Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time PS4 Review

 

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a 3D action-platformer game was originally released for PS4 and XBONE in 2020, while it was later released for PS5, XSX/S, Switch, and PC in 2021.

It was developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision, and it is the 8th installment in the Crash Bandicoot series and a retcon of the games that originally followed 1998's PS1 title such as Crash Bandicoot: Warped.

Taking you back to my previous review of Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy that I've already covered 6 years ago which I already described it as a fantastic remastered compilation of the original PS1 trilogy that are worth owning it for the fans of the platformers genres, so if you haven't seen the rest of my review, please check it out on the link down below:

https://zeeshanmirzasblog.blogspot.com/2017/07/crash-bandicoot-nsane-trilogy-ps4-review.html 

Right moving on to this review, shall we. As I previously enjoyed the remastered trilogies that I've mentioned it above, it seems that we are getting another crash bandicoot games for PCs and modern console platforms which I was looking forward to see another crash's wacky platforming action, so it took me 3 years to get a hands on with this 3D platforming title for my PS4.

This game marks a true return of the classic traditional 3D platformer, since the PS1 era which these original trilogies is what made the franchise quite recognisable, until the 6th gen era started when SCE and Naughty Dog has sold the rights of Crash Bandicoot franchises to different publishers such as Vivendi Universal and Sierra Entertainment which unfortunately their games weren't as fun compared with the previous installmant, and they handed it over to Activision in 2008 with the last game in the main series was Crash: Mind Over Mutant are kinda average, but not as bad with Vivendi and Sierra efforts.

Thankfully Activision had learnt their lesson by delivering a true title that the fans of the series been wanted for years which is why they did it right with the Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy back in 2017, and then of course this game came out in 2020, so crash is back in business for good because he is one of the coolest video game heroes of the PS1 era that was started back in mid-90s, so it is great to have him return for the new exciting title that everyone are looking forward to see a new insanely levels and adding a creative stuff.

The question is does the game went well? I will cover all the answers further on this review to see if this game still lives up a same expectations as the original trilogies.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

The game takes place after the event of the previous threes, as it starts with these villains such as Uka Uka, Doctors Neo Cortex and Nefarious Tropy attempts to liberate themselves from their prison in the past.

Uka Uka rips open a hole in the fabric of space and time, and causes him to pass out. Cortex and N. Tropy swiftly escape, abandoning Uka Uka, as they discover that the rift links their universe to the rest of the multiverse, and decide to make use of it to conquer all dimensions.

Meanwhile at the Bandicoot homeland, Aku Aku senses a great power emanating from N. Sanity Island's central peak and urges Crash to investigate which is why he then meets a ancient Quantum Mask named Lani-Loli urging Crash and his sister Coco to stop those villains from taking over the multiverse before it's too late.

They then meets with their former enemy named Dingodile and an alternate-dimension counterpart of Crash's old girlfriend named Tawna came to aid them for adventuring. 

The story is pretty straight-forward which involves Crash and his sister Coco as they learned it from Lani-Loli explains that they need to find the other three Quantum Masks across the multiverse to seal the rifts.

Quantum Masks is a four ancient witch doctor masks that have great power over space and time, and who would only appear if something has opened up the multiverse.

Those all-powers will help them to prevent Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious Tropy from falling into wrong hands.

I really liked the idea of having a game takes place in 10 dimensional timeline which is kinda like you could say time traveling stuff where you can travel between the time and places, so it's pretty similar to most of the TV series and films from the 80s and 90s that involves time travel and interdimensional that changes the different time periods which I got to say it's pretty the neat concept that worked well for Crash Bandicoot games like this.

You have Crash Bandicoot which I really liked him as a video game protagonist with his awesome attitude and has cool personality.

He has his sister named Coco Bandicoot, who is smart and intelligent girl really good with problem solving and her tech stuff, came to help her brother throughout the adventures.

Then you have Crash's girlfriend Tawna which she's used to have a lovely long-blonde hair and has short outfits back in PS1-days as well as in remastered version which is why it made her attractive and recognisable in Crash Bandicoot series, so instead they just purposely redesigned her original look into a tomboyish new design with different coloured hairstyle and full clothing which I fully understand she's from the alternative universe, but the truth is that she's looks kinda weird in the game with her butch looking outfits and hairstyle that doesn't quite a same match as the original design she used to be back then, which is why I really missed the original Tawna looks way so much better on remastered version of N.Sane trilogy and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fuelled.

Lastly you have Dingodile which I got to say I really like his sense of humour and speaks with Australian accent especially he just curses his mild word in one of the level just made me rolled on the floor laughing. 

I also wanted to praise numerous cast of bad guys such as Dr. Neo Cortex up to no good again, so he really nailed with his comedic craziness and insane characteristics is what I've liked about him, while N.Tropy had a great shares with his smugness and being an advanced scientist which are also quite just as memorable.  

Lastly you have those bosses such as N. Gin who is the right-hand man appears to be an ugly version of Dexter from Dexter's Lavatory having the missile shoved on his brain, Louise the hideous looking purple sea monster, and that coneheaded scientist N. Brio.

The presentation of the game is just fantastic as the previous titles, as it had 10 different hub worlds with different scenery and unique settings of the locations.

Stuff like N. Sanity Island has tropical stuff like lush rain, forests, beaches, and ancient temples. The Hazardous Wastes has post-apocalypses themes filled with manmade objects and junkyard machines.

Salty Wharf set in 18th century with pirate ships and seaside. 

Tranquillity Falls has vibrant of day and night tone filled with colourful trees, ghostly dragon and lion, and old-fashioned temples and houses.

Mosquito Marsh filled with musical party settings all over the places with pianos, ghostly musicians, lampshades, fireworks, jugglers, drums, and balloons.

The 11th dimension has cold environments such as icicles and snow scattered everywhere as well as big huge cavehole.

Eggipus dimension has many jungle environments such as crooked trees, leaves, plants, wild animals, and volcanoes. 

Bermugla's Orbit is a space-station places filled with many alien-style techs and mechanical environments.

Lastly the Snaxx dimension has cyberpunk themes to it like flying vehicles and futuristic skyscrapers.

This is incredibly well built stage design and settings they put in the game just adds the same match as the classic Crash Bandicoot games from the PS1 era, which is why I really liked the bold and cartoony environments just appeals to me quite well.  

      

          

Overall, it has great story, decent cast of characters, and fantastic presentation settings.

         

       

   

Gameplay

In single-player game, you'll be starting off in dimensional maps with about 43 regular levels to complete.

You take control of either Crash or Coco depending on which any of these playable characters you've selected in 3D perspective, as your main objective is to reach at the finishing goal.

You'll start with basic controls by pushing the left stick or d-pad button to move player around, then the cross button to jump while double tapping the cross button makes you perform double jump to reach the higher platforms. 

There are two action buttons such as square button for primary and circle button secondary, so the primary allow player to perform spin attack, while the secondary uses for ground body slam to break objects and sliding for slide through small gaps underneath.

You will also perform 4 different mask powers by activating each of them with the triangle button.

These will allow you to use their powers to avoid obstacles and being able to cross specific areas, so stuff like Lani-Loli can able to switch various of objects, crates, and obstacles in and out of existence. Akano using his power to allow player to perform tornado spin which can be used to glide from platform to platform, break locked crates, and knock back certain coloured projectiles.

Kupuna-Wa uses a slow-mo time which makes the player easier to jump across in fast-moving platforms and avoid fast enemies.

Lastly Ika-Ika uses gravity power allowing the player to flip the direction upside-downs of gravity to walk on the ceiling to solve puzzles and avoid certain hazards.

The player can also perform various of stunt moves depending on which level you're playing on, so stuff like running on the side-walls, riding on the rails, jumping off the ropes while swinging, and jumping and bouncing on the crates in higher platforms.   

You also get to play with other three playable characters such as Tawna which she has ability to use her grappling rope to attach on grappling point to reach the platform and also does wall jumping mechanics, and Dingodile uses his vacuum to suck up all crates and items, as well as shooting out attacking objects such as explosive TNT crates, and he can also float through the platforms by holding the jump button.

Lastly you also take control of Dr. Neo Cortex which uses his gun to not only attacks the enemies, but also transformed mid-air enemy into two forms such as rock form to jump on reachable platform, and bouncy form that made player to reach higher platforms.

The items can be found on the crates such as wumpa fruits, extra lives and protective Aku Aku masks which protect player from one single hit from enemy and obstacle. Collecting 100 of wumpa fruits will also gained you extra lives. There are some different types of crates such as letter C for checkpoint that lets the player resumes the level after losing life, arrow crates which makes player bounces on, and the TNT crates makes the things explodes, but the Nitro crates are quite deadly which makes instant kill to player, so be careful. You will able to earn the hidden collectable crystals which can be found somewhere hidden in the levels which unlocks player's skin, and you can also earn relic by beating the time limit from time attack mode which can be available after beating each stages.

You can also find bonus stages which can be appeared as question mark sign in each stages, so your task is to break many crates as possible to earn many wumpa fruits which also rewards you with the crystals. 

So far, the game did a solid job of recapturing a traditional 3D platformer style of classic PS1's trilogy as well as adding several of creative ideas that made the game feels like a true renaissance of the Crash Bandicoot franchise.

Stuff like it had a great shares of platforming segments that I've mentioned it on above like using the special powers to being able to reach it at the end without taking damage from projectiles such as flames, lasers, dead pit, chemicals, and other hazardous stuff scattered around the levels because this really helps me to get past of these platforming aspects where I can able to land on right spot without falling off the stages which kept me playing an entire stages till I've reached at the finishing goals. 

I also liked the mechanics they used to design for certain levels like running on the walls, riding on the rails, and doing wall jumping are also worked pretty well too.

I really liked the endless stages where you ride with polar bear and stuff to reach at the finishing goal while avoiding the obstacles which is amazing, but it's nowhere near close to predecessor like Crash Bandicoot: Warped which has many better segments such as motorbike stages, dogfight stages and of course Coco's jet-ski stages that really adds up a overall fun factor, but don't get me wrong because this game are also quite great to play which I am quite grateful to see stuff like this taking in the right direction.

Sometimes just like every platforming game does shares with some tedious stuff like there are some hazardous stuff and projectiles are kinda bit overdone which adds up quite frustrating for those who hates keeps dying in the game, so it takes like 10 or 15 tries to get past through the levels.

Once you get used with the levels by practicing it, the more you can able to progress through the game without making numerous of mistakes. 

Then again with the floaty jump that I've previously mentioned on N.Sane Trilogy review that I've made back in 2017 can sometime lose a track of the platforming may cause you to fall down the stage, but thank god they added the round-circle which really helps me a bit to land on the right spot.     

I also liked having a three new playable characters with different abilities on certain level just adds up a new platforming experience. 

I also wanted to praise a boss battles such as N. Gin where you fight against him at the awesome heavy metal concert, Louise in the swamp places, N. Brio that chucks his experimental potions at you, and best of all the two counterparts N.Tropy which has two segments such as jumping on platforms using the mask power and also evading many projectiles and lasers to fight against these twos.

These are the bosses which I described it as an magnificent part of the whole game may not going to disappoint you because it's all about figuring out what their weak patterns and incoming projectiles just adds up a fun factor of the game.

The controls are much easier to learn especially the game also has an option to re-configure the control scheme which matches the people's playstyle makes it an suitable platforming experience.

I'm really glad that the game turned out pretty fantastic with numerous of replay values where you're aiming to gain 100% completion by collecting all the relics and other collectables to unlock stuff just keeps you busy with the game itself is what made the platforming title so great to play.               

Overall, it has creative special powers, solid gameplay mechanics, and great platforming segments.

 

    

Graphics

The visuals is looking spectacular for both 8th and 9th gen era. The environmental design are looking quite bold and detailed throughout the stages, as you can see stuff like Salty Wharf has the great use of particle effects such as misty and fog scattered around the sands, Tranquillity falls has the large scales of rivers and trees on the foreground areas, and Mosquito Marsh has the 3D-style parallax scrolling in background layouts which is well constructed stage design they just about got everything done right. 

I also liked the playable character's death animation where you get to see them getting zapped by lasers, squashed by heavy objects, faints after taking hits, turned into angel or demon, and of course comedic fall over just adds the game's overall comedy.

It is the most obvious to say the PS5, XSX/S, and PC did deliver a better use of frame rate running on 60fps and has better overall image quality in 4k resolution, but when it comes with 8th gen console like PS4, XBONE, and Switch are actually something else, but it didn't hurt the game's experience.

I am using the base PS4 console which ran on between 30fps and above with 1080p resolution where as the base XBONE console ran on same frame rate but ran on 900p resolution are much lower compared with base PS4 console, as these two base system model that I've mentioned above are opposed to 4k console models like PS4 Pro and XBONE X runs on 60 fps with 1080p resolution with no issues whatsoever.

The switch however locked on 30fps with 1080p resolution in docked mode, and 30fps with 720p resolution on handheld mode are kinda low compared with other console platforms that I've mentioned above before, but it doesn't look so terrible on the portable system once you get used to playing the game on the Nintendo's portable device. 

Overall, it has well-constructed stage design, comedic character's animations, and spectacular use of visual environments and effects. 

Music and Sounds

The soundtrack are clearly deserves the same charm as the classic PS1's trilogy retaining a same style of music which was composed by Walter Mair, who has previously worked on Guerrilla Games's Killzone: Mercenary, Creative Assembly's Total War Battles: Kingdom, and Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction, did a amazing job of creating a great original music throughout the game.

The sound effects are just as excellent as the previous titles with cartoony style sound design, atmospheric background noises for each stages, and of course the voice cast also did a stunning job on their character's voice role for delivering a numerous of humours.        

        

Overall, it has amazing soundtrack, excellent sound effects, and stunning voice role. 

Special Features

This game also features some replay values such as revisiting same levels for collecting more relics in time attack mode, as well as collecting crystals to unlock various of skins. It has 3 playable characters and has extra 21 secret levels to unlock by collecting many flashback types items.

Overall, an splendid features. 

Advantages

Fantastic presentation settings

Creative special powers 

Solid gameplay mechanics

Great platforming segments

3 new playable characters with different abilities

Magnificent boss battles

Spectacular visual environments and effects

Amazing soundtrack

Disadvantages

Overdone hazardous parts

Twana's new design nowhere near good as the original counterpart  

Final Verdict

Presentation 8/10 - great story, decent cast of characters, and fantastic presentation settings

Gameplay 8.5/10 - creative special powers, solid gameplay mechanics, and great platforming segments

Graphics 9/10 - well-constructed stage design, comedic character's animations, and spectacular use of visual environments and effects

Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - amazing soundtrack, excellent sound effects, and stunning voice role

Special Features 8/10 - has numerous of collectables and unlockable secret levels. 

Overall 8.5/10 - As much I loved the N.Sane Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is quite a step in the right direction which I definitely approved the uniqueness of platforming style like you have these cool power-ups to perform special powers, wacky single-player platforming action, has 3 playable characters to play, and of course entertaining boss fights is what made the game a triumph comeback of the beloved classic franchise.  

The price of the physical copy cost around £20 and over, while it's included a free upgradable for both PS5 and XSX/S if one of you had own the PS4 or XBONE copy.

The digital release for Steam cost £35 which is great price purchase for PC owners, while other platforms like Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, and PS Store are cost between £45 and £60 which the console owners are better sticking with physical copy as an cheaper alternative to digital storefront or if one of you prefer the digital copy should better off wait for the sale goes down. 

That being said, this is definite a must play for the platforming fanatic, as well as the fans of the original franchise will be feel appreciated with the follow-up title just feels like a great throwback to the classic PS1's trilogy we know from the mid-90s.   

 

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Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair PS4 Review

 

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a 2D side-scrolling platformer game was released in 2019 for PS4, XBONE, Switch and PC. It was developed by Playtonic Games and published by Team17, and it is also a follow-up title to 2017's 3D platforming game titled as Yooka-Laylee.

I've already reviewed the first game, which is a spiritual successor to N64 platforming classics such as Banjo-Kazooie, so I was expecting the game to be a true worthy successor to beloved N64 classics but sadly suffered with the flaws that I've previously mentioned on my review which kinda drags down the fun factor of the game that may be not going to impress the newcomers, so if you haven't seen my previous review that I've covered please check it out on the link down below:

https://zeeshanmirzasblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/yooka-laylee-ps4-review.html   

Okay, moving on this review for now. I decided to give a follow-up title a shot to see if it's anything done better than what I've experienced from the first original. 

The answer is yes, but kinda I guess. To be fair, I really liked how they changes the game into a 2D side-scrolling platformer similar to SNES platformer like Donkey Kong Country which is why I began to interested in playing this and see if this game are done absolutely right or maybe it could be even worse.

It's all depends on how straightforward the game's design made for this game, so stuff like those platforming obstacles, difficulties, controls, and so on which I will cover all these details further on this review.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

The game takes place after the first game as the main villain Captain B is up to no good again, he then causing a massive deal of trouble for the Royal Stingdom and capturing all the Queen Phoebee's royal beettalion guards.

As the queen had summoned Yooka and Laylee to aid her, these duos went on their adventures to rescue numerous of the captured royal bees and put an end to Capital B's meddling.

To be honest, I find the story on this game are rather lacking compared with the first game. It did not deliver an actual opening cutscenes to know what the game are exactly about, instead it throws you right into a in-game platforming level which I was expecting a 1 min opening sequence before starting the game.

No offense, I know it's sounds like a nip-picking to you guys, but aleast they should have put more effort into a story development.

You still have Yooka and Laylee as a returning duo, while we still have several of same NPCs from the previous game such as Trowzer the red snake, Dr. Puzz the humanoid octopus scientist, Kartos the minecart, and Vendi the vending machine which are featured in top-down overworld. 

The game also introduces Queen Phoebee (WHAT ANOTHER BEE IN VIDEO GAMES, YOU GOT TO BE S***TING ME!!!)

Lastly you still have a main villain such as Capital B (NO NO!!! DON'T YOU EVEN DARE MENTION THAT AGAIN!!!) looking for a trouble once again, so instead of collecting numerous of books like from the first game he then kidnaps all the royal bees members (GOD DAMN SON OF B***H!!! YOU JUST TERRORISING ME WITH THESE F***ING THINGS!!!) to threaten against the Royal Stingdom as a whole.

The presentation as a whole is just as good as the first original with similar style of settings. You have several of locations which has two variation of states starting from base to alternate universe, so what it does to the each of the location is changes the environment of the each levels affecting the in-game's design.

Stuff like capital causeway had turned a small home and downhill path into completely torned out from the ground. Factory fright filled with dozens of red buzzsaws, while it was later flooded in underwater in alternative state. 

Frantic fountains had turned the towns into icy and cold environments, wild web woods has wilder forest, and windmill way has windy pressure.

I just loved their style of presentation mixes from bright to darker tone of stages which really adds the game's appeal, so there's nothing else much to say to this because it a really decent looking game entirely. 

Overall, the lackluster opening story, but has great characters and good presentation design.       

Gameplay

In single-player campaign, you'll start off with the overworld in top-down perspective where you can able to explore around, while interacting with stuffs such as talking with random NPCs, doing problem solving puzzles to unlock level's alternative state, discovering hidden secrets, gathering collectables tonic items, and traversing at new maps to gain access to next chapters.

When entering into a chapter stage, you'll take control of duo in 2D side-scrolling perspective as your main goal is to beat the entire level by reaching onto a finishing goal.

Pushing the left stick or d-pad button to move the duo around, hitting the cross button to jump, the square button to use whip attack, while pushing left stick or d-pad button forward then tapping the square which allowing these duo to perform roll attack which not only just attacking on enemies, but also speeds up their traversing through the levels.

You can also do twirl jump by hitting the cross button then press the square button which makes them float through the platforms in mid-air.

You can perform a buddy slam move by hitting the cross button then pressing the left trigger button which not only attacks enemies on ground, but also hitting the mechanism switch to activate stuff around levels.

You can press right trigger to use Yooka's tongue to pick-up and throw objects such as bombs and keys,

and in underwater you'll swim around by pushing the left stick or d-pad button while hitting the square button allowing them to dash forward to traverse faster, so these are the controls scheme that I've mentioned above are quite straight-forward to play which doesn't really need to add more complicated actions, so it's simplistic and easy to learn things.

During the in-game stages, you'll be discovering several of hidden secrets and bonuses which rewards you with numerous of quills as well as coins.

These coins will be discovered on either on top-side corner or somewhere under the stage in right-side bottom depending which chapters you're playing on which I really liked how they kept these in hidden that no one able to see it until they able to find one.

You'll need these coins to give it to someone like Trowzer the red snake, so that he can allow you to gain access to new map in overworld. 

You'll be encounter with these colourful ghost-feathers somewhere in the in-game stage acts as an time-puzzle bonus where you had to solve the problem before the time runs out, so it awarded you with numerous of quills.

These quills acts as currencies which you'll be spending on various of unlockable tonics ability such as you can perform dash attack on underwater, move even faster in climbing and rolling, a magnet item that attracts quills, using slow-mo to slow things down for short time, adds more or less checkpoints, and made the duo twirl-spin three times and slow down their descents in mid-air. 

Be really careful to use these tonic slots which can sometime result gaining or losing many quills multipliers after beating the stage depending on which any of these tonic item you just equipped on these slots.  

Beating entire stages will rewards you with captured royal bees after rescuing them. You'll be needing these royal bees to recruit with you, so these will act as shield protection to make you feel less vulnerable which you'll be using them in final boss stage.

So far, I've managed to get past through the levels as well as being able to gather all collectables which took me about 15 to 20 hours to beat it as full completion. 

What I've liked about the game is that each of the stages will change environments starting from base to alternative state, so I have mentioned the locations on presentation before which is really adds up a level variation such as taking a new route of stages, and changes the hazardous objects to make platforming obstacles harder to get pass through, which I really liked the idea of switching the level in between two universe are actually interesting in this game doesn't mean it adds the innovation to its genre because there are some of the side-scrolling platformers had done it from the past decade before this when it's comes with taking place in two different universe in same location, but overall it's a good effort which I believe they wanted the game to be unique, so I have respect on their work and effort they putting on this indie side-scrolling title they had delivered.

I also want to praise the game's design itself because it's a solid balance of difficulty and challenge which is reliant on those platforming obstacles and patterns, so stuff you see on each stages filled with several of hazardous objects such as disc-like buzzsaw, diagonal-flames, deadly spikes, and other dangerous mechanical stuff around the levels is all about focusing on evading these hazards and avoiding taking damage really adds up the fun part of the game.

The stuff that I did not like in the game that kinda pisses me off the most that ruin the fun part is that after taking damage from the enemy's projectile, that bloody Laylee, which you'll need her to perform twirl and buddy slam for some parts or use her as 2 hit player's health point, keeps flying around like a maniac which I had to catch her back before she's flies away, but she keeps moving into a uneven spot that I'm not being able to reach her back which is why she flies off way too quick meaning without her I could take one more hit to die in stage makes it quite frustrating to playthrough.

I also wanted to point out chapter 20 as the weakest part of the game because there are endless stage segment that scrolls forward where you need to reach at the end of the level while evading these chain-ball, but the problem is that you have these annoying flying enemies that shoots out projectile in halfway through which is fine, but when reaching onto the platforms then shoots me down that made Laylee flying around that I can't get back to her with empty platform spaces are just downright cheating which took me more than 30 to 45 tries to beat it.

The stuff that the game did it right is the final boss segments which fills with 4 stages of doom, which I got to be honest it's much more better than the ones in first game. They got the boss's patterns right which makes the strategy seems easier to evade and attack on boss without pushing more further on the stress level.

Thankfully you can select any of these two options such as "not so impossible lair" which adds 3 checkpoint system and saving some remaining royal bees shields makes it easier to traverse and beating stages, where as the "impossible lair" has no checkpoints and taking 2 hit damage makes it impossible to beat the final boss stage as a whole. 

So far, I did manage to enjoy the game as a whole which I am happy the way they designed these stages kept it well intacted and some difficulty challenge that are kept it balanced nicely which is why the entire stage chapters and explorable overworld filled with collectables adds up the replay values.

Overall, it has straight-forward controls and solid game's design. 

Graphics

The graphics is looking quite decent for its visuals environments which I really liked the looks of the 3D background layout with the use of parallax scrolling, and I also liked the use of colours and boldness to its environmental stages that are great mix of bright and dark settings in each chapter feels much closer to Donkey Kong Country series.

The texture-mapping are looking smoother on several of objects and layouts on side-scrolling foreground, as well as the use of special effects on some parts like water, flames, and winds are just looking incredible as a whole.

The character's design has lot of wacky animations and has cool cartoonish personality which makes them quite appealing in the game.

The game just ran really well with 60fps with no sign of slow-downs which is quite good on the PCs and modern console platforms.

Overall, it has decent environmental stages, smooth textures, and cool character's animation.

Music and Sounds

The original soundtrack are just amazing to hear, as it's sounds pretty quite close to the Donkey Kong Country series with similar style of jungle music. It was composed by an ex-Rare members such as Grant Kirkhope and David Wise did such an outstanding job that gave the game a justice.

The sound effects does shares with same wacky sound design and some atmospheric noises in some areas, and of course it still has a gibberish dialogue like from the first game which again you can sometime change it to short dialogue voice in options menu only if you want too. 

Overall, it has outstanding music and wacky sound design.

Special Features

The game has several of cool stuff like unlockable tonics which also has screen-size options such as screen ratio changes to 4:3 aspect to stretched to 3:1 aspect, and colour screen display has film, comic, dot-matrix, GB colours, and VHS.

Overall, a yet decent features.

Advantages

Great characters 

Good presentation design                              

       

Straight-forward controls 

Solid game's design

Decent environmental visuals

Outstanding soundtrack 

Disadvantages

Lackluster opening story

Laylee's faffing around 

Chapter 20 are the weakest stage

Final Verdict

Presentation 7/10 - lackluster opening story, but has great characters and good presentation design.

Gameplay 7.5/10 -  straight-forward controls and solid game's design.

Graphics 8/10 -  decent environmental stages, smooth textures, and cool character's animation.

Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - outstanding music and wacky sound design.

Special Features 8/10 - Numerous of unlockable tonics. 

                

Overall 7.5/10 - Despite I have labelled the first original game as an flawed 3D platformer, this follow-up title is actually done it right which marked as the surprisingly improved game. 

Instead of taking a Banjo-Kazooie route from the first game, this is a nice 3D to 2D transition which is why the game's design and difficulty challenge are kept it well intact to make it an enjoyable 2D side-scrolling title.

Even though the opening story and some minor stuff are kinda the low point of the game, but it also delivers the good numbers of replay values, several of great single-player stages, and has top-down overworld to interact stuff is what made this game quite fun to play.

My second opinion is that you can't beat the Nintendo's platforming masterpiece like Donkey Kong Country series which I rather much preferred over this, but don't get me wrong because Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is still a good game which I am grateful to see having the indie 2D platformer like this being on the PCs and modern console platforms, so kudos to Playtonic Games did a fine job on this game which I am happy that it turned out to be quite better than the first Yooka-Laylee game.

The physical copies are worth between £10 to £15, where as the digital releases cost £25 which is better off wait until the sale goes down. 

Is it definite recommendation for everyone? I say it's all depends on whether if they can handle the game's difficulty or not, if so then you might want to give it a go.          

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Yooka-Laylee PS4 Review

 

Yooka-Laylee is a 3D action-platformer title for PS4, XBONE, Switch, and PC, which was developed by Playtonic Games and published by Team17. It is spiritual successor to N64 classics such as Banjo-Kazooie series as we all know this game was created by the group of former team personnel from Rare.

Back in my good old days of gaming in 90s, I remember playing Banjo-Kazooie on N64 for first time when bought it out from rental stores to see if the game are any just good as the Nintendo's 3D platforming mastermind title like Super Mario 64. 

The answer is it's pretty solid 3D platformer with various of platforming and exploration such as collecting all items, puzzle solving, jumping over obstacles, and defeating bosses which is why it garnered acclaim reception from gaming media praised for the visuals, soundtrack, characters, writing, humour, and level design.

It also received numerous year-end accolades including two from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, and sold over 3 million copies making it the 10th bestselling Nintendo 64 games.

It also spawned a series which includes two sequels such as Banjo-Tooie (2000) and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008), and two spin-offs such as Grunty's Revenge (2003) and Banjo-Pilot (2005).   

Banjo and Kazooie are highly being recognised as the best video game duo, which they made their appearances in later crossover titles such as SEGA's All-Stars Racing series and Nintendo's Super Smash Bros series as a playable guests.

Since after the former employees had left Rare, they began to form their own video game development companies called Playtonic Games to create their project titled as "Project Ukulele", which was described as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.

They had launched Kickstarter campaign that attracted significant media coverage and raised a record-breaking sum of over £2 million.

Yooka-Laylee has finally released in 2017 which had received mixed reception with critics divided on whether the predecessors was fair enough to make it a successful game, or whether it was purely trying to capitalize on nostalgia. 

Despite the mixed overall from the first game, it was followed by the sequel called Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair was released 2 years after with more positive reception than the predecessor. 

So I began to pick up a copy of the first game for PS4 to see whether if the game aren't as bad as many says or is it just a pure waste of time? depending on how the presentation and gameplay still manage to holds up to today standards.

I really liked the looks of the titular duos that attracted my attention to play it on my modern console, but the question is are these still worth to play which is why I am here to review this game to make my final opinion.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

The game took place in outside of Hivory Towers where the corporation headquarters was owned by evil CEOs named Capital B had began to activate the machine, invented by his scientist assistant Dr. Quack, and sucked up many old-fashoned books including magical book that belongs to Laylee had scattered and drops all the golden pages around the worlds, as Yooka and Laylee went on their quest to retrieve a magical book from an evil corporation. 

The story as a whole is somewhat pretty interesting. It involves a greedy corporate just went after the book that has the power to rewrite the universe which is why you have the duos went on their quest to gather all missing golden pages that are being lost somewhere in overworld. 

Those golden pages from the magical book are worth lot of money which is the reason why Laylee, deciding to sell it for a large portion of profit, get Yooka to help her after it before it's too late if the corporate had manage to gather all the stuff they needed.

Yeah it's basically like these typical rich assholes trying to steal everyone's valuable items that are worth of millions, which I can understand why Laylee's reasoning to keep magical book safe with her, so that no one like Capital B will putting his hands on her valuable stuff. 

The conversation between the characters during the cutscenes does share with amazing sense of humour and made funny one-liners that really adds the game's comedy, which are just as entertaining as you see from Banjo-Kazooie on N64. 

Aside with simple plot and cool humour, then you have a heroes of duo such as Yooka, a green chameleon who is a easy-going adventurer with chilled attitude and intelligent person, while his purple bat friend Laylee who is energetic and quick-witted person can be wisecracker and cheeky, often getting Yooka into trouble which is why I find these duo quite decent as the two major protagonists.

It also shares with supporting NPCs characters such as Trowzer the red snake that teaches the duo a new abilities, Dr. Puzz the humanoid octopus scientist helps the duo by providing a unique transformation, Kartos the wooden minecart will ask the duo for help to collect a specific amount of gems, Vendi the vending machine will provide the duo with various play-tonics in every world if they complete some optional objectives, and of course most surprising special guest cameos is Shovel Knight as you may know him from the successful kickstarted 2D side-scrolling platform game produced by Yacht Club Games, as he appears asking for help to retrieve a jewel. 

Lastly I got to talk about the villains such as Capital B (OH GOD, NOT ANOTHER F***ING BEES IN VIDEO GAMES!!!), a rich capitalist bee who is a CEO of Hivory Towers and desires to turn world's literature into a pure profit to have a monopoly over the book industry. He just like every corrupt businessman loves to ripping people off to increase his profit and he is also cruel and impulsive douchebag really sums up to stereotypical rich businessman. 

He also has Dr. Quack, a duck scientist assisting his boss to create inventions as well as supporting Capital B's plans.

He is mentally-unstable, but also highly intelligent worked so hard to satisfy the demands and create inventions for his boss. 

The presentation is actually pretty appealing in terms of environmental locations in each worlds.

Stuff like Hivory Towers which is a factory facility filled acts as main HUB world. It filled with lobby, station, archive room filled with libraries, waterworks, toxic and wind tunnel, and office room that belong to Capital B.

Tribalstack Tropics is basically ancient ruins and nature which consists of tall floating islands that have underbrush, waterfall, plant bulbs, huge tower, and numerous of tribal structures.

Glitterglaze Glacier is an icy world filled with ice castles, igloos, ice caves, underwater cave, and of course snowmen. 

Moodymaze Marsh is a swamplands filled with muddy and foggy environments that consists of bridges, green fog, and small islands. 

Capital Cashino is a casino-themed world with various of casino games such as roulette tables, slot machines, pachinko machines, and card tables.

Galleon Galaxy is a space pirate themed world filled with planets, cosmic cavern, cog station, cabin, and lighthouse.

I really liked how these environmental presentation starting off from bright and colourful themes to some dark and moody settings that gives the game a wonderful throwback vibes to classic N64 game is what makes it quite appealing to look around and see how amazing these levels had design to be look spectacular.

Overall, it has interesting story, great characters, and spectacular presentation design.

Gameplay

You take control of Yooka and Laylee in 3D perspective overworlds, as they must work together to explore the environment, collect items, solve puzzles and defeat enemies as a main goal in the game.

In exploration, you'll be roaming around the levels where you must complete the certain of objectives that I've mentioned above, so if you have completed each of the objectives then you will received golden pagies which you will need these to unlock a new world that require enough pagies to gain access to stuff such as extended world that adds the double size of the environmental stages with a new locations, and also you will able to head onto the next world if the amount of pagies has met the requirements.

There are plenty of quills in many areas that you will collect those, which you will use them to purchase the new abilities, so I will explain it for later on this review.  

  

In gameplay, you will have health bar which indicates the player's health, where as the power bar which represent the player's abilities meter on the left-side corner of the screen. 

Pushing the left stick to move, while using the right stick to control the camera system to look around the surrounding in the levels.

Using the cross button to jump, while double tap to perform double jump, then you can crouch by holding the left trigger button, hitting the circle button to use tongue to grab objects or eat stuff, and Yooka can attack enemies nearby with spinning attack by pressing the square button in close range, while tapping it faster will rapidly his spin attack.

The duo can learn a variety of abilities which you will able to meet up and gain moves from Trowzer depending on which types of moves he can give you for free, while others you had to pay these moves if you had enough amount of the quills currencies.

There are numerous of abilities in every worlds such as buddy slam uses as ground pound moves by hitting the left trigger button in mid-air, which uses for breaking objects or hitting ground switches.

Reptile roll allowing them to move much faster and travel up steep hills by holding the right trigger button, while reptile rush allowing them to perform charging move uses to destroy or moving objects and break through glass.

Slurp state allowing them to copy physical properties such as metal turns Yooka into metallic and gain great weight, luminous makes Yooka becoming bright to illuminate dark areas, sticky allowing him to walk on slippery surfaces, battery that allow him to charge lighting symbols on the ground, and fire that makes him firey heat allowing him to light unit torches and melt ice cube which can temporary last in 20 secs.

Slurp shot allowing Yooka to perform various of berries such as scorchberries that allow him to breathe fire, frostberries that shoots out icy projectiles to freeze stuff, splashberries that spits out gallons of water, and of course bomberries acts as grenade weapon to blow out solid objects in these of the berries items which again I've mentioned above can temporary last in 20 secs.

Lizard lash allowing Yooka's tongue as grappling hook to attach to grapple points to reach the high platforms or pulling objects. 

Sonar Shot allowing Laylee to fire ring of sound waves which can activate objects or stun enemies, while sonar splosion making Laylee firing a large damaging sound wave that can break glass and ice cubes. 

Lizard leap allowing Yooka to perform spring jump with his tail to jump onto unreachable high places, while glide used by Laylee helps Yooka to get across the gaps or land on the ground which lasted for a short time, but you can also use flappy flight used by Laylee helps Yooka to fly even higher above in mid-air to reach a impossible platforms.

Buddy bubble will make duo breathe in underwater with bubbles reduces drowning, camo cloak makes the duo invisible which they can able to avoid being detected by securities as well as refracting the light onto activated switches, and of course sonar shield will protect the duo from harmful hazards and enemy's projectiles.

The exploration in the whole game are quite faithful to its classic N64 platformer where it's heavily focuses on retrieving key items that you will need to complete certain of the task, so that you can use these to gain access to next world.

I also liked having to collect numerous of collectables items such as quills that you may need these to purchase the new moves, pirate treasure is a rare item can be found hidden somewhere in each worlds, ghost writers are the colourful group of ghosts where you had to search them in each worlds, butterfly booster can increase your player's health containers, power extender can extend your player's stamina bar, and mollycool is the atom item which you will need these to hand over to Dr. Puzz so that you can able to transform yourself into the different forms. 

Having to earn a new abilities are also cool which I liked the idea of obtaining a new moves that really adds the gameplay element, so my favourite of all is got to be slurp state and slurp shot because I really liked having to use these to not just attacking on enemies, but also destroys objects and activating stuff in many areas just seems to be really interesting for this platforming game.

I also liked the transformation part such as snowplough form which can destroy piles of snow, chopper form is a helicopter which can fire missiles and fly around infinitely, and of course pirate ship form is a ship which can sail around the water and shoot various of landmark materials such as snow, fire, and cannonballs.  

     

While gaining new abilities and focuses on exploration are pretty interesting, but unfortunately what brings the experience down is the gameplay as whole is kind of somewhat pretty outdated which really reliant on old-school assets rather than modernising the stuff to address the issue that was found on original N64 classics.

It suffered with wonky controls which I had a trouble of controlling the duo especially using the abilities like reptile roll which you can accidently fall off the stage while jumping on the obstacles, lizard leap sometimes may not attached properly onto grappling point in mid-air, and flappy flight which I got to say that I really did not like pushing left stick back to descend down which made me accidently hitting the left trigger button that leads me falling down on the ground by mistake and hurt myself, and also I really don't like the camera system in the game which is a huge pain in the ass because its swoops around like crazy when the duo are too close to the camera which blocks the view of the platforming makes it frustrating to play.

I got to say the courses are kinda bit mixed overall because there are some good stuff that I did manage to enjoy, while some of others may not act as friendly due to game's design are trying to capture the same nostalgia of the classic platformer which is totally fine, but it's the game's difficulty as a whole are not suited for newcomers may going to find the game quite tedious to play because some of those courses may have aggravating time limits, some platforming segments are much difficult to get pass through, and some of the puzzles solving are somewhat takes too long to solve problems which the players may going to lose patience, but as a person like me I don't think it's really that bad so there are stuff like tile puzzle, temple shootout, crystal pattern puzzle, Nimble race, Kartos challenge, maze-like area, golf course game, and blow ball game which I have managed to beat it all even though it's taking forever to solve it.

The boss battle is somewhat okay, except the final boss stage which I considered it as the weakest part of the game as opposed to rest of 5 bosses from different worlds are slight acceptable depending on how straightforward the enemy's patterns and weak spot is which unfortunately the final boss is the total opposite that I've mentioned before are ludicrously spineless to play. 

Sometime your energy meter bar gets depleted very quickly takes forever to recharge, his weak pattern is way too long to take damage due to poor collisions detection, and it's really hard to avoid projectiles and stage hazards which makes it one of the broken final bosses in any platform game, so thankfully I've managed to beat it which took me about 10 tries to solve it.        

I wish the development team should have delay the game to give more time to polish stuff, so that the game itself doesn't cause to stress out the players could have made the game bit playable.

Despite the clunky controls and few tedious challenge takes away the experience, at least the world exploration and having to learn new moves are done fair and square.

Overall, wonky controls and some tedious courses, but fine exploration and abilities.

Graphics

To be fair, the visuals are looking pretty good for the 3D platformer like this because I adored the environmental design in each worlds which I consider it as colourful and bold gives the game a cartoony like presentation much closer to Banjo-Kazooie series.

It has nice use of lighting shades, deep clean textures, and some shiny effects that made the level design looked remarkable as a whole, and I also been grateful of having a wide overworld design giving a much larger portion to its environmental levels which is why I have mentioned earlier about having to unlock a extended world that made the area quite big for 3D platformer.

The character's model is sure looking decent especially with Yooka and Laylee which I find these duo quite just as appealing as the predecessor like Banjo and Kazooie from the original N64 title.

The game could have been done better with the background layouts like from world 1 and 2 are in static images rather than adding a animation effects. 

For example: look closely on skies and clouds in world 1 which doesn't seem to be moving at all, same goes with night clouds and moon in world 2 just seems to be lacking the use of animation effects which I can honestly understand the game is supposed to be look simpler, but c'mon guys this is mid-2010s which I was expecting to see the game with even more impressive use of details could have made it quite good on modern PCs and console platform, but so far everything in the whole are still pretty good.

Overall, it has colourful and bold environments, wide overworld design, and decent character's model.

Music and Sounds

The original soundtrack is sounds excellent in entire part of the game which is a great throwback to the classic N64 platformer, so as you can see these are the same composers such as Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, an ex-Rare members had previously worked on classics like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie, did an remarkable job of capturing the same style as you hear it from the original 3D platforming game from the N64 era.

The sound effects does shares with wacky sound design and some atmospheric noises in some areas, and of course you got to love a silly gibberish dialogue like from the classic game which some of you may or may not like it in the game, but you can sometime change it to short dialogue voice in options menu only if you want too. 

Overall, a really has excellent music, wacky sound design, and hilariously fun gibberish voices.       

     

         

Special Features

The game does share with cool features like Rextro's arcade which is a mini-games are also featured 8 unique multiplayer games in both single and 4-player play. Stuff like Kartos Racing, Glaciators, Bee Bop, Hurdle Hijinx, Up N Nova, Gun-tlet Run, Blag the Flag, and Jobstacle Course which these mini-games are actually fun to play for families and friends can join in and start playing together with simple and easy to learn and play.

Then you have numerous of unlockable play-tonics cheat codes which allows you to select and activate one of the cheat code such as faster regenerate power meter, no fall damage, sensing rare item nearby, more ammunition from berry bushes, longer invisibility move, helium voices, and 64-bit style graphics.  

                             

Overall, a stunning in-game features.

Advantages

Spectacular presentation design

Fine exploration and abilities    

     

Good visuals                

Excellent music

Stunning in-game features

Disadvantages

Wonky controls

Some tedious courses

Disappointing final boss

 

Final Verdict

Presentation 8.5/10 - interesting story, great characters, and spectacular presentation design.

Gameplay 6/10 -  wonky controls and some tedious courses, but fine exploration and abilities.

Graphics 7/10 - colourful and bold environments, wide overworld design, and decent character's model.

Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - excellent music, wacky sound design, and hilariously fun gibberish voices.

Special Features 8/10 - Rextro's arcade mini-games and Play-Tonics cheat codes.

Overall 6/10 - Yooka-Laylee is actually not that bad, but not definitely the best 3D platformer title for 8th-gen era.

I was expecting the game to be a true worthy successor to beloved N64 classics, but it does share with flaws that kinda drags down the fun factor of the game that may be not going to impress the newcomers due to having an issue with the movement controls and camera system are just makes the platforming part quite uneasy for some areas, and there are few courses are okay while others are just downright annoying to play, and lastly the final boss stage are kinda bad which adds the frustrating experience that the team behind the game hasn't been polished the entire thing before releasing the title.

Despite the flaws, the game does have some charm into it like you have interesting story and characters, spectacular presentation design, big exploration and unique abilities, and likable soundtrack are the main positive points they done it just right.

Is it definitely for everyone's cup of tea? the answer is not really, unless you're one of the hardcore fan of Banjo-Kazooie series are willing to give the game a try which is absolutely fine. The physical copy of the game cost about less than £10 is not a bad purchase, where as the digital release are not worth of £35. 

If you're seeking for the quality indie 3D-platformer, then go check out games like A Hat in Time and New Super Lucky's Tale are better recommended options to pick up and play.    

So I am hoping to give the follow-up sequel like Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair a try and see if it is anything does better than the first game.

 

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