Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

"Simply put, best Super Mario Advance ever."

The Skinny:
While a stork is flying two newborns (Baby Mario and Baby Luigi) to their new home, an evil magic koopa crashes into the stork, dropping one baby. The magic koopa returns back to headquarters to find out she snagged the wrong baby.
Meanwhile, Baby Mario has landed on Yoshi's Island, an island where all the Yoshis live. The Yoshis decide it is up to them to return Baby Mario to his new home.

Introduction:
Remember when Yoshi's Island came out that one faithful day in '95 on Nintendo's SNES? It was a gamers dream. Jumping around, collecting (and searching) for coins, stars and flowers, shooting eggs and on occasion, getting Mario out of that darn bubble. Ah. The good old days. Apparently, the tides have turned, making good old days into a new dream. A dream that features Yoshi's Island on Game Boy Advance. A dream? No. Reality? To put it simply, my good friend, yes.
Behold Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island. I sometimes get teary eyed, seeing one of the greatest Nintendo games of all time getting turned into a handheld must-have piece of rock solid gold. Alas, my tears are of joy.
Only Nintendo could turn an already piece of art into a handheld pack of nostalgia, adding a few new bonuses here and there. A mere port, you say?
No. An extraordinary port? Yes.
As Yoshi, you travel through vast levels, collecting all the goodies you can find.
Getting a 100 on every level? Not as easy as you thought, huh? Even after so many years of owning the SNES version, not even I no where everything is to get that perfect 100 score. Even I wonder how a game I've played on one system is still fun and challenging 9 years later. I then think it's the new stuff Nintendo has added to this port. Then I realize it's not. Then what is it?
Who knows? Is it Nintendo magic?
How does this game stand up to a review? Please, read on.

Gameplay: 10/10
Nintendo has a knack when it comes to gameplay. It always comes out good, old or new. They converted solid gameplay from the SNES to the GBA perfectly. Every little detail about the gameplay is rock solid perfection. Shooting Eggs? Perfect. Jumping and such? Perfect. One couldn't ask for better gameplay.

Graphics: 10/10
If your looking for 3D graphics, you wont find them here. Instead, you'll find beautiful, colorful 2D rendered graphics. Not interested anymore? Well, I guess it's your loss. The graphics found in SMA3:YI are visually stunning 2D graphics that only Nintendo could create. Bright colors and such are amazing. You'll simply love the graphics.

Sound and Music: 9/10
Don't you just love Nintendo music? You will love even more when you here this music. The music is great, GBA quality music. The sound is great, but the transfer to the GBA left the sound just a teeny, tiny bit rough. All in all, you'll be humming the tunes everywhere you go.

Replay Value: 10/10
This game, along with the SNES version, has the deepest replay value I have seen in a while. After every level, you get scored on how much you have collected. You need a 100 on each and every level to complete the game. Replay value? Yes, unless you get everything the first time you play. Ha! Thats a laugh. If you say you got everything the first time, you are lying.

Fun Factor: 10/10
Probably the most fun you'll have on the GBA and on most console games. You just can't beat the addictive gameplay and music. Throwing eggs, beating shy Guys, it's all fun.

Overall: 10/10

Rent or Own? Own. It's one of those games that you are compelled to play over and over, whether you beat it or not. You can't afford to miss it.

Final Thoughts
Simply put, not only the best Super Mario Advance game ever, it's one of the best games ever created. Period. It's a perfect port. Extraordinary. Even if you have the SNES version, go buy this one.
Nintendo magic? There is no magic. Just Nintendo's creativeness and depth of this game is why it is still fresh after nine years. Hats off to you, Nintendo. After all, you truly deserve it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/19/04