Yoshi's Island (series)
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Template:Series-infobox The Yoshi's Island series is a video-game sub-series of the Yoshi franchise. It is a series of 2D side-scrolling platformers starring Yoshi, who has the unique ability to throw eggs to defeat enemies. The games generally feature a colorful, storybook-like art style. Most of the games are set in the early childhood of Mario, where the Yoshis must work to save Baby Mario and others, including Baby Luigi, from the machinations of Kamek and Baby Bowser. Another common plot is Yoshi going on a journey to restore Yoshi's Island to its former state after it is turned into a storybook. The series is primarily developed by Nintendo EAD, with some games being developed by Artoon or other companies. The series began with console titles, but switched to a focus on handheld entries with Yoshi Topsy-Turvy.
List of games
Main games
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Cover, original release and system | Synopsis |
| Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | |
 Template:Released Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island revolves around the time when Mario and Luigi were babies. When Kamek attempts to kidnap both Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, he succeeds in kidnapping Baby Luigi, but Baby Mario falls to Yoshi's island and Yoshi finds him. Kamek sends his army of Toadies to find and kidnap Baby Mario. Yoshi and his fellow islanders escort Baby Mario to help him rescue his brother. |
| Yoshi's Story | |
 Template:Released Nintendo 64 |
Yoshi's Story is the first Yoshi's Island game to feature three-dimensional graphics. It plays much like the previous game in the series. The plot for this game revolves around the kidnapping of the Super Happy Tree. After Baby Bowser turned Yoshi's Island into a picture book, he stole the Super Happy Tree. At this point, six baby Yoshis must traverse through six different worlds in order to reclaim the Super Happy Tree and return Yoshi's Island back to its original state. |
| Yoshi's Island DS | |
 Template:Released Nintendo DS |
The sequel to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, features Baby Peach, Baby Bowser, Baby Wario, Baby Donkey Kong and of course Baby Mario all on a quest to save all the world's babies (including Baby Luigi). Kamek is the one responsible for the kidnapping of the babies, still being mad after the events of the previous game. The Stork manages to attack some Toadies, who drop the babies they are carrying, the babies being Baby Mario and Baby Peach. The Yoshis set out to rescue the babies, encountering more along the way. |
| Yoshi's New Island | |
 Template:Released Nintendo 3DS |
Yoshi's New Island is a platform game for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is a direct sequel to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, making it an interquel to Yoshi's Island DS, and it uses a similar art style for the game. It is shown that the Stork has delivered the Baby Mario twins to the wrong house and tries to get them to their real parents. Kamek steals Baby Luigi once again and Baby Mario falls on a place called Egg Island, where the Yoshi residents find him and decide to take him to Bowser's Castle.
Most gameplay elements are borrowed from the first game. Among new elements are the Mega Eggdozers, Metal Eggdozers and the multiplayer minigame mode. |
Spin-off games
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Cover, original release and system | Synopsis |
| Yoshi Topsy-Turvy | |
 Template:Released Game Boy Advance |
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy, or Yoshi's Universal Gravitation in Europe and Australia, features a similar story to Yoshi's Story in where the island is transformed into a picture book. The Spirits transformed the entire island into a book (called the Forbidden Pop-Up Book) and Yoshi has to go through several challenges to earn the right to transform the island back. Once Yoshi has collected the required amount of Happiness Medals, Yoshi can defeat Bowser and save his home. This was one of only two gyro-sensitive games to be released on the Game Boy Advance; the other was WarioWare: Twisted!. |
| Yoshi Touch & Go | |
 Template:Released Nintendo DS |
The first Yoshi's Island game on the DS, Yoshi Touch & Go features the same story as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. The game is more of a puzzle game than a platformer like Yoshi's Island was. The game is entirely touch-sensitive, allowing Yoshi to attack enemies with a tap of the stylus. |
Ports and remakes
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Cover, original release and system | Synopsis |
| Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 | |
 Template:Released Game Boy Advance |
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 was the Game Boy Advance port of Super Mario World 2. This game was very similar to the original with several differences, such as updated graphics and some new levels. This game also included Mario Bros. as an extra feature, which was a constant theme in the Super Mario Advance series. |
Tech Demos
| Title | |
|---|---|
| Image and system | Synopsis |
| Yoshi Demo | |
| File:Yoshistorysceenshot.PNG Game Boy Advance |
Yoshi Demo was a tech demo for the Game Boy Advance. It consists of a short 3D render of Yoshi's Island followed by an endless level based on Yoshi's Story. Several new enemies were included such as a new type of Toadies, Bullet Bills and a new 5-ton weight enemy. It is unknown if the game was planned to be released. |
| Balloon Trip | |
 Nintendo DS |
Balloon Trip was a tech demo for the Nintendo DS, shown off at E3 2004. The game had a very simple storyline, in which Baby Mario is floating in the air being held up by 3 balloons. If any enemies touch these balloons, they pop. The player must use the stylus to stop enemies from touching Mario by drawing various things such as clouds and bubbles. This demo was used as the foundation for Yoshi Touch & Go. |
Gameplay
The basic gameplay of the Yoshi's Island series is that of a 2D side-scrolling platformer. In addition to the basic run and jump actions, the Yoshi being played as is able to use their tongue to manipulate objects and to eat enemies in most of the games. Once an enemy is eaten, it can be ejected or swallowed. If swallowed, the Yoshi will be able to lay an egg which can be thrown at objects or at enemies. The Yoshi can obtain various power-ups to help complete the level, many of which involve transforming into various vehicles. The baby that the Yoshi carries on its back (usually Baby Mario) can also give the Yoshi various abilities to aid it.
The spin-offs in the series feature somewhat different gameplay. In Yoshi Topsy-Turvy, the main aspect of gameplay is that the player must tilt the Game Boy Advance to tilt the in-game world, allowing Yoshi to walk on walls in order to traverse the level. In this game, Yoshi is able to eat enemies, but he cannot lay eggs. In Yoshi Touch & Go, the player must draw lines of clouds with the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, guiding Yoshi and Baby Mario away from enemies as they float down. Enemies can be defeated by drawing bubbles around them or by throwing eggs obtained from eating fruit at them.
Major elements of the Yoshi's Island series
Major characters
Protagonists
| Character | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Biography | First Appearance |
| Yoshi | ||
|
Yoshi is the main protagonist of the Yoshi's Island series. He is one of the Yoshis who defend the islands whenever they are threatened by evil forces, often carrying Baby Mario and the other babies on his back. He, like the other Yoshis, has various abilities, including fluttering in the air, ground pounding, swallowing enemies, and producing Yoshi Eggs. Yoshi is often the one who finds Baby Mario and begins the quests. | |
| Baby Mario | ||
|
Baby Mario is the starring baby of the Yoshi's Island series. Whenever Kamek attempts to kidnap Baby Mario, he fails, leaving Baby Mario in the care of the Yoshis as he sets out to rescue his brother. Baby Mario has the ability to become completely invincible to all attacks in Yoshi's Island DS after collecting a star. Baby Mario also possesses the power to make Yoshis run more swiftly. | |
| Baby Luigi | ||
| File:Toadiesluigismall.png | Baby Luigi plays the damsel in each Yoshi's Island game he appears in: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi Touch & Go, and Yoshi's New Island. Each time that he is kidnapped, his brother must team up with the Yoshis to rescue him. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Luigi's role is slightly more significant in the fact that he is one of the seven star children. | |
| Poochy | ||
|
Poochy is an ally that has appeared in the Yoshi's Island series thrice: in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, in Yoshi's Story, and in Yoshi's New Island'. He is an odd-looking dog, considering the fact that he doesn't have ears and a nose, and that his lips are protruding. Poochy comes in handy if the Yoshis need to cross certain terrains that are inaccessible to the Yoshis; thus, the Yoshis ride Poochy across said terrain, taking them to a safe environment. | |
| Baby DK | ||
| File:YIDSbabydk.PNG | Baby Donkey Kong, (alternatively referred to as "Baby DK"), has appeared in only one Yoshi's Island game to date: Yoshi's Island DS. He appeared as an ally who helped the Yoshis rescue Baby Peach back from a group of Ukikis. Baby DK then decides to join the mission to stop Bowser. Baby DK had many useful abilities, including the ability to climb on vines, the ability to make a Yoshi charge through hard rock, and the power to make Yoshi eggs explode on impact. | |
| Baby Peach | ||
|
Baby Peach is the infant form of Princess Peach. Her only appearance in the Yoshi's Island series is in Yoshi's Island DS as one of the star children. After Kamek and his army of Toadies attempted to kidnap all children in the Mushroom Kingdom, they failed to nab Baby Peach (along with Baby Mario). Baby Peach teamed up with the Yoshis and Baby Mario to get to Kamek and Bowser and stop his evil plans, freeing the kidnapped babies. She had the ability to help Yoshis float via the use of her parasol. | |
| Baby Wario | ||
| File:Babywario.png | Baby Wario is one of the seven star children and the baby version of Wario; he has appeared only in Yoshi's Island DS. Even as a baby, he showed a great love for money, as seen in a few cinemas throughout the game. Baby Wario, though kidnapped, was set free due to his greedy, spoiled, and whiny personality. When the Yoshis find him, they allow Baby Wario to accompany them, though it is for a short duration. Baby Wario has a giant magnet which allows him to attract any metallic object—even coins. | |
| Stork | ||
|
The Stork is yet another ally in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in four games: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi Touch & Go, Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. His role in the games was relatively basic and short: to deliver the babies, either to their parents or to a Stork Stop. The Stork didn't speak in any games, and implied no complex personality. Not much is known about him, but he has always been there to help the Yoshis take care of the babies. | |
Antagonists
| Character | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Biography | First Appearance |
| Baby Bowser | ||
|
Baby Bowser is one of the three recurring main antagonists in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in five Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Story, Yoshi: Touch & Go, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Baby Bowser is a spoiled infant who generally wants his way. In Yoshi's Story, he kidnapped the Super Happy Tree in order to take away all happiness from Yoshi's Island; he then turned the island into a pop-up book. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Bowser was an ally (temporarily) for the first time. He had the ability to breathe fireballs that could defeat enemies and melt ice. In Yoshi's New Island, Baby Bowser chose Egg Island to be his resort, but his plans were foiled by the Yoshi clan. | |
| Kamek | ||
|
Kamek is the main antagonist in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in four Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi Touch & Go, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. He is a blue-cloaked Magikoopa who is notable for stealing the babies of the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek commonly uses his magic to enhance certain enemies into bosses for the Yoshis to fight. When that fails, he tries again—but alas, the Yoshis always prevail over Kamek, foiling his evil plots. However, Kamek has appeared in other Mario games, (such as Mario Party DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time), as a minor enemy or boss, his largest antagonist role is in the Yoshi's Island series. | |
| Bowser | ||
|
Bowser has appeared in three main Yoshi games: Yoshi Topsy-Turvy, Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. In Yoshi Topsy-Turvy, Bowser served as the main antagonist. When Bowser terrorizes Yoshi's Island, the Spirits turn the island into a pop-up book. Yoshi must collect a certain amount of happiness medals in order to earn the chance to fight Bowser. During the events of Yoshi's Island DS, He serves as the main antagonist. Bowser travels back in time to find the seven star children, in hopes of receiving their power; if he were to receive their power, he could conquer the universe. Bowser kidnapped as many children as he possibly could, (including his infant self), in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in Yoshi's New Island as the final boss—Bowser, however, can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels but does not use the Flutter Wings power-up. | |
Species
| Species | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
| Yoshi | ||
|
Yoshis are the main inhabitants of Yoshi's Island. They are dinosaurs who enjoy eating Fruit. The type of fruit that a Yoshi likes depends on that Yoshi's color. Yoshis come in many different colors, including green, red, yellow, blue, pink, light blue, purple, brown, black, white, and orange. Yoshis of many of these colors often accompany Yoshi and the babies on their journeys, carrying the babies on their backs. Yoshis have various abilities, including fluttering in the air, ground pounding, swallowing enemies, and producing Yoshi Eggs. | |
| Toady | ||
|
Toadies are minions of Kamek who often kidnap Baby Luigi. They normally travel in groups of four and fly using the propellers on their heads. There is also a sub-species called Solo Toadies, which travel by themselves and attempt to kidnap the babies on Yoshi's back. | |
| Raven | ||
| File:Ravens.PNG | Ravens are a bird species that serve as enemies in the Yoshi's Island series. They mostly attack by running into Yoshi and knocking whatever baby is on his back off. All ravens appear to be flightless, and are lead by Raphael the Raven, a giant member of their species. The ravens have aso been allies in the Mario franchise. | |
| Goonie | ||
|
Goonies are a bird enemy that have appeared in several Yoshi's Island games. They tend to travel in groups and attack by diving down to hit Yoshi. There are many Goonie subspecies such as Flightless Goonies, Skeleton Goonies and Bowling Goonies. Goonies are also sometimes seen flying in the background. | |
| Red Blargg | ||
|
Red Blarggs are major enemies from the Yoshi's Island series. They live in lava and rise out of it to attack Yoshi. Appearances of Red Blarggs depict them as large blobs without arms. Blarggs are invulnerable to most attacks, although Yoshi Eggs briefly knock them back into the lava, except POW Blocks defeat them permanently. | |
| Nep-Enut | ||
|
Nep-Enuts are a sub-species of Blarggs. Unlike their parent species they live in water. Nep-Enuts wait in the water until Yoshi arrives and rise up, blocking his path. Yoshi can shoot an egg in the monster's mouth to get it to retreat or jump over it. Jumping over it will cause the Nep-Enut to give chase. | |
| Human | ||
| File:Starchildren1.PNG | Humans are a race that appear in most Yoshi's Island games—however, most of them only appear as babies. Humans play their most important role in Yoshi's Island DS, where Bowser attempts to kidnap several human babies which he believes are the star children, which will give him the power to take over the world. The Yoshis save several of these babies and join forces to defeat Bowser. | |
Locations
| Location | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
| Yoshi's Island | ||
| File:Yoshi's Island1.PNG | Yoshi's Island is the homeland of the Yoshis and the area where the games in the Yoshi's Island franchise until Yoshi's Island DS take place. The island has been attacked by Baby Bowser and Kamek many times and has even been turned into a pop-up book twice, but Yoshi has always restored peace to the island. | |
| Egg Island | ||
|
Egg Island is the second homeland of the Yoshis which appears in Yoshi's New Island. The island is in front of Yoshi's Island, the main island of the Yoshis. When the Stork drops Baby Mario and Baby Luigi once again, Baby Mario falls down and teams up with the native Yoshis to rescue his brother, who is held captive by Kamek now that Baby Bowser chooses the island to be his resort. When the team defeats Bowser and rescues Baby Luigi, the Stork takes the babies back to their homes, as the Yoshis bid them farewell. | |
Items
| Item | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
| Yoshi Eggs | ||
|
Yoshi Eggs are a staple of any Yoshi's Island game. They are not only a weapon for the Yoshis to use against enemies, but they are also tools that can be utilized to solve certain puzzles. By swallowing an enemy, a Yoshi can lay an egg. In addition to the standard green Yoshi eggs, there are also yellow and red ones. The yellow ones can be received by hitting a yellow Egg Block while the red ones can be received from red Egg Blocks. In Super Mario World, yellow and red eggs can hatch into Baby Yoshis of their respective color. Other types of eggs are found in the series: Giant Yoshi Eggs are formed by swallowing Fat Guys; Mega Eggdozers are formed by swallowing large enemies like Mega Guys and Big Lantern Ghosts; and Metal Eggdozers are formed by swallowing metallic enemies like Metal Guys and Metal Lantern Ghosts. | |
| Fruit | ||
|
Fruit is a variety of food that Yoshis love to eat. There are five main fruits on Yoshi's Island: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Watermelons and Melons. Heart Fruits are a rare type of fruit that makes Yoshi invincible for a short time. All of these fruits grow on the Super Happy Tree. | |
Objects
| Object | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
| Egg Block | ||
|
The Egg Block is an item found only in the Yoshi's Island franchise and Super Mario Sunshine (possibly as a reference, since they appear in the level The Yoshi-Go-Round's Secret). They are small white cubes with spots on them—the color of the spots shows what the block does. The green Egg Block, when hit, ejects an unlimited number of Yoshi Eggs for the player to utilize in that level. Up to six Yoshi Eggs will come out of a green Egg Block. The yellow block and red block, however, will only give out 1 yellow egg and 1 red egg, respectively. The purple block is different from the others, as it expands and acts as a boost for the player rather than ejecting eggs. | |
| Super Happy Tree | ||
| File:Superhappytree.gif | The Super Happy Tree is a tree that grows every kind of fruit including a Heart Fruit. In Yoshi's Story Baby Bowser stole the tree and turned Yoshi's Island into a pop-up book. Several Baby Yoshis traveled across the island and saved the Super Happy Tree and returned Yoshi's Island to its true form. | |
