Yoshi's Island - a disappointment?

[Tom Salter]

Recently played through Yoshi's Island again, and I think it's really really overrated!

The level design is a little off in places (especially on the secret levels) and there's no variety whatsoever in the game. Admittedly the art style is fantastic, but that's not enough to rescue this game.

Any thoughts?

[Treble]

I had never played this until I got the GBA incarnation, and I have to say it's a fantastic game....but comparisons to Super Mario World are, frankly, ludicrous.

It's great fun, a brilliant platformer, but doesn't have anywhere near the same standard of level design, powerups, enemy design or replayability as SMW. I heard lots of people call this the 'unacknowledged 5th Mario game' and even, sometimes 'better than Mario World' upon its GBA release.....

Like Boog says, it's a bit flawed in terms of level design (it can be a bit bland, although the actual graphics are gorgeous) and variety (tasks are a bit similar). It really is fun, though, and leaps and bounds ahead of most games of its ilk. The graphics are a thing of beauty, even today. It's just not in the same league as SMW, though.

[Brats]

Noooooo.

It's the best 2D platformer ever imo, the only real rivals being SMW and SMB3. The levels are amazingly creative, from the levels in the pipes to the skiing parts to the part where Yoshi is chased by the Big Chomp.. I can't fathom how you can say there is no variety when you can change into different vehicles etc.

And the score attack mode makes the game perfect. Achieving 100 on every level is a real test and leads the player to new unexplored areas. I love it .

[chocklo]

Yoshi's Island is one of my favourite platformers. I did prefer Marioworld but that's not to say that it's not a fantastic game. I have to disagree with the comment about a lack of variety throughout the game. IMO it offers far more variety than other 2d Mario games - especially with the transformation bits (baby Mario, helicopter etc.).

[chocklo]

Noooooo.

It's the best 2D platformer ever imo, the only real rivals being SMW and SMB3. The levels are amazingly creative, from the levels in the pipes to the skiing parts to the part where Yoshi is chased by the Big Chomp.. I can't fathom how you can say there is no variety when you can change into different vehicles etc.

And the score attack mode makes the game perfect. Achieving 100 on every level is a real test and leads the player to new unexplored areas. I love it .

oops, I guess great minds think alike!

[Treble]

Yeeeesssss

Not saying it's a bad game (not by a long chalk), but it's definitely overrated. The levels are quite samey, the morphing into different things is pretty sparse, and the tasks when you have morphed are pretty basic, really.

Look, I'm not knocking the game in and of itself, but it really doesn't come close to SMW or SMB3, IMO. I was really surprised, as the general tenor when it got its GBA release was that it was totally the same standard as SMW, and I just don't think it is.

Still a great game, though.

[Shimmyhill]

I love this game too bits, stunning on release and still stunning today

As this is a yoshi topic, how much is the jap super famicom version worth ?

[Tom Salter]

I agree, it's not a bad game, but like Treble says it's nowhere near in the same league as SMW, or SMB3.

I just found the levels to be really uninspiring, as nothing really 'new' was even shown to you. Nothing came close to the fantastic levels found in Mario World, like "tubular" and the time when you first got the cape....wow!

I kinda liken it to "Mario Sunshine" compared to "Mario 64". Like I said, not bad, but the spirit just isn't there for me.

[olly]

I'm glad people agree with me. I picked up it a while back, and after being distinctly underwhelmed sold it on. A good game, but not great compared to the other Marios.

[Papercut]

I'm with Brats, I rate this as the best 2D platformer ever. I played SMW to death too.

[Treble]

Out of interest, who of the people who really rate the game owned it back in the day, and who has only played it in its GBA incarnation?

Me: only on GBA.

[lordcookie]

I have never played the GBA version, but own and still play the snes version, and it is by far my favourite platform game. It plays quite differently to the other Mario titles, so it is difficult to compare them, but although the level design may not be as good as SMW or SMB3, it has far more charm than either title. The whole graphical style, characters and the egg throwing really do draw you in to the world. Plus as Brats said, the scoring really does offer a lot of replayability and quite a challenge.

[bungle]

In all honsety, this is my favourite platform game. However, everyone has their own opinion. I love Amped dispite all its flaws. And Rage Racer? Wayyyyyyy better than type 4.

[Firsty]

They're both great games. What I was really shocked at though was Yoshi's Story. I remember seeing it when it was released and thinking it was so fabulous looking and fun. So "cut to me" 5 or so years later and I get a US version of it. And it's ****. Anyone else had the pleasure?

[Papercut]

I haven't played the gba version for longer than 2 mins, bought pal snes version on release and completed it thoroughly (all stars/red coins, etc).