Yoshi's Island for DS

I got Yoshi’s Island 2 for the DS when I saw it on sale at the circuit city going out of business sale. I decided to pick it up since it was 10 bucks off. Anyways I played through the original SNES game and all though not the best game for the SNES it is a solid Mario Platformer. Yoshi’s island 2 expands on some of the gameplay but is left lacking in others.
Story
The story doesn’t make much sense but then this is a plat former so story doesn’t matter much. Basically Kamek has stolen a bunch of babies including baby Peach and baby Mario and Luigi from there homes. Once again baby Mario escapes and winds up on Yoshi’s Island were the Yoshi’s once again battle the forces of Bowser to unite the kids. This time though they will have help from the stork and a few other babies that Yoshi may come into contact with. Why it’s confusing is later on you find out that adult Bowser from the future has come into screw around with the time line, but then for the most part the games story doesn’t matter. Get to the last stage and beat up Bowser that is all the story you really need in a Mario game.
Graphics.
I really do like the look of 2d games on the DS for the most part the graphics are crisp and the colors are bright. The characters stand out from the background far more then the mode 7 of the SNES could provide. That said there are a few tricks in her that despite the DS technology don’t look has cool has the SNES original, Yoshi’s changing into vehicles and even the last fight against a giant Bowser seems ho um to some of the effects in the original.
Sound.
The music kues in the game seem to come from more modern Mario games and not the original SNES game a lot of the music does seem to be inspired by Mario Kart and Mario and Luigi themes not that it is a bad thing but it’s bad for those who were expecting some of the same themes to return. Has for baby Mario’s cry which was describe has one of the most annoying sound effects in gaming has been toned down a notch. The bad news is that we now have Baby Wario’s cry, a sound that makes nails on chalk board so sound pleasant in comparison.
Gameplay
The game keeps Yoshi’s island core basics. Basically to get through a level without loosing baby Mario. Yoshi is equipped with his usual platforming devices including eggs he can throw at enemies and the flutter jump. Like the last game if Yoshi gets hit baby Mario will go flying off in a bubble and Yoshi will have 10 seconds to catch him before Mario is captured by Kameks toadies. Eating stars will get you more time and Yoshi can max his time up to 30 seconds per stage. Red coins can be found and so can flowers to get one ups and increase your score. Maxing out the score on each level is the bonus goal in each area.
So what they added is the ability to carry more then one baby, and each baby gives Yoshi a special ability. Baby Mario gives Yoshi more speed, Peach increases his flutter jump and even allows him to fly if there is wind around, DK can climb on vines, Wario can collect coins, and baby Bowser can spit fire balls. Once a baby is found Yoshi can switch them at special signs in which he can summon the stork.
Now while I found the stages to be engrossing and the changing to different babies to add some new twists the game does have a few problems keeping it from being has good has it’s classic.
First problem they did away with the items you can collect in the original game. No magnifying glasses to see were the secrets are and were the red coins are hidden. Adding the duel screen to the mix and trying to get 100 for a stage is now even more of a nightmare.
2nd problem I had is there is often times no clue given to what baby works best. Sometimes you have to guess choose baby Peach and find out the next area in the game has you running from a giant boulder in which you need Mario’s ability, well your just happen to be SOL in that situation. You have to die and go back and choose Mario. Some help signs would have been appreciated.
Finally one last small gripe and that is the bosses aren’t has good. A lot of them were boring. Remember in the original being eaten by the frog, or battling a giant slug, or even that big koopa at the end of one of the boss castles. The bosses here aren’t even that exciting and usually are easy enough not to break a sweat. I do have to give them credit for one unique boss; which does use the duel screen. In this one Yoshi falls from the sky while battling a giant bird. Trick is to find the right place on either screen to flutter jump intill the bird is behind you and then stomp on him.
Final Recommendation.
While I have come down hard on the game it is fun and it has the same gameplay has the original. It’s just these little nitpicks I have keep it from being a DS classic platform to put next to Super Princess Peach, and New Super Mario Bros.