I AM JOHN!
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The battles of Yoshi's Island: Are these the best bosses in all of gaming?
- Thread starter Mama Robotnik
- Start date
cartman414
Member
Ganondorfo said:
Recreation of the final battle of Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, the game to which SotN was a direct sequel.
Aljosa said:
The DKC games? Not really, and definitely not in the case of the first one.
RockmanWhore
Member
As far as I'm concerned, my favourite boss battle comes from the Megaman series, especially the Zero games. But Yoshi's Island's are pretty awesome, it's a shame that the game isn't more challenging though. It's just not the same to meet a boss, getting your ass kicked, thinking he is invincible and then overcoming the hurdle :lol
Viewtiful Joe 1's boss are pretty awesome too, but they take way too long to beat, especially in the "boss marathon" near the end of the game :lol And heavy emphasis on slow motion didn't help...
Viewtiful Joe 1's boss are pretty awesome too, but they take way too long to beat, especially in the "boss marathon" near the end of the game :lol And heavy emphasis on slow motion didn't help...
cbodom said:
Oh dear... please no. Nearest neighbor interpolation is the only way to play old sprite games upscaled.
The portable version of SNES is the GBA Yoshi's Island, which is pretty good. The DS is YI2. Not as good as the original (the graphics look bizarre and lack the "hand-drawn" feeling of the original and the soundtrack is nowhere as good), but it's not bad either.Nemesis556 said:
SELECT + X X Y B A, and you need to use a pow block to kill a certain chain chomp to get to a "secret" area.
I haven't played the game for years. My fav standard enemy would have to be those shyguys on stilts. No, wait, the fatso shyguy. No, wait, the Waigel blob-with-eyebrows... ah, I just love all of them, even the baby-stealing and watermelon-eating monkeys and the strange bird things and...
Also: TOUCH FUZZY, GET DIZZY!
The game was a stroke of genius - everything just fell into place. The endbosses, the stages, the gameplay mechanics... a whole lot of care and planning (and blood and sweat) went into making that game, and it shows.
It's an awesome game, definitely one to remember.
On a related note, anyone violating this beautiful game with horrible emulator scaling filters makes my shitlist for all eternity, with no chance at redemption. In fact, I'll make it a point to harrass them in the afterlife. I'll whore myself out to Satan until I get my own sublevel in hell (where I no doubt will find these wretched beings), and once I have rounded them up I will grind their bones to dust and mold them into hideous abdominations, and I will clothe these atrocities in their flayed flesh and fill them with a sack made out of their own salted hide, containing their organs. And then I will light a fire below, and cook them ...slowly... to death. And then I will resurrect them and start again from the beginning. Oh yes, I will enjoy eternity like that. *twitch*
Seriously, don't do it. I cringe in pain every time I see those "up-rezzed" shots.
I haven't played the game for years. My fav standard enemy would have to be those shyguys on stilts. No, wait, the fatso shyguy. No, wait, the Waigel blob-with-eyebrows... ah, I just love all of them, even the baby-stealing and watermelon-eating monkeys and the strange bird things and...
Also: TOUCH FUZZY, GET DIZZY!
The game was a stroke of genius - everything just fell into place. The endbosses, the stages, the gameplay mechanics... a whole lot of care and planning (and blood and sweat) went into making that game, and it shows.
It's an awesome game, definitely one to remember.
On a related note, anyone violating this beautiful game with horrible emulator scaling filters makes my shitlist for all eternity, with no chance at redemption. In fact, I'll make it a point to harrass them in the afterlife. I'll whore myself out to Satan until I get my own sublevel in hell (where I no doubt will find these wretched beings), and once I have rounded them up I will grind their bones to dust and mold them into hideous abdominations, and I will clothe these atrocities in their flayed flesh and fill them with a sack made out of their own salted hide, containing their organs. And then I will light a fire below, and cook them ...slowly... to death. And then I will resurrect them and start again from the beginning. Oh yes, I will enjoy eternity like that. *twitch*
Seriously, don't do it. I cringe in pain every time I see those "up-rezzed" shots.
Mama Robotnik
Member
Thanks for the responses.
They're creative in aesthetic no-doubt, and very challenging (especially when we enter Dracula's
) but lack the genius of approaches shown in Yoshi's Island.
I've played a some of the games you have mentioned. I see brilliance, but I still see Yoshi's Island as having the superior lineup. I think it is the diverse solutions and methods of dispatch, the fact that the game requires you to prove mastery of each and every game mechanic coupled with an utterly unrestrained imagination (Roger the Potted Ghost!), all held together with charming wit and humour.
Of course, its a relative opinion though.
Oh wait, here we go:
No fucking fucking contest.
Next time, could you actually elaborate on your patronising response?
I've 200%'d SOTN and while I'd argue its a stellar game, its bosses don't encourage the diversity of strategies the ones on Yoshi's Island do. As others have rightly said, in the end you are still just trying to hit them by the most expedient means.SquirrelNuckle said:
They're creative in aesthetic no-doubt, and very challenging (especially when we enter Dracula's
upside-down castle in the sky
The Mario comparison in the OP was intended to set a context for people who haven't played YI, or may need their memory jogging. It was to demonstrate how impressive the bosses are that, even in a series which contains some of the best games ever made.akachan ningen said:
I've played a some of the games you have mentioned. I see brilliance, but I still see Yoshi's Island as having the superior lineup. I think it is the diverse solutions and methods of dispatch, the fact that the game requires you to prove mastery of each and every game mechanic coupled with an utterly unrestrained imagination (Roger the Potted Ghost!), all held together with charming wit and humour.
Of course, its a relative opinion though.
The Mario games have been using rebounding projectiles since the first Koopa-shell was kicked. SMW evolved the throw-mechanic so projectiles could be thrown up and angled. Puzzles have also been part of the series since the start (SMB's find-the-route fortresses, SMW's Chocolate Island #2 among others). Yoshi's Island is an advancement of mechanics established in SMB1 to SMW. I'd consider that to be a fair angle of comparison.GhaleonQ said:
Thanks for your contribution.DY_nasty said:
The End is a great battle in MGS3, one of the most interesting encounters ever. But as a pantheon of villainy, I feel the bosses of YI are of such consistent quality, originality and diversity to be a better line-up than any other game I've played.AFreak said:
Just out of curiosity, did you ever revisit the game? Its just such a surprising reaction to read is all.ratcliffja said:
As I explained in my OP, this doesn't matter in the slightest:g0atcheese said:
Each and every encounter requires Yoshi to treat the enlarged-villain as a new entity. Strategies must be concieved and tested. Much more thought and design went into these creatures than you summise. To say that its "pretty much" a case of making a small villain bigger and thats it regarding design, is woefully innaccurate.
Given my viewpoint above, I don't really understand your argument.Dance In My Blood said:
I advise caution. I was nearly burned at the stake for posting pictures with filters.cbodom said:
I've not played much of RKA (my sin, I know), so though the pictures look impressive, I lack context. What do the bosses do (especially in the intriguing bottom pictures) that make them so impressive, how are they defeated?Catalix said:
I'm a huge fan of golden-age Sonic but can't agree with this. Sonic and Knuckles had some good bosses that involved a degree of strategy (The reverse-gravity boss of Death Egg 2; Last Boss; Flying Battery 1), the overwhelming majority focus on hitting the Egg-O-Matic as much as possible. while avoiding traps. They also lack diversity.highluxury said:
I feel that more Treasure games are needed in my gaming-makeup.SecretBonusPoint said:
It didn't have any magic moments for me. The game pales in comparison to a point where it just shouldn't exist.Nemesis556 said:
I've completed this (Wii Edition) and while the bosses are very fun for the most part, I wouldn't say a single one has the genius imagination and implementation of Yoshi's Island. Of course its all relative opinions, but I'm struggling to form an appropriate response to your argument.pizzaguysrevenge said:
Oh wait, here we go:
No fucking fucking contest.
I know you've put three-laughing-smilies, which in Internet Law means that you are correct in everything you say, and I am a foolish embarrasment and infinitely owned, but I must ask: What evidence makes my assertion is so hilariously wrong? And which Mario game does have better bosses?Oblivion said:
Next time, could you actually elaborate on your patronising response?
iconoclast said:
This sounds intriguing, especially given the large numbers of people all with one goal: defeat the boss. I'm not a MMORPG player, but it certainly sounds like a uniquely-charged experience.rush777 said:
The best bosses in any Mario game, I would say. Of any game? Definitely not. Zelda games come to mind, but there are many others that I think have better bosses as well.
Mario 64 remains my favorite Mario title, but I have to admit the Bowser boss battles were the same simple concept rehashed over and over. I thought the music was awesome at the time though. :lol
Mario 64 remains my favorite Mario title, but I have to admit the Bowser boss battles were the same simple concept rehashed over and over. I thought the music was awesome at the time though. :lol
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
Yeah, that goes without saying. I also really enjoyed the boss fights in the Devil May Cry series.soldat7 said:
Account finally approved. Hooray. I can't think of a better way to lose my GAF posting virginity than to do so in a Yoshi's Island thread.
Okay, you can all go back to mocking my n00bness. Meanwhile, I'm surprised some of you have the nerve to compare a SNES game made in 1993-4 with those released in the past 5-10 years. Valid, yes, but -- utterly unfair, no?
As for the "fake Mario title" (Super Mario World 2):
1) Nintendo of America chose to call this game SMW2, period. NOJ can do whatever it likes, but NOA is its own independent identity and those of us who live in America/Europe/Australia, et.al., shouldn't pick and choose which translations to accept as canon. Either Bowser is Bowser and Yoshi's Island is SMW2, or Bowser is King Kuppa and Yoshi's Island is not strictly part of the Mario series. Take your pick.
2) NOA's decision makes a whole lot of sense. Whatever superficial Yoshiness this game may have, when you get down to it, it's about the young Mario brothers defeating a young Bowser, and being returned to their parents in the Mushroom Kingdom. Yoshi, like in Super Mario World, is merely a vessel for Mario to save someone he truly cares about: Luigi, not another Yoshi. (Had the game ended with Yoshi returning to his brother Yoshies for a party or something, then this may be more up for debate.)
Finally, all of this is moot because of the game's soundtrack. The music alone qualifies it as one of the greatest games of all time, let alone 2D game.
/superlatives
Okay, you can all go back to mocking my n00bness. Meanwhile, I'm surprised some of you have the nerve to compare a SNES game made in 1993-4 with those released in the past 5-10 years. Valid, yes, but -- utterly unfair, no?
As for the "fake Mario title" (Super Mario World 2):
1) Nintendo of America chose to call this game SMW2, period. NOJ can do whatever it likes, but NOA is its own independent identity and those of us who live in America/Europe/Australia, et.al., shouldn't pick and choose which translations to accept as canon. Either Bowser is Bowser and Yoshi's Island is SMW2, or Bowser is King Kuppa and Yoshi's Island is not strictly part of the Mario series. Take your pick.
2) NOA's decision makes a whole lot of sense. Whatever superficial Yoshiness this game may have, when you get down to it, it's about the young Mario brothers defeating a young Bowser, and being returned to their parents in the Mushroom Kingdom. Yoshi, like in Super Mario World, is merely a vessel for Mario to save someone he truly cares about: Luigi, not another Yoshi. (Had the game ended with Yoshi returning to his brother Yoshies for a party or something, then this may be more up for debate.)
Finally, all of this is moot because of the game's soundtrack. The music alone qualifies it as one of the greatest games of all time, let alone 2D game.
/superlatives
cartman414
Member
Foxtail said:
Totally debatable. The other Mario games are comparatively standard in terms of boss battles, and Zelda boss battles tend to be repetitious at times.
Gameboy415
Member
Not only did Yoshi's Island have some of the best boss battles of all time (if not THE best), but it also had some of the best overall stages in gaming too.
I remember playing around in the Monkey stages for hours as a kid!
I'd always have watermelon seed fights with the monkeys and help all the tiny frogs make it back into the ponds. All of it had nothing to do with the overall game, but I was having FUN and that's what gaming is all about in my opinion.
Also, "Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy" is my favorite video game stage of all time. Getting infinite lives with a Melon Bug by the Shy Guy pipe and waddling around (dizzy) after touching a Fuzzy are some of my fondest gaming memories from my childhood. Hell, the background music from this stage has been my cell phone ringtone for the last 4 years here in Japan!
I hope Nintendo revisits Yoshi's Island again in the future, be it on Wii or another DS sequel.
....as long as it's 2D!
I remember playing around in the Monkey stages for hours as a kid!
I'd always have watermelon seed fights with the monkeys and help all the tiny frogs make it back into the ponds. All of it had nothing to do with the overall game, but I was having FUN and that's what gaming is all about in my opinion.
Also, "Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy" is my favorite video game stage of all time. Getting infinite lives with a Melon Bug by the Shy Guy pipe and waddling around (dizzy) after touching a Fuzzy are some of my fondest gaming memories from my childhood. Hell, the background music from this stage has been my cell phone ringtone for the last 4 years here in Japan!
I hope Nintendo revisits Yoshi's Island again in the future, be it on Wii or another DS sequel.
....as long as it's 2D!
Mama Robotnik
Member
Foxtail said:
I can see the MGS and Zelda arguments, I don't agree with them but I can understand the comparison and evidence.
But for the second time in the thread, I am forced to ask: Which Mario game has bosses which are apparently obviously superior to the ones in Yoshi's Island? Can someone actually answer this rather than make an unsubstantiated allusion?
BowieZ said:
Until this point I was unaware it was NOA's call to apply the Super Mario World 2 title. Thanks for the learnings!
This is the only Japanese boxart I can find on the internet (small and LQ, if anyone could help with this?). I can't see a SMW reference (but of course, I don't read Japanese).
^
By the way, I meant it in a good way, that NOA called the game SMW2. My point being that we "Westerners" should consider Yoshi's Island to be a direct part of the 2D (and by extension, 3D) Mario series.
Not only that, but in truth, Nintendo of Japan did in fact call Yoshi's Island "Super Mario: Yoshi's Island" so the intention is there on both sides of the Pacific.
By the way, I meant it in a good way, that NOA called the game SMW2. My point being that we "Westerners" should consider Yoshi's Island to be a direct part of the 2D (and by extension, 3D) Mario series.
Not only that, but in truth, Nintendo of Japan did in fact call Yoshi's Island "Super Mario: Yoshi's Island" so the intention is there on both sides of the Pacific.
Gameboy415
Member
BAM:
As for the Japanese (on the front of the box), it says:
Top Left - Super Famicom
In White - Super Mario
Multi-Color - Yoshi Island
Bottom Right - Batter Back-up, Super FX Chip
As for the Japanese (on the front of the box), it says:
Top Left - Super Famicom
In White - Super Mario
Multi-Color - Yoshi Island
Bottom Right - Batter Back-up, Super FX Chip
Mama Robotnik said:
Sorry, guess that was kinda rude of me. But hey, you gotta admit, YI's bosses don't normally pop up when discussing awesome bosses (aside from Rafael, I suppose).
As for which bosses are better, I suppose you could definitely argue that YI may have more interesting bosses than the 2D Marios, in terms of uniqueness, but I'd say that Super Mario 64, and Galaxy would fit the bill better. Not only are they unique, but most of them are cool too (which only Baby Bowser was in YI). That's just me, though.
PIMPBYBLUD
Member
And Yoshi's Island is not on VC because....thanks Nintendo.
Mama Robotnik
Member
BowieZ said:
Gameboy415 said:
Thanks to both of you for these, never seen them in such detail before. Its interesting that in the English part of the text, it is spelled as YOSSY ISLAND.
As I've said earlier in the thread, Yoshi's Island builds on mechanics established in the previous Mario games, including egg-throwing/rebounding (turtle shells, SMB2 throwing), Yoshi transformations (mario suits), and others. Plus, given that you can actually play as Mario in the game (the Star powerup), I think the titles of SMW2 or SM:YI are fair.
I agree whole heartedly with the OP. Yoshi's Island is an amazing feat.
The bosses were impressive. And each one unique. Mario World repeated boss battles. And the battles in there were uninspired. YI had a different battle for all 13 of its bosses. No battle was repeated.
And the whole "Oh, it's not on the Wii because of the SFX2 chip" thing is BULLSHIT. The GameBoy Advance was able to do it. The chip was just a new video processor. But I don't care. I already own it on both the SNES and GBA.
SOTC is awesome, but it has nothing on Yoshi.
I never could do the alternate win mode in the Naval Piranha stage. I could never fire an egg fast enough.
And filters suck. Give me big blocky scaled pixels any day. And no goddamned smoothing either. 1x, 2x, 3x or 4x, no in betweens. I don't want no damn blurring. I don't want no damn Eagle or whatever. Big boxy pixels for the win.
The bosses were impressive. And each one unique. Mario World repeated boss battles. And the battles in there were uninspired. YI had a different battle for all 13 of its bosses. No battle was repeated.
And the whole "Oh, it's not on the Wii because of the SFX2 chip" thing is BULLSHIT. The GameBoy Advance was able to do it. The chip was just a new video processor. But I don't care. I already own it on both the SNES and GBA.
SOTC is awesome, but it has nothing on Yoshi.
I never could do the alternate win mode in the Naval Piranha stage. I could never fire an egg fast enough.
And filters suck. Give me big blocky scaled pixels any day. And no goddamned smoothing either. 1x, 2x, 3x or 4x, no in betweens. I don't want no damn blurring. I don't want no damn Eagle or whatever. Big boxy pixels for the win.
the androgyne
Member
Considering Super Mario World has Super Mario Bros. 4 on the Japanese boxart, but the western versions don't - does that mean SMW is not part of the series too? My conclusion - discussing this is a waste of time.
i think the bosses were very creative. I like the idea that there wasnt some giant boss waiting for you, but kamek just took enemies from the surrounding area to fight you. I think that was a really neat idea that could be repeated in other games.
If the bosses had been some giant boss, then i think the clever ways that you have to fight them might have not seemed so clever.
If the bosses had been some giant boss, then i think the clever ways that you have to fight them might have not seemed so clever.
cartman414
Member
Jasoco said:
It's not an issue of can or can't. It's an issue of Nintendo getting down to the business of emulating a chip for what's likely to be a single game that uses it that they would actually put on the service.
Barkley's Justice
Member
SMB3 had a big fucking HUD
Mama Robotnik said:World 1 - Burt the Bashful
Turning red with embarassment, Burt deflates and fissles around the arena like a popped balloon.
World 2 - Bigger Boo
I also really like the animation of these too. I did snicker a little bit when burt the bashful got embarrased and the deflated bouncing around the room.
Boo looks like he's a couple hundred pounds overweight
Hell to the mother fucking yes. I believe Yoshi's Island is still one of my favourite games every conceived. It's perfect in almost every way. In fact, Yoshis Island >>>> Super Mario World
And old signature of mine from an old forum:
Also, the music was AMAZING. Listen to this: Yoshis Island (Live orchestrated version)
And old signature of mine from an old forum:
Also, the music was AMAZING. Listen to this: Yoshis Island (Live orchestrated version)
whitehawk said:Hell to the mother fucking yes. I believe Yoshi's Island is still one of my favourite games every conceived. It's perfect in almost every way. In fact, Yoshis Island >>>> Super Mario World
And old signature of mine from an old forum:
Also, the music was AMAZING. Listen to this: Yoshis Island (Live orchestrated version)
By the gods, this is fantastic.
I may be utterly alone, but I think the Ending theme is the game's often-overlooked pièce de résistance.whitehawk said:
Mr. Lemming
Member
BowieZ said:
The level end theme at the end of the song gets to me every time.
GhaleonQ
Member
Mama Robotnik said:
I'm all for considering games in the same world 1 series, but you're pressing absurdity now. Do you really gain any information from the direct comparison? Is Shadow Of The Colossus part of the Ico subseries within the larger Ico world? Would you say that Yoshi's Island stages are among the weakest in the series, even though rigorous platforming isn't the point of the game? What about Super Paper Mario? In fact, the rest of the Mario RPG games take platforming action away from platforms while evolving the puzzle mechanic. Wario Land keeps the platforms while limiting the platforming and evolving the puzzles. How does Yoshi's Island item management (eggs) compare to The 1,000-Year Door's? Meaningless.
BowieZ said:
So, Wario Land 1 is part of the Super Mario series, but not Wario Land 2? Ikaruga's studio name was Radiant Silvergun 2. What about that?
I'm badgering you all at this point, so I'll stop. I just think Yoshi's Island deserves tighter analysis, if this isn't just a love-in topic. *shrugs*
I meant to say, but forgot, that it's essentially a crime that this piece hasn't too been orchestrated properly and performed by a live orchestra. I would be happy to die after that.whitehawk said:
Nobody should ever feel the need to stop before an argument has been resolutely concluded. =P. You have a point about Wario Land, but would I be wrong in thinking that the whole Super Mario Land/Wario Land series is categorically separate from the main Super Mario series? I think one has to consider the (at the time) console difference, major style differences (I know what you're thinking; but SMB2USA is much closer in style to SMB1-3 than SML/WL, no?), and the fact that the two series ran simultaneously and had little crossover.GhaleonQ said:
But maybe my logic is just a means to an end.
DieNgamers
Member
Why do there have to be regular enemies? There's still the gameworld you're riding through and the colossi are the highpoint of every expedition.ElFly said:
I see them as bosses. Oh, and while the bosses in YI island were indeed creative, I think there are still many games that hold up in that regard. Bosses often seem to be the excuse for developers to realize some crazy ideas...sometimes even in not so good games. I don't remember YI for the final battles, personally.DieNgamers said:Why do there have to be regular enemies? There's still the gameworld you're riding through and the colossi are the highpoint of every expedition.
I don't make the rules, I only enforce them!
I love Yoshi's Island with all my heart, but I can't honestly say it has the best bosses ever. Some of the most gorgeous-looking bosses though, yeah, even to this day. Shame they're all so easy.
Seven Force and most of the Konami/Treasure Big Bads from the 16-bit days are the absolute pinnacle of bossdom for me.
As for a favourite in YI, it's hard to pick. Every single one of them wowed me when I was young. I think Raphael the Raven sums up a lot of Yoshi's Island for me though, so I'll pick him.
How can anyone hate the ending theme? It's beautiful.
Seven Force and most of the Konami/Treasure Big Bads from the 16-bit days are the absolute pinnacle of bossdom for me.
As for a favourite in YI, it's hard to pick. Every single one of them wowed me when I was young. I think Raphael the Raven sums up a lot of Yoshi's Island for me though, so I'll pick him.
How can anyone hate the ending theme? It's beautiful.