The Wii U may be on the decline, it is currently delivering its best games since its launch almost 3 years ago. Proof of this is once again with Yoshi's Wolly World, whose development was entrusted to the Good Feel studio, which had already worked on Kirby: Au Fil de l'Aventure on Wii (2011) and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros on 3DS (2013), two quality titles. For Yoshi's Woolly World, the studio had the good idea to resume the artistic direction of Kirby: Au Fil de l'Aventure with its original graphics that already used the wool effect. This time, the designers have gone even further in their delirium, and the presence of wool is no longer limited only to the main character, but also composes the different environments, to the point of making it a major element of the gameplay. It will not be uncommon, for example, to see pieces of string protruding from certain parts of the decor, and Yoshi will be asked to pull on them – with his tongue – to unravel them and reveal either secret passages or access special bonuses. .
WASHED WITH MIRLAINE
Moreover, picking up all the balls of wool, flowers and rubies is not only of rewarding interest since they will be useful to you to advance in the adventure. The balls of wool to begin with, once collected in each level, will allow you to restore life to one of the Yoshi who disappeared through Kamek's sorcery. In fact, it is only a skin but we must admit that we take pleasure in changing Yoshi between each level, but also in collecting them in the game. To unlock the hidden level, it will have to collect all the flowers, while the coins give access to new stamps, while the rubies fill the purse, allowing later to buy bonuses which prove to be very useful to overcome more easily the tests in the game. These improvement badges are also one of the best finds of this Yoshi's Woolly World, provided you have the number of rubies necessary to pay for them. Be aware that they are not all available from the outset since you will have to unlock them as you progress. However, once these bonuses are accessible, it is up to you to improve Yoshi's skills so that you will never fear death again.
Being insensitive to fire and flames, not being afraid of falling into a hole, calling on Poochy (the dog capable of walking on spikes), swallowing a watermelon (which allows Yoshi to benefit from projectiles by spitting seeds), reveal the location of hidden bonuses, or even outright complete a level with the snap of your fingers; in short, nothing is impossible in Yoshi's Woolly World, provided you have the means and the right items with you. Nintendo has even thought of novices by integrating its famous aid, which allows Yoshi to fly on his own, in the strict sense of the term, and thus finish a level without the slightest stress. Anyway, know that it is possible to have access to this inventory at any time of the game by pressing the + button on the controller, in case you have not made the right decision. at the start of each mission.
SOFT AS A DINO
Obviously, taking advantage of these improvement badges makes the task even easier, far from being insurmountable but definitely more full-bodied than that in the latest Mario and Kirby games. No, it will sometimes be necessary to think carefully and have clear ideas to pass certain puzzles, even if overall, Yoshi's Woolly World is a game suitable for all ages. In this regard, the most impatient who want to see the end credits scroll can finish the game in 7/8 hours, if they investigate it in a straight line, having nothing to do with hidden bonuses to pick up. On the other hand, those who want to reach 100% will find a certain challenge, the levels having been designed to come back to them a second time. The famous replay value. Nothing really surprising for a platformer signed Nintendo, but it is true that this Yoshi's Wolly World has something more than the others that pushes you to redo the levels to hope to find all the hidden items.
It must be said that it had been a long time since Nintendo had offered us such an ingenious and successful level design.
It must be said that it had been a long time since Nintendo had offered us such an ingenious and successful level design. Between tightly timed platform sequences, labyrinth-like levels but also the many puzzles to solve, in particular to get your hands on the keys to the padlocked doors, there is enough to cry genius. The game connects good ideas in spades and even manages to find an excellent balance between platform phases, egg throwing and gameplay tricks really well found. Finally, we cannot regret that Yoshi's transformations are confined to separate mini-games and not integrated into the game itself, being able to act directly on the gameplay as was the case with Kirby: Over the 'adventure. Nevertheless, these small pellets allow to aerate the gameplay by sometimes offering motorcycle racing (Yoshi motorcycle), drilling (Yoshi mole), gliding (Yoshi umbrella) or downright mass destruction (Yoshi giant). So yes, all these gameplay mechanics are well known to Nintendo fans who will find in this Yoshi's Woolly World a compendium of all that is best in the platform game, with that extra tenderness that characterizes the artistic style so well. Game.
HAUTE COUTURE!
It's all the more enjoyable since Yoshi is this time rid of baby Mario and he no longer has to worry about him, thus allowing him to worry about his little person and manage his eggs, or rather balls of wool, as he sees fit. No, the only time when Yoshi has to be altruistic is when it comes to playing in cooperation, with a second Yoshi who is more like a projectile or a springboard to reach bonuses that are difficult to access solo. The only concern is that we tend to swallow it a little too often, the latter being systematically in our paws. A precious help which can thus become a handicap, especially when the action becomes loaded on the screen, and that certain passages in front of real coordination. Here, since we are at the level of criticism, too bad that Good Feel has not made use of the GamePad, with tactile features that we would have seen integrated into the gameplay. A pity certainly but nothing very dramatic however. A last word on the music to finish, neat as usual for a Nintendo production, with themes that are still just as playful, with in particular an absolutely brilliant use of the bass, including some slap effects which prove that the musicians give it a go also with joy. Again, the work was impeccable.
