March 2019 LIVE Magazine

Crafted World utilizes a mechanic of aiming
and firing eggs in a pseudo-3D space to
hit cardboard pieces. This is a simple yet
effective and satisfying hook, and continues
the trend of boundary-pushing Yoshi
platformers. While Woolly World’s yarn
gimmick tended to be in your face and a bit
much at times, the cardboard themes in this
title reside more in the background - both
in a literal and figurative sense. This allows
for a tighter, more enjoyable experience;
and one that’s a touch more fast-paced. It
comes off as distinct, while feeling closer to
Yoshi’s Island/Story in spirit. It truly felt to
me like a nostalgic trip back to the mid 90s
when playing around with the egg-firing
mechanic, especially after seeing the return
of baddies like Spear Guys, Goonies, and
the main villains - Baby Bowser and Kamek.
Yet Crafted World has completely ditched
its predecessor’s “hook” of its often
cumbersome yarn-yanking mechanic. In
its place we get the more straightforward
approach of shooting cardboard cut-outs
scattered throughout 2.5D planes. These
The artistic vibe of Yoshi’s Crafted World
maintains that predominant level of
colorful cuteness that Woolly World pulled
off so well. Much like Woolly World, it
really feels like you’re playing through
a rich, kid-friendly animated piece here.
cutouts take on a variety of images that are
often meant to blend into the background,
providing a certain scavenger hunt feel.
Nailing them can yield various goodies,
such as hearts that replenish heath, as well
as coins and flowers.