I found Playtonic’s first effort a delight, and I was excited to see these characters return… doubly so for a somewhat DKC-inspired 2D romp!
Playtonic almost made it a point not to bring up the DKC comparison themselves. It’s natural for people’s minds to go there, though. Impossible Lair certainly draws on the history of its developers, not to mention Retro Studios’ Donkey Kong games, but brings plenty of its own ideas to the table as well.
The main thing that makes this not “just” a 2.5D sidescroller is the overworld segments, which recall the less-remarked-upon games in Playtonic’s legacy. Games like Conker’s Pocket Tales, or Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge—not to mention Sabre Wulf GBA, probably the closest comparison point in terms of structure. Between levels you’re isometrically exploring and interacting with a little connected world, albeit in a simpler fashion to this duo’s initial adventure. This is where the bulk of character interaction comes in, and I must say the release of Dreamprism Press’s Kracklestone graphic novel was a well-timed complement in that area.
The overworld also houses hidden tonics which can change the play state in the levels. You can make things easier or more difficult by adding modifiers, which also will affect your quill total (the currency of the game), or many of them just have cosmetic effects. This customisation aspect is very welcome, especially because it can be changed even during a level.
But how is the 2D gameplay? I’m glad you asked, it’s great! Yooka and his buddy Laylee control very well, and once again with abilities suited to their characters. You can roll and grab certain objects with Yooka’s tongue, but having Laylee around expands your abilities, such as giving you a slightly gliding twirl and a slam attack. On taking a hit, Laylee flaps around for a bit much like Baby Mario in Yoshi’s Island, initiating a frantic rush to get her back. It’s merciful but risky, and just fun!
The levels display the chops of the team, and are a blast to play, full of challenges and setpieces. Plus, every single one has a modifier that is activated in the overworld, contextually changing the state of the level and offering up a new version with a twist, often with a radically different layout. All levels have five coins (conveniently numbered), which are a fun collectible, sometimes deviously hidden… except they’re actually mandatory for overworld progress. I didn’t mind this as I am a completionist anyway, but I know it was an issue for some people who preferred to just play the levels. Another thing I found I didn’t mind was that there weren’t any bosses… outside the Lair, that is.
Ah yes, the eponymous Lair. To finally get to the actual story, the game kind of starts in medias res with Capital B in a snazzy new outfit having deposed the wonderful new character Queen Phoebee from her rightful place in the Royal Stingdom. He set up shop in the Impossible Lair thanks to his mind control device (that only works on bees). The Lair is a long, very long, incredibly long, gruelling gauntlet—punctuated with boss phases against Capital B—that can be attempted at any point in the game. By completing other levels elsewhere, you rescue loyal bee warriors who will shield you during a Lair run, effectively giving you one extra hit each up to a total of 48. And you’ll need them.
Even with the full complement of bees, I found myself torn up with frustration when attempting the Lair. A run can take a long time; the level of challenge and sheer length is unlike anything else in the game. Plus you can’t even use tonics in it. After finally conquering it I feel more kindly disposed to it and the game as a whole, but for a time it seemed insurmountable. I guess that’s the point?
Either way, Impossible Lair is an ambitious game but delivers an excellent 2.5D platforming experience, with the lovely added diversion of the isometric overworld, as well as expanding the world set up by the first game (not to mention answering a couple of lore questions along the way… yes, you will find out which half of Dr. Puzz is her natural body). There’s the occasional rough edge or typo, but the love and care shines through.
