With so many games releasing in the last 3 months of last year, I never got around to playing this one when it came out, but I am now, and holy guacamole it's superb.

From its razor-sharp controls and physics, to the level design, to the music, to that cheeky 90s Rareware charm, it's just an effervescent joy to play.

It pretty much feels like "what if 90s Rare had made Tropical Freeze".

Excluding ports from prior years like Hellblade and Witcher 3, this is easily my GOTY for 2019.

I really hope a lot of folks didn't skip this one on account of the first Yooka Laylee being uneven, as this one is on a whole 'nother level in terms of polish and quality.

Anyone else play this one?

Damn!! I think I just found a good platformer to sink my teeth into. I was debating on whether or not I should get this game. But hearing you say this plays like a rare’s game from the 90’s has convinced me.

This is a game I've wanting to try for some time. After reading your post, I think I'm convinced.

Nice. I got this from the epic games store for free this last holiday. I will check it out. I'm assuming you don't really need to play the first one?

Nah, it's self-contained, so if you haven't played the first one it won't really matter.

This and Bloodstained were the highlights of last year for me. It almost made my top 20 games of all time when I did my top 50 at the end of last year. It took me a little while to stop trying to play it like it's predecessor (no reliance on Laylee for jump correction hovering). But once I accepted the new controls, I had a blast. The level switching is a great idea and I really enjoy the overworld exploration.

Same, I was really impressed how fun they managed to make the overworld, so that just progressing to the next level or set of levels was enjoyable in itself, in a more laid back way than the more intense sidescrolling levels. It was nice to unwind between them.

I did not love it like others, felt like the game had great ideas but I would not say they are fun ideas. Clever sure and the first time you change world because you pushed a lever and made the world flood indeed feels clever but then you see you missed a coin in the normal not flooded level so you have to go back to the overworld to switch the lever again...well that process isn't fun. Rayman Legends had those music rhytem levels and I thought they were clever, challenging and fun. Also the controls YK IL feel a bit weird, you get used to it tho.

I would give an 8/10 and a must for nostalgic fans (its dirt cheap now aswell).

Now that they've proven they're still capable of making games of this caliber, I'm very keen to see what Playtonic make next.

Yeah, I'm definitely enjoying it so far as a huge DKC fan (with a slight exception of the occasionally cumbersome overworld). Definitely feels like a spiritual successor to the 90s DKC games, ironically moreso than the Retro stuff - which isn't a dig against them as I like their games too. It's just, you can definitely tell just by the feel and general vibe of the game that a number of ex Rare employees worked on this.

Also has a bit of a Sonic and Yoshi feel to it which is cool.