Yoshi Topsy-Turvy

"Not a bad game, but Islanders may be disapointed."

After finding out about this game, I was hard pressed to find some expert opinions of other gamefaqs users concerning this game. It wasn't until a recent visit to the message board that I got what I was looking for. After consideration, I purchased this game. Here are my thoughts.

In this review I am going to assume that the only system you have is the Game Boy Advance. I am also making the assumption that the majority has played Yoshi's Island. However, I will be specific in the few times I compare and contrast these two games.

Gameplay: I like the idea of messing with the world's gravity. But with this new feature comes with a few things to get used to. First and foremost, be expected to be confused when you jump. Not so much, when you have your GBA right-side up, but when it's tilted, you still jump in the direction away from the ground. In other words, it's always the same direction on the screen. Once you get used to this factor, you'll be twisting and turning your way back to bowser. I was a bit saddened to see that they deprived you of your eggs, but the flutter jump is still as it always was.

Another interesting feature is that in this game you're not so much focused on getting to the end of the level, but completing the goals that each level has. Many Yoshi's Island fans may be disappointed by this. Take it how you want, but this is not Yoshi's Island.

I was disappointed that each world (chapter) did not have a boss. It's a shame too because the game has potential to have some innovative boss fights using the tilt sensor. Yoshi's Island had some fun bosses. I would have expected some even more fun bosses in this game. However, that was not to be. You instead get a cut scene.

One other thing worth noting is the chapter selection screen. You will notice that the format is set the same as in Yoshi's Island. That is, on the top of the screen, there are tabs you can point and click to if you wish to revisit a previous chapter and level.

Graphics: I would hope that you're not expecting photo-realistic graphics. This is after all, a Yoshi game. However, the graphics stay true to the nature of Yoshi Games. Since this game takes place in a storybook setting, expect it to look that way. For what the developers were trying to accomplish, the graphics fit nicely.

Music and Sound: I can't say that the music was anything memorable. But it won't drive you on the verge of insanity either. Yoshi makes the grunts that were there in the GBA version of Yoshi's Island. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of those grunts, but they're tolerable.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/24/05