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Long before Mario got a fresh New paint on DS, an actual sequel to Super Mario World was released; and yet, many things about Yoshi's Island -- from its place in the Mario universe to the visuals and gameplay -- made sure that it was separated from the rest of the series. Having been a cult classic for a decade, Yoshi's Island finally has a real sequel. Forget Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Island DS is what fans have been waiting for.

visuals

The soft, hand-drawn pastels of the original return in the DS follow-up, but the intoxicating beauty of the first game seems to have been muted in the transition to a handheld. Perhaps subtle details are too hard to convey on a smaller screen; or it may have something to do with the visuals resembling a cartoon as opposed to a child's drawing. Whatever the case, the storybook charm that made Yoshi's Island so memorable did not arrive intact.

That isn't to say the game is ugly. Far from it, in fact. The worlds, while familiar settings from the first game, are vibrant and colorful. Even more attractive is the complete lack of any permanent heads-up display. This cleanliness combined with two screens for the field of play creates a strong sense of freedom within each level. Just because the visuals aren't quite up to snuff with one of the best looking games on the SNES doesn't mean it isn't nice to look at on its own merits.

audio

Developer Artoon managed to capture most of the original's visual experience, but the music was not so lucky. The intensely hummable music of Yoshi's forbear has been replaced with mediocre and forgettable tunes from the annals of Satuday morning television. This isn't altogether new for a portable game, but the series pedigree had set the bar incredibly high. Rounding everything off are the typical Yoshi grunts and yums that Nintendo has been using since Yoshi's Story. In short, nothing here hasn't been heard before or is worth hearing again.

gameplay

Yoshi's Island DS doesn't stray too far from the core gameplay that fans loved. The saddled dinosaur still jumps and floats through levels, swallowing enemies and using them as egg ammo against other opponents. Even the world maps are the same as Yoshi's last outing, complete with spinning level portraits. Were it not for one crucial addition, Yoshi's Island DS would feel like more of an expansion pack than a real sequel.

In the past, Baby Mario had exclusive dibs on the Yoshi ride, but now a few more infants have joined the fight for that spot. Baby Peach, Donkey Kong and Wario take turns in the saddle, each of which have unique abilities. Peach can use her umbrella to float upwards with gusts of wind, Donkey Kong can climb on vines and Wario can use his magnet to move platforms and suck up coins. Naturally, it is sometimes necessary to switch between the babies to overcome obstacles and progress through the game, but sometimes it comes down to preference. For instance, eggs thrown while Donkey Kong is riding explode on impact, while Baby Mario's got a knack for the ricochet.

Other than Yoshi's increased babysitting duties, not a lot has changed. This isn't a problem, however. Like New Super Mario Bros., originality is forgone in favor of fundamentally solid platforming gameplay. Nintendo was founded on this type of gameplay, and Artoon has shown that they've done their homework. It starts out simple enough, but the difficulty level spikes starting with the fourth world. Hardcore vets who love the first game should be in heaven, but tykes may get frustrated that they haven't developed the motor skills to complete the game. Though the levels get a good deal harder, the bosses at the end of every castle are almost always pushovers; but they're fun to vanquish nonetheless.

Developers have tangled with the dual screens on more than one occasion, particularly the space between them. This dead area provides a problem for games like Sonic Rush and Metroid Prime Pinball, wherein the two screens represent one continual space. Likewise is the case with Yoshi's Island DS, where sometimes platforms and enemies disappear within the vacuum. For much of the game, Artoon makes use of this area, hiding extra lives among other bonuses within it. The real pain comes with the auto-scrolling levels, where the progress is forced and the player's only hope is luck or clairvoyance. Otherwise, level memorization is the only answer, and one that players shouldn't have to swallow.

multiplayer

N/A

Overall

Many were skeptical when it was announced that the developer of the ill-recieved Xbox franchise Blinx: The Time Sweeper were at the helm of the Yoshi's Island sequel. Yet, it looks like that their worries are put to rest with the resounding quality of the end product. Fans should be content ...