Yoshi is back in another colorful adventure. This time he is in a fully crafted world. Yoshi’s Crafted World looks like it has been handcrafted and that is what makes it so beautiful. It looks like someone hand-designed the world and then made it into a game. The attention to detail is something like I’ve never seen in a game.
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a rather simple game but one that is sure to thrill any fan of the green dinosaur. Yoshi is back and better than ever with his standard abilities such as egg throwing and fluttering jump. Yoshi is going to do all he can to take down the likes of Magikoopa and Baby Bowser.
The beginning of the game details how Magikoopa and Baby Bowser stole the magic gems that lie in the middle of the Yoshi village. These gems are important as they keep the world together and with them gone, it’s up to the Yoshi’s to get them back.
Players can choose from eight different colored Yoshi’s. It is nice to be able to change which Yoshi the player is playing as. While they might all play the same they seem to have their own energy at least that is what I think. The colors of the Yoshi each pop in their own way and it is beautiful to see them jump around in these different levels.
The game allows players to choose from two different game modes. The first one is Mellow mode which is definitely far easier than the other mode. In this mode, Yoshi gains wings and thus can fly anywhere. Classic mode is better as the player will actually have to platform. Though it’s hard to get an actual death in this mode as well. This game really is just too cute to be all that difficult.
The Yoshi will jump and egg throw through a variety of levels. They will gather flowers and coins and work to collect the five magic gems. There are bosses to take down and enemies to destroy. Levels have their own gimmicks and each world has its own feel that separates it from the others.
This game is certainly different from what I’d expect it to be. There are actually some levels I wouldn’t have expected from a Yoshi game. It goes to show that even though the game is basically standard Yoshi fare that things can change. This game might be super cute but don’t expect every inch of it to be sweet.
Players will also need to find Poochy Pups. Poochy is a fan favorite character and basically Yoshi’s pet. Poochy has lost its pups and it is up to Yoshi to find them. The pups might not always be terribly hard to find but it is always a nice feeling to find them. Plus they dance after the player has found them and it is adorable. This part of the game is more of a time trial and it’s always best to clear them as fast as possible.
Players will also rejuvenate robots with the flowers. These robots help turn the world on and that is a cool thing in my opinion. These robots will then ask for Yoshi to find different items hidden within the level. I originally thought I’d have to complete the level after finding the item but it lets the player leave immediately. There are actually a large number of these scavenger hunts, but they are great because they give the player a reason to explore the levels again.
Yoshi can also be decked out in different costumes. These costumes while they are just cosmetic add a layer of customization to the game. These costumes will slowly break apart as players take damage but can be put back on at any time outside the levels. Players can even scan Amiibo to unlock character-specific costumes. Though sadly most of the Mario series Amiibo don’t provide the player with anything. The best part of this feature has to be the gacha machine component.
In every world, there is a gacha machine, which in layman’s terms is a prize machine. The Yoshi will use their hard-earned coins to buy chances at winning the prizes. Once the machine is empty the player will know they’ve bought all the costumes. It’s just a good use of coins in my opinion. It makes collecting coins worth it, and often times the coins just sit around.
Yoshi’s Crafted World has great music that works well in every level. Though it is often just a little too soft in nature. I often felt lulled into a sense of safety and nearly fell asleep because of the nature of the music. While it might work with the game itself it might not work for everyone. The underwater level put me to sleep, and those levels are usually just the worst. But all in all its peaceful music and that works for this amazingly charming peaceful game.
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a fantastic Yoshi game. This is a game that clearly has been crafted with love and that can be seen in every stitch. I had never thought I’d want to play a Yoshi game again, but this game completely changed my mind. While I’m not keen to play a ton more games in this style I am glad to have played Crafted World. The Yoshi need help to restore their homeland, will the player help them or will Magikoopa and Baby Bowser win out?