Since the Switch launched, we have had a wonderful trickle of Nintendo’s IP being released regularly in classic ways like the fantastic Mario Odyssey and Zelda Breath of the Wild, to the weird such as Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. Now it’s Yoshi’s turn with Yoshi’s Crafted World which falls right into the classic category.

Yoshi’s Crafted World can be best summed up as, well, a Yoshi game. The story kicks off with Yoshi living a peaceful life when Baby Bowser and Kamek try to steal a stone form their lands. The gems are sent across the land, so Yoshi finds himself trying to find the gems before Baby Bowser and Kamek can get their grubby hands on them. It’s not the most fascinating story, but I’m not here for the narrative, I’m here for the platforming.

The game itself is a classic 2D sidescroller. You run around as Yoshi, collecting coins and flower heads, ultimately getting to the end of a course. The difficulty jumps between easy and cruisey to occasionally brutally difficult, usually depending on how many flower heads you are trying to get. Most of my deaths were trying to get a flower head that was placed in a hard spot.

The strong motivator for these is because as you explore the hub world, you will need to hand over flowers to progress. After some frustrating deaths I tried powering through Levels only grabbing easy ones in front of me, but quickly found myself hitting a wall due to a lack of flowers. This makes it an interesting balance of trying to get enough to progress, without missing them to require backtracking.

Fortunately, the platforming is a lot of fun, leaning towards the simple end of the scale. Yoshi can run, jump and grab enemies with his tongue. Some enemies fill his mouth to be fired off, and some turn into eggs for throwing at a later stage. The ability to throw eggs comes in handy for the Levels depth as Yoshi can throw eggs at objects in the back and foreground of Levels. These can net coins, or some hidden flower heads so it is worth keeping your eyes peeled, and it adds a unique feel to an otherwise simple side scroller.

Some variety comes with Yoshi jumping into a giant papercraft to do some carnage.

There are also Levels that cover different parts of the screen with paper as the camera moves to the left, and a boat that you must slam the cannons to knock away enemies, but most of the time it is a play by numbers platformer. That’s not to say it’s bad by any means, as the gameplay is polished to a point where I never found an issue with it, but it’s not going to revolutionise the genre.

The other unique spin this game is its namesake, the crafted world and inhabitants. The whole game is built to look like it has been made at a crafts table, whether that’s the plants made from paper, platforms that fold and fall apart in the world, or Yoshi himself, made of yarn. Picture a better version of Tearaway, with all the charm you would expect from a Nintendo game.

Completing the game unlocks much harder content as well, so if you feel it’s too darn easy, the good news is harder content is there when you beat it. Between that and collectables only available with reversable versions of Levels give the game huge amounts of replay value. You can also unlock costumes which are as silly as everything else in the game, like boxes that Yoshi wears which have some perks attached.

On the whole Yoshi’s Crafted World is a damn fun and charming platformer. It hasn’t done anything overly spectacular, but it nails what it is trying to do, be an accessible platformer presenting as much challenge as you want it to, oozing with cute charm. Plenty of collectables give ample reason to replay Levels in different ways to give plenty of replay value as well.

The post Yoshi’s Crafted World (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

New handcrafted Yoshi and Kirby games are launching in March 2019. 

Yoshi’s Crafted World, a brand-new adventure and the first game starring Yoshi for Nintendo Switch, launches exclusively for the console on the 29th of March 2019.

Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on the 9th of March 2019.

In Yoshi’s Crafted World players take control of a Yoshi exploring a big world crafted from household items like boxes and paper cups, navigating each themed stage to solve puzzles and find hidden treasures. On the flip side, stages can be played backwards, providing new perspectives to explore and the challenge to find Poochy-Pups that are hiding around the course. Players can even join up with a friend to play through the game in two-player co-op.

In Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn, an enhanced version of the acclaimed Kirby’s Epic Yarn that was originally released for the Wii system, Kirby is transported into a world made of cloth and yarn to unravel enemies, unzip secret passageways and transform into powerful vehicles. Every stage in the original Wii version is stitched in, but this Nintendo 3DS version has some new features, like new Ravel Abilities that power up Kirby in fun ways, new mini-games featuring familiar faces King Dedede and Meta Knight, new furniture to personalise and decorate Kirby’s Pad, and a new Devilish mode that adds an extra layer of challenge to each stage.

Some of the Ravel Abilities include a giant yarn ball used to attack enemies, a wire sword that can slice through anything and the Nylon ability, which can generate wind for jumping higher and collecting beads.

The creative, colourful and visually stunning game also features new amiibo functionality for compatible Kirby series amiibo figures that gives Kirby wearable hats and abilities based on the figure used.

Fans of Yoshi and Kirby have a lot to look forward to in March, as Yoshi’s Crafted World launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch and Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

The post Get Ready Not One but Two Epic Yarns appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Join Poochy and Yoshi in a side-scrolling platform game and explore a wonderful and lovingly-crafted world of wool, when Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World reaches Nintendo 3DS on the 4th of February 2017.

Use the new Yarn Poochy amiibo during Poochy Dash courses to reveal exclusive Time Attack missions and unlock adorable special Poochy patterns for completing them*. The latest Animal Crossing Collection and Splatoon Collection amiibo can also be used to unravel expertly ‘knitted’ designs, giving Yoshi a whole new look. And remember to tune in every day as Poochy and Yoshi participate in delightful shenanigans, with 30 heart-warming stop-motion animations.

The ever-devious Kamek is up to his usual tricks and has kidnapped lots of the adorable Yoshis that inhabit Craft Island. The surviving Yoshis hold an important emergency Yoshi meeting and collectively decide to rescue their friends and chase the trickster responsible for stitching them up. And so another grand Yoshi adventure begins!

Yoshi will have to jump, Ground Pound, gobble, and flutter in this side-scrolling platform game, across six captivating worlds, each knitted to life with its own uniquely-woven theme. Thankfully for Yoshi, he can now summon support from his woolly companion Poochy. By scanning a Yarn Poochy amiibo at any point during the game*, Poochy will accompany Yoshi and give him a helping paw**. Scan a Yarn Poochy amiibo during Poochy Dash courses to unlock a collection of exclusive fast-paced and exciting Time Attack missions, that’ll have Poochy racing to beat the clock. Each Time Attack mission completed will also unlock a unique Poochy pattern.

The Yarn Poochy amiibo will be available in a bundle with the game and a Pink Yarn Yoshi amiibo, or separately.

Any less experienced players keen for a little help can easily switch to Mellow Mode at any point during the game to gain the assistance of Poochy Pups. These sweet little Pups will sniff out secrets and attack enemies, and can even double up as Yarn Balls, allowing Yoshi to throw them at enemies and otherwise unreachable items.

New to Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World is the ability to use the latest amiibo from the Animal Crossing and Splatoon series and more. Scan one of these compatible amiibo to unlock a personalised Yoshi, knitted to look like its counterpart. Now Yoshi can explore Craft Island while looking like characters from the world of Animal Crossing and Splatoon such as Tom Nook, Isabelle, Callie and Marie.

Players keen to see more Poochy and Yoshi hijinks can watch 30 delightful stop-motion animations, created by the Japanese animation studio Dwarf, included with the game. Enter Yoshi Theatre and watch as the Yoshis and Poochy get up to all kinds of light-hearted shenanigans. Keep your eyes peeled, as you’ll be asked a question at the end of each video. A new video is unlocked each day, so be sure to tune-in and see what antics Poochy and Yoshi have lined up.

Cute, colourful, and cuddly adventures await in Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World, available separately or as a bundle with the new Yarn Poochy amiibo and a Pink Yarn Yoshi amiibo, exclusive to Nintendo 3DS.

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This year Mario reaches an impressive milestone in video gaming: 30 years as a leading man in Nintendo’s timeless Super Mario Bros. series.

At E3 2015, Nintendo celebrates Mario’s longevity with a new instalment in the series called Super Mario Maker, one of many games at the show that transforms familiar characters and their games with unique new looks, styles and gameplay features.

Players will see new instalments of beloved series like Star Fox, Yoshi, Animal Crossing, Mario & Luigi, Xenoblade and Metroid, and enjoy the reimagining of Bowser and Donkey Kong as Skylanders figures that also have amiibo functionality with compatible Nintendo games.

During the Nintendo Digital Event video on the opening day of E3 2015 in Los Angeles, Nintendo announced games launching in the near future, with a focus on what fans can enjoy in the second half of 2015 and early 2016.

Here’s a round-up of some of the news and games Nintendo showed at E3 2015:

Wii U

Super Mario Maker: The next evolution of the Super Mario Bros. series lets people’s imaginations run wild. For the first time ever, friends can have fun playing through levels they create for one another. The Wii U GamePad controller makes it so easy for anyone to create Levels; it may feel like simply sketching out ideas on paper.

Players can enjoy a seemingly endless supply of inventive Mario Levels from players around the world. The game includes a Hardcover Artbook totaling about 100 pages that illustrates the boundless possibilities in Super Mario Maker. Nintendo will also release two special Mario amiibo figures, one of which will be part of a limited edition software bundle, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game.

Tapping these amiibo in Super Mario Maker adds a Big Mushroom power-up to your course, allowing Mario to grow big, bust blocks from any direction, as well as adding a retro visual filter to the game, reminiscent of older cathode ray tube televisions.

In addition, many other amiibo will also be compatible with Super Mario Maker through the use of a new item called the Mystery Mushroom. This item allows Mario to take the appearance of many other characters, such as Link, Kirby, or Wii Fit Trainer, complete with character-specific animations and sound effects. These character costumes can be unlocked by completing the 100 Mario Challenge mode and many can also be unlocked if the player taps the amiibo of the character to the Wii U GamePad.

To coincide with the Super Mario Bros. anniversary, the Super Mario Maker game, which includes the Hardcover Artbook, will launch on 12th of September, 2015. On the same day Nintendo will also release a limited edition Super Mario Maker bundle that includes the game, Hardcover Artbook, as well as a Mario (Classic Colours) amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection.

Both amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection will also launch as standalone amiibo during summer 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

LetsSuperMario.com website: To continue the celebration of Super Mario’s 30th anniversary, fans around the world are encouraged to create personal “Let’s Super Mario” video tributes that showcase their love for the legendary series.

The videos can be submitted to a dedicated website which can be found HERE.

Whether it’s through song, dance or reliving favourite moments, Nintendo will honour Super Mario by showcasing the creativity of our fans. In the spirit of Nintendo’s mission of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that experiences our products, Nintendo’s share of any ad revenue generated from the Let’s Super Mario 30th Anniversary videos will go towards a donation Nintendo is making to Operation Smile, a global surgical charity dedicated to healing the smiles of children around the world suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate.

Star Fox Zero: Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy are back in a new adventure. Players pilot an Arwing in the traditional style of TV gameplay and, in a new twist, players can use the cockpit view on the GamePad to aim and shoot enemies using the gyro controls.

Having two unique viewpoints offers distinct gaming advantages and frees up the TV for more cinematic moments in the title’s brand-new all range mode. Scheduled to launch in Q4 2015, Star Fox Zero includes a new Walker transformation for the Arwing, a new Gyrowing vehicle and the return of the Landmaster Tank.

Skylanders SuperChargers from Activision: Both Donkey Kong and Bowser guest star in the next Skylanders game, complete with their own vehicles and move sets that celebrate the lore and legacy of their 30+ years in the video game universe.

As an added bonus, the Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser Skylanders SuperCharger characters also work as amiibo in compatible Nintendo games, so players can store their save data in both modes with a simple twist of the figure’s base. The game is anticipated to launch on the 24th of September, 2015.

Just Dance 2016 from Ubisoft: Just Dance 2016 is the latest instalment in the best-selling music game franchise of all time. Launching on both Wii and Wii U, the game features tracks from artists like Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor and Lady Gaga. This year, the free Just Dance Controller app enables Wii U players to use their smartphones to play.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Amidst an intergalactic war between aliens and human survivors, players fight for survival while exploring the massive expanses of an unknown planet.

Weaponised mechs called “Skells” let players access every location they see. Players also can customise a lethal skill set of combat and defensive skills, called Arts, to strengthen their strategies and defeat enemies efficiently.

The game launches in December 2015.

Animal Crossing – amiibo Festival: Animal Crossing amiibo figures and cards get their own party game. Players are challenged to collect the most Happy Points by the end of a dynamic board game.

The board layout can remain the same, but the spaces and even the environment change, depending on which month players choose for their game. As in otherAnimal Crossing games, players can buy turnips and use strategy to decide when to sell them for big money. Scheduled to launch in Q4 2015, Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival will release as a bundle that includes the game, two amiibo figures and three amiibo cards.

Genei Ibun Roku #FE (name not final): Set in modern Tokyo, young people come together to weave an epic tale alongside heroes from an alternate world. This brand-new RPG, developed by ATLUS, is infused with elements of the popular Fire Emblem series. In the struggle between the worlds of glamour and darkness, these young heroes rise to face the challenge.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Mario Tennis – Ultra Smash: Up to four players can compete in tennis matches that could only take place in the Mushroom Kingdom. With the addition of Jump Shots to hit high balls overhead, or Giant Mushrooms that when picked up make characters bigger, this Mario Tennis is reborn with features enabling players to aggressively go after higher balls.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q4 2015.

Yoshi’s Woolly World: Collect, cooperate and get crafty with Yoshi in a world made completely from yarn, felt and other fabrics and textiles. Pulling on strings in the game usually leads to discoveries, while new transformations include Moto Yoshi, Mole Yoshi and Sky Pop Yoshi.

The game’s simple platforming adventure challenges players to find hidden secrets. Tapping select amiibo characters to the GamePad creates new patterns for Yoshi, while new Yarn Yoshi amiibo let players control two Yoshis at the same time. This first-ever two-player co-op Yoshi game includes Mellow Mode, which gives Yoshi wings, and is perfect for players who just want to hunt for treasure, or newcomers who want to get the hang of the game.

The game launches on 25th of June, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

Nintendo 3DS

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes: Three players take on the role of individual Link characters and team up to solve puzzles and battle bosses in dungeons.

The game features the same top-down view and visual style of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Players must work together, as the group shares all hearts. All three Links can stack on top of one another to create a Totem to reach new locations and solve puzzles or fight enemies. Different outfits offer unique abilities.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q4 2015.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: The player transforms into one of 20 Pokémon as he or she sets out on an adventure in a world inhabited solely by the 720 discovered Pokémon, including Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.

This game boasts hours of replay-ability by randomly generating each dungeon, so players will never explore the same dungeon twice as they unravel this tale of adventure and mystery.

The game is scheduled to launch in early 2016.

Animal Crossing – Happy Home Designer: One of the favourite activities in the Animal Crossing series now gets a full game. With more options than ever, players design interiors and exteriors of homes for hundreds of animal characters, and can even design a garden.

They can choose where to place the home, and then pick out a house style and colours for the roof, door and fence before getting to work on the interior. Tapping compatible amiibo character cards brings favourite Animal Crossing characters with their separate personalities and design requests into the game, which launches with a complimentary amiibo card on the 3rd of October 2015.

A bundle will launch the same day and include the game, one amiibo card and the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory.

YO-KAI WATCH: This game sold millions and became a cultural phenomenon in Japan. Now players in Australia and New Zealand get to experience the fun of hundreds of sometimes cute, sometimes spooky, and usually mischievous Yo-kai that inhabit our world. Players explore using their Yo-kai Watch to find Yo-kai, then befriend them and turn them into a team to battle other Yo-kai.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Fire Emblem Fates: Two versions of the franchise’s new instalment offer players an unprecedented choice: fight an opposing force or join the other side and try to make changes from within.

For the first time in the series, players take on the role of the main character and command an army, while struggling to decide which path to follow: helping blood relatives or the family that raised him or her.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Mario & Luigi – Paper Jam Bros.: Paper Mario jumps out of the book and into the bizarre adventures of Mario & Luigi, resulting in hilarious and dangerous hijinks. Become the superstar team of Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario to take on quests, take down enemies and untangle these two unique universes in this playful new entry in the Mario & Luigi series.

The game is scheduled to launch in autumn 2016 in Australia and New Zealand.

Hyrule Warriors – Legends: The Wii U version of Hyrule Warriors comes to the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In the portable version, experience new story elements and playable characters inspired by The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

New features allow players to enhance their tactics and switch between different characters on the fly as they explore and battle in Hyrule’s most famous locales.

The game is scheduled to launch in Q1 2016.

Metroid Prime – Federation Force: Up to four players can connect online or locally to take on co-op missions in this first-person sci-fi adventure set in the Metroid Prime universe. Players don a mech suit and work together as a team to clear out enemy-infested bases and complete objective-based missions.

After completing the missions, up to six players can compete in Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, a three-on-three game that requires players to shoot a ball into their opponents’ goal.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2016.

The post Mario Turns 30 & E3 2015 Announcements from Nintendo! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A beautifully rendered world made from wool awaits Yoshi fans this June (2015), when the latest game in the Yoshi platform series, Yoshi’s Woolly World releases exclusively on Wii U. Rendered in a woolly art style so intricate it looks hand-made, prepare to head to Craft Island and discover, at your own pace, over 50 beautifully “knitted” Levels full of surprises and hidden collectibles.

In accompaniment to this yarn-inspired adventure, a Yarn Yoshi amiibo – available in Green, Pink or Light-Blue, and made from knitted material – will also be released on the same day.

When touching a Yarn Yoshi amiibo to the Wii U GamePad, you can play solo with Double Yoshi – two Yoshis on screen. A bundle comprising a copy of the game and a Green Yarn Yoshi amiibo will also be available at launch.

Once upon a time in Craft Island, a paradise located in the middle of Handmade Ocean, the peaceful lives of different-patterned Yoshis are rudely disrupted by the dastardly Kamek, who has kidnapped Yoshis by turning them into balls of yarn using his magic. Having escaped the surprise attack by this notorious villain, Yoshi must set out on an adventure spanning various Worlds, with beautiful landscapes ranging from lush woolly meadows to fluffy mountain peaks. And at the end of it all…well, Yoshi might encounter an even fiercer villain behind this pesky plot…

On this journey of discovery, Yoshi must Ground Pound, Flutter Jump, and gobble up woolly enemies, which can be turned into Yarn Balls – both big and small – to lob at obstacles and other enemies standing in Yoshi’s way. As a classic staple in the Yoshi platform series, Yoshi can also transform in certain Levels, so don’t be surprised to encounter a fast-swimming Mermaid Yoshi, a quick-firing Sky Pop Yoshi aeroplane, and even a Moto Yoshi, where Yoshi turns into a high-speed motorbike.

But while Yoshi’s adventures will be action-packed, there is no time limit to finish each Level, and if a Level is getting particularly tough, you can switch the game to Mellow Mode at any point and play as Winged Yoshi. With the power of flight, Yoshi will find the action a little easier to manage! In addition, and in the spirit of two Yoshis being better than one, a co-operative feature allows one of your friends to join the platforming fun as a second Yoshi and play the entire adventure alongside you.

Keep a keen eye out for cool collectibles in Yoshi’s Woolly World, with Hearts to restore Yoshi’s life gauge, Stamp Patches that unlock stamps for Miiverse, and Smiley Flowers to increase the chances of unlocking a bonus game.

Be sure to collect a horde of Beads, as these can be saved up to purchase Power Badges between Levels, which when activated allow, for example, Yoshi to unleash powered-up Ground Pounds, or even be able to play alongside woolly canine companion Poochy. Meanwhile, for the full yarn-themed experience make a particular effort to hunt down Wonder Wools, as by finding all five in every Level, watch as one of more than 50 uniquely-patterned Yoshis revives in front of your eyes!

Best of all, you can then visit Yoshi Hut on Craft Island and choose to play as one of these many different-patterned Yoshis during your adventures.

Uncover a lovingly-crafted world of woolly wonders on 25th of June, 2015 when Yoshi’s Woolly World launches on Wii U, in stores as well as on Nintendo eShop.

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Nintendo has told us here at Shane the Gamer that a playable demo for Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS and is available to download right now for free, on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS.

The demo includes two whole stages from Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, each culminating in a boss fight, showcasing the Easy and Normal difficulty levels.

Players are able to choose from team set-ups filled with familiar faces – both friend and foe from the Super Mario universe to help them in battle, and will encounter Goombas, Koopas, Hammer Bros. and more as they quest through each stage. See what happens when Boo Mario leads a team of monsters including a Cheep Cheep and Fire Piranha Plant in battle, with back-up help from a ghostly Boo Luigi!

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition is a two-games-in-one package and both games feature an exciting mix of role-playing battle action and match-three puzzle fun.

Battles play out with the player’s team of characters and monsters engaging with the enemy team by matching three or more elemental Orbs of the same type. By matching fire Orbs for instance, the player unleashes a fiery attack that is devastating to Wood-elemental enemies, but of limited use against a Water type.

What’s more, the way Orbs are re-organised as the player manipulates them enables deep strategies to be employed. As the player moves their chosen Orb around the screen the Orbs it passes through are also rearranged in sequence, allowing for strategic formulation of combo chains.

Players aren’t simply swapping the position of two Orbs, but rather the entire sequence of Orbs from the start to the finish of the move, and longer combo chains mean greater damage against the enemy!

In addition to different elemental properties, team members each have different skills and abilities to help the player in battle, such as causing extra damage after a set number of turns, altering the elemental properties of Orbs and even turning them into healing Orbs instead. Each team is headed up by a Leader and also backed up by a Helper, both lending their own unique skills to the battle, therefore creating a huge number of possible combinations for strategic team set-ups.

Puzzle & Dragons Z combines the elements of a deep and strategic puzzle game, a dungeon-crawling RPG and a monster-collecting adventure and features over 200 types of monster to recruit, evolve and hatch from eggs dropped after battle.

Monster types include dragons, knights and even demons, and each has its own different strengths, skills and special abilities. Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros Edition gives the gameplay a Super Mario Bros. spin, as the heroes traverse the Mushroom Kingdom across eight worlds with multiple courses.

Players will experience the same colourful match-three fun in both titles regardless of whether they opt for the strategic breadth of the RPG-oriented Puzzle & Dragons Z or the more streamlined Super Mario experience. With both full games together in one package, players can experience the thrill of both.

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition releases on the 9th of May, 2015 for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS.

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