Short but sweet!įrom my own point of view, this OSV serves one, and only one, specific purpose: it brings back wonderful memories of the 2-D sidescrolling era. All in all, if you can ever find it anywhere, Super Mario Yoshi Island is a must-get. This is a shame, because Yoshi's Island is one of Kondo's best scores so far.ĭon't be fooled by its cute appearance this is a soundtrack that is jam-packed with more fun and pleasure than one can possibly imagine. In other words, not too many people are raving about Yoshi's Island, and most have probably forgotten about it by now. I wish I could hear a concert arrangement of this song, because of those elements from the finale of Zelda.Īll of this makes Super Mario Yoshi Island a very entertaining listening experience, but it hasn't had much of a life on its own. And when the song almost becomes too treacly, Kondo throws in elements of the end title theme from "The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past". It sounds a tad bit like the end title theme from Super Mario World, but instead is played in a lullaby manner. The highlight of this score is the end title theme. However, this is only two out of 26 tracks, and does nothing to take away the entertainment value of the music. They are mostly noisy cacophonies that get irritating instantly. If there is any weakness in the soundtrack, it would probably be the boss battle themes. Best of all, it has an extended version of the famous "Invincible" theme, entitled "Powerful Infant". "Flower Garden" is a nice frolic song, "Underground BGM" is funky, "Athletic" is appropiately athletic. The other stuff on here is equally great, too. The main title theme, "Yoshi's Island", in particular, is very cool! It has a great dance beat and it's enhanced by calypso instruments. In fact, this score is more snappy than cute. It keeps the saccharine feeling to a mild level, which allows this score to be more enjoyable than its sequel was. The score occasionally screams treacliness (in tracks like "Story Music Box"), but it is not completely overdone, unlike its semi-disappointing N64 sequel, "Yoshi's Story". The music here has a typical Mario-esque feeling (although the classic theme is not used), but in a youthful, innocent schtick to keep the Mario universe afloat, while inviting us to join in with the whimsical world of the Yoshis. Super Mario Yoshi Island (Yoshi's Island, to us Americans) continues the legendary trend of his previous works.
If the player then completes the level without taking any damage, the eggs will hatch into various colored Yoshis and give Sonic several 1-Ups. Throughout the level there are Yoshi Eggs the player can pick up. The level contains elements such as Blue Warp Pipes, Piranha Plants, and Shy Guys. Sonic travels through a 2.5D side-scrolling Zone featuring an influx of items, both Sonic the Hedgehog and Yoshi-themed. In Yoshi's Island Zone, Sonic travels to Yoshi's Island to save the Yoshis. Yoshi's Island Zone's overall aesthetic is highly reminiscent of the levels in Yoshi's Story.