Yoshi's Island DS

About

Yoshi's Island DS is a side-scrolling platformer that follows Yoshi and four baby heroes as they chase down missing kids and a floating mystery island. Players guide Yoshi through vibrant levels filled with hazards and enemies, using his signature egg-throwing and dinosaur-swallowing moves. A key twist is carrying multiple babies at once, each with distinct powers like fire-breathing or ice-freezing, that unlock paths and solve puzzles. The Nintendo DS hardware gets creative use, with the bottom screen showing mini-maps and status updates while the top handles action. What sets it apart is the layer of strategy from managing baby abilities and the dual-screen layout. Levels are packed with clever design, from floating platforms to timed switches, keeping the pace lively. While clearly inspired by its 1995 predecessor, the added mechanics offer fresh challenges. Metacritic users average it at 7.5, praising its charm but noting it feels familiar. The colorful visuals and tight controls make it a solid pick for short sessions, especially with the Wii U Virtual Console version.

Storyline

A mysterious floating island has suddenly appeared over peaceful Yoshi's Island. Soon after its arrival, a gaggle of kids vanishes from the island school. Thankfully, Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Donkey Kong and Baby Wario manage to avoid being kidnapped. Now, Yoshi and the four young superstars must set out on a wild and colorful quest to rescue the kids and investigate the ominous island hovering overhead.