Super Mario World 2: Yoshis Island for the SNES was revered as one of the greatest side-scrolling platformers ever made. The lighthearted art style and compelling game play defined a genre. Now, return to the colorful wilds of Yoshis Island in a new platforming adventure for the Nintendo DS. Kamek has captured Baby Luigi, and now Yoshi and his band of babies must rescue him.
* This time, Baby Mario, Baby DK, Baby Wario and Baby Peach are along for the ride. Each one gives Yoshi access to unique powers: While they cling to his back, Baby Mario gives Yoshi speed, Baby DK gives him strength, Baby Peach gives him the ability to fly and Baby Wario gives him magnetism.
* All of Yoshis classic abilities are on full display. Players gobble enemies and either spit them out immediately, or turn them into eggs that they can throw at items and enemies. Pound the ground to flatten whatevers underneath, and flutter jump to traverse precarious heights. In certain areas, Yoshi can even morph into special vehicles.
* Thanks to the power of the Nintendo DS, all of the lush vistas and perilous paths of Yoshis Island span two screens. Players hit objects on the top screen while using the touch screen, and tackle super-tall enemies that fill both screens.
* Hidden in every level are flowers, stars, red coins and character coins, so even after players finish the game, the challenge continues.
Game storyline:
A mysterious floating castle has suddenly appeared over peaceful Yoshis Island. Soon after its arrival, kids begin to disappear. Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Wario and Baby DK manage to avoid being kidnapped, but Baby Luigi isnt so lucky. Now Yoshi and the four young superstars and must set out on a wild and colorful quest to rescue the kids and investigate the ominous castle hovering overhead.
How to progress through the game: Players run, glide, climb and fight your way through five levels as Yoshi, gobbling up enemies as they go. As they play through different levels, different babies will join the party. Depending on the baby on his back, Yoshi can adopt different abilities. The main game play comes from using different babies abilities to defeat foes and advance past obstacles. Each level is also stuffed with hidden items like stars, red coins and character coins, which give players bonuses when they collect them.
Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Yoshi returns with all the abilities we know and love: He can swallow enemies, turn them into eggs, throw eggs and flutter jump. However, depending on the baby hes carrying, he also adopts new abilities. Baby Mario gives Yoshi the power of speed, while Baby DK gives him strength and the ability to climb vines. Baby Peach lets Yoshi float, and Baby Warios giant magnet grabs metal items like coins.
Even so, I'm cautiously optimistic for both this and Blue Dragon. On paper at least, games coming from some of the core creators of Sonic, Ristar, NiGHTS and Panzer Dragoon should be pretty good, especially when they're paired with the creative talent behind Final Fantasy and Super Mario.
Why would I hate one of the best games on the SNES? Oh, I get it, you're a console fanboy who can't get over his preconcieved notions of people on the INTRANET.
Even so, I'm cautiously optimistic for both this and Blue Dragon. On paper at least, games coming from some of the core creators of Sonic, Ristar, NiGHTS and Panzer Dragoon should be pretty good, especially when they're paired with the creative talent behind Final Fantasy and Super Mario.
How to progress through the game: Players run, glide, climb and fight your way through five levels as Yoshi, gobbling up enemies as they go. As they play through different levels, different babies will join the party. Depending on the baby on his back, Yoshi can adopt different abilities. The main game play comes from using different babies abilities to defeat foes and advance past obstacles. Each level is also stuffed with hidden items like stars, red coins and character coins, which give players bonuses when they collect them.
I hope they mean 5 worlds. Because if you have to keep replaying the same 5 levels with a different baby strapped to your back that would suck. That would suck real hard.
Why would I hate one of the best games on the SNES? Oh, I get it, you're a console fanboy who can't get over his preconcieved notions of people on the INTRANET.
I am looking forward to the game (still), but I am still worried that the multiple-baby mechanic will either a) be overused and annoying, or b) criminally underused and gimmicky... or most likely, for some strange reason both at the same time.
AniHawk said:
I don't think many people remember, but Yoshi's Island had some REALLY long levels too. It's not like it'll be a Super Mario Brothers affair.
Yes, but five levels, no matter how long, would be rather short. I hope that everybody is right with the suspicion that they meant five -worlds-, not five -stages-.
Why would I hate one of the best games on the SNES? Oh, I get it, you're a console fanboy who can't get over his preconcieved notions of people on the INTRANET.
Every single level in the original YI was positively brilliant in it's design and every single level had outstanding unique characteristics that made it memorable. Levels like Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy, the level where you had to ride on the birds, ths skiing level, the poochie levels, the raphael raven level, the rock heads level, the sumo shy guys, and so on and so forth. The variety wasn't just unmatched, it was very very high quality, polished beyond belief.
All of the shots and videos I've seen of YI seem to lack the creativity that was present in the original. A Gaint Shy guy? A windy level? Don't let all that Artoon creativity overwhelm you. Not only that, I've never played a game where this character switching mechanic didn't ruin the flow, lead to lame contrived puzzles and wasn't plain annoying. DK 64 anyone?
Hell, they even managed to make the art style look dull.
They did something to the art style... I don't know what, but it's off. and the character switching might kill the fun, if it's manual and "real-time"(or mid-levels, whatever).
also, how does the touch work? do they use it? plz xpln.
Every single level in the original YI was positively brilliant in it's design and every single level had outstanding unique characteristics that made it memorable. Levels like Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy, the level where you had to ride on the birds, ths skiing level, the poochie levels, the raphael raven level, the rock heads level, the sumo shy guys, and so on and so forth. The variety wasn't just unmatched, it was very very high quality, polished beyond belief.
A cross between a shyguy, a gorilla, and a taint?! Sounds creative to me. Seriously though, how many of the original bosses were just giant enemies?
A windy level? Don't let all that Artoon creativity overwhelm you. Not only that, I've never played a game where this character switching mechanic didn't ruin the flow, lead to lame contrived puzzles and wasn't plain annoying.
Not only that, I've never played a game where this character switching mechanic didn't ruin the flow, lead to lame contrived puzzles and wasn't plain annoying.
I'm not going to stick up for YIDS until I play the final version, but I do want to throw Lost Vikings out there. Dawn of Sorrow worked really well too, as did DKC 1-3.
You definitely need to dust off the old cart and rediscover how mindblowingly awesome the original was. And it wasn't because of the play mechanics, it was purely because of the level design. Artoon may be able to copy the play mechanics, after all they're already there, but I'll eat a polar bear if they can even begin to match the level design.
EDIT:
I'm not going to stick up for YIDS until I play the final version, but I do want to throw Lost Vikings out there. Dawn of Sorrow worked really well too, as did DKC 1-3.
I haven't played the first two (just got done with aria in fact), but I disagree about DKC. The only reason those weren't ruined was because there was never any need to switch. In every instance one of the characters was clearly superior to the other, so in essence having two players only amounted to something of a 'free hit'.
Every single level in the original YI was positively brilliant in it's design and every single level had outstanding unique characteristics that made it memorable. Levels like Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy, the level where you had to ride on the birds, ths skiing level, the poochie levels, the raphael raven level, the rock heads level, the sumo shy guys, and so on and so forth. The variety wasn't just unmatched, it was very very high quality, polished beyond belief.
All of the shots and videos I've seen of YI seem to lack the creativity that was present in the original. A Gaint Shy guy? A windy level? Don't let all that Artoon creativity overwhelm you. Not only that, I've never played a game where this character switching mechanic didn't ruin the flow, lead to lame contrived puzzles and wasn't plain annoying. DK 64 anyone?
Hell, they even managed to make the art style look dull.
Yeah I agree with everything here, Yoshi's Island for the SNES/GBA is one of my all-time favourite games. I'm not impressed with these YI2 screenshots, the original game was so vibrant and lively. YI2 looks kinda stale, but maybe that'll be different during actual play. This is still one of my most anticipated games though, day one purchase, but it can't possibly be as good as YI
Doesn't look as inspired as Yoshi's Island(my favorite platformer of all time) so far but it looks to be far closer than Yoshi's Story was and this all adds up to a game that looks at least to be quite enjoyable.
The art style isn't as beautiful as Yoshi's Island but it's close and faithful.
I normally cringe at other developers creating follow ups to such prestigious titles but from what I have seen, this game certainly looks to be on a decent track.
It will all come down to level design(like it always seems to) as the game looks rather nice and I am sure it plays well.
