I’ve waited more than 10 years for another Yoshi’s Island game to come out and boy, was it worth the wait.
Gameplay: 10/10
Almost the same Yoshi’s Island game play I have come to love in my childhood, only this time there are five unique babies to choose from, each with their own abilities, which kicks things up a notch, and was a nice touch. You still hop through around fifty new, lengthy stages… that provide quite the challenge if you are reaching for 100% completion on each stage. The reason why I always loved Yoshi’s Island more than other Mario games was because not only have the stages been longer, but there are also things to collect in each one; you need to collect five flowers and twenty red coins in each stage – you must also try your hardest to take minimal damage through the stages. With all of the regular Mario games you have stages that can last around 10 seconds. There are also a plethora of interesting bosses, (some recycled) around 10 or so, including the Hector’s Reflector boss battle where the bottom screen is a mirror. The platforming aspect of the game is just as strong as ever and can provide countless hours of fun.
Graphics: 9/10
The graphics are very colorful which is to be expected, but they are also cleaned up and not so much like the original’s. This could turn some of the past fans off a little bit, but definitely doesn’t retract from the amazing experience the game presents.
Sound: 9/10
Most of the stage tracks are ostensibly varied alterations of each other and older tunes, which is definitely not a bad thing. Otherwise most of the sounds in the game are recycled from previous titles, which, again, is not a bad thing. Altogether the sounds provide an gripping experience, for younger and older audiences.
Value: 10/10
You will most likely be able to pull countless hours of game play out of Yoshi’s Island DS, without it losing any of it’s fun or charm. Most individual’s will probably want to, or attempt to, get 100% completion on every single stage which will take awhile – but does not get the least bit tedious. On top of this, there are mini-games and special stages to unlock for the more you complete. Also, there is a Time Trial mode, that will have you competing with other people, or yourself, to see how fast you can blow through some of the levels.
Tilt: 10/10
Yoshi’s Island is one of (if not) my favorite series in the history of video games. Ever since I first laid hands on the original, I was whole-heartedly captivated by the experiences it brought me. The next installment to the game was just as promising, expanding my love for it. The greatly scaled stages and environments keep me coming back for more, and it is always a blast trying to achieve 100% game completion. This game is for people of all ages, and people of all tastes!