Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

"This game is two toungues up!"

Introduction

In 1995, a game called ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' was released. Although it featured the same name as it's predecessor, the gameplay was drastically different. There were many different opinions on the game, but those opinions were generally good. Gamers loved it's graphical qualities, catchy tunes and fun bosses.

With the release of the Gameboy Advance, the ''Super Mario Advance'' was started. This series consisted of remakes of classic Mario games.

The third release in this series was Yoshi's Island, and with it, a few extras.

Gameplay 10 out of 10

The gameplay in this game usually consists of Yoshi running around with Baby Mario on his back. In the levels, Yoshi uses a variety of moves such as the butt-stomp and egg throw to eliminate enemies or obstacles in order to make it to the goal line.

Every four levels, there is a castle, which is a special type of level. The level plays out as normal, but at the end, is a unique and innovative boss fight. Some of the boss fights can be quite fun and humerous.

At times, Yoshi can morph into different vehicles such as the train, car and helicopter to progress in the levels. The different vehicles are a nice addition because they are a break from the usual platform elements.

In each level, there are one-hundred points. seventy of the points are gained by finding twenty stars and five flowers (which are used for a chance to go to the bonus round at the end of most levels). When Yoshi gets hit, Baby Mario drifts off and a countdown begins from the number of stars you have. When that number reaches zero, ''Toadies'' (or the main villian's soldiers) take baby Mario away and Yoshi loses a life.

I wouldn't have touched the gameplay, definately a great job here.

Story (No grade for stories)

the story involves a stork bringing Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to their parents. During the flight, Kamek, a Magikoopa, intercepts the bunch. Mario goes falling and Kamek captures the stork and Baby Luigi. After arriving back at his master's castle, Kamek realizes he failed to capture Baby Mario and dispatches his Toadies.

Baby Mario lands on a Yoshi's back and the Yoshi's decide to take Baby Mario to his parents using a relay system after finding a note to his parents.

Difficulty 8 out of 10
This game has a good amount of diffiulty. In the beginning, the difficulty is easy enough to help you learn the basics. During later (and secret) levels, the difficulty is very high, forcing you to use both your brain and reflexes in order to attain perfect scores.

Graphics: 9 of 10

From the first time I turned this game on, I immediately became aware of the Advance's amazing graphical capabilities.

As I watched the introduction's three-dimensional graphics, I thought ''Maybe Mario RPG and Star Fox are possible on this little blue machine!''

During the game, the background graphics look like they were drawn with crayons and use light, pastel colors. This helps give the game a more relaxed feel in it's beginning stages. The foreground objects are colored in slightly brighter colors and are well-animated.

In a couple of graphics where there are instances of both two and three-demensional sprites. These small sectios make for interesting and beautiful graphical combinations.

On a negative note, there is a level called ''Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy'' In which you become ''dizzy'' if ''Fuzzy'' touches you. This is very choppy on the Gameboy Advance and not half as fun as on the original where you would dizzy on purpose to observe the changing, techinicolor graphics. The game also has extreme slowdown sometimes.

I'd be highly surprised if the graphics were any better than this.

Sound Effects and Music: 6 out of 10

As far as music goes, the game features tunes that fit the level. Whlie there are more songs than the original Mario World, you wish there were more. But, for the number of tunes there are, they sure are memorable! From the peaceful, lulling sounds of the games intro, to the distorted sounds of being dizzy in world 1-7, this game has music of many different types.

The sound effects are what lower the grade though...

Most of the sound effects are high quality for the system and era, such as an egg rebounding off a wall or a deflating balloon. What lowers this grade is the vocals of Baby Mario...

How bad can Baby Mario be to dock four points? Bad.

When Yoshi is hit, Baby Mario starts crying and crying loud. This can continue for up to thirty seconds (and sometimes more)! The horrible crying is sometimes enough to turn the sound off (no matter how well you like the currently playing song).

If Baby Mario could be quieter, this game would be a good example for sound and music.

Conclusion

Even after you ''beat the game'' there are tons and tons of secrets to find by getting perfect scores in the levels. If you ever need a break from Yoshi you have the Mario Bros. Classic game to play. The game has many mini-games and enough fun for anyone to keep on playing for hours and hours at home or on the road.

I give this game a 9 out of 10 and two toungues up!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/19/02, Updated 10/19/02