Back in 2015, Good-Feel unleashed their second yarn-based platformer and now it's available for 3DS. However, does this bite-sized version improve on the beloved original? Well, it does feature more cute canine content than you can shake a knitting needle at!
The following is a list of Yoshi's Woolly World and Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World Yoshi designs that are unlocked throughout the game. Most designs are unlocked by collecting Wonder Wool scattered through each level. Other designs are unlocked through scanning certain amiibo, listed below.
Before we begin, I already reviewed the Wii U version over a year ago so this review will be focused on how that experience translates to 3DS. Therefore, if you've played the Wii U version and just want to know if this 3DS iteration is worth adding to your collection then please keep reading. However, if you're unfamiliar with the original Yoshi's Woolly World then please head over to my full review before reading any further.
Now that that's out of the way, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World is basically the same game as the vanilla version. Obviously, it's now portable and also in 3D. Being able to carry around such an awesome platformer on the go is a fantastic treat. You'll encounter the same adorable enemies, lovely environments, head-scratching puzzles, tricky platforming situations, and memorable boss fights as before. On top of that, the 3D component makes it feel like you're playing a live puppet show. Some moments in particular stand out in such a wonderful way that they'll remind you why the 3DS is such a special handheld device.
One aspect of Yoshi's Woolly World that I absolutely love is the ability to play it cooperatively. Having a friend join you in such a cute and lively world makes it so much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, there is no multiplayer in this iteration at all. I wish there were at least Download Play mini-games or even local wireless multiplayer for pals who both own a copy. Instead, you have to play the entire campaign by yourself. On the other hand, you can invite virtual companions to join you via the amiibo support. You can control additional Yoshis simultaneously while the Poochy amiibo has the adorable doggy run amok on his own accord. As he excitedly skips about, he'll attack enemies and help you collect goodies. You can even ride him around which is great for whenever Yoshi's feet get tired.
Besides the Poochy amiibo, there's a whole new mini-game to play. Entering the Poochy Hut grants you access to six stages based on the campaign's themed worlds. In these stages, you command an automatically moving Poochy to jump and slide in order to avoid hazards and collect beads. Doing so allows you to complete missions such as obtain 1500 beads, pop three balloons, perform a stage-specific stunt, and those who have a Poochy amiibo can challenge a time attack mode, too. It may not occupy hours of your gaming time but this extra mode is definitely very fun and adds some welcome variety to the overall experience.
Believe it or not, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World includes even more exclusive content. Yoshi Theater contains 31 short films that are some of the cutest things that I've ever seen. Considering you get a new video every day, it'll take a while to unlock them all but you could watch a few on Nintendo's YouTube channel (for example, Go Fetch, Peek-a-boo, and Cake). For those who love designing, you now have a couple of new options in the Yoshi Hut. You can create your own patterns with the Craft Yoshi option and receive designs from others via StreetPass. Also, instead of acquiring Miiverse stamps, you now unlock craft materials while completing stages.
Another welcome inclusion is Mellow Mode which makes the challenge as easy as pie. Specifically, Yoshi gets wings that allow him to float in a straight line, he has more health and receives more hearts, you get an invincibility egg if you manage to fail a course five times, Poochy pups will help find secrets (how cute!), and you can skip stages instantly via a pricey badge. These factors obviously make the adventure far too easy but I can see that they'll allow younger folks to enjoy the tale at their own pace.
Besides the lack of multiplayer, another significant downside is that the overworld in Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World is frankly boring when you consider the one in the original. Whereas the Wii U version had large areas to run around and Miiverse characters scattered about, the overworld here is simply a linear path that links the stages together one after the other. It's pretty drab in comparison.
Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World may be lacking in a couple of areas when you compare it to 2015's platforming gem but it more than makes up for these aspects by including a handful of fantastic new additions. Even if you already own and love the Wii U version, Poochy & Yoshi will feel right at home on your 3DS, too.
- + Same incredible platforming that now fits in your pocket and is in 3D
- + Loads of exclusive extra content
- + Mellow mode is fun for youngsters
- - No multiplayer whatsoever
- - Overworld is mostly underwhelming
The sphere of video games aimed at children has become increasingly cluttered with overpriced plastic toys, flashy microtransaction emotes vying for adolescent attention, and mind-numbingly repetitive slogs through copy-and-paste LEGO games. Paradoxically, Yoshi's Crafted World feels fresh by being something more traditional: a 2.5D platformer with an emphasis on collecting all its hidden goodies. It's cutesy, creative, stuffed with content, and full of optional challenges to entertain and delight platforming perfectionists and first-timers alike.
Yoshi's Crafted World utilizes a tried and tested platformer formula that still works wonders – especially when it's executed this well. You play as your choice of colored Yoshi and saunter through the sizable number of levels while collecting the hidden Smiley Flowers scattered throughout each one. The mechanics here are simple: you can jump, briefly flutter at the end of your leaps, swallow enemies to make eggs to toss, and ground pound into the floor. The modest mechanics allow you to quickly grasp the basics and get on to the fun part: collecting stuff.
Collectibles are the primary focus in this Yoshi installment, and crossing each one off your list is met with an inherent sense of satisfaction thanks to how well each one is hidden and how effectively everything is tracked. Your close attention and scrutiny is required to find concealed areas and to pick out things in the background that could use an egg hurled their way. When you're bopped out to the overworld map between stages, the excellent collectible menu lets you easily see what you've missed in each level, and you can teleport directly there with the press of a button, so backtracking is a breeze. You only need a small number of the Smiley Flowers to progress onward, but the pull to collect them all is so strong that you'll likely never find yourself lacking the number needed.
Attempting to collect everything in Yoshi's Crafted World is made more enticing thanks to how intelligently designed its side-scrolling levels are. Level geometry is carefully choreographed to draw your attention to secret spots, and new mechanics are gradually introduced before things begin to ramp up. Each stage is filled with unique enemies, level contraptions, and vehicles (including an awesome Yoshi Mech); but you're always allowed time for experimentation before the challenge begins kicking in. The first few areas are a bit dull since they don't have much going on, but novel new mechanics, interesting ideas, and fresh level gimmicks quickly start seeping in to keep the meaty amount of content here enjoyable. High-score sections are peppered throughout to provide a welcome change of pace, and almost every stage has a Poochy Pup variant that has you scouring familiar locations for three yelping baby canines. There's plenty to do in Yoshi's Crafted World, and nearly all of it is enjoyable to partake in.
Being a successor to the stylistically unique Yoshi's Woolly World, this arts & crafts inspired installment is stylish, but it doesn't deliver on all the promise inherent in its premise. The general look of everything isn't all that striking – a fuzzy-looking Yoshi running through cardboard cut-outs and colorful construction paper gives everything a notably less-polished feel. Some of the game's worlds have cool themes like a ninja dojo that requires you to navigate via silhouettes or a an excellent pirate stage that has you blowing up ships full of Shy Guys, but the cooler ideas are rarely influenced by the crafty aesthetic. There's also some stunning stop-motion effects, but they're severely underutilized. Despite having “Crafted” in the title, this Yoshi sequel feels more like the Yoshi of old than it does an interesting twist or advancement of an established formula. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's hard not to feel let down when comparing this to its far more fetching predecessor.
One thing Yoshi's Crafted World does get right when compared to its precursor is its difficulty. Rolling credits isn't much of a challenge, but getting every Smiley Flower is. A keen eye and quick reflexes are required to find all the goodies, and there's a bonus flower in each stage for finishing with full health. You can ratchet the difficulty down a bit by using costumes that'll let you take a few hits before your health bar is exposed, and there's an easier mode that decreases the damage you take and gives your Yoshi a pair of wings to make platforming even easier. Thankfully, the bits that make the game easier are entirely optional, and there are some legitimately tough post-game stages that make for great tests of platforming prowess.
Despite striking the right balance in terms of difficulty, there are a few nagging issues with targeting here that cause unneeded frustration. You'll have to toss eggs at countless targets to reveal collectibles, and – credit where it's due – the egg-tossing controls here are better than they have been in any Yoshi game to date. There aren't any motion control options here – everything is controlled with traditional buttons and sticks, and there are next to no issues on that front. You're able to freely move your targeting cursor around the screen to pick your target, but trying to hit something that isn't on the same plane as you can be infuriating. Your crosshairs must be positioned directly over any potential target if it's in the background or foreground. To make matters worse, you might need to quickly throw an egg in front of you to dispatch an enemy only to have your cursor drift over something in the background, rendering your throw ineffective and wasting an egg. There had to be a better way to handle such a system, and it really stands out in a game that's otherwise frictionless.
Multiplayer makes a return, and it's full of ups and downs. With a couple exceptions, every level can be played alongside a friend that has full control over their own dinosaur pal, allowing you to take on the armies of Shy Guys and the boisterous boss battles together. The inclusion of couch co-op is extremely welcome, especially at a time in which such a thing is becoming increasingly rare, but the on-screen chaos when a second player joins the fray is often too much. You can accidentally swallow the other player which causes their egg supply to vanish; if your companion jumps on your back, you're no longer able to toss any eggs yourself; and you both need to stay on screen, or else one of you will be arbitrarily forced to respawn. Combine that with all the chaos that'll ensue when you're both fighting over enemies to swallow for more egg ammunition, and it's often a recipe for disaster. There's still fun to be had with the co-op, and there were some smart design decisions made to try and accommodate two simultaneous players, but it's clear that it's not the way Yoshi's Crafted World was meant to be played.
Yoshi's Woolly World Overworld Park
There can be a lot happening on screen at any one time, especially when you add a friend into the mix, but performance here is rock-solid. Gameplay is silky smooth, and hitches only occur in a couple of the busy boss battles. The overworld map and cutscenes run at half the framerate which is admittedly jarring, but all the gameplay sections are kept smooth and responsive regardless of whether you're playing portably or docked.
As a sequel to Yoshi's Woolly World, it's hard not to be disappointed by this entry's underwhelming aesthetics. However, as a Yoshi game, this is as good as it's ever been for Nintendo's endearing green dino. It's dangerously easy to find yourself committed to this game's many collectibles. Clever level design, an abundance of variety, and heaps of content make Yoshi's Crafted World well worth its full retail price if you're not picking it up solely for the co-op.