Pretty much the cutest thing ever. Yoshis Woolly World is a fun new exclusive for the Wii U that unravels just before hitting greatness. Watch or read Kidzworlds review, right here!
Yoshi's Woolly World Video Review
Yoshi's Woolly World for Nintendo's Wii U, is one of the cutest games I have ever played. From the moment I bounced through the first level to the final boss battle, you couldn't pull the grin off my face if you tried.
Beautiful art direction, fun gameplay mechanics and some great music make Yoshi's Woolly World a worthwhile play for platforming fans but an all too familiar feeling keeps it from true greatness.
The folks at Nintendo have the best imagination at times.
Collecting Made Relaxing
I must say, this Yoshi adventure has been one of the more relaxing in my long history with platformers. That's not to say Yoshi's Woolly World isn't challenging, as It certainly has its moments. No, what I'm referring to is the lack of a timer. There's no "clock of death" ticking away and that's a good thing because there is so much stuff to collect and so many secrets to find that you may, like me, find yourself searching every nook and cranny for each gem, bead or bundle of yarn.
The texture work and attention to detail is awesome.
Now this sort of random hunting may not be for everyone but Nintendo balances this in Yoshi's Woolly World by giving players more of a reason to collect than just a higher score. One reason being, Power-Badges.
Power Badges are bought with gems and empower Yoshi with abilities that last an entire level. My favorites two badges allowed me to fall into pits and bounce straight back up or see all the hidden items in a level. There are loads of others though, including an "All You Can Eat Watermelon" badge, which gives Yoshi unlimited seeds to spit at enemies.
Play as different Yoshi's! Shy-Guy Yoshi is a favorite of mine.
Finding 5 bundles of yarn in each level, reconstructs another playable yarn Yoshi as well. The differences between Yoshis are only cosmetic but a few cute ones stand out, Shy Guy Yoshi being my favorite. Then, there are Daisies scattered about each world, 40 to be exact, which will unlock new levels once all are found.
Flirting With Greatness
Level variety is another high point. Each and every level offers its own unique look and some even toy with fun and interesting mechanics, like creating temporary platforms with whisps of cotton clouds. There's a ghost house level (4 - 6) that stands out as well. It has these ever moving curtains that reveal secrets, hidden platforms and also change enemy properties.
Bosses are fun but repetitive.
When looking over all my recorded footage of the game, I realized that there are actually quite a few good levels and I had fun playing them all at the time. But for some reason, they just aren't all that memorable.
The bosses challenging you at the end of each world are fun enough but become all too familiar by the third showdown as each boss is a tweaked version of the last. The formula never changes all too much and that can be said about Woolly World's overall game structure. It's wonderfully crafted, with satisfying gameplay and charm to spare but we've been down this path a million times now. The green and lush world 1, the bronzed pyramid world 2, the slippery ice-world, lava and so on. It rolls out exactly how you might expect it too.
Yoshi's Woolly World flirts with greatness at times but more often than not plays it safe.
Cutest. Thing. EVER.
Like I said in the opening paragraph, Yoshi's Woolly World is ridiculously cute and Nintendo takes full advantage of the hand-crafted esthetic. Yoshi himself will unravel when entering pipes and reconstruct himself upon exiting. His feet turn into the shape of little skates when gliding on ice or into propellers when under water.
Yoshi turns into a dirt bike!
Pulling on pieces of string with Yoshi's tongue will reveal new areas but even that pulled thread will sometimes curl into a butterfly, which then leads you to another secret. There are even a few hidden bonus areas that turn Yoshi into a high speed dirt bike and an umbrella.
Final Thoughts
Nintendo knows how to make people smile and it's is easily one of their biggest strengths.Yoshi's Woolly World is proof of this. It's insanely charming, surprisingly relaxing and most of the time, a heck of a lot of fun. Its biggest drawback only its inability to truly show us something new.
Yoshi's Woolly World is available now for Wii U!Courtesy of Nintendo
Yoshi's Woolly World Game Rating:
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