Review: Yoshi’s Woolly World

Since the initial reveal of Yoshi’s Woolly World back in the spring of 2013, we’ve eagerly anticipated its arrival. Now that the game is finally here, the key question is: does this visually appealing package offer substantial gameplay beyond its aesthetics?

Yoshi has sometimes been overshadowed by Mario & Luigi, despite sharing the boosted jump ability with the green dinosaur (as seen in Super Mario Bros 2 on NES). We were first introduced to this charming character in Super Mario World on SNES in 1990. Since then, Yoshi has been a playable character in numerous Nintendo franchises, ranging from Mario Kart to Super Smash Bros. Now, he makes his debut on Wii U with Yoshi’s Woolly World, a visually delightful platformer reminiscent of Nintendo’s classic era.

Yoshi’s Woolly World builds upon the legacy of the Mario Bros. games. The narrative, though simple, is engaging: the villainous Zamek kidnaps yarn Yoshis and transforms them into magical yarn balls, scattering them throughout the fabric and wool world while populating it with enemies. As one of the remaining Yoshis, your mission is to defeat the enemies and bosses, and to recover the magical yarn balls hidden within each level, unlocking new Yoshi characters. Graphically, Yoshi’s Woolly World excels. Set in a world crafted from yarn and fabric, the game presents some of the most visually appealing and comforting graphics we’ve encountered. Combining elements from New Super Mario Bros U on Wii U and Little Big Planet, the game creates a stylish and diverse world where the design serves a functional purpose within the gameplay. Yoshi retains his ability to swallow enemies and, in this iteration, expels them as yarn balls instead of eggs. These yarn balls can be used to defeat enemies or create platforms to access hidden bonuses and treasures. Players can also interact with loose threads to reveal new areas, and at times, must utilize spatial reasoning to accurately throw yarn balls through narrow passages to hit targets. One minor drawback is the occasional dip in frame rate, suggesting that the Wii U’s hardware is beginning to show its age, two and a half years into its lifecycle. This is most noticeable on the world map, highlighting a potential misjudgment with the GamePad. While comfortable as a controller, the GamePad is rarely used for more than a secondary screen. Reallocating these system resources by allowing developers to disable the GamePad function (when unused) could potentially enhance performance, similar to Microsoft’s approach with Kinect on Xbox One. Nintendo is known for creating stylish and efficient games, but hardware limitations can impact performance. On the other hand, the game’s audio and melodic loops remain unaffected by hardware constraints, providing pleasant jingles that evolve with the different worlds and levels.

In terms of controls, Yoshi’s Woolly World provides flexibility, allowing players to choose between various Wii U control methods, including the GamePad, Wiimote + Nunchuck, or the Controller Pro. For enthusiasts of classic 2D platformers, Yoshi’s Woolly World offers a rewarding visual and gameplay experience. The levels become progressively more challenging, yet remain fair and engaging. Collecting all the magical yarn balls and sun flowers (five of each) within each level unlocks bonus levels and new Yoshi characters, encouraging replayability. Some tracks feature more challenging placement of these artifacts than others. The Co-op mode in Yoshi’s Woolly World is ideally suited for playing with the GamePad and Controller Pro, though accidental swallowing and shooting of each other may require some adjustment. The button layout is also customizable, addressing potential preference differences.

The game also includes a showroom section, reminiscent of Mario Party, where players can view and customize unlocked Yoshis and activate amiibo to unlock new costumes/appearances for Yoshi. Similar to NSMBU, the game incorporates a “Super Guide” feature, here called Mellow Mode, which grants Yoshi wings, allowing players to essentially fly through levels to appreciate the graphics. However, the true highlight of Yoshi’s Woolly World, like many recent Nintendo games, lies in the boss battles. These encounters are large, varied, and appropriately challenging, adding an extra layer of excitement, along with Yoshi’s ability to access bonus worlds where he can transform into a giant-Yoshi or race in boost mode against the clock.

Yoshi’s Woolly World may not revolutionize the platforming genre, but it doesn’t necessarily need to. Some may note similarities to the yarn aesthetic in Kirby’s Epic Yarn and the overall structure of the Yoshi’s Island games. However, we consider this a strength, analogous to the consistent enjoyment derived from new Super Mario Bros. titles, which offer improved graphics and sound while maintaining a familiar structure. Those seeking 3D gameplay and radical innovation might find Yoshi’s Woolly World somewhat conservative. However, for players who appreciate well-crafted 2D platformers, this game delivers a satisfying experience. And considering the current climate, this may be the ideal title to enjoy during rainy summer days, as Yoshi’s world offers bright sunshine, gentle azure water, and blooming (fabric) flowers.