Yoshi's Story

About Yoshi’s Story (N64)

Yoshi’s Story is a platform game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It launched in Japan on December 21, 1997, in North America on March 10, 1998, and in Europe on April 10, 1998. It was the follow-up to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, but it traded that game’s painterly style for a storybook world made of felt, cardboard and fabric.

Baby Bowser has stolen the Super Happy Tree, the source of happiness on Yoshi’s Island, and cast a spell that turns the island into a picture book. The Yoshis must eat their way through six storybook pages, rescue their friends and reclaim the tree. Its gentle pace, bright craft aesthetic and fruit-eating gameplay made it a warm, welcoming platformer for players of all ages.

Detailed Gameplay

Yoshi’s Story is a side-scrolling platformer where eating fruit matters as much as reaching the end of a level.

Pages, levels and fruit

• The game is told as a storybook with six pages, each containing four levels to choose from.
• To finish a page, you must eat 30 pieces of fruit, not just reach the goal.
• Your favorite fruit, shown at the start of each level, restores more happiness than other fruit.

Yoshis, eggs and abilities

• Six Yoshis in different colors are playable, each with a favorite fruit and a unique voice.
• Yoshi can flutter jump to cross wide gaps, swallow enemies and turn them into eggs.
• Eggs can be thrown at targets, enemies and hidden clouds to reveal items.

Enemies, bosses and the Super Happy Tree

• Enemies include Shy Guys, Piranha Plants and Baby Bowser’s mischievous minions.
• Each page ends with a boss or challenge, and the final page leads to Baby Bowser himself.
• Rescued Yoshis join your party as you progress, expanding your choice of colors.

Secrets, scoring and replay value

• Hidden hearts, special fruit and secret areas reward players who explore every level.
• Scores are judged at the end of each page, with melons and hearts raising your total.
• Because you only need one level per page to advance, replaying other levels is optional.

Game Highlights

• A living storybook world: Felt, fabric and cardboard visuals make every page look hand-crafted.
• Fruit-driven gameplay: Eating 30 fruit per page, not just reaching the exit, changes how you explore.
• Six colorful Yoshis: Each Yoshi has a favorite fruit, a voice and a personality to enjoy.
• Gentle, joyful platforming: Flutter jumps, egg throws and hidden treats make it welcoming for all ages.

Controls

On the Nintendo 64 controller, Yoshi’s Story uses the stick for movement and the buttons for eggs and jumps. - Analog Stick: Move Yoshi left and right, aim egg throws and crouch in levels. - A Button: Jump, flutter jump by holding it in the air, and ground pound in midair. - B Button: Swallow enemies, eat fruit and throw eggs at targets. - C Buttons: Aim eggs, look up and down, and adjust the view in some areas. - Z Button: Crouch, sniff for hidden items and duck under obstacles. - L and R Buttons: Switch between Yoshis on the selection screen and scroll options. - D-Pad: Navigate menus and select options in most screens. - Start Button: Pause the game and view fruit count, hearts and page progress.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Yoshi’s Story rewards eating well and exploring, not rushing to the exit. - Eat your Yoshi’s favorite fruit first, since it restores far more happiness than other fruit. - Aim for melons when you can, because a full melon run earns a big score bonus. - Use flutter jumps to reach high platforms and hidden clouds with fruit and hearts. - Throw eggs at suspicious clouds and walls, since many hide items and secret areas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do you finish a page in Yoshi’s Story? A: You must eat 30 pieces of fruit in a level to complete the page. Reaching the goal ring alone is not enough, so eat fruit throughout the level.

Q: How many Yoshis can you play as in Yoshi’s Story? A: There are six Yoshis in different colors, each with a favorite fruit. You start with some and rescue the rest as you progress through the storybook.

Q: Can I play Yoshi’s Story online for free? A: Yes, you can play Yoshi’s Story online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed - just open the game and help the Yoshis save their island.