Top 5 Best (and Worst) Yoshi Moments

In case you are not a Nintendo fan, Yoshi, is one character that has made regular appearances in many games.  Most recently, it was announced that he would be joining Mario and reclaiming his place as the trusty sidekick in the new Super Mario Galaxy 2 game.  My excitement over this announcement got me thinking about what it’s been like to play with Yoshi over the years since he can really be both a blessing and a curse.

I’m sure that you will have your own memories but I’d like to share what I’m calling my “Top 5 Best (and Worst) Yoshi Moments.”

#1 – I’d have to say that Yoshi’s introduction to the gaming world in Super Mario World (1990) is probably my favorite moment since he was brand new and everyone was talking about this dinosaur/dragon thing that Mario could ride on to get from place to place.

The game was the best seller for the Super NES and featured Yoshis in four different color (green, yellow, red, and blue), each possessing a different ability.  Little Baby Yoshis could be found in the Star World levels and, after being fed by Mario, they could become fully grown.

Of course, players learned very quickly that you had to have a strategy and treat Yoshi with great care since the creature could take off at any moment and (sometimes) would even run right off a cliff.

#2 – Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995) was another great moment since he got to take center stage for the first time instead of being the companion of Mario and Luigi. 

In terms of appearance, I felt like Yoshi actually took a step backwards and was a lot “cuter” in Super Mario World but I guess looks don’t count for everything.

Other main differences are that it is Baby Mario that rides on Yoshi’s back (and not regular Mario), the main character doesn’t “lose lives” when he’s attacked by the enemy (except, of course, when Yoshi lands in lava or a pit) and the eggs that he collects follow him around until he chooses to throw them at an enemy or object.

#3 – Yoshi can be really great in the Super Smash Bros (1999) game and its sequels.  In Super Smash Bros., characters from many different games face-off for the ultimate battle and I can’t tell you how useful it is to be able to use Yoshi’s weird jumping ability to move across platforms and to avoid falling over edges (it also comes in handy when avoiding enemy attacks!).

Of course, there’s his ability to use that massive tongue and swallow objects and turn them into eggs.  Not too many characters can actually *create* their own weapons and you’ve gotta love Yoshi for that!

#4 – He might not do anything particularly different in Mario Kart (or any of the game’s sequels) but there’s something pretty cool about him riding on a motorcycle or driving a car.  At this point, he’s such a beloved character that it’s just nice to see him on the roster.

He also is the only one in the game that can get the green Yoshi eggs from the Item Boxes which is good if you’re playing with him but not great if you’re riding in front of him!

#5 – I didn’t really know where to place this on my countdown but I guess I’ve saved the WORST Yoshi  moment for last.  If you’ve played most or all of the Mario-based games, you might have already guessed that I’m going to talk about Super Mario Sunshine.

It is one of the toughest Mario games, in my opinion, but it’s the level “Yoshi’s Fruit Adventure” that made me scream in frustration and throw my controller across the couch.  I swear I was near tears and, in the end, I actually had to give up (to this day, I have not completed that level).

Yoshi can be called nothing less than a diva in this game for many reasons.  First of all, it all takes place on Isle Delfino which is, of course, surrounded by water.  This is very inconvenient, however, since Yoshi cannot get wet – he disintegrates!  When you find him, he only wants a certain type of fruit which is just ridiculous.  Then in that “Yoshi’s Fruit Adventure” level, I just couldn’t make it across all of the platforms without either falling into the water or running out of juice.  He’s so high maintenance!

Of course, it was a lot of fun but I found it very difficult.  Unfortunately, writing about it (and watching the YouTube video below) has made me want to try it again after all these years.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll sail right through the level.  On the other hand, if you hear some news story about a woman who went crazy after playing too much Nintendo, it might just be me.

Yoshi is also slated to appear in the New Super Mario Bros. Wii – come back tomorrow for my preview of the upcoming game!  In the meantime, why not share your favorite (and least favorite) Yoshi moments?  Leave me a comment!

images: Nintendo