I TOTALLY Misjudged This SNES Game Originally, But It's A MASTERPIECE
68I have to admit, I get pretty stuck in my ways. I like what I like and I don't pay much attention to things that don't really interest me. One such example is my taste in video games. I have no interest in RPGs at all and don't get me started on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and my disdain for this game, which is legendary. I have been known to be wrong, once or twice, and even changed my mind a few times. One such example I totally misjudged a game originally, but now that I've gotten over myself, and frankly Nintendo's Terrible marketing, I'd go so far to sat it's a masterpiece. I'm talking about Yoshi's Island, or as it's less known as, Super Mario World 2 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Famicom.
OK, we need to get things out of the way here: Why did Nintendo NOT promote the hell out of the fact that this was actually SUPER MARIO WORLD 2?!? Like legit, I didn't realize Yoshi's Island was actually a sequel until I was in my 40s! And now, of course, I see it, but this is something I don't think Nintendo did nearly a good enough job in promoting this on the SNES.
The hand-drawn, crayon-like aesthetic is immediately noticeable. This vibrant, colorful, and highly expressive art style was a stark departure from the 16-bit norm and remains incredibly charming and timeless to this day. Every enemy, background, and character feels like it sprung from a beautifully illustrated children's book.
Instead of controlling Mario directly, players control various Yoshis, tasked with safely carrying Baby Mario through each stage. Yoshi's iconic tongue can gobble up enemies, turning them into eggs that can be aimed and fired, solving puzzles and defeating foes in creative ways. The ability to briefly hover in the air adds a layer of precision and verticality to the platforming.
One moment I had a verbal "Whoa!" from is when I first discovered that Yoshi can transform into various vehicles (helicopter, submarine, mole tank) offering unique gameplay segments, and power-ups like the Super Star turn Baby Mario into the invincible, destructive Super Baby Mario.
I think one of the reasons I fell down the "It's a Baby Game" well is the commercials all focused on Baby Mario's Crying. This is arguably the most infamous and divisive aspect of the game. When Yoshi gets hit, Baby Mario floats away in a bubble, and a loud, high-pitched crying sound effect plays incessantly until he's retrieved. While designed to incentivize quick rescues, it can become incredibly grating and irritating, especially during difficult sections or when repeatedly taking damage.
The core mechanic of Baby Mario floating away means Yoshi doesn't instantly die from most attacks. Instead, a timer counts down, and only when it reaches zero does Baby Mario get taken away.
Even with Baby Mario's Crying, I still love this game and every release of it. It led me to falling in love with the series, something I appreciate to this day. Are you a fan of Yoshi's Island? Did you realize it was a Super Mario World sequel? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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