An under-appreciated and under-the-radar puzzler classic.
Skipping right past production values - the sound and visuals do their job as well as in any other gem of the genre - we confront the gameplay. The game consists of four columns. At any time you can switch two neighboring columns, in order to adjust on which stack the falling items land.
Two items fall at a time, in general, with increasing speed as the game goes on. Their are essentially two types of items: the baddies and the egg halves. If like baddies or two egg halves touch each other vertically, both disappear. Further, if an egg top lands on a column above an egg bottom, both the egg shells and the baddies between them vanish. The higher the column of baddies between them, the more points. The game keeps track of both points and number of eggs completed, and either serves as a fine "high score." If a column becomes too large, it's game over.
Though simple, there is much strategy to be found in this classic Nintendo puzzle. And, while not as deep as Tetris, Yoshi's strong reliance on reflexes strengthens its addictive qualities. The result? A strangely fun way to waste an afternoon.