Topic: Yooka-Replaylee

I completed 2 levels so far, I'm enjoying it quite a bit but I'm not gonna say they improved everything from the original game just yet because from what I remember the last two levels is where the original game really goes downhill quality wise so I'm interested how much they changed in this version

@Sylamp
Yea. I loved the first few levels. It wasn’t until the casino in the original that it became a slog.

Even with a discount, I think the only way I could be convinced to buy a new version of Yooka Laylee is if someone can convince me that the entire game is, at least, like the parts of the original where you both glide through large levels and accomplish things relatively quickly (so mostly just levels 2 and 3). Those are borderline the only times I thought it came together as a fun collectathon platformer worth spending your time on (and some brief moments in levels 1 and 4).

@rallydefault
Not really.

Obviously I prefer 60fps but I play plenty of games at 30fps and enjoy them just fine. Ive never really been one of those "gotta be 60" people. Sure, I'd prefer it. That would be ideal. But as long as a game runs mostly stable, it's just another game in my eyes.

My problem is when framerate is unlocked and can't hold 60. That is typically a deal breaker for me. It's why I quit Ni No Kuni 2 and Monster Hunter Stories 2 on Switch, but now enjoy them both on Switch 2 with a locked 60fps.

I played DOOM Eternal on Switch in 30fps and that's a fast paced FPS. It felt smooth as butter, tbh. Partly because framerate was rock solid, partly because of some nifty tricks they used to make motion appear smoother.

But ya. 30fps just isn't a deal breaker for me. Uncapped, fluctuating framerate... that is my deal breaker.

This is a really good video reviewing and talking about Yooka-Replaylee. And I agree with their assessment completely. This is their redemption arc. This game is everything it originally set out to be and more.

I'd even go so far as to say it's one of the best 3D platformers I've ever played. Behind Mario Odyssey and Donkey Kong Bonanza, but I can't think of a single other 3D platformer I've played that's better. I really would rank it in the same league as Odyssey and Bonanza. Not as good as them, but not drastically worse either. If you asked me my top 3 3D platformers right now, I'd say 1) Donkey Kong Bonanza 2) Super Mario Odyssey 3) Yooka-Replaylee

Then again, I must admit Super Mario 3D World is phenomenal, and Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are likewise incredible. But still... I think I'm enjoying Yooka-Replaylee a smidge more. Probably because of the type of platformer it is. It follows that Mario 64 formula, that Mario Odyssey and DK Bonanza formula. Each level is vast, but chock to the hilt with secrets to find and collectibles to obtain through exploration and mini challenges. And that, to me, is much more engaging than just playing through levels. To be fair, that's the same formula the Mario Galaxy games follow, but something about Yooka-Replaylee is just grabbing me more. That's not a knock against Galaxy 1 and 2, because those games genuinely are incredible, I just personally am finding Yooka-Replaylee harder to put down. Not sure why. It just is.

I should also note I never played Bowser's Fury beyond a 5 minute test run years back. So I make no statement regarding Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury as a whole. I still rank the base game as the 6th best 3D platformer I've played, behind the two Galaxy titles. But whenever I get around to Bowser's Fury I'll reassess.

@JaxonH
Yea, it's all about the consistency.

Well, sounds pretty awesome! I have my physical preordered, so now I just wait lol

The reviews have only been kind of medium-good (in 70s on metacritic), but I'm glad people here are enjoying it. I haven't decided whether to pick it up immediately or wait for a better sale

@FishyS
I'm honestly baffled by some of the reviews. Like, honest to goodness baffled. This game is insanely fun. A 9/10 game all day long. If they improved framerate I'd even say 9.5/10

Mid reviews for great games have long boggled my mind. Like when Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze got a 6/10 from Gamespot citing boring level design and bland environments, and I was like what?!!! These are the most interesting, expertly designed levels of any platformer ever created, and the environments are easily the best of any platformer I've ever seen!

So I've come to terms with the fact that, if a game isn't a mass market AAA blockbuster or indie darling, there's a good chance the best games I've ever played will get poor reviews. It's unfortunate but, as long as I'm aware of the issue I can avoid being led astray.

That's why I follow reviewers who enjoy the genre of game it is, and if I see several of them I trust saying hey, this game is fantastic, and I myself watching gameplay think wow, this looks really fun, then I will largely ignore anyone who says otherwise. I do usually at least listen to an opposing view or two just to gut check whether there's any validity but, more times than not I find myself saying eh... not sure I agree with that.

I'm really impressed with how fun this game is. Especially after how mediocre the original release was. This is what the original YL should have been. Better late than never, I suppose!

To be fair, despite a few lowish reviews, Tropical Freeze has an 86 on metacritic which isn't exactly bad. Personally that's about where I would put it (by comparison I gave Bananza a 9/10).

But for Yooka? It had less hype around it than I was expecting and generally didn't have many reviews. Maybe there are too many games this year. Plus I feel like some of the reviews docked a point purely for frame rate which feels silly to me.

In general I agree with you that following reviewers who tend to have similar opinions to yourself is the safest bet, although that only works with fairly major games.

One of my favorite 3D platformers of all time is Glyph which I feel is honestly just an astounding game but it only has 70 on metacritic. Although I think that is definitely lower than it deserves I also acknowledge that the game may just happen to hit my taste perfectly and maybe it isn't as good as I think 😅

You just need to remember that all reviews are mostly subjective with just a smattering of objective touchstones.

I don’t really read or watch reviews anymore actually, and I certainly don’t check meta critic. I play demos when available and ask for forum opinions, but I mostly just go with my gut.

@rallydefault If only more games had demos. Yooka would be a good game for a demo.

@FishyS
I think Tropical Freeze is the best 2D platformer of all time. A genuine, flawless 10/10. And some outlets, like Destructoid, did award it a 10. Not to mention, the widely accepted view is that it is the best 2D platformer ever made. Countless videos on YT breaking down why that is, and the majority of channels I watch with an opinion on it agree (be it Arlo, GameXplain, etc).

That's not to say others can't disagree, but objectively speaking, I know of no other 2D platformer with the same level of unanimous agreement on it being the best of the genre. I think Tropical Freeze should be up there around a 95/100 at minimum. So reviews like Gamespot slapping a 6 on it felt like vengeance directed toward it for not being Metroid. It would be one thing if they had valid criticisms but, saying the environments are bland is like calling a sunset ugly. It may be "subjective" but I doubt very many human beings exist who share that opinion. It's unlikely enough to warrant suspicion as to the legitimacy of the critique.

For whatever it's worth, Gamespot gave the Switch version a 9 which is the version far more people played. There was one rediculous low score by a different group but that wouldn't affect the score much out of 80 reviews. The overall 86 score was mostly from tons of 8s and 9s plus a small number of 7s and 10s. Nintendo Life was consistent with 9/10 across both versions.

As someone who plays far too many 2D platformers I can definitely understand why some people love the game and I also understand why many people think it's quite good but not top of their list (which is where I am personally).

Anyways, sorry for getting off topic from Yooka. I don't even have the new game yet 😆 I did enjoy a decent chunk of the original Yooka though it definitely got less good by the end. I loved the Impossible Lair though.

Almost have 20 pagies now. Got an extra tonic slot, then doubled my health meter and extended my stamina.

I did experience a glitch with the skeleton being cooked for stew- I beat all the small enemies but the 3 large ones never appeared. Had to save and quit, then reload and try again. That time everything worked as it should, and I got the pagie.

I particularly enjoyed the boss at the top of the ramp, where you dodge the logs rolling down and attacked his teeth, winning a triple-pagie in return. I also found tons of secrets- little hidden crevices in the walls with a golden skull or pagie inside. It feels so crammed with secrets- everywhere I go there's stuff to find.

Am curious how much of an improvement Replaylee is.

I got the OG and finished it, so prob won't get this...but I'm curious about what quality to expect from future games.

I haven’t got a Switch 2 so I’m currently re-playing the first game. I beat it originally in 2021 - game file says 30 hours & 101/144 pagies.

Really enjoying myself again. The game got overhated, however I wasn’t playing games in 2017 so maybe it ironed out loads of bugs by the time I played it?

Anywho, I may pick up Re-Playlee when I get a Switch 2 next year. Some of the additions seem great (more pagies per world, no need to expand world) but some seem bizarre (only 125/300 pagies needed to beat the game now? All abilities available from the off?).

Anyway, have fun all, I’m back off to play some more of the OG.

I have beaten the game now and I feel like 7/10 is a fitting score
Mechanically it's a lot better than the original, it controls a lot better and it's just a lot more polished feeling overall, there is still a little bit of jank here and there but nothing major
The placements of collectibles (quills primarily) is also a lot better, I can only recall two pagie pieces that were kinda dumb
The big problem I have with the remake is that aside from the better placements of collectibles and new pagies the levels haven't changed that much, if at all, which is fine for the first few but Capital Cashino and Galleon Galaxy really needed a redesign because even with those changes and additions I mentioned earlier they still aren't very fun
So that's my take on Replaylee, it's a good game and a big improvement over the original and I would recommend it if you like 3D platformers but I don't think it's anything amazing, it's definitely not a 9/10 or even an 8 imo

For those who have beaten the original and Replaylee: did they change anything in the plot? It would make sense if it's exactly the same down to the story beats, but this could also have been the chance to change some minor things.

Love this game ❤️

@Sylamp Did having all upgrades from the start hamper it any?

I like the progression aspect of that after all.
Also, to know they changed collectible locations is helpful.