Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Good-Feel
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Platformer
Release Date: March 29, 2019
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a 2.5D Nintendo Switch sidescrolling platformer developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo. It is the the eighth mainline instalment in the Yoshi franchise.
Development
Yoshi’s Crafted World was first revealed by Nintendo at E3 2017. Revealed with just the tentative title Yoshi, the game was originally scheduled for a 2018 launch. The game was revealed in full a year later in June 2018 as Yoshi’s Crafted World, when it was also confirmed that its release had been delayed, and that it would instead be releasing in 2019. The final release date of March 29, 2019 was confirmed by Nintendo via their Twitter account in January 2019.
Development of the game was handled by Good-Feel, who has also developed previous Yoshi title Yoshi’s Woolly World for the Wii U, as well as its Nintendo 3DS port Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World. The game was developed on Unreal Engine 4, making it the first Nintendo game ever to be developed using the engine. A demo for the game, containing the first level, was also released in February 2019.
Story
The game is set on Yoshi’s Island, where all Yoshis live peacefully. At the top of the tallest peak on the island rests a gem-set stone known as the Sundream Stone, which is an artefact that is said to hold powers to make dreams come true. Kamek and Baby Bowser learn about the gem’s powers, but when they attempt to steal it, the Stone’s gems are sent flying in all directions throughout the island, as are the Yoshis, Kamer, and Baby Bowser. It then falls to the Yoshis to recover the gems and repair the Sundream Stone.
Gameplay
Unlike its predecessor Yoshi’s Woolly World, Yoshi is not made of yarn, but instead of a handcrafted fabric-like material. The rest of the game sports the same aesthetic as well, evoking similarities with Yoshi’s Woolly World and Kirby’s Epic Yarn, but while adopting a different visual style. The game is played from a 2D sidescrolling perspective, with 3D characters moving around in a 2.5D plane. In some levels, players can move and interact with the environments in three dimensions as well, and are allowed to move forwards an backwards as well.
Yoshi can directly aim at specific spots in the environment to throw eggs, to reveal hidden passageways or solve environmental puzzles. During the game’s initial reveal, Yoshi was shown to be “flipping” the stages to be able to interact with them from opposite viewpoints, but this gameplay mechanic was eventually toned down, and emphasized less in the final game.
Yoshi’s Crafted World also has a multiplayer mode for up to two players, with each player controlling their own Yoshi. In co-op, Yoshis can now also ride on each other. Players can also attempt a second bonus run through each level. These are played from the opposite perspective as ordinary levels, and contain three Poochy Pups hiding in the environment. Players have to aim and throw eggs at hidden Poochy Pups to reveal them, which then follow Yoshi throughout the rest of the level, with the ultimate objective being to lead all three Poochy Pups to the end of the level.
The game also sees the return of Poochy, a canine companion that follows Yoshi around and can be ridden, and controlled to hit obstacles in the environments as well as enemies. Like previous Yoshi titles, there are also collectible items scattered throughout each stage, which come in the form of Red Coins and Blue Coins. Red Coins are easily found and usually scattered with regular Yellow Coins in every level, with there being a total of twenty Red Coins per each level. Red Coins can also be found with Fly Guys, who need to be hit with eggs. Blue Coins are harder to find, and are carried by Shy Guys throughout the level. Defeating Shy Guys by hitting them with eggs can yield Blue Coins. Smiley Flowers are also collectible items, which are scattered and hidden throughout the level.
Several levels and areas for the game have been confirmed by Nintendo. These include the Rail-Yard Run, which is a world featuring a train and a town; Sunshine Station, a level with the Rail-Yard Run world; Ninjarama, a ninja-themed sub-world; Depective Doors, a level in Ninjarama; a carnival themed world called Cardstock Carnival; a world called Pastel Pathway; Poochy’s Sweet Run and Stitched together, two levels within Pastel Pathway; Haunted Maker Mansion, a haunted graveyard level; a desert area; a forest area; a town area during nighttime; a town area covered in fog; and a factory-like area.
Several different kinds of Yoshis are playable, with regular Yoshi, Red Yoshi, Blue Yoshi, Light Blue Yoshi, Pink Yoshi, Purple Yoshi, Orange Yoshi, and Yellow Yoshi all being among available playable characters in the game. During co-op multiplayer, each player controls a different Yoshi. Several features, mechanics, and staples of the Yoshi franchise’s previous entries also return, such as being able to eat enemies or object, or turning them into eggs. Yoshi can also unlock cardboard costumes to wear, which also provide him defensive buffs. Some of the designs of these cardboard boxes are based on Nintendo Labo, and Bullet Bill.
Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)