[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/yoshitopsyturvy/cover.jpg[/floatleft][i]Yoshi Topsy-Turvy[/i] is yet another new game from the folks at Nintendo that makes use of a gyro sensor to affect the environment of the game. This sensor is a bit different than the one used in [i]WarioWare: Twisted[/i]. The game cart for [i]WWT[/i] was huge and came in a double-thick cardboard box. This one, however, is much thinner and comes in a standard box. The reason for the difference is that your tilting has a limited range of motion since it is not the primary control for [i]YTT[/i].
The story behind [i]YTT[/i] is quite simple and amusing. Hongo the Great Book Spirit trapped Bowser in a pop-up book. Unfortunately, he was on Yoshi’s Island at the time, so the entire island was also trapped in the book. The Spirit who loves Suprises has given you the ability to tilt the world within the pop-up book so you can travel to the last page and trap Bowser. Upon his capture, Hongo will return Yoshi’s Island to its rightful place.
[floatright]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/yoshitopsyturvy/ss04_thumb.jpg[/floatright][i]YTT[/i] is divided into six different chapters. Each chapter consists of several courses that you must complete in your mission to trap Bowser. Each course will have one or more missions that you must complete in order to pass the course. These missions can range in type from collecting 10 coins to eating three apples and turning them back into Egglings.
The tilt mechanism in [i]YTT[/i] is actually neat and has a much better application than the one in [i]WWT[/i]. As you progress through each course, there may be walls that you can’t jump up. A simple tilt of the console will allow you to run up them. In essence, the tilt mechanism alters gravity in the direction you tilt the console. It is kind of a hard concept to explain, but it works really well.
There are plenty of special devices littered throughout the levels that will make use of the tilt mechanism. For some reason, I found them very entertaining and fun to play with. These items range from rolls of carpet to a half pipe.
[floatleft]http://www.snackbar-games.com/images/reviews/yoshitopsyturvy/ss02_thumb.jpg[/floatleft]After completing a mission, you are given a chance to spin the bonus wheel. Landing on a Yoshi icon will let you play a bonus mission that allows you to win additional coins. To complete a chapter, you have to earn enough Happiness Medals. Medals are awarded at the conclusion of each course as a reward for completing your mission.
In addition to regular Yoshi, you will also find yourself as a hot-air balloon or a boat. You will use the tilt to guide your balloon to safety or to counter the force of the waves and keep your “Yoshi boat” on the screen.
The only downside to [i]YTT[/i] is that it’s very short. You could probably knock out the entire game in just a few hours. For that reason alone, I am going to recommend that you just rent this for a weekend. I don’t see a lot of replay action going on with this title, so a weekend is all you should need. I do commend Nintendo for trying to create new types of gameplay in the handheld market.
