Yooka-Laylee finally arrives on Switch today, and as you'll know if you've already consulted our review, it was worth the wait. Playtonic has personally handled conversion duties this time around (Team17 ported the PS4 and Xbox One editions earlier in the year) and the developer has taken an inordinate amount of care in bringing the game to Nintendo's machine; the result is perhaps the most appealing version of Yooka-Laylee yet, thanks to the fact that you can play it anywhere.
But don't just take our word for it - those studious chaps over at Digital Foundry have done their own analysis and have stated that the Switch port is a "superb" piece of technical work and optimisation.
If you're interesting in pure performance data, Yooka-Laylee runs at around 30fps. In docked mode, it boasts a resolution of 900p, while the portable mode runs at 600p. Playtonic hasn't just dialled down the detail for the Nintendo version - it has re-done certain models and changed a lot of the graphical effects to ensure that this port looks as good as it possibly can - vindicating the team's decision to hold the game back until it was just right.
Playtonic's senior software engineer Simon Gerges spoke to Digital Foundry about the delay:
Back in September we were suffering from a few issues that had been fixed/improved in a later version of Unity than the one we were using. Unfortunately, the performance on that version was slightly worse for us than the version we had been optimising with, so we were unable to take it. To get these fixes we ended up requesting them as a patch for the Unity version that we were using instead. The main one of interest being an HDR colour format which improved the visuals over the one our Unity version supported for Switch at the time.
Let us know if Digital Foundry's findings chime with your own experiences by leaving a comment below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 58
Too bad they're asking for $40, I'd buy it at $20
$40 would be better on Retail price + goodies.
Physical version still a Big demand for some majority of gamers.
@Rika_Yoshitake Same here. Cut the price in half ($60 AUD to $30 for me) and I'd be a bit more tempted. Current price is way too high when there's been plenty of other great games coming on regularly on the eShop for half that price or less.
The high price is off putting. Leaving switch owners with the fix bill. Maybe a demo would help.
A lot of cheap people, personally I am just glad they put in the effort to release this game on the Switch and actually give it some proper attention.
Sounds good. I'm ready.
I've 100% mario odyssey so this will be great for me but I do want physical
I've already got in on the PC as a Kickstarter backer. I wasn't going to double-dip but since I'm going on a long vacation, I think it makes sense to get it on the Switch, which I'll take with me on my trip. I'm excited to play it on the go!
£17 for the PS4 version! It looks like a good game but like many Nintendo games it is over priced
I may get it at some point, but it's not a priority for me right now, with so much already on my plate. It's great to hear that the port has turned out so well, though, since a couple friends backed the original Kickstarter project and were looking forward to this.
>30fps
>600p
>Superb
What year is this?
Cannot believe there is no physical version, this makes me mad
@JayJ I've bought over 100 games for the Switch so far so I wouldn't really consider myself cheap in that regard. I do have my limits though.
@Menchi187 Apparently at last a year where graphics aren't the be all and end all for a game.
Another hard pass for now.
Might get it on PS4, or wait for a big sale. Not spending 40 quid on a game that is €15 in the shops and has ALL the same updates. Whatever about porting it, not my problem.
They missed the boat. Too many great (and much cheaper) games on the switch every day.
Nice to hear is a good version of the game! It's really good stuff for portable, I'm pretty sure of that.
A pity that it's so overpriced, and only digital... For 10 more, you get the marvelous Super Mario in physical. Companies should be aware of this stuff, and be more realistic if they want to succeed.
Man, you guys at DF, those leaves aren't remade, their normal maps are just toggled off.
And only 5.2GB is "only" 100 times the space of the N64 games.
The alpha particles are a real issue in Unity though. The engine ain't good with transparency in general, and if they're also spawning the particles at collision time, then it's no wonder they get performance dips.
@Menchi187 600p in handheld mode specifically, which is entirely acceptable and barely noticeable on such a tiny screen (you seem to ignore the fact that the game runs at 900p in docked mode, likely because commenting on that doesn’t help your trollish agenda). And so many modern games across all platforms run at 30 frames, even on consoles with far more power. The important thing is consistency, and this appears to manage 30 frames without major dipping, which is excellent.
@Menchi187 my god!
You do realise the switch in handheld mode is about 1/10th the power of PS4 right.
PS4 is 4.5 times the power of the switch docked.
For what the switch is, this is a port very well done.
Good, now retail...
@jonnyzap Except it's not a Nintendo game...
£25 for both digital and retail, and it'll sell.
@Menchi187 630p apparently. Year's almost 2018, and plenty of people play not just Yooka Laylee but also Destiny 2 at 30fps on much more powerful consoles. Grow up
@Damo Playtonic got in touch with Digital Foundry and apparently it's 630p undocked.
This game gets so much unnecessary hate. I can’t beleive how terrible some people have been with the team behind this on Twitter, reddit, etc.
... I understand that it's already on Wal*Mart's budget shelves for PS4 and XBOX One, and I would also prefer a physical game card. But the NA price is as much as a new Pokémon game and many of us have no problem buying two different versions of the same game, let alone another $40 when the enhanced versions come out. Now I know the extra features included in an upgraded Pokémon title are hardly comparable to patches and performance upgrades to optimize a game for release on a console, but come on, man; The team wanted to get it right and I think $40 is a decent price to pay, especially if it's turned out to be THE top version of the game.
My only complaint is that Nintendo haven't really advertised it, and that they didn't launch it at midnight.
I've been waiting for this game for a couple of years (dare I say 15 or so) for this game, so I'm happy to pay the 'Switch tax' on this one.
Nuts And Bolts was awful.
A lot of work was put into this port. $40 is more than fair.
But, of course, once people have pulled out their pitchforks...
@kobashi100 the Switch docked is closer to 70% the power of the PS4.
Also for people wondering if the price is worth it, I completed the Xbox One version to 100% and it took me 26 hours, if game length is a deciding factor for y'all.
Well, there we go. Not sure how the previous versions performed, as I waited for the game to come to Switch, but it's been absolutely fine for me so far.
Like I said on the review thread: if you're a Banjo fan, absolutely don't let this one pass you by.
Excellent game but too expensive. Maybe if it's cheaper I'll go for it.
I’ll get it when and if it’s released in Japan. Around 2020 maybe?
@Menchi187 If that's such a big issue then you can move on to PC. Not even PS4 and Xbox have 1080p 60fps games. That's very very rare even on the Pro and X versions of the respective consoles let alone their base models.
If a home console can't handle it, don't expect a portable console to handle it either. Want 1080p 60? Once again, move over to PC.
@Ralizah Exactly. The internet is not always a great place to be
NintendoLife quoted Eurogamer, NOT Digital Foundry.
Unless someone can tell
Me otherwise I am calling NintendoLife our on this lie of an article title.
@gortsi "Year's almost 2018, and plenty of people play not just Yooka Laylee but also Destiny 2 at 30fps on much more powerful consoles. Grow up."
He really is a child isn't he. Bless him.
@the8thark It's literally a write-up of the Digital Foundry video review, probably from the same guy who runs DF.
@Lameborghini They said they're still looking into a physical version. If it sells well digitally I'm sure there will be one. I'm certainly holding off for it. This is a game begging for physical, especially since Switch is the lead platform I expect it will be pricy but include irresistible collectors swag, though not as awesome as the actual N64 cart the early backers got.
@Menchi187 I hear the PS4 graphics for WWE2k18 are spectacular. Might want to pick that one up instead snicker.
The year is 2017, where through the power of science I can play current gen console games on a console without any wires that fits in a large cargo pocket, for hours without a power source, unlike the 1980's when I had to have a VCR-like device plugged into a television set, and portable devices ran in black and white for short periods of time on alkaline batteries and featured simple moving pixels.
@Menchi187
2017 — on the most powerful handheld console ever made. What's the problem? I'm sure it runs better than it would on the 3DS...
I really don't understand why people must complain about frame rate if it isn't 60. Yes, heaven forbid they achieved a stable 30fps with very little drops. How lazy of them. He even says that the PS4 and Xbox don't have 60 either. Would you prefer a targeted 60fps, that it never achieves and swings wildly — making for an uneven experience? Sounds like they made the right call.
Stop responding to Menchi187 guys, else you'll be warned your starting a "witchhunt" against him... 🤔
it's actually 630p in portable mode
I want this but full price digital only doesn't work for me... And I hate when the same game is cheaper on other platforms
@yuwarite hahaha , or that we're ganging up on him
@gortsi The Nintendolife Mantra™ - Fight with our trolls and we'll ban you.
Looks like they tried. When it hits $19 like on PS4 - I'll pick it up.
@WiltonRoots indeed! Oh well, at least it never gets boring in here
It's it just me? Or do the lower rez softer shodows look better? I have disliked super sharp shadows as to me it looks awkward and sometimes distracting.
@Danrenfroe2016 I’d agree in this case; maybe it’s just a childhood spent with earlier generations talking, but it just feels right for stylized platformers like this to have a softer, fuzzier feel to them. At least on video, ultra-high-res assets like the sharp shadows and PS4 water effects in this game have a weird uncanny valley effect to them.
Seeing screenshots of the T-Rex in particular in Odyssey (again, haven’t played it myself yet admittedly) has the same effect on me.
@Menchi187 It's on a handheld.
Excellent port but no buy. Overpriced and it wasn't even good.
Waiting for HiT instead.
@Menchi187 in handheld
@Yasaal and play okami in glorious 60fps.... oh wait, maybe destiny 2... oh crap
@Fath yes. Too realistic bothers me. Get Oddesey. It's amazing. And the Trex it's so much fun. I love Oddesey how it does not take it's self seriously at all. It's just pure joy.
@NabbitFan730 yeah the game wasn’t that good
@Danrenfroe2016 Ah, trust me, if I could afford a Switch right now, I'd be all over it. Didn't mean to imply that I had a negative opinion of the game - my finances at the moment are unspeakably dire, that's all.
@Lameborghini that’s gotta be one of the most awesome usernames I’ve ever seen 😂😂😂
@ricklongo
I happen to be a Banjo-Kazooie fan. Yooka-Laylee is a mediocre clone. Even Donkey Kong 64 is better than this.
@MortalKombat2007 I respect your opinion, but vehemently disagree.
Haha, too bad even the most exceptional port of a mediocre at best game still amounts to a mediocre game.
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