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Yoshi Topsy-Turvy

(2005, Game Boy Advance - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Game Boy Advance)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Innovative Yoshi game tilts its way to top rating.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Yoshi Topsy-Turvy was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

Parents need to know that this is an innovative Game Boy Advance game because it challenges kids to look at the world inside the game differently. Because they have to tilt the Game Boy in different directions to play, kids will stretch their perceptions of how the world of game operates.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about the unique gameplay. Is it easy to get the hang of turning Yoshi's world on end, or is it difficult to get used to thinking from different perspectives? How do you like this compared with traditional 2-D platformers?
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More on Yoshi Topsy-Turvy

What’s the Story?

At first glance, YOSHI TOPSY-TURVY -- featuring the popular dinosaur, Yoshi -- appears to be a routine 2-D platformer. Bowser has been wreaking so much havoc on Yoshi's island home that he disturbed Hongo, the powerful book spirit. To contain Bowser, the spirit ensnares the island inside a pop-up storybook. To convince the book spirit to release the island, Yoshi travels through the six chapters of the book, doing missions for minor spirits that control each chapter. The missions involve exploring different environments to find coins, collect fruits, or defeat enemies.

But tilt the GBA to the right or left, and you'll realize this is a dynamic environment that responds to your twisting and turning. Is Yoshi stymied by an impassible wall? No problem, just tilt the GBA, and that wall is now a climbable slope. Can't figure out how to defeat an enemy? Try tilting and you may be able to roll it up in a carpet!

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Is It Any Good?

It's rare for a player to make it through a mission the first time, since each challenges kids to think about how to best use the tilt mechanism. Sometimes kids will need Yoshi to jump onto a pendulum and then get it swinging high enough by moving the GBA back and forth, so that Yoshi can leap to reach something. Other times kids will navigate Yoshi's ship by controlling the water with the tilt mechanism.

This is a great GBA title because it requires kids to look at the world differently --literally -- as they tilt Yoshi's world to change its gravity. The missions vary greatly and show off the incredible innovation of the designers as they present numerous ways to use the tilt sensor. If you own a GBA, don't miss this topsy-turvy ride!

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 07/05/2005, price $20.00, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    It's Really Good

    It's fun and interesting. I like how when you tilt the game boy it moves the screen. That makes it more intersting and fun. I like the characters. They are colorful and funny. I really like the sounds and the music. I definately recommend this game to other kids.

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