Playtonic Game’s first project, the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie is off to an amazing start. The game has already surpassed all of its Kickstarter stretch goals and continues to rake in the money. Along with their announcements of new goals and rewards for Yooka-Laylee, the company has revealed the game’s first support character, Trowzer the snake.
*Pause for jokes.*
Trowzer will primarily act as a guide, teaching Yooka and Laylee new moves throughout the game, similar to Jamjars in Banjo-Tooie. In the new title, however, the duo will have to pay Trowzer for his “expert” services.
Trowzer thinks of himself as the best salesman ever, but with his downbeat appearance and 1980’s mobile phone, life never took off for him.
The initial artwork for Trowzer shows the snake donning a ratty tie, shorts, fedora, and a dull expression, exemplifying his ignorance while also providing a certain charm. Of course, the man behind the snake is none other than Playtonic Games’ character artist, Steve Mayles, the artist responsible for the iconic designs of Banjo, Kazooie, and the modern Kong family. Mayles detailed a bit of his process in creating Trowzer:
I didn’t want him to be a snake in the traditional sense, and when Gav suggested he should have shorts on (do I have to add shorts to all of my characters?!), a great idea for this was his body could curl back up through the other leg hole. So he’ll move with a certain springiness, which will be fun to animate.
The snake is a punny start to what I’m sure will be a colorful cast of characters. Got any animal puns in mind that would make for good additions? Let us know in the comments below!
