Yoshi: Difference between revisions

|image        = {{tabber|title1=Normal|content1=[[File:Yoshi.png|Yoshi|250px]]|title2=Yoshi's Crafted World|content2=[[File:YoshiCraftedWorld_-_Yoshi.png|250px]]}}

|lastappearance = ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)}}'' (2023)

'''Yoshi''' ({{ja|ヨッシー|Yosshī}}, ''Yoshi'') is a character in the {{uv|Mario}} series. Since his debut in ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario World}}'' as an ally of [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]], Yoshi's popularity has resulted in him starring in [[Yoshi (universe)|his own series]], which follows the adventures of Yoshi and/or [[mariowiki:Yoshi (species)|his eponymous species]].

Yoshi is the most recurring member of the [[mariowiki:Yoshi (species)|sapient and friendly reptilian species of the same name]]. The Yoshi species possesses an amalgamation of reptilian characteristics: the physique of a [[wikipedia:Theropoda|theropod]] {{s|mariowiki|dinosaur}}, a turtle-like shell that functions as a saddle,<ref name=YoshiDev/> and a chameleon-like tongue. On a related note, a chameleon's ability to change their skin coloration could be referenced by the variety of color schemes present among the various other Yoshis.

Yoshi has reprised his steed roles in later ''Mario'' titles, both in 2D games such as ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' and ''Super Mario Maker'', and in 3D games such as ''Super Mario Sunshine'' and ''Super Mario Galaxy 2''. Yoshi has, on three occasions, also been playable on his own in ''Mario'' platformer titles - in ''Super Mario 64 DS'', where he is the starter character and is tasked with rescuing Mario, in ''Super Mario Run'', where a variety of colors can be unlocked by recruiting Toads in the "Toad Rally" mode, and in ''Super Mario Bros. Wonder'', where he can be used both as a playable character and a steed.

Yoshi has long been a popular staple of the multiplayer ''Mario'' spin-off games, where he has typically been a speedy character and is often paired with fellow dinosaur [[Birdo]] from the American ''Super Mario Bros. 2'' (implied in certain titles to be his girlfriend). Many games also let players choose from a variety of different Yoshi colors.

After the success of ''Super Mario World'' and the positive reception of Yoshi, Nintendo capitalized by releasing several spinoff entries at a rapid pace. These include the puzzle games ''{{b|Yoshi|game}}'' and ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Cookie}}'', the light gun game ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Safari}}'' compatible with the [[Super Scope]]. Due to Shigeru Miyamoto's dislike of these games, he aimed to make a game starring Yoshi that was authentic to his character.<ref>''The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World'', p. 518.</ref> This game would come to be known as ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island}}'', which saw a myriad of differently colored members of the species appear. The Yoshis' ability to eat virtually anything was expanded to include the ability to create Yoshi Eggs capable of being [[mariowiki:Egg Throw|thrown]]. In addition, Yellow Yoshi's sand cloud-generating jump was modified into a {{s|mariowiki|Ground Pound}} usable by all other Yoshis. Outside of these updated abilities, the Yoshis also gained the ability to {{s|mariowiki|Flutter Jump}}<ref name=YoshiDev/> and [[mariowiki:Morph Bubble|transform into vehicles]]. Following this, {{uv|Panel de Pon}} would be reskinned as ''{{s|mariowiki|Tetris Attack}}'' for international markets, featuring Yoshi and the many new characters introduced in ''Yoshi's Island''.

In addition to being the first installment of the [[mariowiki:Yoshi's Island (series)|''Yoshi's Island'' sub-series]], ''Super Mario World 2'' is the first installment in the ''Mario'' series' in-universe timeline: it details {{s|mariowiki|Baby Luigi}} being captured by [[Kamek]] and his {{s|mariowiki|Toadie}}s while being delivered by a {{s|mariowiki|stork}}, while a group of Yoshis discover the missing {{s|mariowiki|Baby Mario}} and work to rejoin him with his twin brother. After being rescued by the Yoshis, the stork resumes its journey to deliver the newly reunited baby Mario Bros. to their parents. This same plotline would be retold in the endless runner game, ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi Touch & Go}}''.

That is followed by the next event in the ''Yoshi'' canon, ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's New Island}}'', where upon arriving at its supposed destination, the stork discovers that the family living there were not expecting children. This mishap results in the stork once again being attacked by Kamek and his Toadies, who recapture Baby Luigi while Baby Mario falls to the floating {{s|mariowiki|Egg Island}}, which is home to another group of Yoshis. Much like their counterparts on Yoshi's Island, this group of Yoshis bands together to reunite the baby Mario Bros. and stop Baby Bowser from turning Egg Island into his own personal resort - with adult [[Bowser]] travelling back in time to serve as a secret final boss for players who don't use the Flutter Wings. Should the player beat him, it will also be revealed that adult Mario has travelled back in time under the guise of the helpful Mr. Pipe.

Despite the stork successfully delivering the baby Mario Bros. to their proper parents, Kamek and his Toadies nevertheless kidnap several babies from across the Mushroom Kingdom as part of their search for the seven {{s|mariowiki|star children}}, thus leading to the events in ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Island DS}}''. Unlike the previous two instances, the stork fights back against Kamek and the Toadies, thus resulting in Baby Mario and {{s|mariowiki|Baby Peach}} being dropped onto Yoshi's Island during the scuffle. Upon reuniting with Baby Mario, the Yoshis decide to save not only Baby Luigi, but also any other babies that were kidnapped. During their journey, they ally with three other star children: Baby Peach, {{s|mariowiki|Baby Donkey Kong}} and {{s|mariowiki|Baby Wario}}.

Meanwhile, it is revealed that the adult Bowser traveled back in time once more to extract the star children's stars in order to use their power to rule the universe. By extension, it is also revealed that the Kamek and Toadies that kidnapped the babies were not from the past, but rather came from the present, alongside Bowser. However, a squabble between the Baby and present day Bowsers results in Bowser inadvertently causing his infant self to fall out of his castle, land on a Yoshi's back, and thus create an uneasy alliance between {{s|mariowiki|Baby Bowser}} (who is a star child himself) and his longtime foes.

Despite Baby Wario and Baby Bowser leaving the group because of a desire for money and a retrieval by present day Kamek, respectively, the Yoshis nevertheless arrive at Baby Bowser's castle. Upon doing so, they reunite with Baby Wario, who sought Baby Bowser's treasure. Together, the green, pink, yellow and purple Yoshis band together with the remaining four babies to defeat Baby Bowser and then adult Bowser, thus foiling Bowser's plan and saving Baby Luigi and the rest of the kidnapped babies. Although the seventh and final star child is not encountered by the Yoshis, Bowser or Kamek, the ending reveals the final star child to be a newly hatched green {{s|mariowiki|Baby Yoshi}}, thus strongly implying him to be the very same Yoshi character that the grown up Mario Bros. would go on to rescue and ally with in ''Super Mario World'' and subsequent ''Mario'' games.

Several other ''Yoshi'' platformer games have also been released, seemingly outside of the ''Yoshi's Island'' canon, ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Story}}'' tells the story of a group of Yoshi hatchlings who must retrieve the [[Super Happy Tree]] that provides their adult counterparts with their undying optimism from Baby Bowser, ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi Topsy-Turvy}}'', a gyrometer-based game, introduces a set of mostly human-like characters known as the Yoshi Island Spirits, who Yoshi must complete missions from to prove he's worthy of taking on the adult Bowser, ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Woolly World}}'', where a group of Yoshis made of wool must work together to rescue one another after being scattered as bundles of yarn by Kamek and Baby Bowser, and ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Crafted World}}'' where the Yoshis have to recover pieces of the wish-granting Sundream Stone from Baby Bowser and Kamek - These titles all take place in worlds made to appear homemade out of materials such as cardboard and wool. The only baby shown in these particular games is Baby Bowser.

Yoshi once again returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Unlike in ''SSB'' and ''Melee'', he now sports his design since ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Story}}'', ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario Sunshine}}'', and ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Party 4}}''. His moves are relatively unchanged from his ''Melee'' moveset, except for the fact that [[Egg Toss]] can now function as a makeshift [[third jump]] when used in mid-air. This is a welcome change for Yoshi, especially since his already fast [[air speed]] has become even faster, and the directional [[air dodge]] that aided his recovery in ''Melee'' has been removed. Yoshi also boasts a much better grab game, thanks to receiving grab release follow-ups.