One of the elements that made games like Banjo-Kazooie a hit for Rare back in the 1990s was its varied roster of memorable characters, ranging from Bottles the ill-fated mole to the mystical, magical Mumbo Jumbo. It’s no secret that Yooka-Laylee is attempting to recapture some of that magic, and the latest trailer for the game shows off some of its supporting cast.
The new clip introduces a potentially villainous bee known as Capital B, and a feathered scientist who is referred to as Dr. Quack. There’s even a dinosaur who seemingly lives in a 1980s-era arcade, who goes by the name Rextro.
The trailer also confirms that Playtonic is upholding the proud tradition of lowbrow humor that permeated the Banjo-Kazooie series and much of Rare’s other output. A snake being called Trowzer is an indication that despite its kid-friendly appearance, Yooka-Laylee will have a few jokes aimed squarely at adults.
Along with these brand new characters, the trailer confirms a major guest appearance from the protagonist of one of the most successful indie games of recent years. Toward the end of the video, Shovel Knight is shown chatting with Yooka and Laylee, noting that his grand adventure has caused him to crop up in the wrong game entirely.
This is far from the first time that Shovel Knight has ventured beyond the game he stars in, according to a report from Polygon. The character has made cameos in several other titles including Road Redemption, and will appear in the upcoming Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. He even has his own Amiibo.
There’s currently no word as to what kind of role the knight will play in Yooka-Laylee, although from the clip it doesn’t seem like he will be playable.
Yooka-Laylee is set to launch for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U, and PC in early 2017.
