Before Mario(TM) became the entertainment industry leader he is today; he was a young chap who needed proper guidance and direction. He might not have been such a dapper gentleman winning the hearts of millions, if it wasn't for the close friend who cared for him as a child. That friend is Yoshi, the video game industry's most famous long-tongued dinosaur. And this week, Yoshi celebrates his debut release of Yoshi's Island(TM): Super Mario(R) Advance 3 for the world's fastest-selling system, Game Boy(R) Advance.
-- Yoshi first appeared in 1991 as co-star and best friend to Mario in one of the world's most popular video games of all time, Super Mario World(TM) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System(R).
-- Baby Mario is separated from his brother in a kidnapping attempt, but Yoshi is there to guide him over the island's perilous landscape and around devious traps to get Baby Mario back to where he belongs.
-- Players will master Yoshi's legendary moves, including jumping, stomping, pounding the ground, laying eggs, eating enemies and throwing eggs using a targeted egg-throwing system.
-- Like his esteemed colleague, Yoshi has appeared on every Nintendo game system and today his new game Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, only for Game Boy Advance, is available now for a MSRP of $34.95.
-- To date, Game Boy Advance has sold more than 7.6 million units in North America.
©2002, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
12:00 am PDT September 24, 2002