So, this is BPS John-Charles, here with the very first review on our brand new blog. I am here to review a game, as you'll usually see me doing. Don't worry girls, John will be up with his review of something very soon, he's got a fresh Adventureland review cooling on the windowsill.
Alright, so I originally planned to do this first review on DuckTales on the NES, but after finally finishing this game, I feel this needs the attention more. I'm sure most of you have not heard of this game, or played it, but man, are you missing out. The game is labeled as "Super Mario World 2" but it has nothing to do with the launch title for SNES. In fact, this game came out near the end of the SNES's lifecycle, so that means alot of the sights you see here are the crest of Nintendo's technology. When I started playing this game, I could not believe that this was a 16-bit game. Every sprite is lovingly hand drawn and looks it. Enemies rotate, shiver, and grow and shrink. The sky changes shades at a moment's notice (and not just some filter like Donkey Kong Country). This game is a work of art.
Onto the gameplay. In tradition Mario games, you run around, jumping on enemies, use power-ups, and occasionally, you get a powerup that allows you fly. Well, forget all that stuff. None of that happens in Yoshi's Island. You play as a Yoshi (one of many, it changes every level) who carries a Baby Mario on your back, trying to get from point A to point B. Now, on your way to the aforementioned point B, there are enemies, sharp objects, and bottomless pits. Not so hard, right? But you forgot! You have a baby on your back! Yeah, that's right. As soon as you get hit, little Baby Mario goes flying away in a bubble as a timer appears in the corner of the screen. Make sure you reach Mario before time runs out or Baby Bowsers goonies will come and snatch him away. Did I mention that he's crying at the top of his freakin lungs while this is happening? But fortunately, Yoshi has the strongest weapon on his side; His tongue. Yoshi can eat almost any enemy in the game and pop it back out as an egg. Yoshi can then take these (sentient) eggs and throw them at your foes. It sounds a bit confusing, but it is incredibly engaging, fast paced, and most importantly, fun.
The game is technically shorter than traditional Mario games by having 6 Worlds instead of 8, but the levels are long as the last two Worlds will drive you insane with its difficulty. Don't be fooled by its cuteness, this game is CHALLENGING. The level design is inspired, and by the end of the game, you will have used every one of Yoshi's abilities in every way possible. In every world, there are two castles, and at the end of each castle are one of the game's crazy bosses. Baby Bowsers right hand... uh, man, Kamek the wizard (witch?) will fly in and take a common small enemy and then turn it big. Some are pretty simple where you just have to throw eggs at them or ground pound them into little puddles, but others are pretty intense such as a giant frog that will swallow you whole where the battle then ensues inside of his stomach. But the best fight, in my opinion, takes place with the persistent Raphael Raven on the freaking moon! You run around the surface of the small heavenly body, and as you do, you stay in one place and everything rotates around you. It goes without saying that I was very impressed with this little cartridge.
This is a Super Nintendo game, I don't think it's "rare" but you may have to look around for it. It was also rereleased for the Game Boy Advance, and you should be able to find that easily at your local game store, but if you still own an SNES, I recommend you search out that version for superior sound and the way the beautiful graphics look on a TV screen. It shouldn't run you any more than $15, but you will get your money's worth.
Gameplay 5/5
Graphics 5/5
Challenge 4/5
Sound 5/5
Final Verdict 5/5
BPS John-Charles, Out
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