In North America, Yoshi's Island is known as "Super Mario World 2", presenting it as a sequel to the legendary SNES launch game. While perhaps thought necessary from a marketing standpoint, it does an injustice to how unique this title is, as it iterates Mario tropes (and characters) in incredibly creative ways.
In truth, Yoshi's Island is a prequel. The hero, of course, is Yoshi (defined as a whole species of differently colored, but otherwise identical dinosaurs), tasked with escorting a diaper-clad Baby Mario away from danger. Yoshi is better prepared for direct conflict than the Mario Bros., able to eat almost any enemy and produce an egg, which can then be thrown as a weapon. The damage system is also unique, as getting hit will send Baby Mario floating off in a bubble, causing him to cry hysterically. As long as you can retrieve him before a timer runs out, then you can continue on. The offensive, defensive, and maneuvering abilities – Yoshi controls with less inertia than Mario, plus he can spin his legs in mid-leap to gain some extra air – makes for a game that plays much differently than a typical Mario experience.
The levels are full of clever gimmicks, keeping the game fresh throughout all 54 stages. The fan favorite is "Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy", where fluffy little clouds will send Yoshi on a hallucinogenic trip, causing the world and music to twist and bend around him. Like Super Mario World, the levels are fairly open ended, and with the removal of the timer, they give you the ability to play around to your heart's content.
While Yoshi's Island is just as solidly designed as any of Nintendo's other greats, it's most fondly remembered for its fantastic visuals. Drawn to emulate a living coloring book, even simple backgrounds come to life with animated scribbles, with the color palette coming together to create what is probably the most gorgeous looking 2D game ever created. Yoshi is also animated with incredible amounts of character. The creatures, friend and foe, include Shyguys (borrowed from Super Mario Bros. 2), watermelon-eating monkeys (you can eat the watermelons and spit seeds back, too), and obese puffins (you can steal the chicks and use them as weapons). Almost everything, including the scenery, wears a happy smile, and you nearly feel bad for viciously gulping and digesting them. The unique mechanics and technologically impressive visuals – bolstered by the Super FX2 chip – make Yoshi's Island feel like a Treasure game, but with the personality, polish, and ingenuity of Nintendo's best output.
The Wario games are where Nintendo goes when they want to do something weird and experimental. Born as a spin-off from Super Mario Land 2, the fourth Wario Land, released for the GBA, is the best of the lot. Rather than focusing on strict platforming, each level is a relatively open-ended hunt for the goal; once you reach that goal, you need to head backwards and escape before the level collapses. Your "powers" come from assorted injuries, like getting flattened to squeeze through tight spaces. The landscapes are varied and surreal, and the soundtrack is just as bizarre, often accompanied with warbling vocals. While not as tightly designed as Nintendo's greats, it's a good alternative for those tired of their usual fare.
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