YOSHI'S ISLAND: 30
Ranking all the levels!
#9
BLIZZARD!!! (5-1)
From the title screen, you know what World 5 is about! Yoshi starts off in a peaceful, snowing area...until Thunder Lakitu flies in! Make your way to higher elevation and enter the indelible icy cavern. The final part of the stage is covered in deep snow that many of Yoshi's enemies have made home!
#8
Shifting Platforms Ahead (5-7)
This level is unique in that Yoshi starts off by moving left instead of right. It's a beautiful place featuring heavenly background art of stars in a pink and purple sky. Almost none of the platforms Yoshi can stand on are stationary, so just getting to the end is a challenge- but a rewarding one.
#7
Welcome To Monkey World! (3-1)
Oh look, sunrise in a somewhat foresty place. Wait, was that a monkey? Soon Yoshi finds he's in an entire jungle with heavily foliage and draping vines to match! Getting introduced to Grinder behavior as you traverse water, mud, and various platforms is the aim of the stage, and it nails it.
#6
Go! Go! Mario!! (4-1)
Despite snow-capped mountains in the background, I always felt wild west vibes here for some reason. Goombas, Koopas, and Piranha Plants greet Yoshi, but wait until the Fuzzies show up! Super Baby Mario shines in the final section as he jumps for a Super Star and takes out some Flying Wigglers.
#5
Naval Piranha's Castle (3-8)
The nice thing about adventuring in a narrow sewer, is even when there's several paths to check out, it's hard to get lost. This is the level to make sure your egg-throwing skills are up to par halfway through the game. The grimy, isolating atmosphere in this castle firmly secures its place in the top 5.
#4
King Bowser's Castle (6-8)
Many would rank this #1. It starts with a Helicopter morph dodging Kamek and Skeleton Goonies. Yoshi then fires an egg at 4 spinning doors to select one: 1 & 2 are a giant pain, 3 is terrifying, and 4 is a sweet bonus. Finally, Kamek fires spells attempting to stop you from reaching you-know-who!
#3
Chomp Rock Zone (4-5)
Everything about this stage, from the music to the art in the background, is what I love about Yoshi's Island. The aim is to roll a Chomp Rock as far as you can to help Yoshi reach 100% completion. You have to think ahead if you want Chomp Rock to make it to the end! For me, it's perfect level design.
#2
Danger - Icy Conditions Ahead (5-3)
Yoshi starts the stage with a fire watermelon for melting blocks and freeing items. Not only is Super Baby Mario and a Helicopter morph found here, but something even better! The final part of the stage involves Light Blue Yoshi hopping on skis to deliver Baby Mario to the goal ring in snowy style!
#1
The Cave Of The Lakitus (4-2)
The greatest level in Yoshi's Island is this. You start outside where Yoshi should dispose of the leftmost Piranha Plant and enter the pipe. Inside is a sparkling, crystal cave with varied challenges using eggs, shells, and fluttering to achieve the 100%. It may be Lakitu's cave, but it's in Yoshi's Island.
