Yoshi's Crafted World released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019, amassing five nominations at different game award showcases. While it didn't take home any hardware, Nintendo firmly established another Yoshi game for its illustrious Dinosaur character, having sold over 3 million copies as of the end of December 2021. I wanted to see how this game was, not knowing really anything about it and having not played a game dated later than Yoshi's Story for the Nintendo 64. What did this game do well? What did it struggle with? All that and more below!
Positives
1. Graphics- Using the Unreal Engine 4 for the game, and using terrific artistry overall was something that Yoshi's Crafted World does really well. It's graphically great on the Switch, and it has a lot of features that also shine. This includes far away backdrops, when you have to hit targets and the camera reverses its pan to the other side, and much more honestly. It is well done on Nintendo's part.
2. Level Design- I didn't think level design would be so simple but also so good. Yes it does have a lot of just go from start to end but there is a lot enveloped in a lot of the levels of this game. You can find secret areas, do different things in different levels. So the level design as well as its depth are two major important positives for this game.
3. Gameplay- I didn't think this would be a far stretch and far-fetched idea that this was going to be a good game as far as gameplay goes. It is a smooth game, it is fluid, there are no major issues and it just flows well. That is the same for the levels and anything you occur with this game. So all in all, it's a fine game from a gameplay perspective.
Negatives
1. Way Too Easy- This game doesn't offer much up in the way of difficulty. It features little to no major challenge in most ways and is honestly an easy walkthrough for any person playing this game, regardless of age. Not that that would be a problem for kids who want to be appeased quickly, but for anyone else that plays this, it will probably be boring rapidly.
2. Soundtrack- Honestly.. this has to be one of the weaker soundtracks Nintendo has released on their platform for a game they make. I can't sit here and not dissect it to pieces because it just.. isn't very good. It is very, very odd that a Nintendo game has a bad soundtrack but Yoshi's Crafted World did.
Neutral
1. Just One Yoshi- Unlike past games like Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story, you don't utilize a multitude of different colors of Yoshi like Blue, Red, Pink and so forth and rely solely on the Green Yoshi. It's not a bad thing or a good thing, but I can see if people are fine with it or detract from it. Personally, I would have liked to see the other Yoshi's implemented but it wasn't an end-all, be-all at this point.
Overall Review
Overall, Yoshi's Crafted Story is a well made game but does have its flaws. Its graphics, design and gameplay all make it very well done and very well worth it, but if you find yourself bored with this due to it being very easy I don't blame you there too. The soundtrack also detracts from the game. Overall, it does make a good family type game. I would overall rate this game 7.5 out of 10.
