One of the most interesting aspects of Yoshi’s standalone games is how they’ve diverged from Mario’s, despite the shared roots. It’s not just that Yoshi’s games have remained scrolling platformers while his plumber pal has fully embraced three dimensions, but in how Yoshi plays around with the 2D format.
The most striking split from Mario is always the aesthetic. From the sketchbook look of Yoshi’s Island to the knitted yarn of Yoshi’s Woolly World, Yoshi’s games always deliver something unique on the visual front. In Yoshi’s Crafted World, it’s a universe made from felt, card, crafting paper and string. It’s not just incredibly pleasant, but also allows for worlds packed full of secrets, each level presented as a homemade diorama where cardboard structures unfold into new structures and repurposed drinks cans conceal hidden areas.
Proof Yoshi doesn’t need a plumber around to be one of Nintendo’s stars.
While gameplay remains a left-to-right march, gobbling enemies with Yoshi’s preternaturally long tongue and popping them out the other end as eggs to lob at obstacles or other foes, Crafted World plays with the broadly 2D format more than its predecessors. Yoshi can now throw eggs in and out of the back- and foreground, adding a touch more complexity in how to solve puzzles or find each level’s hidden collectibles. It doesn’t add to the game’s intensity much – it’s low-stress to the point of relaxation, with most of its difficulty coming from how nefariously hidden key items can be – but it means a bit more attention and consideration is required.
In a particularly nice touch, you can replay levels in reverse, chasing the puppies of ally Poochie. It’s a great way to see the reverse side of the ‘sets’ that make up each level, sticking tape and all. Rather than just a glamorous way of showing off the painstaking attention to detail, it’s also a reminder of how deceptively complex the level design here is – everything has a purpose, whichever way you play a level though. It’s quite spectacular.
On the downside, there is a bit too much repetition. Bonus challenges given out on the world map – which Yoshi is travelling through to recover the gems of the Sundream Stone, lost when Kamek and Baby Bowser try to steal it – charge you with playing through levels again and again, looking for a different set of items each time. All the soothing music and delightful designs in the world can’t mask when you’re being given the runaround.
It’s hard to stay cross at a game like Yoshi’s Crafted World though. It’s an improvement on everything Woolly World offered, providing players a deeper platforming and puzzle-solving experience in an even more charming and well-thought package. Proof Yoshi doesn’t need a plumber around to be one of Nintendo’s stars.