Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Yoshi’s Island DS builds on the celebrated mechanics of its SNES predecessor, delivering a rich and varied platforming experience that keeps players engaged from start to finish. At its core, you guide one of several colored Yoshis through a series of vibrant levels, always carrying a baby on your back. Each baby grants Yoshi a unique ability—Mario gives a dash attack, Peach lets him float higher and longer, DK unleashes ground-pounding strength, Wario uses a magnet to pull in coins and metal objects, and Bowser breathes fire. This variety ensures that no two stages feel identical, as swapping babies can open new routes, secret areas, and puzzle solutions.

Egg-throwing returns as a key combat and traversal mechanic. Yoshi can swallow nearly any foe, press down to convert it into a throwable egg, and then lob or ricochet that egg at enemies, breakable walls, or out-of-reach collectibles. Mastering the timing and angles for ricochets rewards careful players with hidden items and faster routes. The addition of metallic and environmental puzzles—such as using Wario’s magnet to trigger distant switches—further deepens the interaction between Yoshi’s core moves and level design.

Beyond simply reaching the goal, Yoshi’s Island DS challenges completionists with robust 100% objectives. Every stage hides 30 stars, 20 red coins, 5 flowers, and a character coin linked to the baby you’re carrying. Balancing safe platforming with exploration and backtracking for full collectibles raises the stakes, making each level replayable. A countdown timer that ticks whenever Yoshi is hit adds tension: if it reaches zero, the baby disappears and you lose a life. Collecting stars during play replenishes this counter, creating a satisfying risk-and-reward loop.

Overall, the gameplay of Yoshi’s Island DS feels both familiar and fresh. The core platforming is tight and responsive, while the varied baby abilities and intricate collectibles keep veterans and newcomers alike invested. Whether you’re breezing through levels with Mario’s dash or tackling hidden paths with Peach’s float, the game consistently rewards experimentation and precision.

Graphics

Visually, Yoshi’s Island DS embraces a hand-drawn, storybook aesthetic that pops on the Nintendo DS’s dual screens. Every sprite is rich in color and outlines, evoking the charm of paper cutouts layered in three-dimensional space. Foregrounds and backgrounds shift as you move, creating a parallax effect that adds depth to forests, caves, and castle interiors. The characters—both Yoshi and the babies—are animated with delightful flourishes, from Yoshi’s wagging tail to Baby Mario’s panicked flail whenever the hit counter ticks down.

Levels are bursting with detail: fluttering leaves, drifting clouds, dripping stalactites, and flickering lanterns all bring the environments to life. Subtle animations in the background, such as birds taking flight or rolling clouds, enhance immersion without overwhelming the action. Meanwhile, enemy designs range from the cute (wiggling Goombas) to the menacing (pirate Cheep Cheeps spouting water), each retaining the series’ signature playful style.

Despite the DS’s limited resolution, the game maintains clarity and readability. Collectibles glow softly against varied backdrops, and interactive elements stand out. When you switch babies, a quick icon animation on the upper screen confirms your new ability, ensuring you always know what powers you have at your disposal. The visuals remain crisp even in hectic moments, such as boss battles or large-scale set pieces in Kamek’s fortress.

All told, the graphics of Yoshi’s Island DS are a triumph of artistic direction on handheld hardware. The vibrant color palette, fluid animations, and layered level design coalesce into a cohesive world that’s as inviting as it is functional for gameplay.

Story

Yoshi’s Island DS picks up the whimsical saga after Kamek’s failed attempt to abduct baby Mario and Luigi in the original SNES classic. Frustrated, Kamek broadens his scheme, sending his bumbling toadies to kidnap infants across the globe. When Mario once again escapes, he falls into the clutches of the Yoshis, leaving Luigi and dozens of other babies in peril. This setup provides a playful yet urgent goal—guide Yoshi across diverse locales to reunite Mario with his kidnapped brother and friends.

The narrative unfolds primarily through brief cutscenes and in-level animations, favoring quick bursts of story over lengthy exposition. Kamek’s menacing cackle punctuates his appearances, while baby cries and Yoshi’s cheerful chirps convey emotion without a single line of dialogue. This minimalist storytelling keeps the pace brisk and lets the gameplay shine, yet still offers context and motivation for each new world.

Each world introduces its own mini-plot twists, like discovering that a seemingly innocent baby can channel different abilities, or stumbling upon contraptions built by Kamek’s minions to thwart your progress. While the overarching goal remains consistent—rescue Luigi and all of the kidnapped babies—the variety of settings, from candy-coated hills to spooky graveyards and mechanical strongholds, reinforces the sense of a globe-trotting rescue mission.

Though not heavy on lore, the story succeeds in providing a light, charming backbone to the colorful action. It’s the perfect foil to the playful mechanics, giving players clear stakes and occasional surprises without derailing the joyous platforming adventure.

Overall Experience

Yoshi’s Island DS is a standout platformer on the Nintendo DS, delivering a perfect balance of challenge, charm, and replayability. The seamless integration of baby-specific abilities encourages exploration and strategic thinking, while the core controls remain tight and intuitive. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of Yoshi’s adventures or a newcomer looking for a family-friendly romp, this sequel offers enough depth to satisfy both casual players and completionists.

The dual-screen setup is used judiciously: the main action plays out on the bottom screen, keeping you focused on Yoshi’s movements, while the top screen displays vital information like hit counters, star tallies, and the baby-specific coin icon. This arrangement ensures you never lose track of objectives or remaining chances, even as the action intensifies.

Replay value is high thanks to the collectible trifecta in each stage—stars, flowers, red coins—and the elusive character coins that demand baby-specific abilities. Speedrunners will find neat tricks with egg ricochets and dash maneuvers, while completionists will relish uncovering every secret. The difficulty curve is well-paced, offering optional challenges without punishing newcomers.

Ultimately, Yoshi’s Island DS stands as one of the DS’s premier platforming experiences. Its joyful art style, inventive baby mechanics, and robust level design combine into a cohesive and rewarding package. For anyone seeking a charming adventure brimming with variety and depth, this is one island you’ll happily explore again and again.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10