An Amazing and Highly Addicting Action Puzzle Title...
Plot n/a
There is no discernible plot to this game. Then again, this type of game doesn’t really need a plot, but for those of you who have to have some semblance of a story line to hang on to, I guess you could say that all of the classic Mario Bros. baddies have been captured in boxes and started to fall from the sky. It is up to you and Yoshi to keep Mario from being crushed by them.
Gameplay 10/10
The gameplay is what makes Yoshi so much fun. It is an original and creative game in a genre that rarely sees any innovation. You control Mario, who moves back and forth underneath four trays, each one of which he can switch with the tray next to it. Boxes that contain various Mario enemies fall on the trays in ones, twos, and threes, and the object is to quickly shuffle the trays so that two of the same type of enemy box are stacked one on top of the other. This will eliminate both boxes. If you can't do this, tall columns will begin to develop. When a column reaches the top of the screen, you get a game over. While all this is going on, you also have to hatch Yoshi's. every once in a while, either a top or bottom part of a Yoshi egg will fall. If you can get a bottom and a top half in the same column in the proper order, they will connect, eliminating every block in between the two. The end result of this is that a Yoshi will hatch. The more blocks you eliminate in the process, the better the type of Yoshi that hatches. In the beginning you can start on any one of the first six levels. In order to advance to the next level, you must hatch a certain amount of Yoshis. The difficulty increases rapidly, and the fun, frantic gameplay puts Yoshi a step above other similar titles. This is a totally addicting game that most players will find hard to put down.
Graphics 6/10
The graphics in this game are incredibly simple, but they accentuate and emphasize the gameplay well. There is no background whatsoever, but I don't think that one is necessary either. I can't pin down a specific problem with the graphics; I just feel that Nintendo could have done more in this department.
Sound 9/10
You have the option to choose one of three different musical loops or to play with the sound off, but I prefer to play with the music on. The soundtrack is fun and whimsical, and the loops are long enough that they don't get redundant very quickly. The sound effects are minimal, but the ones there are are well done and facilitate the gameplay nicely.
Replay Value 10/10
Games of this nature usually have a high replay value, but in the case of Yoshi, it is exceptionally high. This game is fun enough that it can be played for hours on a single stretch, and it doesn’t get old. This game goes everywhere that my Game Boy does. It may be an old game, but it is still one of my favorites. Yoshi more than stands up to repeated playings.
Content/Extras n/a
This category doesn’t apply to this game, but that fact is not a deterrent since it is the case with the vast majority of pre-PSX games.
Overall Rating 8/10
Yoshi is not the inevitable classic that Tetris is, but it still stands as one of the best games of its type. This title is not without its shortcomings, but, fortunately, fun and replayability are not one of those. The fast pace and unpredictability of Yoshi makes it a stand out game that should be a welcome addition to any portable gamer's collection.
Buy/Rent/Ignore?
If you love games like Tetris and Dr. Mario or are just looking for a challenging and fast paced original game, by all means, buy it. Otherwise, Yoshi might not be the game for you.
Bottom Line
Yoshi is a great fast action puzzle title that is incredibly fun and terribly addicting. It is a great game to play for a few minutes or a few hours. Simply put, I highly recommend it.