Topic: Yooka-Replaylee

That supported platforms section at the end of the trailer, priceless. Switch double eyes? Cute. How many publishers are getting antsy in their pantsy for the Switch successor announcement?

How many other publishers have gotten sassy like this?

This game is looking incredible. It's like... it's the game it wanted to be the first time around, but failed to achieve. Only this time they nailed it.

It's not a remaster or even a remake. It's a "Let's try this again, fixing every problem and redesigning things ground up to be the game it should have been the first time".

I hear content is actually doubled. No more special move restrictions blocking off access to collectibles or areas- all moves are unlocked from the start. No more buying level expansions- all levels are expanded from the start. Now there's a map. Now there's fast travel. No more double jump where the single hop was barely enough to overcome obstacles. Now theres a single jump that's much higher. No more stamina limiting your roll. All NPCs are set near the level's beginning where they're easy to find. Double the collectibles are now stuffed into the levels so you're not playing long stretches without finding anything. The visuals are greatly enhanced. The framerate is stable. Countless other mechanics and aspects are modified, improved or redesigned to address criticisms of the original release. Drab levels are now brighter and more colorful, a pleasure to experience.

Scores of detractors of the original Yooka-Laylee are coming out and saying they adore this new... reimagining, let's call it. The controls are improved, camera is improved. Difficulty is modified- enemies no longer require 3-4 hits to defeat. Some of the game's harshest critics are now saying Yooka-Replaylee is hard to put down. That speaks volumes in itself.

That's not to say this game will be perfect. I'm sure there are still aspects that fall short, as with any game. But at least now the game still stands tall despite those remaining shortcomings.

I skipped the first title- after extensive research I determined there were too many issues and concluded I likely wouldn't enjoy it enough to play through if I purchased it. But this... this is a day 1 buy. Without question. I feel like the devs have learned and grown from their experience developing the first Yooka-Laylee and the 2D sequel, Impossible Lair. And now, they've reached a point where they can do the original game justice.

Bravo!

Here's a great video with devs discussing the improvements and changes:

No discount for European backers.
This is bad and they should feel bad.

"Nintendo Switch 2: In Nintendo of America regions, players who own Yooka-Laylee are eligible for an automatic discount when purchasing Yooka-Replaylee.

Both Playtonic and PM Studios explored every possible option to extend the same offer to players in other regions. However, regional store systems do not currently support this specific promotion. Thank you for your understanding. We truly appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and support worldwide."

They acknowledge that it is a issue with the regional stores. Still, not a great look.

I think the 30fps complaint is pathetic.

I think it's good that they've 'learned lessons', but in a world of a gajillion games, they should have put those lessons into a Yooka-Laylee 2 first. I don't have a Switch 2 yet anyway, but I'm about ready to move on from the phase of my life where I was prepared to show endless support for re-hashing the same game.

@Ignatius_Cheese This is absolute nonsense (not what you're saying, what they're saying). Take Hogwarts Legacy as an example. If you own the Switch 1 exclusive game, you get a discount on a completely different Switch 2 game (same name, same "game", but as far as the eShop is concerned, completely different game). It even works for physical owners as I understand it. Apparently if you have a save file, you still are eligible for the discount. And all of this works outside of the US just as well as inside.

And none of this excuses the fact that they explicitly told backers by email that they would be eligible. No country or platform caveat was mentioned. £17.49 was explicitly stated as the price.

Yes, I'm furious. Not at the price. At them prioritising marketing hype over honesty. I don't like being lied to.

@Segakid It's almost like game carts are more expensive than disks...

This is how the upgrade works for Hogwarts Legacy. Both digital and physical!!!

@atmb82 Yooka Re-Playlee isn't an upgrade pack to a Switch 2 Edition of Yooka Laylee, it's an entirely new title.

@Segakid I think you're missing the point.

Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2 is the same game as Hogwarts Legacy on Switch.

Yooka-Replaylee is not the same game as Yooka-Laylee.

Yeah, there are definitely differences between Yooka-Laylee and Yooka-Replaylee. And, more importantly, it doesn't support a bigoted old hag.

You're missing the point.
We're not talking about the fact the Yooka Laylee and Replaylee are different games, but that it's possible to set the eshop to apply those discounts, ad Playtonic promised in the latest kickstarter update.

They're making a 30% discount for previous owners on the american eshop, but not on the european one, because they say they aren't able to set it.
And this is the evidence that it can be set.

@Segakid
Sweet. Finally someone who sees reason.

Played a bout an hour of Yooka-Replaylee and it's incredibly fun

And for the record, I adore Hogwarts Legacy on NSW2. Phenomenal game.

@JaxonH
But isn't the 30fps searing your eyeballs?

@gcunit No, it's not. Yes, it's the "same game", but as far as the eShop is concerned it's a completely different game.

Take BOTW. It's a Switch 1 game. There is an upgrade pack. Now you have the same Switch 1 game, with Switch 2 features, and still the one license.

HL has a Switch 1 version, and a Switch 2 version. They are as different as the Switch 1 version and the PS/XB/PC versions. You do not buy an upgrade pack. You buy a whole new game. The devs simply allow you to have an owners discount. And now you have two licenses.

It may look the same to many users, but on a technical level it's very very different. And the HL situation is 100% identical to the Yooka Laylee situation. I don't know what factors are in play, but for Playtonic to say it can't be done is provably untrue. Are there reasons that they can't/won't do it? Maybe. But it definitely CAN be done.

@Ainze I think I stand corrected then. I fully admit I was on shaky ground by making that assertion about HL. Since Switch 2 landed I've become a bit more distant from the whole scene and not as well-informed, so I shouldn't have waded in on that aspect of the conversation. Thanks for politely setting me straight, and apologies to @Segakid for suggesting you were missing the point, and to anyone else I irritated or confused with my nonsense.

@gcunit No worries. It's really not obvious at all. Between owners discounts and upgrade packs and key code carts and some games not even having an upgrade path between S1 and S2, it's a confusing time all round.

Any thoughts so far from other people who are playing it?