A few months ago, Playtonic released a game teased at the tail end of a certain item-hoarding, ability-learning, animal-partnering platformer: Banjo-Threeie! No, not really. Actually, they released Yooka-Laylee, a 3D platforming game so (deliberately) similar in vibe and nature that you just have to wonder why there’s a lizard and a bat instead of a bear and breegull as the playable characters. Nevertheless, Playtonic’s Yooka-Laylee received mixed reviews from critics who couldn’t make up their minds if the gameplay was retro or outdated, and generally happy reception from the backers. And now, we’re going to show you flajjin_lounge’s speedrun of it so you can see for yourself how completely “Banjo-Kazooie” it really is.
Yooka-Laylee hasn’t been out for very long, but it’s already been busted wide open. There’s a major skip that allows players to beat the game in around 15 minutes. But this is an all bosses run, so you won’t see that featured here. Naturally, that also means a large chunk of the game will be exposed, so watch with caution. Other categories, for those interested, include a 100 Pagies run, a full 100% run, and a no flight-skip any% run. No co-op is allowed for any official speedrun category, which is kind of a shame but reasonable. Playtonic put several extra goodies in as options, so explore and see for yourself.
Okay, did anyone else hear all the Banjo-Kazooie noises throughout the whole thing? Were those real or did my brain overlay them on top of the video? Well, whatever. If you weren’t sure whether Yooka-Laylee was worth getting before, you’ve probably reached a decision now. It’s available on all current-generation platforms, so you’ll be able to play it regardless of which system you own.
Here’s another odd duck of a game for you: a speedrun of Quest 64, in case you didn’t see it. Quest 64 is an RPG that goes against a lot of established conventions, making for a totally unique experience.
Matt Eschbach is a PC, Mac and Android indie game developer and fiction writer. His works have won multiple monetary awards from various contests. Graduating college in 2012 with a major in Game Design, Matt spends his time making stuff up and then building it. His favorite hobby… is sleeping.
