Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super NES
Game info
System: Super NES
Genre: Action/platforming
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
Save: Battery; 3 slots
Memory size: 16 megabits
SRAM size: 64 kilobits
Series: Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island screen shot
Release info
[USA] Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Date: 10/??/1995 ESRB: K-A Catalog #: SNS-YI-USA  
[Japan] スーパーマリオ ヨッシーアイランド
(Super Mario: Yoshi Island)
Date: 8/5/1995 Catalog #: SHVC-YI-JPN  
[Europe] Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Date: 10/6/1995  
Overview

The sequel to Super Mario World takes place in Mario's past, but thankfully it still used modern-day technology. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island was the first and only Mario game to use the Super FX2 graphics chip. With this chip, Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka created a new programming technique: Morphmation. Enemies (especially the bosses) grow, shrink, rotate, morph, and sometimes take up the entire screen! The cartridge's modest 16mbits of memory allowed for over 100 different enemies ravaging 54 levels. In terms of level size, this is the biggest Mario game we'll see for a while...

Plot
Kamek, a magikoopa, prophesied that twins born this morning would bring ruin to the Koopa family. And as he predicted, that very morning a stork is delivering a pair of twins to their parents. Kamek grabs his broom and heads off to catch the stork in mid-flight. His plan is simple: Ambush the stork and kidnap the babies. But Kamek only grabs one, and the other baby falls to the island below.

Baby Mario lands safely on Yoshi's Island. The Yoshies find Mario, along with a map that leads to his parents' house. Using a relay system, the Yoshies must work together to reunite baby Mario with his brother, and make sure the twins get home safely.

Gameplay
At first glance, SMW2 looks like your average Mario platform game. Except this time, you control the very resourceful Yoshi. He can now throw eggs, pound the ground, ski, and morph into various vehicles. Baby Mario rides on Yoshi's back during the entire game. If Yoshi touches an enemy or spike, Baby Mario gets thrown off of Yoshi, and floats around in a bubble. If Yoshi can't reclaim him before the Countdown Timer reaches zero, Kamek's Toadies snatch Baby Mario away and you'll lose a life. The Countdown Timer resets at 10 seconds for each level, but can be raised to a maximum 30 seconds by collecting Stars and going through "middle rings."

Scoring
Collecting five Flowers, 20 Red Coins, and 30 Stars in one level will give you 100 points, or 100% for that level. Flowers are 10 points each, Red Coins one point each, and Stars (which is actually how many seconds were left on your Countdown Timer) one point each. Getting 100% for each of the eight levels in a World will open up an Extra stage for that World. If you can get 100% in all 6 Extra stages, consider yourself an advanced player.

Outside references

Dr. Feelgood
The name of the snowman character "Dr. Freezegood" is either a homage to the British punk band "Dr. Feelgood" or the Mötley Crüe single of the same name. Dr. Feelgood is also a nickname given to physicians who overprescribe psychoactive medications.

Hootie & the Blowfish
The name of the enemy "Hootie the Blue Fish" is a parody on the name of this rock band.

John Garner
The "Cactus Jack" enemy shares the nickname of this famous American politician and 32nd US Vice President.

Loch Ness
The name of the fish enemy "Loch Nestor" is a pun on the name of this infamous Scottish lake.

More info Media
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The Mushroom Kingdom \ The Games \ Super NES \ Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island