The original Yoshi’s Woolly World was a passable, if forgettable platformer for the Wii U. But then, that’s not saying a whole lot since so few people played anything on Wii U. (I’m totally resisting the urge to say “zing!” right now.) Thankfully, some additional functionality and simply feeling more at home on a handheld make Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World wholly more enjoyable. While this 3DS entry is pretty much the same game you found on Wii U, what changes are made and its new handheld trappings make Yoshi more respectable this time around. This is our Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World Review.
A Casual Stroll
It’s hard to separate Yoshi from Mario, and when I think Mario I tend to think top notch platforming that’s difficult at times but not unforgiving. Yoshi’s Woolly World is, for the most part, very easy. There’s no time limit on levels, death just brings you back to the nearest checkpoint, and most of the enemies are more an annoyance than a challenge. But that’s kind of alright, too. Woolly World isn’t about the same rush to end of level you’d expect from Mario. In essence, Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World is one giant scavenger hunt.
In essence, Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World is one giant scavenger hunt.
Each level is littered with tons of things to find, and collecting them all is the ultimate goal. Doing so unlocks more Yoshis to play as, more Poochy’s, more levels, and so forth. And when you do try to 100% this game, that’s when the challenge comes in – some of the collectibles are very well hidden, and could take you a good long time to find without cheating.
Not About Jumping
Woolly World is billed as a side-scrolling platformer, but this game’s not about the jumping. In fact, of all the gameplay facets, it’s the platforming that’s largely the most suspect. It’s not bad, per say, it’s just humdrum. There’s even a “Mellow Mode” for when you want to take it really easy, and it can be turned on mid-level. This is likely Nintendo taking care of its younger and/or more casual audience, but with it on Poochy comes into the levels with Yoshi and literally helps you breeze through challenges and find items.
There is one caveat though – this newer edition of Woolly World has bonus levels starring Poochy. They’re kind of like the endless runner games we’ve come to loath and love. This is the real platforming part of the game, and is a welcome change of pace from the hunt and puzzle solving of Yoshi’s main levels. Without multiplayer, it helps break the tedium of finding every hidden item.
Final Thoughts for Our Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World Review
There are a lot of great platformers on the 3DS, and if you’ve already played Woolly World on the Wii U, it may not be worth shelling out another $40 for this lightly updated version. That said, there’s a real charm to the level design, some real challenge in its item hunt, and a whole lot of cuteness to its aesthetic. It’s not a game of the year, but for fans of Yoshi, it’s hard not to recommend this one.
Editor’s Note: Our 3DS copy was provided by Nintendo PR for review purposes.
