Yoshi: Touch & Go

UPC: 045496735258

Platform: Nintendo DS

Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc.

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Category: Action

Style(s): 2D Action

Synopsis: Starring Baby Mario and the cute (though voracious) dinosaur himself, Yoshi: Touch & Go translates the time-honored gameplay of the character's earlier exploits for use with the Nintendo DS' unique interface. Games begin with Baby Mario falling from the sky, as in Super Mario World 2, but players can help out by drawing clouds to cushion his fall and steer him toward bonuses and power-ups. Brave Yoshi traverses challenging platform-style levels, as in Yoshi's Story and other earlier adventures, but in Touch & Go, players guide him with the stylus and touch screen instead of D-pad and actions buttons. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Health and Safety Precautions Booklet

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

Yoshi: Touch & Go is an unusual title that capably shows off the handheld's distinctive features, but will disappoint those expecting a platform game along the lines of a Mario or Wario adventure. While the vibrant color, cheerful sound, and whimsical theme are classic Nintendo, the title's surprisingly narrow scope will make you wonder if Touch & Go was originally supposed to be a mini-game for another title. Yoshi: Touch & Go's gameplay is divided into two phases. The first is to protect Baby Mario as he gently floats from the sky to the ground with the help of three balloons attached to his diaper. Using the stylus, players create lines of clouds to help steer Baby Mario toward coins and away from enemies. Contact with an enemy will pop one of the balloons, and Mario can only withstand two hits. To make Mario's trip as painless as possible, players can also draw circles around enemies (like fly guys), turning them into bubbles that can be flung toward Baby Mario for bonus coins or to nudge him out of harm's way. Although this phase lasts mere seconds, it is intense, requiring split-second decisions and dexterous use of the stylus. Once Mario reaches the ground, Yoshi will appear to carry him on his back and begin a side-scrolling stage. Like Baby Mario, Yoshi is constantly moving, so you have to quickly draw lines over pitfalls or around enemies to keep him from plummeting to his doom. Yet Yoshi can also be coaxed into jumping (by tapping him with the stylus) or flutter jumping (by tapping him again while he's in the air). This is the most enjoyable part of the game, as you feel completely in control. The best part is Yoshi's ability to fire eggs at enemies in the air or on the ground just by tapping the screen. There are no awkward aiming controls to learn -- you just poke and shoot. Fans of games like Lemmings will recognize some similarities in Yoshi: Touch & Go, which feels more like a puzzle game than a traditional platform title since you are constantly under pressure to find creative ways to keep Mario or Yoshi from getting hit. Another nod to puzzle games is the goal: no matter which mode you choose, you are trying to achieve a high score. Yet the different play options aren't as diverse as one would hope for. Though players are expected to replay the game to improve their scores, they can't enter in their names for some strange reason. The game only tracks the date, high score, and a character icon. Yoshi: Touch & Go is neither a bad game nor a great one. If nothing else, it shows the Nintendo DS can be used in imaginative ways (you can even "blow" clouds away using the built-in microphone). Its high-score focus means the game is best played in short doses, but the developers could have offered so much more. The ground portion of Yoshi: Touch & Go could have easily been structured into themed levels in the vein of Yoshi's Island, for example, with added boss fights to mix things up. In its current form, the game is not much different than one of the bonus mini-games found within Super Mario 64 DS. It's enough to make Baby Mario cry. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.