Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is a 2D Platform Game for 3DS, which was developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo. It is a 2017's 3DS port of 2015's original title for Wii U being the first home console title since 1997's Yoshi's Story for N64.
I grew up playing a platformer games based on Super Mario series which is a worldwide popular franchise in the retro-gaming days had bought us the games like Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario Land, and of course Super Mario World which is a biggest killer apps for Nintendo consoles such as NES, GB, and SNES.
Nintendo went to make a different sub-series based off the character such as Yoshi was first appeared in Super Mario World gets a first title called Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island for SNES
which is heavily regarded as being not just the greatest, but a unique and colourful 2D platformer game ever being released in 1995 thanks to Super FX chip enhancement designed for Nintendo's 16-bit hardware.
After gaining masterpiece reception and sold over 4 million units, the success of Yoshi's Island had established the Yoshi series of spin-offs and sequels such as Yoshi's Story for N64 which is criminally underrated title that didn't get a same love as the predecessor due to focusing more on puzzle-oriented direction over the traditional 2D platformer style which drags away the fans of the first Yoshi game.
Even the Yoshi's Universal Gravitation for GBA and Yoshi Touch and Go for DS is nowhere near as good which is a huge departure of traditional 2D platformer genre does not fit the series personality.
Finally the true sequel made a triumph returns for Yoshi's Island DS bringing a original habit back from the first Yoshi game turns out a solid overall DS title that we all wanted till they butches up with follow-up title for 3DS such as Yoshi's New Island which is a weakest entries of all Yoshi series.
It seems that the Yoshi series are quite has a ups and downs which deems to not had a same success as any Nintendo series such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and Kirby had shares with many great entries than the beloved cute-dinosaur hero which is the reason the Nintendo went for a new creative idea for later Yoshi title such as Yoshi's Woolly World is one of the game that got everything right to redeem the quality to its whole series.
It was praised for imaginative art style, creative gameplay, clever stage design, and colourful visuals that Good-Feel, who was behind their work on Kirby's Epic Yarn, did a amazing job of creating the game with fresh ideas and new experience that is so different from any Yoshi's games.
I am focusing on 3DS version of this game to emphasise the important details that is being compared to Wii U version such as visuals, performance, and contents which I will explain further on the review.
So without go further do, let's start the review.
Presentation
The game sets in a knitted island filled with many Yarn Yoshis of varying patterns are happily peace together until they were being encountered by trouble-maker Kamek the Witch Koopa up to no good by kidnapping all Yoshi's friends for his master Baby Bowser, scattering them across to different worlds.
However, two Yoshis are being lucky for avoid being transformed themselves and they set off their quest to stop Kamek and rescue their Yoshi's friends.
The story is just what you're expecting from the game with basic opening plot is remarkably different from first two Yoshi games. Instead of having all Yoshis to set their adventure of protecting babies or restoring all fruits like from previous Yoshi games, you're just a Yoshi set off to rescue your friends which I think I liked the idea of making the plot just like how Mario set off his adventure to rescue Princess Peach and all Toads from King Bowser from first Super Mario Bros which fits nicely for Yoshi title that is doing something different.
I got to say Yoshi is always been my favourite Nintendo's character for 25 years since I played several of the games that I get to play as him a lot like Mario Kart series, Mario Sports titles, and Super Smash Bros series.
Yoshi is a lovable creature with full of cute and light hearted personality which is the reason why everyone loved him as a character and I also liked his little companion Poochy is a woolly dog that I find him quite adorable.
The villain such as Kamek is hella funny-ass witch because I like how he loses his tempers in every scene before the boss battles as well as Bowser Jr is also acting like a spoiled brat who wanted to conquer Yoshi's homeland to become a future king of the island which I finding these characters quite hilarious in the game.
The whole presentation in the game is full of woolly world made of yarns in every stage locations. I think it made the game lot appealing over the previous title like Yoshi's New Island had suffered with poorly made oil painting style visuals as opposed to woolly made environments that really adds up perfectly for overall in-game design, so it has colourful canyon, spongey cave, kitty hill, firey fortress, tropical beaches, mysterious pyramid, candy land cookies, fluffy snow, and haunting castle that really made the level more eye catching that stands out pretty well for Yoshi games like this.
What I liked about this game is that you can customise and design your Yoshis throughout the Yoshi's hut if you have collected 5 collectable wools items each levels. This will allow you to create your personal appearances of the characters such as Camouflage Yoshis, Mario Yoshis, Moo Moo Yoshis, Shy Guy Yoshis, Jungle Yoshis, Panda Yoshis, SNES Yoshis, Captain Falcon Yoshis, Duck Hunt Yoshis, Samus Yoshis and so many choices that you can create your own favourite Yoshi's skins which is quite awesome, but you also head to amiibo hut to scan your compatible amiibo item such as Yoshi amiibo that transforms Yoshi into non-woolly version of himself.
Overall, it has remarkable opening plot, lovable characters, and woolly presentation design.
Gameplay
Like Yoshi's Island on SNES, you'll have 6 worlds with 8 stages including 2 boss battles each as well as unlockable bonus stage.
The game has two difficulty modes such as classic modes that is heavily focused on same style as the earlier Yoshi's Island are highly recommended for those who has previously played the original game, while mellow mode are more like a friendly option which introduced pair of wings ability for Yoshi, taking less damage, Poochy Pup that helps you find secrets in the game.
You get to play as Yoshi in 2D side-scrolling perspective as your goal is to beat the stage by heading to finishing line.
Yoshi stills retains the moveset from earlier Yoshi's Island game such as his fluttery jump that allow him to reach higher area, break objects by using ground pound in mid-air, and his tongue to spit out or swallow enemies that turns into yarn balls instead of eggs which he can only carry up to 8 yarns.
His yarn balls are mainly used for aiming and attacking the enemies gets tied up together as well as creating the hidden path in certain platforms and objects.
Then you will have to collect beads through out levels which can be spent on stuff like Power Badges that allow to enhance ability in limited time such as recover when falling into bottomless pits, granting more powerful attacks, reducing health damage, and watermelon items such as spiting out seeds, fire to melt ice objects, and ice to freeze enemies or fire objects.
Each levels has multiple paths can be accessed through pipes that leads you to bonus area or secrets as well as some hidden walls.
There are some cool segments in some levels that involves Yoshi being transformed into 7 forms like planes that allow him to fly and shoot missiles, umbrella to float in air, mega size to break enemies and objects, motorbike to drive on walls, mole to bore through rocks, and of course mermaid to dive underwater granting his extra powers within a time limit.
Each of the levels had platforming layouts in the game like paddling the wheels, balancing seesaw to reach higher area, running on yarn-roller, evading hazards such as spikes and lava pits, destroying sponge blocks layouts, walking on fluttering bridge, climbing on cages and scarf-rolls, pushing chomps or huge chunks of snowballs through blocked passage, flipping cookie panels, throwing baby puffins to create line paths to walk across, controlling flying carpets and of course you need a boost from the companion such as Poochy has ability to cross through the ground spikes as well as performing high jump to reach higher area as well as smaller puzzle aspects in the game such as finding 4 key to unlock next area, memorising different paths to gain access exit point and solving switch block that causing dotted-line blocks into red blocks to cross obstacles or reach inaccessible areas within time limit.
Each levels has numerous of 5 collectable wools and and 5 flower items can be found in some areas, so if you have collect them all then you will unlock a bonus stage may appear on level select.
As a 3DS version, you get to control Poochy on his bonus mode called Poochy Dash where you had to collect many beads as possible to get a current hi-score as well as completing tasks.
The controls in the game is just what you expecting from Yoshi games because it is really good to have a control options with your preferred preferences like I always preferred choosing the classic style controls over the modern-controls because it is really easier for gamers like me who previously had played Yoshi's Island on SNES making it easier to aim and throw eggs at enemies and objects which really fits my style of gameplay controls, but I don't think I recommend turning on tilt controls which is kinda pointless for 2D platformer is better off sticking with regular options.
The levels in the game is quite creative thanks to platforming layouts, transforming segment, and puzzle aspects which I think it creates a new ways of adding the game mechanics which is good for most part, but I think setting the mellow mode on just kinda ruins the fun of the game which allowing you to skip past the level way too quickly, so you better off setting the classic mode on for entire game.
I got to say the boss battle is kinda way too easy especially playing on classic mode because it is easier to memorise boss's patterns and only has 3 damage hits to defeat that I finding the bosses kinda underpowered in my opinion, so I wish they could have add 2 more damage hits and making boss's patterns impossible to evade things that could made the game bit challenge doesn't mean its every thing bad about the game because I fully understand the game is designed for little children, but at least make it bit fairer for pro gamer who enjoys more on mild difficulty.
It's a shame that the 3DS version did not include 2-player co-op like from Wii U version that could have made the game fun with the friends if its included in the 3DS port.
So far, I've managed to enjoy the whole game had turned out to be quite decent thanks to 6 unique worlds with creative levels, collectable items, designing your own Yoshis, and sharing with replay values is what I've liked about the game that is worth playing again in sometime future.
Overall, it has creative levels, clever gameplay mechanics, and fair replay values.
Graphics
The game is visually stunning for 3DS hardware that nails the game perfectly thanks to colourful art-style filled with woolly yarns fit nicely on level environments and detailed characters followed by a great use of animation and special effects that looks really amazing in entire game.
I have no problem with the size of the screen resolution on the 3DS which is smaller compared with the Wii U version that doesn't affect the overall fun of the game regarding with the size of the levels and screen HUD layout is absolutely fine the way it should when playing on your 3DS system.
The overall performance is quite stable in most part which I didn't get any of performance issues entirely and the game are also looked fascinating with the use of 3D effects in most levels.
Overall, it has colourful art-style design, great animation and effects, and stable performance.
Music and Sounds
The original soundtrack does have a similar vibes as Yoshi's Story on N64 which is pretty good for most part in the game.
It has very happy and charming songs for some levels, while others has catchy epic tunes that fits the game's personality, so it was composed by Kazumi Totaka is not the only who created the original music, but also a major voice for Yoshi did a stunning job in whole game.
The sound quality in the game is pretty incredible on 3DS system gets a same charm as the original Wii U version retaining all sound effects and design for whole game.
Overall, it has charming soundtrack and incredible sound design.
Special Features
The craft island has selectable areas to choose from such as Yoshi's hut to customise Yoshis, Poochy's Hut for mini-game, Scrapbook hut to watch cutscenes and bonus videos, amiibo hut to scan amiibo item, and unlockable boss tents.
Overall, an impressive feature.
Advantages
Cutey presentation
Lovable characters
Designing your own Yoshis
Creative levels
Clever gameplay mechanics
Colourful art-style design
Charming soundtrack
Fair replay values
Disadvantages
Missing out 2-player co-op
Mellow mode kinda ruins the game's fun
Way too easy to defeat bosses
Final Verdict
Presentation 9/10 - remarkable opening plot, lovable characters, and woolly presentation design.
Gameplay 7/10 - creative levels, clever gameplay mechanics, and fair replay values.
Graphics 8.5/10 - colourful art-style design, great animation and effects, and stable performance.
Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - charming soundtrack and incredible sound design.
Special Features 8/10 - Yoshi's hut to customise Yoshis, Poochy's Hut for mini-game, Scrapbook hut to watch cutscenes and bonus videos, amiibo hut to scan amiibo item, and unlockable boss tents.
Overall 7.5/10 - Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is a decent 3DS conversion of original Wii U version that didn't disappoint the fan of the series should gets a hands on with another Yoshi's adventures featuring customise your own Yoshis, unique worlds to choose from, has variation of creative gameplay design, and has bonus Poochy's mini-games that is the reason why I've liked the game on my 3DS, but I'll admit the Wii U version is slightly better for including 2-player co-op which adds the fun factor of the game, so don't get me wrong because this version of the game is still stepping in the right direction trying to be just as faithful as the original form.
I am glad that Good-Feel did a solid job on the 3DS counterpart as well as being a better Yoshi's games on the 3DS library since Yoshi's New Island did not live up to our expectation, so this game is only recommended for those who owns 3DS system because I feel that the Wii U owners, who already had the game on their Wii U collection, don't have to buy another version of original game.
That being said, it is a charming 2D platformer that the family and kids can enjoy the full exciting adventures of Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World.
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