Better Iconic 16-bit Platformer: S3K Versus Yoshi's Island

[sheath]

So how DID he get banned? I think I missed it...

He had broken nearly every forum rule by the time he started actively antagonizing Joe.

[NeoZeedeater]

Tough choice. Sonic 1 and CD are my favourites for the series. The others lack some of the surreality. If they had been in the poll, I probably wouldn't have voted for Yoshi's Island. YI just might be the best game in the Mario series, though (I don't understand why SMB3 gets put on a pedestal above the rest). Sonic 3 & Knuckles is awesome but S&K brings the package down a notch with the shitty Sandopolis level.

[magicalsoundshower]

I must've spent hours trying to like Yoshi's Island, but it never did it for me. After coming off the soaring, open gameplay of Super Mario World, the slow, plodding and confined nature of the game was such a massive disappointment. Donkey Kong Country just feels weird to play and looks horrific in any iteration, so Sonic 3&Knuckles wins in my book, easily.

[StarMist]

The problem with Yoshi's Island is that it's too far of a departure in from the other Mario games, both in terms of gameplay and aesthetic. It doesn't look like a Mario game and it doesn't play like a Mario game.

I think the OP actually made a good point here about likening it to SMB2 (Doki Doki). Yoshi as a surrogate Luigi. He took it too far for my taste though as SMB2 has the more varied mechanics and design (I wish YI shared its verticality); still the hinderworld element is there with the caverns and subsections of levels reached through doors, hearking back to the multiple stage sections in SMB2 reached through doors and vases. Even the occasional descent into respawning wells reminds me of SMB2's dead-end vases except that there's nothing at all to do in YI's.

[Drakon]

s3 + k that's a no brainer. s3 + k is one of the most epic things to happen on the genesis and it should be experienced to understand why.

[evilevoix]

I am running through YI right now. Extremely beautiful game, best 16BIT game looks wise I think. Game play is a PITA but I believe it was designed that way.

[Thunderblaze16]

Don't forget the game had the help of the FX chip to play like it did.

[NostalgicMachine]

I fired up Yoshi's Island last night, and I honestly still find this game just as charming. Perhaps it's because I'm a connoisseur of novelty, but I personally find it to be a brilliant platformer hidden underneath a child-like exterior. Collecting all the coins is more fun than you think, and finding new ways to reach initially un-reachable areas is a blast. The levels are simplistic, but the game encourages exploration, which is something I love.

I can understand why 3/4 of people won't like this game, and I won't argue on those points. However, those who are on the ropes should throw this one on and play through it before forming an opinion.

[Vehemont]

Kinda weird to ask this question here on a SEGA website but I chose DKC. I just really enjoyed the music and the overall feel of the game. I guess you can count me as one of the few to admit to liking this game on this site. Oh and I love the other games as well but I just have fonder memories with DKC.

[sheath]

Don't forget the game had the help of the FX chip to play like it did.

It uses the FX-2 chip if I recall, the same as Doom SNES. I never was sure what the FX chip could do for a 2D game though.

[NostalgicMachine]

It uses the FX-2 chip if I recall, the same as Doom SNES. I never was sure what the FX chip could do for a 2D game though.

It definitely allows for denser resolution and higher animation. Look at the lava monsters/blobs in the first castle; they move around smoothly, and might as well be a cartoon character when they surface. Imagine if this technology were available for Super Mario World...

[Vehemont]

It uses the FX-2 chip if I recall, the same as Doom SNES. I never was sure what the FX chip could do for a 2D game though.

I believe it was used for levels like Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy

[grasshopper]

honestly, i think yoshi's island is one of the best 2d games ever... it murders any sonic game, no contest. still love my genny collection tho.

[NostalgicMachine]

I'm still fairly certain it was used subtly during animation and rendering of certain enemies/bosses. The graphical quality is amazing in this game, I'm kind of re-obsessed now because of this thread. Thanks SEGA-16!

[sheath]

Well, whoever asked why this question is relevant on this "sega" website ought to have their question answered now.

So we think the Super FX-2 chip was used for animation and decompression? That seems rather wasteful.

-edit-

Touch Fuzzy definitely looks like too much line scroll for the SNES CPU to manage alone. Hopefully the music slowdown is cruddy emulation though.