Fans of 3D platformers have probably been noticing Playtonic Games’ recent teases regarding a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. Yesterday, the team of ex-Rare veterans announced that “Project Ukelele” will formally be known as Yooka-Laylee. As with Banjo-Kazooie, the title refers to its two protagonists. Instead of a bear and a bird, this time players will control a green lizard thing and what appears to be a really happy bat.
But that was yesterday. Today, the project’s Kickstarter page launched and blasted past its £175,000 ($264,600 USD) goal in less than 40 minutes. It currently stands at over £300,000 (or over $454,000 USD), and stretch goals include local multiplayer modes and a simultaneous day one release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U. The team is hoping to release the project by October of 2016, and a variety of burp- and fart-based special moves have been promised for the titular duo.
3D platformers have been in short supply in recent years, and the speedy response to this crowdfunder certainly points toward a demand for the once-prevalent genre and serves as a notice that Kickstarter is still a viable path for these sorts of nostalgia-tinged projects. Personally, I was never super-interested in the Banjo games, but as a fan of the genre I’m looking forward to seeing how the final product turns out.
- Yooka-Laylee
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Rare, Ltd.