Editing Yoshi Touch & Go

'''''Yoshi Touch & Go''''' is a [[Nintendo DS]] [[Genre#Platform|platform]]/[[Genre#Puzzle|puzzle]] game developed by [[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]] and first released in Japan and the ROC on January 27, 2005. It is the only spin-off game in the [[Yoshi's Island (series)|''Yoshi's Island'' series]]. Here, the player guides an auto-running [[Yoshi]] and [[Baby Mario]] through an array of side-scrolling courses. The game is almost entirely touch driven, using the DS's stylus to fire [[Yoshi Egg|eggs]] at enemies, trap them in [[bubble]]s, and build bridges or ramps for Yoshi to walk on. The "Touch & Go" in this game's title is a phrase more or less synonymous with "risky", which reflects the overall gameplay where the player needs to multi-task against multitudes of obstacles to succeed. The game first started out as a tech demo for the Nintendo DS under the title ''[[Balloon Trip]]'', where it was decided to adapt the game as a full title due to its positive reception.  

The game was later rereleased for the [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] for the [[Wii U]] in 2015 and 2016.

[[File:YTG1.png|thumb|left|Baby Mario, as he falls from the sky.]]

Unlike all the other ''Yoshi'' games, this game has no overarching story. Every game mode begins with [[Kamek]] smashing into the [[Stork]], causing the Stork to drop Baby Mario and [[Baby Luigi]], while Baby Mario falls toward the land below, beginning the game. Every mode begins with Baby Mario falling toward the ground, while the player must use clouds to guide him to the ground and draw circles to create bubbles to destroy enemies. The Sky Area differs depending on the mode selected; for instance, the Time Attack mode has Super Stars hovering in the air for Baby Mario to reach the air faster, as well as a timer and bumpers to obstruct his fall. Each level has the following in common:

*Baby Mario has three balloons, which act as his [[Heart Point|HP]]. When he hits an enemy, one of them pops. If all three pop, he falls to the ground and is captured by Kamek.

*Finally, when Baby Mario nears the ground, there are small formations of tree leaves. Touching them with the stylus may reveal bonus points such as [[Coin|Yellow Coin]]s and [[Blue Coin]]s.

When Baby Mario reaches the ground, a Yoshi awaits him. The color of the Yoshi influences how fast it runs, plus how many eggs it can carry. The lowest Yoshi color is green, the highest is black. The color changes from green to light blue at 60, level-ups are given every 20 points up.

This game has the player shuttling the Yoshi and Baby Mario over the ground to safety at the stork, in segments called "Ground Areas". The Yoshi automatically walks and thus must be guided on its way with the clouds made from drawing with the stylus, being comparable to ''[[Mario & Wario]]''. A blow into the microphone sweeps all clouds onscreen away, in case the screen has become clogged. These clouds must be used to keep the Yoshi and Baby Mario from danger; a single hit from an enemy defeats them. Enemies cannot go through a cloud, but they can use the surface to walk on. Tapping the Yoshi causes it to jump; tapping again and holding the stylus again while it is in the air makes it [[Flutter Jump]] prolonging its descent and gaining a little height, which can be repeated infinitely while it is in midair. The Yoshi can additionally defeat most enemies by jumping on them.

As in the Sky Area, a drawn, semi-perfect cloud circle morphs into a circular bubble. This bubble can be dragged with the stylus, and releasing it flings it across the screen. Bubbles can be used to push enemies away or if a bubble is drawn over an enemy, the bubble traps the enemy inside, turning it into a coin. Different enemies have different values; for example, Shy Guys are only worth one Yellow Coin while a Fly Guy is worth a Blue Coin. Multiple enemies can be trapped in bubbles; the more that are trapped, the more bonus points can be earned. Some enemies, such as Briers, cannot be trapped, as they have spikes protecting them that pops any bubbles drawn on it. If a bubble is thrown to Yoshi, it pops and the coins inside are immediately obtained.

 

[[File:YTG2.png|thumb|Light Blue Yoshi throws his egg at a Shy Guy.]]

Another way to destroy enemies and to collect coins is to shoot [[Yoshi Egg|eggs]]. Eggs are obtained and act in a way quite differently than in other ''Yoshi'' titles: Eggs are collected by eating [[fruit]] rather than eating enemies. Different fruits have different values; the smallest one being [[apple]], the largest being the [[melon]]. Fruits are eaten when Yoshi gets near them; he automatically sticks out his tongue and [[Swallow|swallows]] them and lay the eggs obtained. Fruit can be grabbed in a bubble and thrown to Yoshi for more eggs as well. The number of eggs Yoshi can carry depends on color. The green Yoshi can carry the lowest amount, the black, orange, and purple Yoshi the most, while white Yoshis have unlimited capacity. An egg is thrown by touching the touch screen with the stylus, and it is thrown in the direction where the screen was touched. If an enemy is hit with an egg, the points given are the same as if the enemy was a coin. For instance, a Shy Guy is worth one Yellow Coin, or one point. It can be grabbed in a bubble to make it become a Coin or be shot with an egg to quickly obtain its point worth. In this game, eggs, instead of bursting once having hit too many walls, bounce about until flying off the screen.

 

When a high score is achieved, regardless if a player makes to the end goal or gets defeated, it is placed on a leaderboard that can be accessed by tapping "Rankings" on the title screen. Here, players select an icon to represent themselves, ranging from enemies and characters from ''Yoshi Touch & Go'', various ''Super Mario'' franchise characters and items including adult [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]], and 8-bit sprites from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''

*'''Sound''': Players can select between Surround, Stereo, or Headphones.

*'''Backlight''': Players can turn the Nintendo DS backlight on or off.

*'''Mic Sensitivity''': Players can set the mic sensitivity high, normal, low, or off.

*'''Yoshi's Direction''': Yoshi can either run from left to right or right to left, the latter for left-handed players.

*'''PictoChat Search''': The game can search for nearby PictoChat rooms and notify if there is one. When another player using PictoChat is nearby, an orange chat icon appears on the upper left part of the touch screen, and players can tap it to participate. This causes the game to power-off. Players can toggle this functionality on or off.

[[File:YTG3.png|thumb|left|The game's main menu.]]

The game has four modes; the first two are unlocked from the start, the others must be unlocked by beating the top score for the first two.

*'''Score Attack''': A Yoshi and Baby Mario must trek 1000 yards to where the Stork awaits. If the player gets a high score, Baby Luigi can be seen riding on the Stork.

*'''Marathon''': A Yoshi and Mario race nonstop across an unlimited expanse of terrain. Every 1000 yards, Baby Mario is handed over to the next color rank of Yoshi, and every 100 points that are collected earns Baby Mario a [[Super Star]] that turns him into [[Superstar Mario|Super Baby]].

*'''Time Attack''': In this mode, the Sky Area has more enemies, bumpers that bounce Baby Mario about, and Super Stars Baby Mario can grab. On the Ground Area, Baby Mario and a Yoshi must catch up to Toadies carrying Baby Luigi away. The clouds are yellow, causing the Yoshi to run faster on them. To save Baby Luigi, the Yoshi must attack the Toadies until they drop him. The faster the Yoshi saves him, the more points earned.

*'''Challenge''': A mode that is a cross between Time Attack and Marathon. A Yoshi and Baby Mario walk across an unlimited amount of terrain, as Marathon, but if the timer on the screen runs out, Kamek swoops in, stealing Baby Mario and ending the game. Players can obtain more time if they defeat enemies and earn points.

Vs. Battle mode is the game's multiplayer mode, where up to two players can play with one game cartridge; the host has Baby Mario while the client has Baby Luigi. The goal of Vs. Battle is to reach the goal first; if one Yoshi manages to go far enough, an ending goal with Yoshi's face on it appears. Whichever Yoshi goes through it first causes the other Yoshi to get defeated and lose. If a Yoshi gets defeated by an enemy or falls down a pit, the Yoshi also loses. The drawn clouds in this mode are yellow rather than white, as in Time Attack, which causes a Yoshi to run faster. The only enemies are [[Marutchi]], but if the player defeats many enemies in a row with an egg, a few red spiked Briers appears on the opponent's screen. In addition, the players can view their opponent's progress on the top screen.

The [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] species serve as the main playable characters of the game, coming in various different colors. The following table displays information pertaining which color of Yoshi the player controls during the Marathon Mode. During this mode, White Yoshi may randomly be played during one 1,000 yard run, after having finished one 1,000 yard run as a Black Yoshi.

|[[Mario]] as an infant. In the beginning of every stage, he is held by balloons and he needs to be safely guided down towards a Yoshi. Additionally, when a [[Super Star]] is received, he turns into the invincible [[Superstar Mario|Super Baby]] where he can run through enemies and obstacles, run up walls, and he can throw an infinite number of stars at enemies. This is the only ''Yoshi's Island'' game where Baby Mario has more voices aside from his crying.

|[[Luigi]] as an infant. He is captured by Kamek's Toadies and he is required to be rescued; he is freed when a Yoshi defeats the Toadies carrying him. In the end of Score Attack mode if players set a record, he appears riding on the Stork. In other modes, he can be seen riding the Stork when a Yoshi gets defeated. In VS. Battle mode, the second player's Yoshi carries Baby Luigi.

|The large white bird that carries Baby Mario and Baby Luigi. Yoshis need to deliver the babies to it to complete a stage. Every time a mode is selected, Kamek crashes into the stork and it drops the babies.

|align="center"|[[Cloud Drop|Blusty]]

|Capers about in a set course. Worth two points. They are erroneously referred to as "Gusty" in the North American and Australian instruction manuals.

|Making a minor cameo in the game, Baby Bowser appears in Challenge mode riding with Kamek if the player surpasses 3000 yards when they get defeated.

|A spiny plant that can be defeated only by using an egg; when their spikes are retracted, eggs can pierce through them. Red Briers appear only in Challenge and Vs. Battle modes where they alternate in the opposite manner from green Briers.

|Leaps out of ponds, either straight up or in an arc. If they land on clouds, they flop helplessly belly-up. Worth two points.

|Flies up and down while slowly moving forward. Worth two points.

|Quickly skitters forward. Worth two points.

|Same as Shy Guy, but harder to stomp and flies about. Red ones fly around a preset path, green ones fly up and down, yellow ones commonly carry items, while blue ones attempt to divebomb Yoshi. Worth two points.

|Can be only shot with egg, as it flies in the top screen. If shot, it drops down as a Flightless Goonie. Worth two points.

|align="center"|[[Gusty]]

|Races past at various speeds. Worth two points. They are erroneously referred to as "Blusty" in the North American and Australian instruction manuals.

|Kamek appears to capture Baby Mario if he loses all of his balloons in the Sky Areas. Kamek also appears when time runs out in Challenge mode to take Baby Mario. He is invincible.

|Hold [[Baby Luigi]]. Each of the four must be hit three times to drive it away from Baby Luigi and then a fourth time to defeat it.

|Flies by in the top screen occasionally. Worth five points. If hit in Challenge mode, it gives 15 seconds.

|A non-spiky variant of the Brier which can be encircled. Worth two points.

|Pops out from ground and races for Yoshi. Worth two points.

|Spiky projectiles thrown out by Ukikis.

|Lies in wait for Yoshi. Takes three hits to defeat, with it changing colors from green, to yellow, to red. Worth two points.

|Shoots flying balls that can destroyed only by eggs. Worth two points.

|Kamek's main grunts, vulnerable to all attacks. Worth a Yellow Coin.

|Flies slowly across the top of the screen carrying a red Brier. In Marathon mode, it carries a Shy Guy. If it makes it all the way across the screen, the balls are deployed akin to Briers ahead in larger numbers than the Goonies were carrying. Worth two points, as is a deployed red Brier. Unlike normal Goonies, they are defeated instantly when shot.

|A blue Cheep Cheep with spikes that is somewhat more aggressive than its red counterpart. It can be destroyed only with an egg. Worth four points.

|Projectiles emitted by Wild Ptooie Piranhas and Wall Lakitus.

|align="center"|[[Tap-Tap]]

|Invincible; can be destroyed only by rolling into another Tap-Tap. If shot with an egg, it rolls, destroying all enemies in its way. Worth two points. Erroneously referred to as a [[Spiked Fun Guy]] in the instruction booklets. Gray ones hop in place while orange ones walk around.

|Green ones fly slowly towards the player character and try to capture Baby Mario. Worth a Blue Coin. Purple ones protect Kamek's Toadies en masse in Time Attack and are not worth any points.

|Hops about, oblivious to Yoshi. Also hides in trees and throws Needlenoses and bananas; they can switch between what they throw and throw in multiple angles. Worth two points.

|Pokes its head out of holes in walls and throws Spiny Eggs. Worth two points, though flashing ones are worth four.

|Hides in grass and flies away when Yoshi approaches. Worth four points.

|Spits out an endless supply of Spiny Eggs. Takes three hits to defeat, changing color from green, to yellow, to red, giving a total of four points.

!style="background:#00bb00; color:white"|Description

|Gives one egg

|Gives three eggs

|Gives five eggs

|Gives ten eggs

|Gives twenty eggs

!style="background:#00bb00; color:white"|Description

|Worth one point

|Worth two points

|Worth four points

|Clouds that point eggs into the direction indicative of the arrow. Green Arrow Clouds rotate or point diagonally while red Arrow Clouds are stationary.

|Balloon clusters carry both Baby Mario and Baby Luigi at different points. In Challenge Mode, red balloons also carry [[POW Block]]s.

|Bumpers appear in Sky Area where they push Baby Mario away on contact

|Small, pink bubbles sometimes spawn with another item inside. Large, orange ones appear around circled items and enemies. Both types can be moved with the stylus, eaten, or popped.

|Long, thin, rocky platforms that crumble and fall shortly after being landed on.

|Paths of clouds are drawn with the stylus and are the game's defining feature. Yellow Clouds that appear in Time Attack causes Yoshi to walk faster.

|Destroys all enemies on the screen. Appears exclusively in Challenge mode, where a Yoshi must hit it while it is on a balloon on the upper screen and touch it as it drops to the ground. If it touches the ground, it automatically activates.

|Turns Baby Mario into [[Superstar Mario|Super Baby]]. Super Baby is invincible, can run up walls, and he can shoot an unlimited number of stars.

|Strong gusts represented by flowing leaves and sounds occasionally blow in certain modes, causing clouds to scatter and dissipate.

|A Yoshi's main form of attack, they match the Yoshi's color and are thrown as projectiles. [[Super Baby]] visually replaces them with stars.

''Yoshi Touch & Go'' was initially planned to be a [[Nintendo GameCube]] game; specifically, it would be a puzzle-oriented, horizontal platformer centering on the basic concept of Yoshi protecting Baby Mario. It would also use the GameCube controller and was said to have apparently always focused on drawing as a major gameplay element, although such a statement may have been referring to the game's later Nintendo DS version when spoken by the developers.<ref>{{cite|title=The Making of the Game: ''Yoshi's Touch & Go''|publisher=N-sider.com|language=en|date=April 10, 2005|archive=web.archive.org/web/20150624065705/http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=269}}</ref> Sometime during the game's development, it would appear to have split into both a Nintendo DS and GameCube version (the latter of which was favored by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]), the developers undecided as to which one would be released.

A work-in-progress ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' was first revealed to the public in the form of an E3 2004 [[Tech Demo]] known as ''[[Balloon Trip]]''. Though ''Balloon Trip'' featured only the sky segments that would later be used in the final version of ''Yoshi Touch & Go'', it did so in a manner almost identical to that of ''Yoshi Touch & Go''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> final version. ''Balloon Trip'' proved itself successful enough for [[Nintendo]] to permit its developers to release it as a full game, and the team working on it soon grew. ''Balloon Trip''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> success also helped the developers in deciding to cancel the GameCube version of ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' and completely move their project to the Nintendo DS. On October 7th, 2004, ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' was announced as a full game, and it was released on January 27th, 2005 in Japan, featuring several differences from ''Balloon Trip'', one of the most noticeable of which being its ground stages (which may have been inspired by the puzzle-platformer elements of the canceled GameCube version).

==References==

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