks respond well, giving the game the tight feel that was lacking in the original. The rolling attack now doubles as both movement and combat, is especially satisfying, and the celebratory animations for collecting Pagies are also very, how do I put it, quirky, let’s say. The one minor issue is that shooting attacks, like inhaling and firing fire, lock you in place.
For level design, most worlds feel fun to explore. The swamp, which once felt overwhelming, is now enjoyable. Other areas, particularly World Two, still suffer from scale and verticality that can make navigation confusing, and the lack of obvious “weenies” or central landmarks can suck. Each tome includes a map, and new fast-travel points introduced via the character Mark help reduce downtime and make revisiting areas easier.
Boss encounters have also been reworked to feel more meaningful. Defeating world bosses now rewards multiple Pagies, inspired by modern 3D platformers like Super Mario Odyssey. Ghost Rider challenges, arcade puzzles, and Kartos levels all now provide meaningful rewards. Even bonus areas matter, making exploration rewarding at every turn.
Healing and survivability have also seen improvements. Where previously you had to choose between consuming butterflies for health or stamina, now either action restores both, making the flow of gameplay smoother and less punishing. Death is no longer a heavy penalty thanks to Quidds, which reduces frustration.
The camera has also undergone a major overhaul, and it makes a world of difference.
Navigating a 3D platformer is always tricky, and in the original Yooka-Laylee, the camera often worked against the player. Jumps were difficult to judge, and some mini-games or bonus sections were frustrating. In Yooka-Replaylee, the camera dynamically adjusts, offering fixed angles when necessary for precision platforming and shifting freely when exploring open areas.
The difference is remarkable: areas that once felt awkward to navigate now feel intuitive, giving you complete control over movement while still preserving cinematic angles when appropriate. Even in bonus tomes or mini-games, the camera now enhances rather than detracts.
By the time you reach the later worlds, the game shines as a testament to what thoughtful design can achieve. Even areas that might have been intimidating or confusing in the original are now approachable and visually clear.
The music has been updated with tunes that suit the vibrant worlds, though it leans more toward atmosphere. While not everyone may prefer this shift, it complements the environments well and enhances the sense of immersion.
In conclusion, Yooka-Replaylee is a triumph.
It fixes the flaws of the original and delivers a platforming experience that balances nostalgia with the future. The worlds are fuller, gameplay is tighter, the controls are more responsive, and the progression systems are, for lack of a better expression, “ooh la la.”
While some minor issues remain, such as the occasional camera problems in shooting or the slightly abrupt story ending, they are far outweighed by the game’s strengths. This is a game that’s worth every penny as a faithful yet upgraded spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.
If you were hesitant about revisiting Yooka and Laylee, don’t be. Yooka-Replaylee proves that sometimes a reimagining isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about creating the definitive experience. Playtonic has taken every lesson from the original and done a full 180 to revive a dormant franchise.
