This was the first video game I had ever owned. I had of course played other Mario games at my friends' houses and at arcades, but this one was my own, and it was the best. One of the reasons I really enjoy it is because it takes you back, all the way to when Mario (Luigi, too)  was in diapers. When you think of Mario, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not a crying baby, but it has been imprinted in my brain: Mario is a loud, bawling baby!

Playing this game you act as the little green dinosaur known as Yoshi and all his multi-colored friends (all known as Yoshis) as they carry Mario throughout  "Yoshi's Island" to find and rescue his little baby twin brother Luigi. Luigi was kidnapped from the poor stork who was carrying the twins to their parents. Fortunately, Mario was dropped and landed on Yoshi's back when Luigi was snatched by the evil Magicoopa named Kamek (creepy lil booger). As each of the cute dinosaurs take their turns carrying Yoshi through the various parts of the Island, they are stalked and harassed by  Kamek's goofy minions (called Toadies) who will capture baby Mario when he is dropped or snatched away as Yoshi is attacked or gets hurt (this is when the bawling happens).

As for ratings, I rate the GRAPHICS a 10 because out of all the SNES games I've played, the visual in this game is the best. It is a 2D game but you often get a 3D feel as some things move and happen in game play more than from other Mario SNES games, like the rotating wooden planks. This game has really great visual; there is stuff moving around in the background and everywhere; you really get the feeling that the environment is alive. The SOUND is an 8 because the sound affects are pretty adorable and the music varies, is catchy and bright, and is sometimes really dramatic. But at times, the sounds and music can really get stuck in your head. That is annoying. If you play this game for long hours, get ready to hear trumpet music all day in the front of your mind; when you play, you will know what I mean.

I find this game's ADDICTIVENESS slightly disturbing; I give it a 9. Oddly, when I'm playing Yoshi's Island, it feels like I'm in therapy, and I'll play for hours and hours without realizing that the time is flying out the window by the couples (and then I have to stay up until 3 am to catch up on my studies). You'll get hooked as soon you make your first egg. (How does a male dinosaur lay an egg anyway?) At the beginning of the game, the STORY will get to your heart, and the music will make you a little emotional. I rank it a 7 because throughout the game, you struggle to keep little baby Mario safe and find his twin brother, and, well, you grow an attachment to the little guy. Who doesn't want to temporarily parent a crying baby through perilous lands where there are bandits and strange little men called "Shy Guys"--whom you kinda assume are girls--follow you around and bump into you on purpose?

The DEPTH gets a 9 from me because there are so many interesting things and much variety in the game. You even get to be Super Baby Mario in some parts of the game and become indestructible. As one of the Yoshis, you can become a train (yes a train), and a few other forms of transportation. For every boss you face, there is a different way you have to go about defeating them, and some ways and bosses are very odd. There is much humor in the game and much to discover. My favorite part is the Lottery you play if you collect all five of the sunflowers in each level. I also love when a Yoshi gets drunk from bumping into a Fuzzy and the world goes warpy. Well, the experience is annoying, but it is funny. The game really isn't just the same thing over and over. The foes vary, and you will hate them all. Passionately. The DIFFICULTY isn't really high, I give it a 7. The hardest parts are keeping baby Mario safe on your back, retrieving him in time when you do lose him, and defeating the last boss. Beating that monster took me several tries.

OVERALL, I rank Yoshi's Island 9.5 because it is a really good, cute, and solid game. It is one you can play over and over and still discover something new, or finally succeed at finding or unlocking something you missed before. It is very much a classic, and is one you will want to pass on to your children, and your children's children. But they will probably disdainfully turn their noses up on it because there is no blood, no gore, and has no AK47s.

Mario and Luigi are twins? I always though one of the two was older.

Anyway this is a very good review and you do show how much you like it. Keep them coming!

I really do. I have been playing this game today instead of studying lol Thank you for your comments, Janus.

I think you did a great job with this review. You gave plenty of detail for each category, and you explained very well why you love this game. I hope you keep up the good work.

Great review and I wish i could still play somewhere. But the sister site has no yoshi games that actually work. You have to load them and I have nothing to load. Sucks because this is one of my favorite games.