Yoshis-Island-DS
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'Personal Transport Dinosaur' doesn't do traffic jams
Who could have possibly called this one? While many have spent the last decade or two fretting over the environmental impact of carbon emissions from cars, the real answer to our transport/pollution woes were to be found in a 1990 videogame all along!The fact that the solution also consumes and then rapidly converts our foes into eggs ... well damn, that's just the icing on the sweetest of cakes.[Via GoNintendo]
Some Yoshi antics
If you've been holding off on picking up Yoshi's Island DS because you've never played the original and had no idea what to expect from the game or, in changing the roster up a little bit felt the game would be altered for the worse, then we suggest you watch the embedded video, available after the break, and see some of the action in-game.
Yoshi's Island ad, now with more tongue
We've been all abuzz when it comes to Nintendo's ads lately, but this new commercial for Yoshi's Island DS falls a little flat. Sure, it's cute, and it communicates the game well. Of course, we love the tongue, and the addition of the pink DS Lite is nice -- since pink is typically associated with girls (and, of course, real men who aren't afraid to wear it), there's a subtle messages that this game is girl-approved. Since we suggested it in lieu of a few others recently, we're all sorts of down with that impression. But all is not rainbows and coin-filled bricks in Nintendo land, despite the new ad's positive qualities. Here's our beef: when it comes to the US market for this title, where are the ads like this one? When the two are watched side by side, is it any wonder that Americans seem more likely to push the DS aside as a kiddy system? Today's ad seems aimed at a younger audience, while the UK ad is more polished and adult -- and includes the same game (though others as well). It's hard to move beyond a stereotype and pick up a new audience when you promote the very image for which you're already famous. Gamers know that where there is Yoshi, there is typically goodness, so there's no need to sell to us ... but what about everyone else? Where's our saucy blonde to prove that happy-funtime-Yoshi action is good for everyone? Sure, there have been (and will be) plenty of DS ads that don't seem quite so kid-centric. But these are in the same pre-holiday advertising window, so we thought it might be interesting to compare them -- particularly since the same game is in each. Which do you think is most effective? Will today's ad manage to sell the game to a new audience, or do you think an ad aimed at a different market would be better? Do you think the American ad is actually as effective or moreso than the UK DS spot? Tell us what you think!
Metareview - Yoshi's Island DS
The original Yoshi's Island has attained G.O.A.T.* status. True, not everyone agrees that it's the single-greatest 2D platformer ever, but SNES's Yoshi's Island certainly ranks among the best. Now, more than a decade later, Nintendo has finally published a true sequel (we don't count N64's Yoshi's Story). But with Artoon (responsible for GBA's ill-received Yoshi Topsy Turvy) sharing development duties, there's been some doubt about Yoshi's Island DS's ability to escape the shadow of its heralded predecessor. GameSpot (91/100) - "It's hard to top a masterpiece, but that's just what Nintendo and Artoon have done with Yoshi's Island DS." IGN (80/100) - "Perhaps the designers stuck too close to the established design in this new game, since it really ruins a lot of the surprises if you've already played through the original ... [Yoshi's Island DS] runs into the problem of not doing enough to make it its own game." EGM (68/100) - "I'd never choose this over the sublime original." Current overall average: 83/100 (6 reviews) *Greatest Of All-Time
Yoshi's Island site open for clicking
The official minisite for Yoshi's Island DS is up, and it is so very clickable! Make sure you slide your mouse pointer around, as there's music hidden in one of the flowers. Under "see more" by the DS, there's a very simple introduction to the game and the characters that's quite charming. The bad news: the site content, while cute, is pretty thin for now, but they promise more is coming, so keep an eye out. The game hits stores November 13.
Changes for Yoshi's Island
If you were hoping to lash friends with Yoshi's tongue, looks like today might not be your lucky day. Yoshi's Island DS (formerly Yoshi's Island 2) seems to have lost its WiFi features; at least, the icon is no longer on the boxart. But it does seem that many of the elements that made the first foray into Yoshi's Island so fun will be resident in this sequel as well. Throw in a little touchscreen functionality and you've got the recipe for a new classic, WiFi or no. Check after the jump for two brand new screens.
Yoshi's Island 2 preview
Several gamers are claiming that Yoshi's Island is indeed one of the best 2D platformers... of all time. Then there seems to be a general understanding that things were falling apart with Yoshi's Story and that this little DS game could pull the series out of its so called slump and put it back on the map. It seems highly possible since Nintendo is introducing Wi-Fi and new baby characters of our all time favorites. Gameworld Networks has put together a preview filled with all the info we know about Yoshi's Island 2 and they are really hyped about it. [Via Go Nintendo]
