Reviews// Yoshi's Woolly World

Suddenly, Yoshi’s Woolly World takes the training wheels off and you’re treated to the wonderful third world. This is where the game came to life for me. You’re now used to how it plays and what it asks of you so it’s time to put these skills to the test. World three isn’t hard, but it forced me to sit up in my chair and pay attention, nearly tipping my son out of my lap in the process.

As you continue, Yoshi’s Woolly World keeps up the same level of quality. Each world is filled with levels that surprise, ask new things of you and, towards the end, demand that your son doesn’t look at the screen as he’d be embarrassed at your sudden lack of ability to look like a hero.

It certainly took me by surprise. I never thought I’d be challenged by a game that looks so damn cute. As you’d expect from a woolly Yoshi, you’ll never want to hug a game character so much. His world looks so soft, even the enemies in the game looks like cute cuddly toys that you'd wrap your arms around as they try and bite your neck off.

The game stays true to the concept throughout and you’re constantly reminded that this isn’t the usual colourful world that you’re used to. It plays with the idea of things being made of wool from unravelling blocks to access hidden areas to removing a boss's trousers. It continues where Kirby’s Epic Yarn left off and shows you that there are still good ideas behind the theme.

As for the music, well that manages to meet the high standards that the games that came before it set. It’s full of wonderful tunes that will have you humming along at work, leading to meetings with HR as concerned co-workers think you’re having a breakdown.

It does struggle here and there. I had some very minor frame dropping when playing in co-op, but only when the screen was filled with balls of wool and enemies - nothing too serious. I guess it was a little more noticeable because Nintendo’s platformers are usually completely rock solid.

Co-op play is fun but I had a better time playing on my own. The levels seem too tight to have more than one player on the screen and although fun can be had by eating your mate and poking him out as a ball of wool, I had more fun in solo without having to deal with someone getting in my way.

And although Yoshi’s Woolly World is full of incredible ideas, it never strays away from the format’s blueprints. You have the numbered worlds, then on to the special worlds which are incredibly difficult but by that point, they need to be as you feels as though you’ve mastered everything that the fully little dinosaur has to offer.

If you’re tired of Nintendo’s platformers then this isn’t the game that will win you back around, but if you’re aching for more in the big Nintendo drought of 2015, then this will scratch every itch.

It’s the sort of game that I’m happy to let my kid play when he’s old enough. Not because of the child-friendly concept but because it’s not just cobbled together nonsense that’s shamelessly on the shelf to make a quick buck for the publisher. It’s full of love, detail and attention and encapsulates why I fell in love with Nintendo when I was younger and puts to rest the idea of selling my Wii U.

How could I, with games like this? Games that I'd be happy for my son to grow up playing? And if I just so happen to fall in love all over again, then that’s just a nice little bonus.

Pros:
+ Full of ideas
+ Challenging even for experienced gamers
+ Looks and sounds wonderful

Cons:
- Minor frame dropping
- Doesn’t stray from the usual Nintendo platformer rules

SPOnG Score: 8/10