First, Playtonic Games set out with the goal of reviving the 3D platforming genre many of their staff had helped define during their time at Rare. The result was Yooka-Laylee, a modernized take on the classic 90s genre. At E3 this year, the team revealed their next project was bringing back the titular heroes, only this time they’d be doing some 2D, side-scrolling platforming in Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair for Nintendo Switch.
A new trailer has been released for the game, and it looks like the developers are utilizing an interesting method for adding some more variety. Initially, it looked like the game would have around 20 stages, but it’s a bit more nuanced than that, as alternate versions of the stages can be unlocked via changes made in the game’s overworld. For example, adding water to a barren desert stage brings forth lush vegetation, while freezing over what’s primarily an underwater stage can turn swimming sections into slippery on-foot areas. These alternate levels also contain more Royal Beetalion Members who you can rescue for assistance in your fight against the evil Capital B.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is expected to launch sometime near the end of this year.
Source: Nintendo Life