Yoshi's Island DS (Nintendo DS, 2006)

Yoshi's Island doesn't mess with the original's formula and really just adds some new elements here and there. The new multiple baby element is really cool, but doesn't change the feel of the game at all. Basically, this game is for you if you liked the SNES original or Gameboy re-release. It's not going to surprise you in any way (if you've played the original) but it is a solid Nintendo platformer.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: Classic Platforming of old. Playing one of the SNES's best games is always fun. New babies with different powers is a really cool new feature even though some work better than others.
Cons: If you've played the original this really just feels like more of the same. It's great, but you've played it. The first boss is even the same (well 2 of them instead of 1). It could've used some more touch features.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: Same cool morphing effects from the remake and original. Great art sense and pastel / cartoon feel.
Cons: A lot of the graphics and animations are just ripped from the original (GBA or SNES, isn't DS stronger?), but what really bothers me is that the title screen and level progression menu is exactly the same.

Sound/Music: 8/10
Pros: I love the Yoshi yelp and the baby crying really makes you feel anxious to get the baby back. Again, the sound and music will instantly feel familiar and is perfectly sufficient.
Cons: Nothing new, perfectly sufficient but lacking something...pizzaz perhaps?

Lasting Appeal: 7/10
Pros: If you missed out on owning a SNES or didn't buy the GBA remake then this is a must buy and you will absolutely love it, play it, beat it, and play it again. There are tons of levels and a lot of different worlds. The bosses especially stand out and were always excellent in this series, so you'll play through just to see and beat all of them.
Cons: I'm not sure how much you'll care about finding all the flowers and collecting everything. I for one will not play it again after I beat it, though I may try to score high enough on a level here and there to unlock the bonus levels.

Average: 80.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

End Result is that Yoshi's Island DS is a solid Nintendo Platformer that will surely please anyone who played the original. It copies the original in so many ways and just doesn't offer enough to live up to the original, which after all is a classic and arguably one of the best platformers of the 16-bit era. We are in a different era where the bar has been raised and doing the more of the same isn't enough to warrant a must buy title.

Verdict: 80%