Raphael The Raven's Castle

Raphael the Raven's Castle is the castle of the character Raphael the Raven during the events of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3. It started out on the planet as a typical cloud level, but at nighttime. As it progressed, it was still outdoors, but was littered with some planetoid models that rotated and the usual traps like Ball 'n' Chain. Going higher it eventually left the Surface of the Planet and came to a large planetoid where Raphael the Raven sat. This is the only boss level that is entirely outdoors. The level is set in the middle of the night and there are stars and the ocean in the background. In the higher areas there are stars and a distant moon in the background.

Overview

Yoshi starts off on a log bridge. The player has to start walking to the right. Yoshi will come across five stone pillars. The player has to go across, but the player shouldn't stand on those pillars for too long, because the top will collapse, leaving a stalactite that will hurt Yoshi when touched. Once across, the player will find a red moving platform that moves upward. When Yoshi reaches the top, he'll find more red platforms ready to rise upward. The player has to quickly jump onto one of the platforms, as the first one will start falling. When Yoshi reaches his way to the top, he'll be confronted by a Goonie and two Blow Hards. The player has to go up the stairs and enter the door.

Yoshi will then be in a maze-like tower. As he starts his upward descent, Yoshi will come across a Warp Pipe that spawns yellow Shy Guys to his right. As he progresses, he'll find two Mace Guys. Halfway at the top, he'll find an Special Blue Watermelon. As he progresses to the right, he'll come across three Blow Hards, two hanging on the ceiling, one perched on the wall under the peg platforms Yoshi's walking on. After Yoshi makes it thrrough the Blow Hards, he'll find a ? Cloud containing 5 stars. The player will have to continue to the right. Yoshi will find two Shy Guys and a Bouncing Bullet Bill blaster. To the left of the blaster is a flower. After grabbing the flower (or skipping it), Yoshi will jump on a trampoline bubble. If he quickly strifes to his left, he'll grab a couple of red coins and another flower. There's another Ice Watermelon hanging above a Warp Pipe. The player has to continue upward, and dodge the out-of-reach Bouncing Bullet Bill blasters. Yoshi will then start to the left while the player has to dodge a Mace Guy and two Short Fuses.

Yoshi is seen here defeating Raphael.

However, Yoshi can avoid the Short Fuses and find a Middle Ring, plus yet another flower, by taking the upper route. However, if the player goes through the down route, the player will have to guide the Yoshi Train in the room to get a flower and some red coins. After, the player has to go through the flippers and wait for the transformation time to run out since there is no Yoshi Block. Finally, after ascending up, Yoshi will find some Goonies and a couple of Bowling Goonies. The player will reach the boss door, where the player will fight Raphael the Raven himself. However, this boss fight takes place on the moon, far away from Yoshi's Island. After Raphael is defeated, the player will get a key that leads to the final world in the game.

Trivia

• Raphael the Raven boss battle is the only level where Baby Mario does not cry when he falls off Yoshi's back, but the counter will still go down and he can be taken away by the Toadies.