Yooka-Laylee (Switch) Review

A Banjo-Kazooie Rare-vival!

Back in the Nintendo 64 era, 3D platformers represented the wave of the future. No longer confined to two dimensions, cute mascot characters ran amok through large, sprawling worlds. Lately, 3D platforming has taken a backseat. But Playtonic Games, composed of ex-Rare developers, were eager to revive the genre when it Kickstarted Yooka-Laylee, a spiritual successor to the team’s Banjo-Kazooie series. Replacing the famous bear-and-bird duo with a chameleon-and-bat team, and featuring huge colorful worlds with googly-eyed characters, the game is more than a throwback; it’s a love letter.

Here’s my Video Review for your viewing pleasure!

A Hat in Time Review

A Different Hat-Based 3D Platformer

Between Super Mario Odyssey and Yooka-Laylee, 2017 is slowly ushering a return of the 3D platformer collectathon. But not many people may realize that another game was planting seeds of the genre’s revival years ago.  A Hat in Time was Kickstarted back in 2013 by the developers at Gears for Breakfast, who were hoping to tug at the heartstrings of a generation who grew up with the Nintendo 64 and GameCube. I was excited about the game’s initial development, but it soon disappeared from the radar, and I had assumed the project was a bust. Thankfully, A Hat in Time made it out just in time to celebrate the genre’s return, and it’s worth the wait.

Here’s the Video Version for your viewing pleasure!

Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) Review

Let’s Do the Odyssey!

Decades have passed since Super Mario 64 introduced an entire generation to 3D platforming, and it holds a special place in my heart for that reason. Super Mario Sunshine continued the open sandbox formula, but after that, the series moved in different directions. Super Mario Galaxy took a more linear approach to 3D gameplay, while New Super Mario Bros. returned the franchise to its 2D sidescrolling roots. But I still longed for an experience like Super Mario 64, so I was beyond excited when I first learned that Nintendo would revisit that untapped well with Super Mario Odyssey.

Check out the Video Version for spoiler-free gameplay and some singing from your 1-UP Panda!