Platform reviewed – Game Boy Advance
Other platforms – Virtual Console
Developer – Nintendo EAD
Publishers – Nintendo
Genre – Platformer
Rating – 3+
Release dates
Game Boy Advance – October 2002
Virtual Console – December 2011
One of the greatest 90’s childhood games Super Mario Advanced 3: Yoshi’s Island is a game loved and adored by fans almost as much as the ever loveable Yoshi. Originally known as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, this 1995 game was first out on the SNES before a port of it was made for the Game Boy Advance, the title being changed to Super Mario Advanced 3: Yoshi’s Island.
In Yoshi’s Island you control the fun-loving, cute dinosaurs known as Yoshis as you travel across multiple levels to try and keep Baby Mario safe while going after his brother Baby Luigi, who is held up in Bowser’s evil castle. At the end of each level Baby Mario is transferred over to another Yoshi who will carry him through the next level.
This is how we roll on Yoshi Island!
How the game works is both similar and different to normal Mario games; for example, the classic way of defeating enemies by jumping on them is a means to attack in this game, though it is not really the primary form of attack for a Yoshi.
The way these dinos attack is to lash out its tongue to pull enemies into its mouth, from there it can either spit them back out or swallow them to form an egg which follows behind. These eggs can be collected and then used as projectiles against enemies that are out of reach as well as to solve certain puzzles.
Apart from the tongue Yoshis can also use the stomp move while in mid-air to come crashing down onto the bad guys. This move was first introduced in Yoshi’s Island and has become a main move for not only Yoshi but for many other characters. Also the classic Yoshi move of the flutter jump is also featured to aid the Yoshis in carrying Baby Mario to his final destination.
Other similarities between Yoshi’s Island and other Mario games is the linear structure and power-ups, though while not that common are still available. They are occasionally found in certain places and are usually used to gather the hidden items that are required for 100% completion of the level. The power-ups are only temporary and feature such things as the Starman power-up for Mario from previous games as well as the ability for Yoshi to magically transform into certain vehicles such as a helicopter or a train.
By jumping up and bursting the bubble Baby Mario can be saved and placed back on the Yoshi’s back.
The health system is also another difference from usual Mario games; in this game the Yoshis are near invincible as only a few obstacles such as lava and pitfalls can automatically kill them. If Yoshi is hit by an enemy or obstacle then Baby Mario is flung off his back and begins to float around in a bubble, crying. If Yoshi doesn’t grab him before the timer that appears reaches zero then Bowser’s minions will swoop on screen, capturing him, causing you to lose a life.
It’s Yoshi Time!
Though why is Baby Mario in need of escort in the first place, and what is all that about Baby Luigi being in Bowser’s clutches? Well it all began while a stork, who was carrying two babies across the sea, was attacked by the evil Magikoopa, Kamek. With orders from his master, Baby Bowser, he attempted to steal the two babies though failed to secure Mario and as luck would have it the future-hero of the Mushroom Kingdom plummeted down onto Yoshi Island, the home to all Yoshis.
Luckily his fall was broken as he landed on top of a Yoshi’s back and after a clan discussion the dinosaurs knew what had to be done. Using a relay system they plan to guide Baby Mario through the six worlds of Yoshi Island and rescue Baby Luigi from evil hands. The road ahead of them is filled with danger though as evil minions roam the land in search for the fugitive baby.
The gameplay on the whole though, as well as the plot, is a nice change from the normal Mario games. They have changed the style of the game around as well as certain gameplay functions, but it still has that Mario-esque feel to it. Nintendo have always known what they are doing when it comes to giving fans what they want when it comes to spin-offs.
Despite this though the game is slightly easier to complete then the main games of the series but that doesn’t make it any less fun or challenging. While appearing to be a children’s game it also has features that would make even hard-core Mario-fans eager to play it, especially with the secret bonus levels which presents you with a much more hazardous, danger-filled experience.
Like a Boss!
The bosses are fairly straight forward and are extremely Mario-like in how they are panned out. Each one usually has a different gameplay style or strategy you need to figure out, this means the boss battles are not boring and are extremely fun to play.
The overall downside is that the bosses can be quite easy and too simple in some cases; an example of this is how to defeat one boss all you have to do is push off a plant pot, which has a massive ghost coming out the top, off the edge while dodging the fireball attacks it summons, easy.
The real difficulty though I suppose is how to gain and then keep the 30 life points you have to keep Baby Mario safe as the overall timer on how long you have to save him can increase though collecting items.
The replayablity in this game though, despite the easy gameplay, is really high and is what would make the game appealing and enjoyable for an older audience, as well as for hard-core Mario fans as I mentioned before. This is due to the fact there is a goal to 100% every level on each world which will unlock an even greater challenge, the bonus levels. These are much more difficult than the normal levels you have to play in order to finish the storyline.
In terms of graphics this game is an extremely good port despite the graphics being way over a decade old; the cute art style is extremely pleasant to look at and is a nice change from the normal Mario style. The childish drawn style of Yoshi’s Island gives it such a different feel and helps actually emphasis the peaceful, almost child-like ways of the Yoshi. It’s typical Nintendo to incorporate the graphics and design of the game with the personality and innocence of the characters and storyline; it all works perfectly.
The design of the baby versions are extremely cute too which does give the sense of this game being intended for a younger audience, though as I have said before this is remedied by some of the difficult parts which have been added into the game; the developers and designers though of everything! Even the bad guys such as Kamek, Baby Bowser and the bosses have a cute charm to them which goes well with the games sweet child charm.
While the backgrounds are simplistic in design they still convey a lot of detail in shaping the levels; this allows every world and level to feel different and have its own individual charm to it. It’s the lack of rehashed backgrounds and graphics which makes this game a really great play.
Now, similar to the graphics, the sound has a cute charm to it which compliments the game perfectly; even some of the enemy sounds are cute as Shy Guys jump out of warp pipes to stop Yoshi.
If the bad guys sounds are cute then you can imagine that the good guy sound effect are going to be amazingly adorable, well the noises Yoshi makes as they stomp themselves downwards, as they lash out their tongue, as they swallow whatever they have in their mouth and even when they turn the enemy into an egg, they all fit Yoshi fantastically as well as the charm of the game.
The music is also another strong point which, like most other Mario games, is extremely fitting for the mood of the level; this goes for whether you are frolicking through grassy meadows filled with Fuzzies or working your way through the enemy’s stronghold, all have the tunes which helps create this strong Mario spin-off.
The soothing, peaceful theme which starts at the beginning of the game perfectly shows how peaceful Yoshi Island, as well as the lives of Mario and Luigi, was before Kamek and his master began to stir up trouble.
Oh, and for you massive Mario fans you’ll be pleased to know that the sounds of collecting coins, as well as the sound when you go into a warp pipe, are present in this game.
This game was free to those on the 3DS Ambassador Program (this is how I got the game, though I have played the GBA version previously belonging to my girlfriend). Though there are other ways to get the game such as finding it on ebay as well as Amazon for a pretty good price. For a Game Boy Advance game it isn’t the cheapest but it sure is worth the money for what a great game Yoshi’s Island is.
All in all this game is just as awesome as it is cute, cuddly and challenging. The sound works extremely well with the graphics to create a pleasing atmosphere which along with the gameplay and good storyline allows this game to be a great play. Now many may be put off by it due to the cutesy, almost crayon-drawn art style and think the game is purely for little kids but will soon find out this game is a must play for all Mario fans.
9 rupees out of 10
See some of my other old Nintendo game reviews: Pokemon Yellow, The Legend of Zelda
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