A spin-off of the original Yooka-Laylee rather than a full-on sequel, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair follows the same duo from the first game, with the villain also making a return appearance.

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There was a reasonable buzz generated around the sequel to Yooka-Laylee upon its initial release, as well as a good deal of surprise. This was partially due to Impossible Lair being a 2D platformer rather than 3D like the original. This is less surprising when considering the game’s developer, Playtonic Games, is composed largely of former employees of Rare, and Yooka-Laylee was an attempt to recapture the magic of Rare’s beloved Banjo-Kazooie. Impossible Lair takes its cues from Donkey Kong Country instead, another Rare classic that saw revolutionary 3D graphics integrated into 2D gameplay and brought the big ape into the role of hero in his own game series.

The other reason for the surprise over Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is the fact that the original Yooka-Laylee was not exactly beloved. Many considered it a big disappointment, with a nostalgic sheen that could not mask the game’s problems and a distinct lack of the magic that made the original Banjo-Kazooie such an enduring masterpiece. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair has its own distinct charm and a blend of mechanics that make it feel like its own game, but many of those mechanics are taken wholesale from other games, meaning the series still hasn’t hit the mark of quality that Rare used to be known for.

For those who want to see what all the fuss is about and determine for themselves whether this is a platformer worth their time, there’s no better day to get it. The deal only lasts until tomorrow, so anyone who wants to find out if Impossible Lair is worth the buzz should act fast. The teaser on the Epic Games Store page hints that the free games of next week may include a Darksiders title, perhaps Darksiders 2 if the teaser showing Death’s face is anything to go by.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

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