Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Platforms: SNES, GBA
Players: 1-4
Original Release Date(s): Sept 24 2002(US), Oct 11 2002(EU), Sept 20 2002(JP)
The game I consider to be arguably the best SNES game ever made and probably the game that needs very little in way of changes to get it up to any more modern of standards and much like Super Mario World the game is largely untouched, and once again that is a good thing.
Presentation
Exactly the same as the original from the great story book style intro to all the simple menus through out, it really needed no alterations as it was done right the first time.
Graphics
Again exactly the same as the original, except a reduced viewing area to fit on the smaller screen that has no real affect on the game. It is all still as amazing looking as ever though and remain one of the best if not the best looking side scrolling platform thanks to it's mix of artwork and sprite scaling and rotation.
It manages to stand the test of time so well it out does pretty much all games released on the Gameboy Advance itself that were actually developed with the system in mind, but maybe that shows most developers were lazy when it came to making new games for the hardware as most chose SNES ports, although Nintendo did as well so a bit of a double edged sword on that one. Regardless it is still one of the best looking games you will ever see and has yet to start ageing.
Sound
Much like the graphics the sound still hold up perfectly to this day and I have no doubt you will be humming along to all you favourite tunes as you go, I can't really same much more as it is as great as ever and fits the game perfectly.
Gameplay
Much like Super Mario World Nintendo had to remap the controls from a six button layout to a four button one, and it has been done very well as it takes a little getting used to but then so did the original but once you get going it is like second nature.
Other than that the game plays the same as the original in every way so guiding Yoshi through some of the later levels is as challenging as ever when trying to keep a hold of Baby Mario the whole time.
Lasting Appeal
So you have the 72 levels to play through from the original game plus there are now an extra 8 ones added for this version which actually add a good level of challenge as they are just as tough if not tougher as the original 8 secret ones you had to unlock in the original game, then there is the challenge of getting that perfect score of 100 one each of the 80 levels so there is certainly plenty to do and even new stuff to do thanks to those newer levels for people who beat the game the first time around.
There is once again the bonus of the single and multiplayer Mario Bros. arcade game that will pass as a distraction once again and nothing more.
Overall
As amazing as it ever was it hasn't aged at all in terms of looks, how it sounds, how it plays and the challenge that it offers and with the added extra levels even those of us who played and loved it the first time around can do so again any where we go, it really is an ageless classic and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who hasn't played the original and I even recommend it to those that have even if it is just to unlock and play those new levels it really is worth it.
Scores
Players: 1-4
Original Release Date(s): Sept 24 2002(US), Oct 11 2002(EU), Sept 20 2002(JP)
The game I consider to be arguably the best SNES game ever made and probably the game that needs very little in way of changes to get it up to any more modern of standards and much like Super Mario World the game is largely untouched, and once again that is a good thing.
Presentation
Exactly the same as the original from the great story book style intro to all the simple menus through out, it really needed no alterations as it was done right the first time.
Graphics
Again exactly the same as the original, except a reduced viewing area to fit on the smaller screen that has no real affect on the game. It is all still as amazing looking as ever though and remain one of the best if not the best looking side scrolling platform thanks to it's mix of artwork and sprite scaling and rotation.
It manages to stand the test of time so well it out does pretty much all games released on the Gameboy Advance itself that were actually developed with the system in mind, but maybe that shows most developers were lazy when it came to making new games for the hardware as most chose SNES ports, although Nintendo did as well so a bit of a double edged sword on that one. Regardless it is still one of the best looking games you will ever see and has yet to start ageing.
Sound
Much like the graphics the sound still hold up perfectly to this day and I have no doubt you will be humming along to all you favourite tunes as you go, I can't really same much more as it is as great as ever and fits the game perfectly.
Gameplay
Much like Super Mario World Nintendo had to remap the controls from a six button layout to a four button one, and it has been done very well as it takes a little getting used to but then so did the original but once you get going it is like second nature.
Other than that the game plays the same as the original in every way so guiding Yoshi through some of the later levels is as challenging as ever when trying to keep a hold of Baby Mario the whole time.
Lasting Appeal
So you have the 72 levels to play through from the original game plus there are now an extra 8 ones added for this version which actually add a good level of challenge as they are just as tough if not tougher as the original 8 secret ones you had to unlock in the original game, then there is the challenge of getting that perfect score of 100 one each of the 80 levels so there is certainly plenty to do and even new stuff to do thanks to those newer levels for people who beat the game the first time around.
There is once again the bonus of the single and multiplayer Mario Bros. arcade game that will pass as a distraction once again and nothing more.
Overall
As amazing as it ever was it hasn't aged at all in terms of looks, how it sounds, how it plays and the challenge that it offers and with the added extra levels even those of us who played and loved it the first time around can do so again any where we go, it really is an ageless classic and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who hasn't played the original and I even recommend it to those that have even if it is just to unlock and play those new levels it really is worth it.
Scores
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