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Yoshi 101

Who is Yoshi? Yoshi is the delightful dinosaur that first appeared in Super Mario World for the Super NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) back in 1991. Yoshi has since then become a popular mascot of Nintendo and has stared and co-stared in many games afterwards, seen in the cartoons and movie, and on an assortment of items from dolls to clocks. Here on Yoshi 101 do we cover everything Yoshi.

    

Yoshi beginnings

When you think of Yoshi, you think of that first ride. The first time you would use Mario and a cute little dinosaur with a infinite appetite to get past the many levels of Super Mario World, but Yoshi was thought of even before that.

     Shigeru Miyamoto is the creator of Link, Mario, Yoshi, and just about every other Nintendo mascot you can think of. He wanted to add Yoshi in Super Mario Bros. (for NES) back in 1985. Unfortunate though, that the technology of the NES would not be able to handle such a thing. That's why Yoshi debute on the Super NES on August of 1991.

     In Yoshi's first co-star game Yoshi was ridden like a horse to be blunt. He used his long tongue to eat enemies. Fun with Koopa shells allowed you to fly and spit fire. Other Yoshi colors were added in the special stages of star world. It would become one of the best platform games ever.

    

     Later on, Yoshi starred for the first time with the tables turned and the time sent backward (see pictures above). In October of 1995, Yoshi debuted in Super Mario World: Yoshi's Island. The game let Yoshi do moves such as egg throw, pound the ground (a move to be famous and used by many other Nintendo characters in the near future), and even ski. It would be the game that sends Yoshi to fame. We at Yoshi Kraze figure that because Baby mario, the baby that cries when he is in danger when Yoshi loses him, was not featured in very many games soon after.

    

     Yoshi would come out with an assortment of games for the Super NES on its course. Yoshi was even found on the original NES in a game called Yoshi and Yoshi Cookie. These games were mostly fillers for Nintendo, games that were fun to play and similar to that of Tetris. Yoshi on the SNES was featured in Yoshi Safari where you used the Super Scope to shoot enemies, like a Safari, on Yoshi while riding around Super Mario World.

    

     Wrapping things up on the SNES of August 1996, Yoshi's Isle was in great danger and needed help from Yoshi and friends. The game was called tetris attack. It was a pictoral edition of tetris. Very different in gameplay and features many characters and backgrounds found in Yoshi's Island for SNES.

    

Nintendo 64

In 1996, Nintendo released the new platform they were proud of called the Nintendo 64. It had 64 megabit and a greater capability on 3D graphics. Many of the first 3D graphics on the SNES were faked 2D hi-defined sprites or were made capable by the FX Chip for the SNES. Now Nintendo had the capability to explore gaming in a 3D realm. In this system, some of the best games of all time were created, and set a foot down for creativity, imagination, and what Nintendo could do as far as the next generation for gaming would continue.

     The first game Yoshi was in for the N64, the shortened name for Nintendo 64, was a cameo appearance. Sadly, Yoshi could only be seen if you got all 120 stars in Super Mario 64. Only then could you go to the roof of Peach's Castle to see him. He would only mention that it had been awhile since the last adventure Mario and Yoshi had together, give you 100 lives, and then jump off the castle into the waterfall. Many tried chasing after Yoshi, but of course, all failed to get him in this game. This is probably the biggest disappointment in the entire game.

    

     The first star game for Yoshi was actually for a group of young Yoshis. It was called Yoshi Story and was a innovative idea from Shigeru Miyamoto. It combined the idea of 3D characters, our Yoshis, within a world of 2D. The story goes that Bowser has used magic to turn the Yoshi Island into a flat pop-up story book. Then, of all thigs, he steals the Super Happy Tree. The Super Happy Tree suplies the fruit for Yoshis to be happy, so without it, they become unhappy and brainwashed. However, overlooked by the fiend, six little Yoshi eggs remain unhatched. When they do hatch, the see and sense things not right and plan out to save the Super Happy Tree. As far as gameplay, you can wander around 6 worlds (4 levels each) of 2D side-scrolling fun. Looking for melons, the Yoshi's favorite fruit, and continueing the quest for the Super Happy Tree and the commitment to show Bowser a thing or two about messing with Yoshis. The game targets more for replay value then anything, so if you have not played this one, it is suggested that you do.

     Yoshi Story was the only starring role Yoshi had. Truthfully, Yoshi has only had two. The rest were multiplayer games that had Yoshi as a featured characters in the game that let you surpass your friends/opponents on your N64 with our friendly green dino. Those games aren't to be forgotten though. Yoshi would drive again in Mario Kart. Mario Kart was where Yoshi put the pedal to the metal and sped off as one of the fastest light-weights in the game.

    

     The Nintendo 64 had many Mario spin-offs. One of the best being Super Smash Bros. for the N64. The game featured several of Nintendo finest mascots, Yoshi as one of them, duking it out in a battle fest that would become on of the most popular fighting genres ever. The game sent Yoshi to fame with his agility and the idea of cute isn't everything look. Then came both Mario Tennis and Mario Golf. Both were Mario mascot spin-offs of some overlooked sports. However, if you ever yawned at golf on TV you might actually get some interest with golf on the N64. Tennis gave some more action then golf and is actually a REALLY great multiplayer game if your into parties.

    

     Wrapping things up for the N64 was another cameo in Paper Mario. It wasn't enough for what the Yoshi fans wanted to see. It was just a glimpse into Yoshi in the volcanic Yoshi Isle. However, there were three great party games that hit the spotlight. They were Mario party One, Two, and Three. They were games truly meant for a large group of people. Games that were great for anytime with family and friends featuring some of the Mushroom Kingdom's finest. (DK was in there because... umm... I don't know why... I kinda found him pointless since he only was in Donkey Kong in 1985 and the first two remakes by RARE for the Super NES.) Anywho, exploring the maps, and using your cunning gaming skill, planning abilities, and a bit luck (or random statistics for you non-believers of luck) that would let you grab many stars to become the Super Star of the Mushroom Kingdom.

    

The Cube

The Nintendo Gamecube would be the latest in the companies consoles. It proved to be VERY innovative as far as how things would save, the controller, and the cube itself. Even the mini-disks were to rave over because they were so small yet packed so much information. This would, of course, lead to bigger and better things in the ideas of how far can a game go.

    

     Super Smash Bros. Melee was everything the original was for N64, but 200 times more! Yoshi is this game was modeled on a basis of between the Super Mario World version and the Mario 64 game version. He does not look like that of his Yoshi Story counterparts, but is still very cool. With Yoshi, you have the power of air moves, quick attacks, and some interesting moves like egg roll and chomp. Yoshi's looks, moves, and all around play give him a great upper hand and a character you want tp pick no matter what anyone else says. Yoshi in Smash Melee is another point that sends him to fame.

    

Yoshi in Sunshine (seen above) shows Yoshi and Mario back to the basics like they started. Later in the game, you can save the tropical version of Yoshi in Isle Delfino for a sure fire way to get to the top of buildings, take out enemies faster, and unlock areas you could not without Yoshi. Of course, Yoshi drowns in water, so avoid jumping into the sea.

That's up to the history of Yoshi's gaming career. This is the shortened version. Really... it is... and that some games (mostly remakes) were not covered.