Mario and Yoshi Review • Canada iPhone Blog

Anyone who knows me has heard me write poetry about Super Mario World at least once. The 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System 2D platformer is one of my favorite games of all time. So when I saw LEGO announce the ‘Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi’ set, I knew I had to add it to my collection.

The Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set is a hefty 1,215-piece set, available now for $169.99 in Canada. As you might guess from the name, the set features the titular character Mario adorned in his yellow cape, making him Cape Mario. He was found riding his faithful companion Yoshi on a grassy hill. The entire set is built on a 2D plane, inspired by the 16-bit visuals of the game itself. Despite being based on one of my favorite childhood games, the Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set is suggested to be an 18+ build.

The LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set is one of the most complex I’ve ever put together. Not because of its scope or the number of pieces it incorporates. In fact, the Super Mario WorldThe inspired construction is 15.5 x 10 inches. Although a little taller, the set can be beautifully stored on a shelf once complete. The complexities of the set actually arise from how many interactive and moving parts there are.

The entire Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set was built to mimic the game’s running movements and effects. To simulate the look of Mario riding Yoshi as he travels through a level, Super Mario World, the set has a rotating crank on the right side. When using this, Yoshi’s legs begin running in place with his arm swinging. Eagle-eyed fans might notice that Yoshi’s orange arm is still depicted. In Super Mario World, Yoshi’s arm turned orange instead of green by accident. The sprite has already been fixed in newer games like Creator of Super Mario. However, it’s a nice touch by LEGO to keep it.

Additionally, Yoshi’s face and tongue are also adjustable. Separate from the aforementioned mechanisms, the top half of Yoshi’s mouth can be opened. A separate dial is located on the back of Yoshi’s head. Using this, Yoshi’s tongue will move in and out, just like it did in Super Mario World when Yoshi ate apples and enemies.

The construction itself is not very intensive. As with other LEGO sets, the company includes a comprehensive step-by-step instruction manual. You can also find and download building instructions online if you prefer to use a smartphone or tablet at your desk. As usual, the 1,215 pieces incorporated into the set include some extra little studs and colorful pieces. If you lose one of them under the couch or get sucked into the vacuum cleaner, you should be covered in most cases.

The construction process itself takes about 4-5 hours. For those who grew up with Super Mario World, This set is a beautiful nostalgic celebration of one of Nintendo’s best platformers. The design is thoughtful and deliberate. I was very pleased with the amount of ingenuity that went into the hidden mechanisms and moving components. It’s another incredible feat for the LEGO engineering team. I also hope that, in addition to the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System, LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser and other Mario-themed sets, LEGO and Nintendo continue to invest in this wonderful relationship.

If you’re looking for your next nostalgic LEGO set to put together alone or with the family over a weekend, look no further than the Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set, available now for $169.99.