Yoshi (game)

Yoshi
Developer	Game Freak
Publisher	Nintendo
System	NES, Game Boy, Virtual Console, (Wii, 3DS, Wii U)
Release Date	NES JP December 14, 1991 US June 1992 EU December 10, 1992 Game Boy JP December 14, 1991 US June 1992 EU December 17, 1992 Wii Virtual Console JP March 6, 2007 EU May 16, 2007 US July 9, 2007 KO August 12, 2008 3DS Virtual Console (NES) August 31, 2011 (Ambassador) JP August 22, 2012 US February 21, 2013 EU May 2, 2013 Wii U Virtual Console June 12, 2013
Genre	Puzzle
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

Yoshi (known as Yoshi no Tamago or Yoshi's Egg in Japan and Mario & Yoshi in Europe) is a block puzzle game that was released simultaneously for the NES and Game Boy in 1991. It was the first game to feature Yoshi's name in the title, and his second appearance following his debut in Super Mario World.

Gameplay

The player controls Mario at the bottom of the screen. There are four trays above him, and by moving left and right and spinning around he can swap the trays around. Blocks containing Mario series enemies (Goomba, Boo, Blooper) fall from the top of the screen and land on the trays. Once they have landed, they will move when the trays are switched. Match two blocks containing the same type of enemy and they will clear.

Thrown into the mix are Yoshi Egg halves. When you match a bottom half and a top half, they will join together and a Yoshi will hatch, giving you a bonus score. If there are enemy blocks sandwiched between the bottom half and the top half, all of the blocks will disappear, and the Yoshi that hatches will be bigger, giving you a bigger score bonus.

Legacy

It is notable as being the first spin-off game based around Yoshi. Yoshi never received a direct sequel, but it was succeeded by another Yoshi-themed puzzle game, Yoshi's Cookie.

Ports and Remakes

• The NES version has been released for download on the Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as part of every iteration of the Virtual Console: for the Wii Virtual Console in 2007, the 3DS Virtual Console in 2012/2013 and the Wii U Virtual Console in 2013. On the 3DS, it was also among the games offered for free in 2011 as part of the promotional Ambassador Program.
• In 2018, it was among the NES games made available to play as part of the Nintendo Switch Online service. It was part of the first wave of games that were made available with the launch of the service in September 2018. This version included cooperative and competitive online multiplayer options.