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Yoshi's Island DS

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7.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 42 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 18 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Platform, Action

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 13, 2006

Summary

Return to the colorful wilds of Yoshi's Island in a new platforming adventure for Nintendo DS. A mysterious floating island has suddenly appeared over peaceful Yoshi’s Island. Soon after its arrival, a gaggle of kids vanishes from the island school. Thankfully, Baby Mario, Baby Peach and Baby Donkey Kong manage to avoid being kidnapped. Now, Yoshi and the three young superstars must set out on a wild and colorful quest to rescue the kids and investigate the ominous island hovering overhead. Thanks to the power of Nintendo DS, all of the lush vistas and perilous paths of Yoshi's Island span two screens. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Cheat Code Central

It’s improved in every way but still retains all of the elements that made the original an instant classic.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Much better than most other games on the DS. In particular it puts New Super Mario Bros to shame.

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GameSpot

Yoshi's Island DS is a terrific platformer that's every bit as fun and charming as its predecessor.

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GameDaily

Twists, such as the ability to play with different attributes thanks to Baby Mario, Baby Princess Peach, Baby DK, and more add variety to an extremely fun adventure. Through 40-plus levels, vibrant graphics and lively environments make things feel fresh and unique.

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Play Magazine

Yoshi's crayon-sketched world is a lot like the original game on the Super Nintendo, its bright and creative spirit alive and flourishing in this most successful sequel. [Dec. 2006, p.89]

Games Radar (in-house)

In a time when 2D platformers seem to be fading into gaming history, for fans of the SNES it's downright heartwarming to see a sequel that is true to the classic.

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Deeko

This game is a testament that a game doesn't have to become three dimensional to be successful. If you don't like this game within the first ten minutes of play, then maybe you are the real baby.

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Pocket Gamer UK

Not only is Yoshi's Island DS huge, cute, innovative and beautifully presented, its layering of light platforming skills and hardcore item collection mean it's ideal for all abilities.

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Digital Entertainment News

Nintendo finally gets around to making up for Yoshi’s Touch and Go with this amazing follow up to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. Easily one of the best in the genre, Yoshi’s Island DS is a fun, colorful, and energetic platform game that every Nintendo DS owner should play.

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Thunderbolt

A truly great platforming game.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

One of the best platformers on the DS. [Jan 2007, p.75]

Console Gameworld

For those expecting more of the same platforming greatness that they found in the original Yoshi's Island, you'll most likely love this game. For those expecting more of an evolution of an 11 year old game, you may be somewhat disappointed.

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Extreme Gamer

If you have ever been a fan of the traditional Mario styled gameplay then you will instantly love Yoshi's Island.

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NGamer UK

Though there are problems, and though it doesn't actually match up to the magic of the original, Yoshi's Island DS is still a great little game. [January 2007, p.70]

NintendoWorldReport

Yoshi’s Island DS may not be perfect, but it is still a great game, even by Mario standards, and should leave a grin on your face as big as Yoshi’s.

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GamePro

Fun and light-hearted play. A tongue of praise to Yoshi's Island 2 for not only remaining true to the classical style but also adding new elements to keep things fresh.

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Nintendojo

Fans should be content with the challenging main game and incredible amount of unlockable content similar to the original game.

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Game Informer

With tons of hidden items to collect across the game’s five worlds, numerous minigames to unlock, and fantastic use of the multiple screens, Yoshi’s Island DS is an outstanding addition to the DS’s list of impressive platformers.

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Games Master UK

Touched with that Nintendo genius, but it's a very familiar kind of genius. [Jan 2007, p.64]

DarkStation

Nintendo continues to dominate the handheld market with this cutesy but highly playable platformer. A must for Yoshi fans everywhere.

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N-Europe

A real platforming gem. Add another point to the score if you never played the original.

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games(TM)

It retains the proven mechanics and then adds tiny touches that make the old formula even better. [Jan 2007, p.106]

PALGN

While it may not topple the original’s success by any means, this is still a worthwhile title for DS owners.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Yoshi's Island is a paradise of platforming pleasure and the perfect holiday destination this summer.

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VideoGamer

Artoon has suffered from trying to be a bit too clever with the dual screen system.

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GameSpy

It's just that compared to the original, it's nowhere near as polished.

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IGN

No huge surprises, and no significant additions to the genre...it's just a solid recreation of the Yoshi's Island elements in a two-screen-high format. It's fun and challenging with a couple of unpolished quirks.

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Modojo

A classic, lengthy, & challenging platforming experience - the type of game we don't see enough of, anymore. And make no mistake - the game gets CRAZY hard, later on. This is no pushover like "NSMB" or "Super Princess Peach." You WILL die dozens of times in the last world, and bosses WILL stump you.

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Nintendo Power

A new Yoshi platformer may not bear the same crushing weight of expectations that accompanies a Mario platformer, but it does carry the Super Mario World DNA in its genes--and fans of the franchise are legion. [Jan. 2007, p.100]

Da Gameboyz

The lack of a multiplayer mode was somewhat disappointing but rest assured should you decide to pick up and purchase this title you won’t be disappointed by the rest of the package.

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Boomtown

A pleasure to experience from start to finish. It’s thorough, pretty, sometimes challenging and downright fun to play.

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Pelit (Finland)

A good, solid platform-adventure. [Feb 2007]

GameZone

It may not be the most original platformer, but as the old saying goes, "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

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Gaming Target

For veterans it will get old fast, while new players may find more to sink their teeth into.

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My Gamer

The game is rather forgiving in the sense that it passes out free lives like tap water, but the dastardly soundtrack is not.

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Yahoo! Games

A bit too by-the-book to have the magic of the original, but it's still a good game.

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Eurogamer

But really it all comes back to the fact that Yoshi's Island was doing almost everything for the first time, and Artoon is cribbing from the same notes.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

It's an adequate platformer, yes--with solid controls and great first-half pacing--but I'd never choose this over the sublime original. [Dec. 2006, p.150

1UP

Honestly, though, that's part of the problem. Way too much of your new game feels like you're just playing it safe.

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Gamestyle

The first three worlds certainly are great fun and the boss design and different babies help add some invention. But as soon as you have seen the back of the third world it all becomes a frustrating mess of a game.

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Edge Magazine

A workmanlike effort. [Jan 2007, p.78]

Game Revolution

The DS version is a fun game, but it doesn’t improve on the original enough to break it out of the museum and into your collection.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Samantha F. gave it a10:
I love this game! I truly recommend it to kids, and adults! You will truly hove your true gaming experience with this game.

Ben gave it a10:
It's a great game! It's not too hard and not too easy, so provides a nice challenge the whole way through. Only game that's kept my attention long enough to even come close to beating.

Megan H. gave it a9:
really fun and imaganitive. But quite hard on the the 3rd and 4th level.

Sheree C. gave it a10:
If you like any of the Mario Bros games, you'll love this. Great fun.

Andrew C. gave it a7:
I am a HUGE fan of the original game, but I'm not so big on this one. Why? Well, for one, it's so similar that it hardly feels different at all. Second, the bosses are kind of boring and the levels too huge to be interesting. Lastly, the difficulty level is brutal. Don't underestimate it due to its cute visuals - if you want to find all the secrets, or just pass the game, it's going to take a lot of frustrating moments. It isn't fun challenging, it's annoying hard. That's why I don't like it.

A Sibal gave it an8:
This is my first DS game (as I got a DS lite just recently) and I can say it's a good way to motivate me to simply buy some more DS games. It's a great game in its own right but then the sailor-stream-profanities I seem to blurt out is inversely proportional to the saccharine graphics. Mind you, it's a perfectionist's nightmare, but at least you get lots of fun while you're at it.

Kevin R. gave it an8:
A good game that, despite sharing many similarities to its predecessor, just does not quite capture its charm.

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Yoshi's Island DS

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

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