Yooka-Replaylee was a little bit of a welcome shock when it was introduced again in June. It appears totally attractive and guarantees loads of tweaks, adjustments, and accessibility options when it will definitely launches. However one factor that many followers noticed was Laylee, Yooka’s purple bat companion, and her new, extremely fluffy design.
In a Q&A broadcast on the Playtonic YouTube Channel, neighborhood supervisor Steve James sat down with members of the Yooka-Replaylee artwork workforce — Ed Bryan, Nikita De Ruysscher, and Steve Mayles — to speak concerning the sport’s model new look. And one part focuses on the wisecracking bat.
In 2017’s Yooka-Laylee, Laylee’s design is clean — there’s not a hair on her, besides possibly her eyebrows. However in 2024, Laylee sports activities a complete load of purple fur. Steve factors out that her new design was one of many “most notable” elements of the reveal trailer, and the workforce shared some insights.
Laylee was “by no means meant to be fluffy” in accordance with Mayles, and after tweaking her preliminary mannequin and popping her within the sport, somebody mentioned “Would not or not it’s good if she was furry?” to which Mayles dismayed a tiny bit. Mayles mentions that fur is fairly difficult so as to add and animate in 3D, however he is utilizing a device the place he begins by including one single strand to the character which will sound like an extended course of, however apparently “would not take that lengthy” even with “lots of tweaking”.
It would not finish with simply that, in fact. Ed Bryan had to ensure the “vertex colors” transferred over so the fur regarded excellent in every kind of sunshine and from totally different angles. Mayles hopes that followers will get pleasure from her new design, and James responds that “she is already a fan favorite”. We’re not stunned, although we do have a query that seemingly many others have additionally expressed — why is not Capital B fluffy? although apparently it is as a result of he “likes to shave”.
The trio go into lots of element concerning the varied processes concerned in remastering a title like this, plus with Replaylee, there are many new property reminiscent of new skyboxes, new lighting engine, and simply how “interactive” the setting is.
You’ll be able to watch the entire video under, however tell us what you consider Laylee’s new design within the feedback.