Launched in 2006, this was a direct sequel to SNES classic Yoshi’s Island (1995), with Nintendo handing the Yoshi rights over to Japanese developer Artoon (founded by Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Naoto Ohshima).
Artoon went defunct in 2010, so Yoshi’s Island DS is a curiosity. A non-Nintendo Yoshi platformer made by a now gone developer.
The game was available on Nintendo’s handheld the DS, but also launched on the Wii U in 2015. We downloaded it from there and caught up with the thing.
Yoshi’s Island DS Platforming That TRIES for Greatness but Falls Short
Yeah, so Yoshi’s Island is one of our all-time favourite games. We had no idea Yoshi’s Island DS was a sequel, presuming at first it was a port of the SNES classic to the DS.
We were rather excited to get to play it, although disappointed to learn Nintendo didn’t have much input 10 years on from their classic.
The Nintendo DS handheld had a top and bottom screen. As we pointed out in our play time of DS classics like Zelda: Spirit Tracks this doesn’t translate very well to anything other than the DS.
Despite the awkward nature of the setup, we were still very pleased to get to play the game. Although Artoon used the top screen functionality to allow Yoshi to see higher up than normal, this gameplay mechanic is far from free-flowing.
But at times it does work very well for platforming fun.
However, Artoon did rely very heavily on Nintendo’s setup on Yoshi’s Island. The pastel/crayon graphics are there again and the same Baby Mario setup.
If you get hit by a baddie, Baby Mario launches into the air wailing and you must rescue him. This all plays out in less challenging fashion than on Yoshi’s Island.
Artoon’s effort is aimed much more at younger players, we’d say, probably because Nintendo’s Yoshi’s Story (1998), a game we classed as “disgustingly cute”, on the N64 had taken the series down that route.
Yes, then, we must note to having some reservations about Yoshi’s Island DS.
Despite the best efforts of Artoon’s developers, that X factor quality of Nintendo’s creative genius is missing here. We don’t know how Nintendo has maintained this over the last 40 years, but it just has that extra special something.
Artoon tried to capture that in Yoshi’s Island DS.
It did a bloody good job. But the result is platforming that doesn’t offer consistently brilliant platforming. Which isn’t to say some of the levels are lacking, as some are great fun. Behold!
It all looks fabulous, of course, and it was a delight to return to that crayon art style we loved so much back in 1995.
Although we must admit the soundtrack is a bit off.
It’s very far removed from Yoshi’s Island and was completed by Yutaka Minobe and Masayoshi Ishi. Not that something different is a bad thing, but it just doesn’t really connect with the game very well.
Yoshi’s Island’s soundtrack is just ultra-charming and life-affirming. Whereas the DS version sort of pootles along like a Blue Peter presenter.
We must note it was well received by the gaming press in 2006, averaging out scores on the 8/10 scale. It also shifted some 2.9 million copies worldwide.
But… that double screen thing just doesn’t work overly well. Full credit for trying something different, but it’s just too jarring. Look at it.
We must conclude Artoon probably stuck a little too close to what Nintendo did in the Super Nintendo outing. So nothing feels overly fresh. It’s more like a tribute act to a much better game from (at that time) a decade earlier.
Still, more 2D Yoshi is always a great thing and it gets a thumbs up from us. It has its issues but Yoshi’s Island DS still has a winning grin about it.
Just one lacking in the genius input of the series’ creator.
