Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Super NES
Release Date	JP August 5, 1995 US October 4, 1995 EU October 8, 1995
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island a plaforming game for the Super NES. Though billed as a sequel to Super Mario World, this game instead features Yoshi with a different gameplay style and set before the other Mario games. It is notable as being the first adventure game where Yoshi was the main character and also marked the first appearance of Poochy. The game features a crayon-based art style that was requested by Shigeru Miyamoto.

Story

As a stork carries Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents, Kamek attempts to kidnap them due to seeing a prophecy that they would cause trouble for Bowser. He only succeeds in capturing Baby Luigi while Baby Mario falls to the island below. This island is Yoshi's Island, and he lands on the back of a green Yoshi. All of the Yoshis work together to protect Baby Mari and save Baby Luigi.

Gameplay

In this game, the player controls a Yoshi (a different one in each level, as they pass Baby Mario after each level) who carries Baby Mario through each level. Unlike most platformers, Yoshi does not receive direct harm from enemies, but it will knock Baby Mario off of Yoshi's back. If Baby Mario is knocked off Yoshi for more than 10 seconds, the player loses a life and must start the level over again.

The Yoshis have a variety of moves such as swallowing enemies and throwing the eggs that are produced, as well as unleashing powerful ground pounds. They can also float for short periods of time by pedaling their feet as they jump.

Yoshis can also temporarily transform into various vehicles throughout the game when finding special items. Among these vehicles are a race car, a submarine, a train, a mole tank, and a helicopter.

There are six worlds in the game, with each world being made up of eight regular levels and one secret level. In the Gameboy Advance remake, a secret level was added to each world.

Legacy

This game was prominent in fleshing out Yoshi's abilities, such as his flutter kick and his ability to throw eggs at enemies. It also acts as the first game in Yoshi's own platforming subseries.

Ports and Remakes

• In 2002, the game was remade for the Game Boy Advance under the name Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.
• The original Super NES version game has notably never received a Virtual Console release, although the Super Mario Advance 3 remake has managed to be released for both the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Consoles.
• In 2017, it was among the games that were included in the Super NES Classic Edition. This marks the first time that the original Super NES version of the game has received a port.
• In September 2019, it was among the first wave of Super NES games that were made available to play on the Nintendo Switch for anyone subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This version included two player and online options.

Sequels

• In terms of gameplay, the first sequel to Yoshi's Island was Yoshi's Story for the Nintendo 64.
• It wasn't until 2006 that a more direct sequel, Yoshi's Island DS, (with a working title was Yoshi's Island 2), was released.
• The 2005 game Yoshi's Touch & Go follows a similar story as Yoshi's Island, but features a completely different kind of gameplay.
• In addition to all of those, there was Yoshi's New Island in 2013, which once more follows the gameplay of Yoshi's Island, and in terms of storyline it takes place between the first Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS.