Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

This one surprised me. When I heard that the next Mario game would star Yoshi, I was a bit skeptical. Sure, I like that rascal, but hey, you can't upstage Mario (unless you're Luigi. How many other people out there prefer to be player 2?)! Well, once I played it, all my doubts went out the window. Original gameplay (flawless as always for the big N), beautiful and lively graphics, and shyguys a-plenty (my personal fave). Now, for anyone that says this game is too easy, I can assure you that they did not collect all the items in the game. Each stage has a letter rating, based on the amount of red coins, flowers, etc. you collect. The process of collection is never tedious, but always challenging, especially near the end. Sure, tearing through the game from start to finish might be a medium challenge, but doing it right is a challenge worthy of most gamers, one which will be a joy to complete.

Undeniably superior to the pitiful 2D platforming attempts by developers around the world but more importantly, better than any other of Nintendo's efforts. That is no mean feat.

Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World are often cited as Nintendo's greatest 2D platformers ever but Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island was a masterpiece which had no faults whatsoever! SMB 3 and SMW's main weakness were uninspired and simple bosses but Yoshi's Island in this category is highly original and keeps the challenge very high.

Of course, a great game needs more than classic bosses and Yoshi's Island naturally features the standard superb level design, gorgeous art work, amazing rotation and scaling effects and an addictive and memorable soundtrack. Add to this bigger levels (but less of them) levels than any other 2D Mario offering and you have...oh the best 2D platformer of all time! Have I mentioned that already?!?

It doesn't matter if you're a new gamer into PS2 and shooty-killy games like GTA and the rest you MUST play this game. No you don't understand...you MUST play it! Go buy a GBA and Super Mario Advance 3 (Yoshi's Island ported from SNES to GBA). Extra levels are a mere bonus to what is one of the finest games ever made on ANY platform.

This game pits you as Yoshi, who made his debut in the previous Mario game, Super Mario World, which was one of the SNES's first games. This time, you must guide Baby Mario to his brother, who has been kidnapped by the evil Kamek.

The action takes place over six worlds, each comprising eight stages, plus two mystery stages that can only be accessed when all eight of the main stages have been completed with a perfect score of 100 (see below).

Loads of baddies exist. There are some familiar ones, such as Koopa turtles, Boo Diddlies, Lakitu and Goomba, as well as new ones such as Milde, Goonies and a different kind of Piranha Plant. As well as jumping on the smaller ones as per the previous games (and using shells exactly as before), you can also swallow baddies to make eggs to throw at other baddies and power-ups etc..

You collect coins as normal, with every 100 giving you an extra life, but as well as that, twenty red coins exist (most are disguised as yellow coins). You can also collect five flowers in each stage (if you can find them), which will give you an extra life if you get them all.

If Yoshi gets hit, Mario gets knocked off his back, and he has a limited amount of time to get him back on his back before Kamek's Toadies kidnap him, costing you a life. This timer normally starts at ten, but can be increased via power-ups and collecting stars.

When you reach the Goal at the end of each stage, your score for that stage is based on the number of stars you have (i.e., the level of the aforementioned timer, which has a maximum of 30), how many red coins you found, and how many flowers you picked up (each flower gives you ten points). If you have all 30 stars, all 20 red coins and all five flowers, you get a perfect score of 100 for that stage.

This game is brilliant, from the sumptuous graphics (with the obligatory Mode 7, particularly on the bosses) to the wonderful sound, and the gameplay is so slick and varied that even if you have Super Mario World, this is different enough to warrant a purchase. It's also quite challenging at times, particularly the bonus stages I mentioned earlier.

GET IT NOW IF YOU CAN!

The pinnacle of 2D platformers and still unmatched in level design. I've never seen a game that has 56 completely unique levels with individual concepts. It's quite amazing the variety in Yoshi's Island. I'm amazed when it's not mentioned on a list or discussion of games that hold up well still today, Yoshi's Island should be THE standard answer. It's gorgeous art style, catchy music, plus brilliant controls & physics make it an absolute delight to play through from start to finish. My personal favourite game of all time!

I love the Super Mario games, especially 3, Mario Land 2, and this one, the prequel to all the Mario games. The music is pretty cool and I love the cave levels and the way they look. Not too hard, but there are some difficult areas. The ending is especially satisfying cause it's Mario's biggest challenge. ***** out of *****. Here's my reviews of he the other Mario games(That i've played.)Super Mario Bros. ****, Super Mario Bros. 2 ****1/2, Super Mario Bros. 3 *****, Super Mario Land ***1/2, Super Mario Land 2 *****, Warioland: Super Mario Land 3 ****, Donkey Kong ****, Super Mario Kart ****, Mario Kart 64 ****1/2, Super Mario 64 ****1/2, Super Mario World ****1/2, and Mario's Time machine ***1/2.