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Platform: DS Review: Super Mario 64 DS (DS)
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Yoshi's Touch & Go
I've never really understood the Yoshi storyline as it relates to the Super Mario Brothers Universe. The first time Yoshi appeared in North America was in Super Mario World (on the SNES). The lizard/dino/yak could eat just about anything and more incredibly could lay eggs as he provided transport. But with the release of Yoshi's Island (also on the SNES) we saw that Yoshi has been around longer than Mario. Yoshi's Island featured a baby Mario and Yoshi's task was to complete the task of a tired stork and deliver baby Mario to his final destination (and, of course, match wits against baby Bowser). Now, with Yoshi's Touch & Go, the baby Mario storyline is back.
I got some hands-on time with Yoshi's Touch & Go and once again Nintendo is looking to provide a deep gameplay experience in a family friendly package.
The DS touch screen and second screen are put to full use with Yoshi's Touch & Go. All control is with the touch screen, and for the most part, with no direct control over the principle characters: Yoshi and baby Mario. Instead you have indirect control. At the start of the demo baby Mario is plummeting to the ground. (Okay, he's got a few balloons hooked to his diaper.) To slow his descent, you create lines of clouds, which baby Mario can crawl on. But it's not just enough to create lines of clouds, you'll also have to circle enemies (to turn them into coins) and collect as many coins as you can. |
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Once he finally hits the ground, well, lands on Yoshi's back, the mechanics change a little but control with the touch screen remains. Yoshi always walks forward so there's a real sense of urgency as obstacles and enemies appear. It's hectic enough trying to follow the action on the touch screen but there's stuff appearing on the top screen that need to be dealt with. What's really amazing is that it's so easy to learn! Flinging eggs, making Yoshi jump, etc. is very easy to grasp but still challenging as you try to track what's happening on two screens.
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It was a short demo, but it shows a lot of promise as to what the final game will look like.
Here's the official info from Nintendo:
Onward, Yoshi! As Yoshi charges across the island, use the stylus to throw eggs at enemies, lead him to egg-replenishing fruit and make him jump over danger!
Incoming baby! On vertical-scrolling levels, use the stylus to draw clouds to encircle enemies, throw coins and guide Baby Mario through the dangerous skies.
See how far into the island you can get in Endurance Mode, play for high scores in Score Attack or take on a friend in Vs. mode using the wireless link of the Nintendo DS.
- Omni (February 21, 2005) |
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