In Yoshi’s New Island game, which recently launched for Nintendo 3DS, the loveable Yoshi moves from sidekick to hero in a platforming adventure on a new island with brand new power-ups. Kids can traverse a wide variety of world to help Baby Mario reunite with his kidnapped brother. It’s always exciting to see the adorable Yoshi on his own with his own stories and challenges. As a kid, I was always a big fan of the Nintendo-famous dinosaur, so I jumped at the chance to play along with him in this new adventure.
Kids can discover a new island containing six worlds to explore, from slippery snow slopes to watery wonderlands, each filled with creative challenges, rambunctious enemies, and tons of collectibles. The Mega and Metal Eggdozers help players find secrets and open up new areas. Yoshi transforms into different vehicles, including a helicopter, a submarine, and a mine cart. These different vehicles can be controlled using the gyroscopic controls of the Nintendo 3DS.
In some stages, Yoshi can acquire a certain type of star that allows him to power up and become Super Yoshi, which is a cool new power. As Super Yoshi, he flies like a shooting star through the sky or is temporarily able to run along walls and ceilings, adding a new dimension to the game play.
For video game newbies, such as myself, Yoshi’s New Island provides a little help. When I was having trouble getting through a stage, a pair of Flutter Wings popped up to help me out. This makes the game fun for action-game newcomers and seasoned veterans of the video gaming world alike.
Kids can also team up with a friend in the two-player mini-game cooperative challenge mode. Players can experience this mode on two different Nintendo 3DS systems with only one cartridge using Download Play or connecting via local wireless. It allows for a break from the battles and challenges of the game’s story mode, giving kids the chance to work together to play mini-games.
