As the weather warms up for spring and things get a bit more colorful outside, Yoshi's Crafted World is also brightening up the Nintendo Switch. If you have loved past Yoshi games such as Yoshi's Woolly World or even older titles such as Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Crafted World will feel extremely familiar while also finding ways to iterate on what Yoshi can do. Sporting a cute, soft, and craft-item-centered level design, there's a lot to love about the aesthetics of the game - and its Mellow Mode, co-op, and gentle mechanics make it a great game to play with a child or friend.
Whether you're new to Yoshi games or not, here's a quick primer on everything you'll need to get started in Yoshi's Crafted World:
- Moving as Yoshi
- Should you use Mellow Mode?
- Hunting for Secrets
- Do you need to collect every Smiley Flower?
- How do the costume gachas work?
- Working with Poochy
Moving as Yoshi
If you've ever played any Yoshi game before, you'll already be familiar with how Yoshi controls. But even if you're new to the game, he's not too difficult to figure out. Yoshi can move left and right on a 2D plane, but he can also move forward and back using the joystick in specific areas where the game allows you to move up and down. Keep an eye out for places where the path beneath your feet seems to branch forward and back - that usually means you can move in a 3D space!
Yoshi can jump, and he can also flutter to hover in the air and gain a touch more height before he descends. Press A to jump once, then press and hold again in the air to flutter. You'll want to get good at the flutter jump quickly, as it's one of Yoshi's most-used abilities.
Using the B button, Yoshi can stick out his tongue and eat things such as apples, enemies, and other bits scattered around. Some enemies he will hold in his mouth until you spit them out again by pressing the B button - this applies to creatures like Koopa Troopas. Others, such as Shy Guys, will automatically turn into eggs that follow behind Yoshi and can be thrown around. Enemies holding items like spears and some large enemies cannot be eaten by Yoshi.
With Y, Yoshi will throw one of the eggs following behind him. You can use the right stick to aim where you throw it, then press Y again to fire. Yoshi will automatically target items above or below the current plane he's standing on if you have the cursor over them, so don't worry about trying to aim in 3D space. You'll be using this ability often.
Finally, Yoshi can ground pound by jumping in the air and tapping ZL. This can be used to break through soft or crumbly ground, or pound down pillars.
Should you use Mellow Mode?
At the start of the game, you'll be offered the option to play in something called Mellow Mode. Mellow Mode makes the game considerably easier in a number of ways, for players who are struggling, younger, or just want a breezier experience. You can swamp between the two modes at any time.
Here are the changes that are made when you swap to Mellow Mode:
- Yoshi has wings, allowing him to infinitely flutter jump
- Enemies do less damage to Yoshi
- The controller will vibrate and an indicator will flash when a Smiley Flower is nearby
- All invisible ? clouds will be visible
- Eaten enemies give two eggs instead of one
There is no penalty for playing in Mellow Mode, so use it through the whole game if you like, or turn it on to find that one elusive Smiley Flower or get past a particularly tricky challenge. It's up to you!
Hunting for secrets
As with other Yoshi games, Yoshi's Crafted World is stuffed full of secrets, hidden items, and hidden areas. Every level has a number of collectibles it will challenge you to obtain, and while you certainly don't need them all to finish the game, some players may want to try to find them all!
- Smiley Flowers - Every level has a set number of Smiley Flowers you can find scattered throughout it. These are usually hidden just out of sight, either in alcoves, high up areas, or behind scenery. You'll need to carefully examine every corner of a level to find them all. You'll need to collect a set number of Smiley Flowers in each area to proceed to the next, though that number is fairly generous.
- Coins - Coins are plentiful, and are used to spend on costumes from the gacha machines at the end of each area. You also get a Smiley Flower for collecting 100 coins in a given level, which is usually the easiest flower to get. Look for more coins by throwing eggs at set pieces, exploring seemingly empty areas for ? clouds that might hide coins, and knocking out enemies in the background.
- Red Coins - Red Coins are special coins that take a bit more effort to find, and are often part of groups behind ? clouds or in the background. There are 20 in each level, and collecting them all will net you another Smiley Flower.
- Hearts - Each level also has a handful of ? clouds that will give Yoshi more health hearts. Collecting 20 of these hidden hearts in a level will give Yoshi another Smiley Flower. These are usually fairly easy to find and will usually be on your main path somewhere, though they may be invisible until you walk over them.
- Poochy Pups - After beating a level, you'll get the option to play the level again backwards. All other collectibles will be gone, but three Poochy Pups will be hidden throughout. Collect all three pups and return to the start (now the end) of the level to receive a Smiley Flower for each, plus a bonus flower if you manage to find them within the time limit. Poochy Pups will get harder to find the further into the game you get, but you always know one is nearby when you hear it barking!
Do you need to collect every Smiley Flower?
You don't! Smiley Flowers are used to move into the next area, but you'll only need a few from each level to proceed. Try to be diligent about collecting things as you go, but if you miss a few don't sweat it. You can always turn on Mellow Mode for assistance in finding collectibles if you find yourself finishing areas with too few Smiley Flowers to move forward.
How do the costume gachas work?
Each area of Yoshi's Crafted World has a costume gachapon machine where you can spend a set amount of coins to receive new costumes for Yoshi. These gachas will start by costing 100 coins, but the price will increase the further into the game you get (though sometimes you'll get a nice freebie!).
Each gacha has a set of unique costumes you can obtain. You will never obtain duplicates, and when you receive all the costumes from a particular machine, it will close so you won't spend coins on it anymore. Your goal may be to eventually collect every costume.
Costumes can be equipped to Yoshi to protect him from damage, with rarer costumes being able to survive more hits. The costume will replenish at the start of a new level, and you will never permanently lose the costume - if it falls apart in a level, you can re-equip it when the level is over.
Working with Poochy
Some levels partner you with your friend Poochy to overcome obstacles Yoshi could not on his own. Poochy can be a bit tricky to control, but is extremely useful as he will knock over and defeat most enemies, dig through soft ground, as well as fetch collectibles and bring them back to you.
When you are not riding Poochy, he will take the shortest path he can find to get to where you are. If he cannot get to you, he will either wait or try to move closer along a parallel plane to you (so if you're in the foreground and he's in the background, he'll move with you). Poochy can jump very high over obstacles, and he will also grab any collectibles he runs over on his way to you and bring them back. This is often used to collect Smiley Flowers that are out of Yoshi's reach.
When riding Poochy, he will move in the direction you are facing on his back, automatically defeat enemies he runs into, and keep going until he hits a wall he can't jump over. You can jump from his back to collect coins, but if you land off his back he'll stop and return to you so you can get back on. It can be a bit tricky to stay on his back while jumping or turning, so try to use small controller movements to stay on board.
Any questions?
Struggling with something in Yoshi's Crafted World? Let me know in the comments and I'll try to help!
