View source for Yoshi (franchise)

{{italic title}}
{{franchise infobox
|image=[[File:Yoshi Franchise Logo.png|200px]]
|first=''[[Yoshi (game)|Yoshi]]'' ([[List of games by date#1991|1991]])
|latest=''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]'' ([[List of games by date#2019|2019]])
|number=13 (12 main, 1 expansion game, and 2 ports)
|series=''[[Yoshi's Island (series)|Yoshi's Island]]''
}}
[[File:Yoshi Emblem.png|thumb|60px|left]]
The '''''Yoshi''''' franchise is a video game franchise starring [[Yoshi]], who was introduced to the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Though he has his own franchise, Yoshi still appears quite frequently in the ''Super Mario'' franchise. The ''Yoshi'' franchise includes characters from the ''Super Mario'' franchise (usually in their [[star children|baby forms]]) as well.

The ''Yoshi'' franchise's plot has varied greatly over the years. The main titles generally revolve around the kidnapping of [[Baby Luigi]]. [[Baby Mario]] must then be escorted and protected by [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshis]] as he traverses through several [[world]]s to rescue Baby Luigi. ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' was the first main game that did not feature the Mario Bros. in any way other than a brief mention.

The other titles have varied somewhat in plot as well. While ''Yoshi'' and ''Yoshi's Cookie'' were ''{{wp|Tetris}}''-like puzzle games with no actual plot, ''[[Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]'' had an entirely different story from both the main and puzzle titles. This game revolved around Yoshi having to rescue [[Yoshi's Island (location)|his island]], which had been turned into a storybook. In ''Yoshi Touch & Go'', no concrete plot was revealed, similar to the puzzle games.

According to [[Takashi Tezuka]], the games in the ''Yoshi'' franchise do not take place in the [[Mushroom Kingdom]].<ref>http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/11/20/yoshis-woolly-worlds-burning-questions.aspx</ref>
==Games==
===Puzzle games===
[[File:Nes Box - Yoshi.png|thumb|Artwork of the NES version of ''Yoshi'']]
The first ''Yoshi'' game, simply called ''[[Yoshi (game)|Yoshi]]'', is a two-dimensional puzzle game for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and the [[Game Boy]], with elements similar to those of ''{{wp|Tetris}}''. The rules are fairly basic: the player must stack the same enemies on top of each other to make them disappear; the more the player does this, the more points they earn.

Just as ''Yoshi'' did, ''[[Yoshi's Cookie]]'', first released in 1992 for the NES and Game Boy, used many of the same elements found in ''Tetris''. In order for the player to earn points and clear a stage, they have to have an entire row or column of the same type of cookie lined up. Six type of cookies could be found in the game: Heart Cookies, Sunflower Cookies, Green Cookies, Checkered Cookies, Donut Cookies, and [[Yoshi Cookie]]s. A [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] version was eventually released in 1993. A remake later appeared in ''[[Nintendo Puzzle Collection]]'' on the [[Nintendo GameCube]], along with ''[[Dr. Mario 64]]'' and ''[[Tetris Attack|Panel De Pon]]''.

''[[Yoshi no Cookie: Kuruppon Oven de Cookie]]'' was a Japan-only edition of ''Yoshi's Cookie''. It was developed by Human Electronics to promote their new Kuruppon oven. Only 500 copies were made of the game, and are now very expensive collector's items. It included the SNES version of ''Yoshi's Cookie'' and an additional mode which has Yoshi exploring an island and teaching the player some recipes the player can actually cook.

''[[Tetris Attack]]'' was a puzzle game that, despite the name, is unrelated to ''Tetris''. The game was based around the Japanese game ''{{wp|Panel de Pon}}'', but it is themed around Yoshi and associated characters. The gameplay involved square panels rising from the bottom (called the "stack") and the player has to line up three or more matching panels either horizontally or vertically as the stack rises. The game was released on both the SNES and the Game Boy.

===Rail shooter===
[[File:Snesyoshissafari.png|thumb|left|''Yoshi's Safari'' is the only dedicated rail shooting game in the extended ''Super Mario'' franchise.]]
''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'', first released in 1993 as the game that made ''Yoshi'' its own franchise, has Mario and Yoshi on a quest to save [[King Fret]] and his son, [[Prince Pine]], of [[Jewelry Land]] from King Bowser and his Koopalings. Unlike most ''Super Mario'' and ''Yoshi'' games, it is a rail shooter. This game also utilized the [[Super Scope]] for the first time. The game itself is from Mario's point of view, while he is mounted on Yoshi.

===''Yoshi's Island'' series===
{{main|Yoshi's Island (series)}}
[[File:SMW2.jpg|thumb|''Yoshi's Island'' was the first platformer game in the ''Yoshi'' franchise.]]
''Yoshi's Island'' is a video game series in the ''Yoshi'' franchise. It is a series of 2D side-scrolling platformers, with the ability to throw [[Yoshi's Egg|egg]]s to defeat enemies. Most of the installments take place in [[Mario]]'s past, featuring Yoshi and [[Baby Mario]] setting out on a journey to rescue [[Baby Luigi]] from [[Kamek]] and [[Baby Bowser]]. Another common story line has Yoshi going on a quest to restore [[Yoshi's Island (location)|Yoshi's Island]] to its original form after it is turned into a storybook. Most of the series' titles like ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]'', and ''[[Yoshi Touch & Go]]'' were developed by [[Nintendo EAD]]. However, ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'' was developed by [[Artoon]] and ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'' was developed by [[Arzest]]. The series began with a home console title, but it later switched to a focus on handheld installments.

Other ''Yoshi'' platformers are related to the ''Yoshi's Island'' series. ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' takes place in Yoshi's Island, where six [[Baby Yoshi]]s hatch; during the story, Baby Bowser steals the [[Super Happy Tree]], leaving the Yoshis hungry for [[fruit]]s. The Baby Yoshi that eats 30 fruits in each level advances to the next one, and the newborn Yoshis are able to defeat Baby Bowser and reclaim the Super Happy Tree. ''[[Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]'' known in Europe and Australia as ''Yoshi's Universal Gravitation'', features a similar story to ''Yoshi's Story'', this time set in the present, similar to when ''Super Mario World'' took place in. Yoshi's Island ends up being transformed into a picture book known as the [[Forbidden Pop-Up Book]] by the [[tiny spirits]], tasking Yoshi to go through several challenges to earn the right to transform the island back to normal. In this game, Yoshi can eat enemies, but he cannot lay eggs. Collecting the required amount of [[Happiness Medal]]s allows Yoshi to defeat [[Bowser]] and save his home. ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', ''[[Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', and ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]'' all play similarly to the ''Yoshi's Island'' series. Both ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' and ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' take place in the [[Craft Island]], where Kamek turns the Yoshis out of yarn into [[Wonder Wool]], except for Green Yoshi and Red Yoshi, who must save the rest and defeat Kamek and Baby Bowser, who wishes to use the Wonder Wool to build a great castle for himself. ''Yoshi's Crafted World'' features the ability to flip between the front and back of stages to throw Yoshi Eggs on a three-dimensional plane, with the story revolving around the Yoshis on a journey to collect the [[Dream Gem]]s for the [[Sundream Stone]] before Kamek and Baby Bowser do.

==Species and characters==
===Yoshi===
[[File:Yoshi and Baby Mario Artwork - Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|left|145x145px|Artwork of Yoshi and [[Baby Mario]]]]
[[Yoshi]] is the star of the entire ''Yoshi'' franchise, thus each game revolves around him and his friends. He is a friendly dinosaur who lives on and protects Yoshi's Island from the evil forces that bring chaos there. Yoshi is notable for carrying the babies on his back, escorting it while on a mission. His powers are fairly widespread in the ''Super Mario'' franchise, but are somewhat limited in the ''Yoshi'' franchise. He can throw [[Yoshi Egg]]s after swallowing enemies, [[flutter]] through the air, and can [[Ground Pound]] various objects. Yoshi goes to far lengths to protect his island and its inhabitants.
[[File:Group artwork - Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|145x145px|Artwork of several Yoshis]]

===Other Yoshis===
[[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]]s are the main species of the ''Yoshi'' franchise. They mainly inhabit Yoshi's Island. Yoshis have very long tongues and are able to grab food from some distance away. Their mostly eat fruit and their favorite fruits often depend on their color. Yoshis also come in a variety of different colors, including Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Light-Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, White and Orange.
====Colors of Yoshis====
The following table lists each color of Yoshi in the ''Yoshi'' franchise, and in which games they appear.
{|style="background:#ECFFEC;text-align:center;width:100%;margin:0 auto;border-collapse:collapse;"border="1"cellpadding="1"cellspacing="1"
|-style="background-color:#00BB00;color:white;"
!Colors!!Appearances
|-
||'''{{color|green|Green}}'''||<small>''Yoshi'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Cookie'' &middot; ''Yoshi Safari'' &middot; ''Yoshi no Cookie: Kuruppon Oven de Cookie'' &middot; ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Tetris Attack'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot; ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot;  <br> ''Yoshi Topsy-Turvy'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot;  ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|magenta|Pink}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Tetris Attack'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot;  ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|deepskyblue|Light-Blue}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot;  ''Tetris Attack'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot; ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|#FFAA00|Yellow}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot;  ''Tetris Attack'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot;  ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|purple|Purple}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot;  ''Tetris Attack'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot;  ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|brown|Brown}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|#FF7F00|Orange}}'''||<small>''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|red|Red}}'''||<small>''Yoshi's Cookie (SNES)'' &middot; ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot;  ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|blue|Blue}}'''||<small>''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Story'' &middot;  ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's New Island'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; <br> ''Yoshi's Crafted World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|black|Black}}'''||<small>''Yoshi's Story'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''</small>
|-
||'''{{color|grey|White}}'''||<small>''Yoshi's Story'' &middot; ''Yoshi Touch & Go''&middot; ''Yoshi's Island DS'' &middot; ''Yoshi's Woolly World'' &middot; ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''</small>
|}

===Bowser===
[[File:Yoshibowser.png|thumb|left|145x145px|Artwork of Bowser]]
[[Bowser]] has appeared in several ''Yoshi'' games. In ''Yoshi Topsy-Turvy'', Bowser serves as the main antagonist. When Bowser terrorizes Yoshi's Island, the [[tiny spirits]] turn the island into a pop-up book. Yoshi must collect a certain number of happiness medals in order to earn the chance to fight Bowser. In ''Yoshi's Island DS'', Bowser serves as the main antagonist; he travels back in time to find the seven [[star children]], in hopes of receiving their power to conquer the universe. Bowser kidnaps as many children as possible, including his infant self, in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in ''Yoshi's New Island'' as the final boss; however, he can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels without using the [[Flutter Wings]] power-up. Bowser also appears in ''Yoshi's Safari'', in which he attacks Jewelry Land, imprisoning its rulers. He also steals twelve gems that keep the land stable, splitting the land into two halves in the process. These actions force Yoshi and [[Mario]] to stop him. In ''Tetris Attack'', Bowser appears as the final opponent Yoshi must battle in [[Tetris Attack#VS|VS. Mode]]. Bowser also appears as one of four playable characters in ''Yoshi's Cookie''.
{{br}}

===Shy Guys===
[[File:Shyguys.jpg|thumb|145x145px|Artwork of Shy Guys]]
[[Shy Guy]]s are the most common enemies of the ''Yoshi'' franchise. They are usually the first enemy in the franchise to be encountered in a game. Normal Shy Guys have no unique abilities that they can use to attack the Yoshis; their numerous sub-species, however, each have different abilities, from flying and walking on stilts, to using a baseball bat to ricochet incoming Yoshi Eggs. Shy Guys come in many different colors, and some of their sub-species do as well. Shy Guys are never the main antagonists in a ''Yoshi'' game, but there have been a few [[List of bosses|bosses]] based on Shy Guys.

==References==
{{NIWA|SmashWiki=Yoshi (universe)|NWiki=Yoshi series|StrategyWiki=Category:Yoshi}}
<references/>

{{Yoshi games}}
[[Category:Yoshi franchise|*]]
[[Category:Game franchises]]
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