Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is an adventure game that blends 2D platforming with exploration and puzzle-solving elements. Developed by Playtonic Games, the game launched on October 8, 2019, and is currently available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Players control the protagonists, Yooka and Laylee, who must once again face their nemesis, Capital B, who has captured Queen Phoebee’s Hive Mind, a powerful device allowing him to control the Royal Beettalion Guard. To defeat him, players must complete Grand Tomes scattered throughout the Royal Stingdom, rescuing bees along the way who provide additional hit points inside the Impossible Lair. As the second installment in the franchise, the game features many familiar characters from the original Yooka-Laylee, though it shifts genres to resemble the Donkey Kong Country series while continuing the storyline. The game has garnered numerous positive reviews, with critics praising its graphics, engaging gameplay, and charming characters. However, some journalists have expressed concerns about the game’s design, noting that the levels and controls aren’t particularly innovative. Others have mentioned that the difficulty, especially Capital B’s Impossible Lair, can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience. Despite these reviews, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair remains popular among platformer and adventure game enthusiasts, offering a challenging experience for players.
» Game Prologue
The story begins as Yooka and Laylee arrive in Royal Stingdom through a Grand Tome. Their arrival is quickly interrupted by Capital B, who shows up on a ship carrying the powerful Hive Mind device, which allows him to mind-control Queen Phoebee’s Royal Beettalion Guard. Players are tasked with stopping Capital B and saving the Royal Stingdom from his evil plans. To aid them in their quest, Queen Phoebee gives Yooka and Laylee her Royal Beettalion Guard Shield, making them invincible. Capital B attempts to crush the protagonists under steel grinders, but the shield protects them from all obstacles and enemies. After this failure, he grabs the Hive Mind again to control the Royal Beettalion Guard and Queen Phoebee, but the device runs out of energy before it can enslave the queen. He then retreats into his Impossible Lair to recharge the Hive Mind, with Yooka and Laylee in pursuit. The Impossible Lair presents challenging sections and battles against Capital B, made even more difficult by the absence of the Guard Shield. If players fail to complete the Impossible Lair, Queen Phoebee takes Yooka and Laylee outside Hivory Towers, instructing them to complete Grand Tomes throughout Royal Stingdom. As players progress, they must save bees of the Royal Beettalion to increase their chances of conquering the Lair.
» Gameplay Mechanics
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a side-scrolling 2D platform game where players control both protagonists simultaneously. As they journey through different worlds within Grand Tomes, they collect Quills and T.W.I.T. Coins while rescuing members of the Beettalion. These Beettalion members are trapped in cages held by big statues of Capital B at the end of each world. Saving guards of the Royal Beettalion grants players an additional hit point in the game’s final level, the Impossible Lair, where Capital B awaits. Beyond rescuing the Beettalion, players must also collect T.W.I.T. Coins to lower Trowzer’s Paywalls, which unlock new areas in the overworld and additional Grand Tomes. Although players can enter the Grand Tome of Capital B’s Impossible Lair at any point, it’s not recommended since the level is nearly impossible to complete without enough Royal Beettalion members. Players can also find various Tonics scattered throughout the game world. Unlike other games in the franchise where Tonics are unlocked by fulfilling certain tasks, in this game players need to spend a certain amount of Quills to unlock these Tonics. These Tonics modify the gameplay in various ways, offering both advantages and disadvantages. Depending on which have been equipped, the Quills Multiplier is affected either positively or negatively.
