MFGG - Mario Fan Games Galaxy

Review Information

Game Reviewed	Yoshi vs. Windows, by supertoad2k
Review Author	VinnyVideo
Created	Aug 6 2010, 7:59 PM

General Commentary and Game Overview

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

Note: This review covers the original Yoshi vs. Windows, not the later Yoshi vs. Windows Platinum. The updated version is better in most aspects.

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
Cons	- Glitchy Clickteam platform engine - Some enemies are virtually impossible to avoid - Graphics clash - Animations aren't smooth - Inadequate use of sound effects - Game window closes at Game Overs

Impressions

Gameplay 7 / 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 (excluding a couple of password points) until the later levels. For that reason, you have to play pretty carefully, since some enemies are very difficult to avoid. Even after a few plays, this is a relatively hard fangame. The game uses the old-fashioned Clickteam platform engine, so you can count on glitchiness. And 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 5 / 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, but a far greater problem is the jerkiness that plagues the game.
Sound 5 / 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 disappointment. More could've been done with the iconic sounds of Windows, and other sound effects are limited as well.
Replay 8 / 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. If you've ever touched a PC, you should play this game.

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