Yoshi's Woolly World is a 2015 platform game created by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It follows Yoshi's New Island (2014) and is the seventh main game in the Yoshi series. It is the third Yoshi game released for a home console, making it the first home console game in the series since 1997's Yoshi's Story, which was over 17 years earlier. The game is also inspired by 2010's Kirby's Epic Yarn. In the game, two Yoshis work together to save their friends, who have been turned into yarn bundles by Kamek to help Baby Bowser build a new castle.
Like Kirby's Epic Yarn, Yoshi's Woolly World uses an art style that looks like yarn. The gameplay includes activities based on how yarn works, in addition to the series' usual style. In this game, Yoshi makes yarn balls instead of eggs, and can change into different forms, similar to Kirby in Kirby's Epic Yarn.
A version of the game for the Nintendo 3DS, called Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, was released worldwide in early 2017. Both the Wii U and 3DS versions received mostly positive reviews, with praise for the art style, gameplay, and creativity. However, some reviewers noted that the game was too easy. The next game in the series, Yoshi's Crafted World, was released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch.
Gameplay
Yoshi's Woolly World is a platform game where players control Yoshi. Like games such as Kirby's Epic Yarn, the game takes place in a world made of yarn and cloth. Yoshi uses many of the same moves from the Yoshi's Island series, such as swallowing enemies with his tongue and using a flutter jump to reach high places. Items like flowers and mystery clouds also appear. However, instead of producing eggs when swallowing enemies, Yoshi creates balls of yarn. These yarn balls can trap enemies, fill in platforms, or help players cross gaps. Players can also collect white chicks in levels, which create temporary cloud platforms when thrown. The game allows two players to work together. Both players can swallow and throw their partner, helping them reach areas that are otherwise difficult to access. Some parts of the game give Yoshi special abilities, such as riding a motorbike or using an umbrella.
Throughout each level, Yoshi can collect beads, which are used to buy Power Badges. These badges help players during levels, such as giving stronger attacks or allowing recovery if they fall into bottomless pits. Each level has five Flowers, five Wonder Wools, and twenty Stamp Patches hidden behind beads. Collecting all five Flowers in a world unlocks a secret level. Finding all Yarn Bundles in a level changes Yoshi's appearance, which players can switch to on the overworld map. Collecting enough Stamp Patches unlocks special stamps for Miiverse posts. In the 3DS version, Stamp Patches are replaced with Pencil Patches, which provide pre-made models for a special Yoshi customization mode. At any time, players can switch between Classic Mode and Mellow Mode. Mellow Mode gives Yoshi wings, letting less experienced players fly endlessly through levels. Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World includes a unique mode where players control Poochy, who can only crouch, jump, and collect Poochy Pups and beads.
The game works with Amiibo figures, including a special knitted Yarn Yoshi Amiibo. Using any Yoshi Amiibo allows players to create a duplicate Yoshi during solo play, letting one player perform actions usually reserved for two-player co-op. The Yarn Yoshi Amiibo can also save a design based on another character. Other Amiibo, such as Mario and Donkey Kong, unlock new patterns inspired by those characters. The game can be played using the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote, Wii Classic Controller, or Wii U Pro Controller.
Plot
On a knitted island where many Yarn Yoshis live, each with different patterns, the evil Magikoopa Kamek turns almost all the Yoshis into bundles of yarn for his master, Baby Bowser. He spreads them across many different worlds. However, two Yoshis escape being turned into yarn and decide to find Kamek and save their friends. They travel through six different worlds and reach Baby Bowser's castle. When Yoshi confronts Baby Bowser, it is discovered that Kamek collected the yarn to build a new castle for Baby Bowser. After Yoshi defeats Baby Bowser, Kamek uses the yarn to make Baby Bowser grow very large. Yoshi defeats Baby Bowser again, and Baby Bowser returns to his normal size. The Yoshis then rescue their friends from Kamek and Baby Bowser. Kamek and Baby Bowser try to fly away but crash onto the moon, where they are left alone by the Yoshis. At the end of the game, Poochy is seen standing behind the moon, sticking his tongue out happily.
Development
Yoshi's Woolly World was first announced by Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata on January 23, 2013, with the temporary name Yarn Yoshi. The game showed different ways to play and had an art style that looked like Kirby's Epic Yarn. Good-Feel developed the game, and Takashi Tezuka oversaw the project. The game was not shown at E3 2013 but was playable at E3 2014, where it had an expected release time of "the first half of 2015." The music was created by Good-Feel composers Tomoya Tomita (now working independently) and Misaki Asada. The main theme was written by Nintendo's Kazumi Totaka.
Release
Special editions of the Wii U version's retail package included the game with a knitted Yarn Yoshi Amiibo, available in green, blue, or pink. These bundles offered either one Yarn Yoshi Amiibo or all three colors. Players who bought the game on the European Nintendo eShop before July 23, 2015, received a free download code for a Virtual Console version of the Nintendo DS game Yoshi Touch & Go.
A version for the Nintendo 3DS, called Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, was released globally in early 2017. This version features a special mode where players control Poochy, who can only crouch and jump to collect Poochy Pups and beads. Instead of Stamp Patches, the 3DS version includes Pencil Patches, which provide preset models for its exclusive Yoshi customization mode. A Poochy Amiibo was also released with the retail version of the game.
Reception
Yoshi's Woolly World received mostly positive reviews, with a combined score of 78 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 83 reviews. Critics appreciated the game's art style and creative ideas but noted that the difficulty was too simple.
GameSpot's Rob Crossley gave the game a score of 6 out of 10. He wrote, "You do not need to collect any hidden items to complete the game from the first level to the final boss. Some might see this as making the game easy to play for everyone. However, if you want full enjoyment, the more challenging path is the only real choice. Your own curiosity and desire to explore will decide which path you take."
IGN's Daniel Krupa gave the game a moderately positive review. He said, "The game feels familiar, but its creative and attractive art style makes it feel new and appealing. Outside of those strong levels, Woolly World is less memorable and less cohesive. Interesting game features are introduced, but they are not fully used in levels that focus more on frustrating collectibles."
Nintendo Life's Thomas Whitehead praised the game for having "some of Nintendo's best cooperative platforming" with "clever, witty level design" and "beautiful" visuals. However, he noted that boss battles were "repetitive and disappointing."
The 3DS version of the game also received mostly positive feedback, with a combined score of 77 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 56 reviews. Reviewers praised the port for successfully moving the original game to a handheld system. However, some criticized the lower visual quality and the lack of local multiplayer. Whitehead described this as "a disappointment, though not entirely unexpected."
Yoshi's Woolly World sold about 31,000 physical copies in Japan at launch. After two weeks, sales reached 43,000 copies. In the UK, the game entered the charts in fourth place. As of March 31, 2016, the game had sold 1.37 million copies worldwide. The 3DS version sold 80% of its initial shipment in Japan but only reached twentieth place on the UK charts.