Platform: Nintendo Switch

Developer: Good-Feel

Publisher: Nintendo

Release Date: March 29, 2019

Genre: Platformer

Nerd Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Kikopaff

Yoshi is a comforter amidst today’s crises. If you have read even a snippet of the news’ headlines, you’ll know all about the truly horrific events that have taken place around the world. But escaping into a world of crafts and art bursting with life, is so cathartic in Yoshi’s Crafted World. I welcome its unabashed cuteness and its simple, yet innovative level designs. Yes, it’s an “easy” game if looked through the lens of a platforming challenge. But the world is hard enough as it is, and Yoshi’s Crafted World wants you to have a good, charming time.

The plot of Yoshi’s Crafted World is quite simple, as expected from a platforming game targeted at children. At the topmost peak of Yoshi’s Island sits the Sundream Stone, which possesses the power to make anyone’s wildest dreams come true. One day, Kamek and Baby Bowser attempt to steal the stone, but its gems are sent flying across the world. As Yoshi, and with a friend tagging along if you choose to play coop, you must recover the hidden gems.

The journey is well worth it; Yoshi’s Crafted World is beautiful. Each world bursts with colour and is so vividly real. There’s something about its lush woods in the Acorn Forest or the fluffy clouds in Sky-High Heights that transport you to such wonderfully crafted worlds. What surprises me the most is realising that the world is entirely built of simple crafts items; glass bottles, cardboard, strings, even egg cartons. It transforms everyday, mundane objects into a picturesque, fun experience.

Its level design is some of the best I’ve seen in any platformer. Despite how simple its materials are, levels are innovative and offer unique navigations. Everything can be used to Yoshi’s advantage from the foreground to the background, by throwing his eggs at a chosen target. Items are hidden everywhere, and Yoshi’s Crafted World tempts you to search every nook and cranny for them. Whether it’s flowers for the next level or red coins, Yoshi’s Crafted World motivates you to play the completionist game.

Replaying levels will serve as a treat. And no, replaying isn’t just an added means to get that one last flower you couldn’t find – it’s a brand new experience altogether. Yoshi’s Crafted World can be played from the finish line back to the start. You may think that this is still easy, especially if you think you remember every level’s design. But I was honestly surprised at how immersive a replayable level is, how oddly different everything feels, even though in the back of my mind I know I’ve played through this before.

It isn’t afraid to reveal its ‘flaws’ and secrets; behind that beautifully painted wall is tape and string holding it up together. The transparency in its level design is refreshing and one that enhances the experience.

On top of the eloquent design, replayable levels also allow you to search for Pooches, little puppies in Yoshi’s Crafted World, which is where the faster player might find more intriguing. Every replayed level requires you to search for three Pooches as quickly as you can. You’ll have to navigate through the same obstacles that existed prior, and still jump through the finish line alive, and as fast as possible.

The gameplay is straightforward. As Yoshi, you jump, fly and run through various obstacles. Many of the barriers are designed as mini puzzles, encouraging you to figure out ways to get through that next step. Sometimes, merely throwing one of your eggs at the block in front of you reveals stairs that help you walk your way into the next scene. Other times, flying as high as you can shows a secret platform with extra goodies, and a convenient way to avoid those Shy Guys. But eating those Shy Guys is also incredibly satisfying, as they turn into eggs, your ammo to shoot at objects and enemies.

Yoshi’s Crafted World isn’t about finishing the game; it cares more about your search. Throwing eggs at every interactive item is a treat, although it can feel clunky at times. The journey is about searching for every flower you can find, every red coin, or as many coins as you can. And it’s in this hunt that Yoshi’s Crafted World shines the most.

Flowers are essential as they serve as your in-game currency to proceed to the next world. It will help you well to search for as many flowers as you can, but I was able to get away with ignoring one or two that were just a little too inconvenient for me to go back and grab them. There are also costumes that you can earn through your gold, that gives Yoshi not only an adorable wardrobe but an extra layer of protection against obstacles and enemies. For the most part, these costumes are for cosmetic reasons, but they did come handy during later boss fights.

For example, Spike the Piranha is a Piranha Plant boss, similar to Naval Piranha and Big Bungee Piranha from other Yoshi games. The player needs to hit him on the head with a spiky ball to do damage. These spiky balls fall from the plants hanging above you, so positioning is crucial. This was one of the tougher boss fights, and wearing that giant trash can was a lifesaver.

Despite how innovative its level designs are, its lasting charm and its endless layers of adorable, Yoshi’s Crafted World still feels a little too simple. It isn’t designed for the hardcore platformer; your challenge isn’t beating enemies along the way; it’s testing how well you know its levels. Yoshi’s Crafted World is designed for casual players, who appreciate seeing worlds being built and polished for you to explore. That isn’t a bad thing, but it’s certainly not for everyone. And after about seven hours of playing, it does get a little tiresome searching for more flowers.

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a cute, well-designed and innovative experience that brings comfort and joy amidst today’s horrors and darker titles. It brings a memorable experience, with fun levels and some of Yoshi’s best features. It’s a straightforward game, and its focus on treasure hunting may not suit the most hardcore platformer, but if you’re looking for an unexpected and ridiculously cute adventure, look no further.