Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

"Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island" was my second ever game i got but at first i didn't want to have this game. I wanted to have "Super Mario World" instead. I was a very disappointed when i realised i bought a wrong game... Fortunately i grew to like the game and managed to beat it as well.

"Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island" is a sequel to a classic Mario game "Super Mario World", however Mario is just a little baby and Yoshi has to babysit him while adventuring in his island. Most of all Yoshi has to find lost baby Luigi who gets kidnapped in the beginning of the game. Just like in the predecessor the game contains lots of different 2d games: Over 48 different levels, 6 different worlds and even 12 hidden extra levels only accessible if Yoshi can find all the items from a current level to get a perfect score. To get a perfect score, Yoshi has to find five flowers, twenty red coins and most of all he has to dodge every possible enemy hit. Otherwise his points will drop and Mario will be kidnapped within ten to thirty seconds. The hidden levels are the hardest levels Yoshi and Mario encounter. Some of these levels need extra talent to handle, so the best way is to keep head cool. Luckily there are continue parts and many various bonus stages where Yoshi can win many useful items to make the game feel easier.

Comparing "SMW2:YI" and "SMW" the differences are very recognizable. The graphics remind of crayon scetches but this was also one of those SNES games that included the famous SuperFX Chip that could scale, rotate and scroll all kind of 16-bit sprites with ease. That's why the game's bosses are pretty massive yet perfectly variable and many villains are surprisingly nice looking. "Super Mario World" was very easy to master and very enjoyable to play but "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island" is almost a completely different game due to Yoshi's movements and increased difficulty level. The most complex moves that Yoshi HAS to master are the flutter jump and egg throwing because eggs are usually the most basic way to attack. Fortunately Yoshi can eat many villains and lay them into eggs or simply spit them out to damage more villains. The game is indeed pretty hard sometimes. I remember i got stuck inside the piranha castle for MONTHS because i couldn't figure out how to beat the boss! Despite of all this i think this is my favourite Super Mario game ever done.

近藤浩治 [Koji Kondo]'s music has improved since "Super Mario World" even though the main theme elements have changed a little. Like every other Kondo's 16-bit work, the brisky melodies are the most essential formula in these Nintendo platform games. Maybe the music of "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Original Soundtrack" isn't his best works but it actually includes a couple of his best video game themes ever. "Mario's Invincibility Theme" was later used in "Super Mario 64". When i heard "Baby Bowser's Theme" and "the ending theme" is could believe my ears! "Baby Bowser's Theme" is pure heavy rock mixed with uplifting synth guitar solos! The ending music is highly touching when soothing piano ballads start playing their hypnotic yet rather moving melodies. Beautiful stuff...