Developer: Nintendo EAD Publisher: Nintendo Release: 09/17/93 Genre: Rail Shooter
The Super Scope 6 like almost all console light guns was a good idea in concept but in terms of support did not live up to its potential. With that being said it did receive some pretty cool titles in the end like Metal Combat and Tin Star. Yoshi’s Safari is an odd one. It is an odd choice for a light gun game instead of the 2d platformer we all wanted. But it is an alright title in the end. Yoshi’s Safari is not something I would outright recommend but I do not regret the time I spent with it either.
The game’s light story sees Mario asked by Princess Peach to save the Jewelry Kingdom from Bowser and his Koopalings. It seems they have invaded and kidnapped both King Fret and Prince Pine and stolen the jewels that keep the kingdom stable. With their mecha they are too much for Mario alone so he hops on Yoshi and equips a Super Scope to even the odds. Just go with it.
Gameplay is simple. With the super scope you can choose to fire individual shots or hold the button for rapid fire. Doing so drains the power meter at which it still works albeit slower until you let it recharge. There are well hidden power-ups that increase the power meter and you would do well to find them. There is some light platforming every now and then but it is not complicated and only to break up the action.
Some popular items from the Mario games make an appearance as power-ups. Power-up Mushrooms restore health and the star grants invincibility. 1-up mushrooms grant extra lives but the most common are coins. Every sixty coins grant an extra life but they also save you when falling into pits or lava. Every time you fail at these you lose three coins but it is hardly a punishment. Each enemy shot down grants a coin and there are big coins that award 10. Some items carry over into boss battles and are one use like the self-explanatory clock and nuts that reduce damage to half.
Despite taking place in the Jewelry Kingdom Yoshi’s Safari reuses many of the locations and enemies from Super Mario World. That is not a slight against the game as it gives it a strong base to work with. The game’s pace is quick as Yoshi runs through each environment with frequent enemy waves that rarely let up. At first they are weak and simply bum rush you. Later they become stronger and more unpredictable. If I have one complaint it is that the game plays it safe. The little bits of platforming and alternate routes hint at possible depth but it is not explored much. Only the fun and at times challenging boss battles will make you work. What is here is good, it simply needed more of it.
Yoshi’s Safari is long by rail shooter standards. Although most stages are short there are a lot of them, twelve in total. Despite using the familiar themes from Super Mario World there is a great deal of variety to hold your interest. Every level also has an alternate route giving it some replay value. More than anything though Yoshi’s Safari offered a tantalizing glimpse at what the use of Mode 7 could do for the genre but unfortunately the Super Scope 6 like most peripherals was not a success.
Overall Yoshi’s Safari is an incredibly easy game. With rapid fire you will have little trouble mowing down the waves of enemies. Even though the power meter has to recharge it only takes a second or two at most. Most levels are very short with only a few lasting longer than a few minutes. These stages like Ghost Mansion and the Dark Sea are the most enjoyable as allow the game’s mechanics to breathe and present a bit of a challenge. The multi stage boss battles are the game’s most entertaining element. Their patterns are simple but it still comes down to execution and almost everyone has a second phase where their attack pattern changes. For those looking for a challenge the game’s second quest is just that. With tougher bosses and more resilient enemies I almost wish this were the “first” quest.
In Closing
I will admit I had low expectations of Yoshi’s Safari. Reviews were less than stellar and I thought a rail shooter was a waste of time. However the game is decent for what it is and enjoyable for at least one quick round. I would not go out of my way to play it but you can certainly do worse.
