Yoshi's Story is a game to love or hate - but, definitely, not a game to put down after playing six levels.
Yoshi's Story's story si simple - Baby bowser steals the Super Happy Tree, the tree that provides happiness to the Yoshis. And when it seems the tree will never be recovered, six little Yoshis hatch from their eggs, decided to recover the tree and restore happiness all over the Yoshis.
The gameplay is what most people criticizes this game on, although it has to be played to its fullest to be completely enjoyed. Although it may not seen at first, Yoshi's Story can be a great experience. Beating the game is easy - the player must beat six levels in order to beat it. the game is multi-pathed, so you won't go through each of the 24 levels in your first playthrough. In fact, you need, at least, four playthroughs through the game in order to go through each level. To unlock new levels or replay old ones in the story mode, the player must collect a certain amount of hearts in each level. Of course, this is easier to tell with an example: if I want to play level 4 in the Stage 2, I must collect three hearts in a level in Stage 1. If i want to play Level 3, I must collect two hearts, if I want to play Level 2, I must collect one heart, and if I want to simply play Level 1, I don't have to collect any hearts. Of course, if you've collected three hearts, you can p`lay level 1, 2, 3 or 4 of Stage 2 - the more hearts, the better. To beat each of the levels, you must eat 30 fruits, scattered throughout the level.. Of course, in the level there are much more than 30 fruits, and, while it may seem as a good idea to eat the first thirty fruits you encounter, it is a much better idea trying to eat the fruits that award yo the more points. You'll also find a ton of coins in each level, which also rewards you with more points.
The best way to experience the playthrough is in Trial Mode, a mode which lets you play each level you've unlocked when you want. For example, if I want to play the first level, I can inmediately play it with Trial Mode. The same happens if I've unlocked the fourth level from Stage 1 and I want to directly play it - each level you've unlocked you can directly play in there, and, of course, try making the highest hi-score you can. Being so that trial Mode allows you to play levels as freely as you want, you can explore each unlocked level at will. By exploring the levels, you'll find melons, a special fruit which awards you the most points. There are 30 melons scattered through each level, and trying to eat all of them can be a challenge in some of the last levels. Also, eating only melons in Story Mode might allow you to see a secret ending.
Also, as I mentioned before, there are tons of coins scattered through the levels. Although some of these coins you can simply view, others are under the terrain where you are playing. In order to find these hidden coins, you have to sniff until you think you've found something uder ground. Then, you have to ground pound with Yoshi and you'll find coins, or other things - like Melons.
Also there are the three hearts scattered through each level. Although some you can easily find, others are very well hidden, and it might take you some time trying to find them and take them.
Finally, but not lastly, there are some white Shy Guys in some levels, which may help you. It is difficult trying to find these white Shy Guys, and you'll never know if there is a white Shy Guy in a level or not until you've found it, or simply think it isn't there.
There's simply so much to do in each level you'll just never find each secret.
The graphics are well-made. The levels are very colorful and neat, and the backgrounds are simply amazing. It may all seem to cute, but, at the same time, it is simply amazing. The animations of the Yoshis are simple, and, although they are not too detailed, they are just fine.
The music is the other most criticized aspect of Yoshi's Story. Some tunes are catchy, some you will love and some you will hate - it all depends on you, really. Sound effects are nothing out of the ordinary, and they fit very well in the game.
Yoshi's Story is just way too underrated - I've never heard of anyone trying to find each little secret in each of the twenty-four levels. Levels are filled with collectible fruits, hearts, coins, and the rare white Shy Guys - it's all there, waiting to be discovered. Finding each of these secrets will change your opinion on the game, proving to be much more challenging than wat meets the eye. You'll definitely want to score the highest hi-score, which also proves to be kind of a challenge, sometimes frustrating. The music you might like or dislike, as sometimes it may sound too cute and childish. The graphics are aslo cute, but bright and colorful. Backgrounds of the levels are amazing.
Yoshi's Story is a cute, childish game - but under these cute and childish layers lie levels full of things to do, and the one who can paszs through those layers will find these levels, and a masterpiece in them.