MFGG - Mario Fan Games Galaxy

Review Information

Game Reviewed	Yoshi vs Windows Platinum, by supertoad2k and Nite
Review Author	VinnyVideo
Created	Jan 21 2013, 1:55 PM

General Commentary and Game Overview

Yoshi vs. Windows takes players on a surreal quest as Yoshi sets off to defeat former Microsoft monarch Bill Gates and his various minions. Despite a glitchy engine and repetitive level design, the game remains a classic for its originality and wit.

Note: This review covers the Platinum version of Yoshi vs. Windows, not the original. Yet you may notice similarities between the reviews!

Pros	+ Remains one of the most original games on MFGG + Hilarious to anyone who's ever touched a Windows PC + Great use of Windows and DOS themes + Good save system
Cons	- Glitchy Clickteam platform engine - Some enemies are virtually impossible to avoid - Graphics clash

Impressions

Gameplay 9 / 10	Every level (except the bosses) is built around finding the enemies (all based on Windows items like pointers and icons) and defeating them by lapping them up with Yoshi's tongue (yum!). Once all the enemies are gone, the way to the level exit will be revealed. Touching the enemies costs Yoshi a varying amount of energy, and there aren't many energy refills. In the original version, you had to play very carefully, as some enemies were very difficult to avoid and passwords were few and far between. The Platinum version, however, is much easier, since you can save at the beginning of every level. The game uses the old-fashioned Clickteam platform engine, so you can count on glitchiness. The pixel-perfect collisions can be especially frustrating. While the level design isn't spectacular, the game stands out because of its brilliant use of Windows themes in every level, from Internet Explorer to the ever-looming BSOD. Plus, there's a certain contempt for authority that lends more flavor to almost any fangame (or any video game, for that matter).
Graphics 7 / 10	There's a lot going on graphics-wise in this game, with Yoshi's Island Yoshi sprites, some tiles from Super Mario World, YI, and the NES Super Mario Bros. 3, and lots of stuff relating to Windows (usually, Windows 98). Obviously, the graphics are going to clash in this game, although the graphics in the Platinum version include some nice effects and are a big improvement over the original game.
Sound 7 / 10	Much of the music used in Yoshi vs. Window is based around screeching synthesizers, purposefully creating an unsettling, dissonant effect, which makes sense considering the subject matter of the game. A couple of songs, however, are more bouncy or epic. All of the music is MIDI-based, and none of them sounded familiar to me when I first played the game. Sound effects are a major improvement over the original Yoshi vs. Windows, which barely had any sounds at all. Yoshiman's impersonation of the Yoshi voice sounds pretty good and isn't nearly as annoying as one might expect.
Replay 9 / 10	Maybe it's just me, considering that (sadly) no fangame has been a bigger influence on my fangaming career than this one, but this is one of the few older titles on MFGG that has legitimate replay value. I never tire of seeing Yoshi visit the Recycle Bin.

Final Words

Yoshi vs. Windows is one of the games that defines MFGG, and the Platinum version is a nice improvement over its predecessor. If you've ever touched a PC, you should play this game.

Report This Submission

Comments

No comments have been left.

Pages: | Last Unread