What got you interested in Yoshi?

[Moot]

Shock horror, a topic about Yoshi that isn't "LOL WAT IZ YOR FAVURIT COLUOR?? ??//" because god knows we've had enough of those. And its Dark Purple for the record.

Figures I should get some interesting results out of this, and if people give a damn enough I might post them onto YCNN as an article. As long as you aren't all boring or course.

So! I was wondering what exactly got you people into becoming a fan in the first place.

I can't remember exactly what got me interested as I'm old and my memory is going, but its likely going to be either seeing him as a playable character in Mario World or Yoshi's Island, if only for the reason that a dinosaur who eats enemies like they're going out of fashion, and then poops eggs made out of those same enemies to hurl at more enemies was like the coolest thing ever for a 9 year old back in 1995.

_{^{Also if this topic does turn out to be a dupe, its because I didn't want to bump the old one, wanted some fresh opinions, or couldn't be bothered to search for it. Pick one.}}

[PinkFloydYoshi]

I think it was something about eating ____________ that I thought was amazing. I mean, it was a huge change compared to bouncing on peoples heads with Mario, and a change I loved. Strange as it seemed, I don't think I classed Yoshi as a cute character in my younger years, just a character that I could deem as cooler than Mario.

Yeah, I can agree with the 'cute' analogy now.

[teh yoshi]

Ah, where to start, where to start...

I honestly wouldn't know how and when it all began, but I'm very sure the catalyst for it all was Super Mario World when it was brand spanking new in 1991. His dinosaur figure, the bouncy eggs, his reverse vinyl scratch bark he makes. It just seemed all so cute to me, but at the time, I never really thought of it that much. I played Super Mario World because it was a good game with Mario in it and not much more.

Not much has happened between then and when Yoshi's Island came to at around 1996 in the US. My cousin rented it from Blockbuster and we got to play it for a couple of days in my house. The music, the crayon etched scenery, all the happiness and sunshine that's packed into that game, it was like a vision of a locked up fantasy world of mine in my subconscious. It couldn't have touched my inner child more. Yoshi still making that reverse vinyl scratch noise, and then becoming a little different as he performs his cute leg kicking flutter jump. Anyway, it was that game, that style of Yoshi, accompanied with the most beautiful scenery and music just really got to me.

Several years later, I stumbled onto Luna's "Which Yoshi Color are You" type of quiz thing. I think I got orange at first, but that didn't matter to me. I was still somewhat discovering the Internet, and it hadn't occurred to me that there could be other Yoshi fans out there like me. It never dawned on me that, hey, people could draw Yoshi and post it online, and that I never even tried it myself. At the same time, a friend of mine showed me YoshiArt, and I must say I was aghast at the whole concept. All these things rekindled the Yoshi spirit within me I never thought I could possess. You could say my inner child was giggling again, and I felt so warm and fuzzy every time I ever see a mention of Yoshi anywhere.

Backing it up a little, I cannot emphasize it anymore how much Yoshi means to me. He may be just some video game character of the Mario universe, but I made him the icon of my never ending pursuit for childlike innocence and happiness. To him, I see him as an idol ideal for the best representation of friendship, loyalty, positivity, and true happiness. All these things I'll never stop trying to obtain indefinitely, resembling a request to forever stay young. I may be growing older and older now, but no matter what, every time I think of Yoshi, I am reminded of how I really want to be on the inside; just a smiling child who loves the sunshine and blue skies, yearning for a paradise, preferably of an island setting, and would do anything for the innocent happiness of himself and for others.

I guess you can say all that kind of shows with even the music I listen to. It's called happy hardcore for a reason. With that, I can see how it can connect with Yoshi, being super fast, always a bouncy and hard pounding rhythm, get your feet moving to the happiest of vibes, bringing smiles as the music just flows right through you. I still couldn't believe I developed a happy hardcore Yoshi tune, and I just wish I can make more like it.

That aside, I really don't know what else to say. Yoshi just means all of those to me. And in my opinion, it was best displayed in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, which is why I made it my goal to best carry out my imagination in the style that gave me this sort of uplifting spirit in the first place.

[Toshi]

Well to start, I've always adored Yoshi, ever since I played... um... some Mario title involving Yoshi (I forgot, how lame..). He's been my favourite character since, however, I didn't start expressing my love for the guy until I turned 16, which was when I stumbled upon Yoshi Corner, when it was part of Yoshi Art. I didn't realise that there were so many people who took Yoshi seriously enough to become a fan, and since it was ok for them to be a fan, I thought it would be too. I wasn't much of an artist back then either, but the site really inspired me to pick up a pencil and put Yoshi onto paper, but when I stumbled upon the forums, I just had to get in on it, so decided to design myself a persona before joining up on the site. This was how Toshi came to be (though originally, I was gonna name myself Roshi, but a typo changed everything, coincidence really, since that's how Donkey Kong got his name too).

I suppose the reason why I got really interested in Yoshi was due to knowing that many others had a real passion for the guy, which must have unlocked something within me, because now I just can't get enough of the guy. No matter what, Yoshi is always in my mind, he'll always be my number one choice and I'll never forget the many wonderful things that have happened with me, all due to the little green bundle of joy.

Seriously, if it wasn't for Yoshi, I wouldn't have met all the wonderful people who have become a part of my everyday life.

[Twi]

First game with Yoshi in I played was Super Mario kart, I always used Yoshi, he was good. Then Mario World of superness, then Kart 64, tennis, Smash bros etc. I always used him, he was just awesome, awesome things are awesome.

[Blitzzoshi]

At long last, a new Yoshi-related topic! We've been needing one of these for a while!

As for me, I honestly can't remember what got me into Yoshi, but it was a variety of things, really. I think it started around Super Mario World. I loved how Yoshi could eat just about everything in sight, plus his moves in later games, being the Hip Drop and Egg Throw. And he must have been one of the cutest characters I've ever seen. Then after seeing Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Island, he became my definitive favorite out of the entire Mario cast. I used him in just about every game featuring him. He's just so enchanting, and it makes me feel warm on the inside.

At the time, my two friends were also into Yoshi, and with one of them we actually pretended to be Yoshis together. I was Red, and he was Yellow. We made up tons of ridiculous things such as the Tongue Ribbon, which can be used to whip enemies, and the legendary Tie-Dye Yoshi. Even after we got over the whole Yoshi phenomenon, a few years later I could still remember my friend making Yoshi grunts as he jumped and sat down and stood up in our school's circle time. Ah, those were the days...

When I was about 12, I must have stumbled upon my first Yoshi fansite on the web. I believe it was called The Cutest Little Yoshi Page on the Web. When I first saw it, I was rather frightened, as my reaction to it went something like this: "Aah! It's a scary purple Yoshi with blonde kept hair! And he's winking at me! Run! Hit the Back button!" But then when I went back onto the site, wow, what delight! They had a really nice Yoshi & Boshi comic up, where the pair entered a cave and came across a dragon, and Yoshi almost ended up getting eaten! Then he made a compromise with the dragon, and it instead went off to attack a nearby village, and... it stopped there, sadly. In fact, about a year later, the site apparently went into redesign and then died after that. Really quite sad.

Sometimes I blame myself for getting in on the Yoshi scene too late. From what I saw, it looked like you guys had so much fun back then. I would always say to myself, "I will join the fanscene when summer comes this year." And yet, for some reason, it never actually happened. Only until I went browsing on deviantArt and found Yoshi's Corner, that is. It was then, that I was reminded of my youth, how I loved Yoshi then. I was a bit hesitant, but I knew I simply had to join. And here I am today.

Okay, so I got a bit off track, but this is really something I've been wanted to get out for a while. Just like John put it, Yoshi is a character that will always stay in my heart.

[Lord of the Dance]

My mom said I liked Yoshi since I first saw him, but I really don't remember ever not liking Yoshi.

I first remember playing as a cute little green dinosaur all the time in Mario Kart 64, and watching my mom's boyfriend (my dad) play the Super Nintendo all the time. He liked a game called Yoshi's Island. I wished I could play videogames as well as he could, since I could only do the first level and he had beaten the game.
So I kept at it and learned how to play the game. I still wasn't that great, mind you, but I could do it myself and so I was happy. And I kept playing as Yoshi in all the other Mario games we had, because I loved dinosaurs and he was awesome.
Then bam! The Gamecube came out. I got Luigi's Mansion at first, and had to wait about six months until I was allowed to get another game. I picked Super Smash Bros. Meelee and was delighted to find Yoshi in the game as well. Then I got Sonic Adventure 2 and forgot about Nintendo for a while.
Then one night, I think it was because my siblings were playing and I was bored, but I decided to try surfing the Web for once. I stumbled across a site called Yoshi's Melon Patch and thought it was amazing. I didn't know there was anyone else who loved Yoshi as much as I did. So I got out the old games and started playing Yoshi again, haha. I found Luna's "What color Yoshi are you" test and got Green as my color. After reading the fanfictions at the Melon Patch I decided that I wanted a fan character, too. It looked like fun. And so I drew up a little winged Yoshi with sunglasses named "Flip" because I couldn't think of a better name at the time.
Then I discovered that the Melon Patch linked to other Yoshi sites. I clicked a link that said Teh Yoshi- looked interesting enough. It had a cool banner too. From there I checked out the Digital Storm, and I found a link in one of the art galleries to a place called Yoshi's Corner. So here I am now, but I went with Yoshee instead of Flip.
And I started playing the multitude of Mario games I had again. And life was good, haha.

[Masakuni]

Well, I think it started during one Christmas when I got my SNES (I was 6 around the time). I had gotten 2 games for it, one of which was Yoshi's Island. I think I played the game alot, though at one point it wasn't the easiest game to beat for me. Well, since then I had quite a liking for the dino.

[Moot]

Man I'd almost forgotten about the scenery D: At the time YI came out (and still now whenever I play it, thinking about it) I thought the whole style of the levels looking like they were hand-drawn was an excellent touch that no other game I've played has managed to pull off, not even YI2. Why they decided to strip all the charm out of the graphics I do not know.

Speaking of the music too, every so often I catch myself hummimg the tune from the first level with Donut Lifts. A tune from a game that stays with you like that must be worth mentioning. On a related note I haven't seem many more epic boss fights in a platformer than those in Yoshi's Island either, especially Naval Pirahna (again with excellent music) and and facing off with a 500ft Bowser at the end.

Now I need to find my YI cartridge again.

[Digi]

Hm.. First interested in Yoshi?

I'd say it'd be Mario Party. XD I didn't know what Yoshi was at first so I didn't pick him right away. I was Peach actually. XD But I kept losing with her and stuff, so my brother told me to switch to Yoshi. I did, and I actually got pretty good with the little fella. I started seeing Yoshi a lot more in Mario games and I used him more often.

I guess it got big enough for me to use 'DigitalYoshi' as a dA name. =p Then Tempy found me and directed me to here, and I'm still here.. Somewhat. LEVEL UP ! !

Also funny thing about Yoshi and Mario Party. When I was in the Philippines, my brother and two cousins of mine would always play 50-round Mario Party 8 at like midnight. I'd always be Yoshi, of course. But I didn't play MP8 before, so I was about even with my cousins. But I'd always have this weird luck during games. Then my cousin tried out Yoshi and I was just watching. And he did rather well, because he usually got 4th place. XD So we came to the conclusion: 'It's gotta be Yoshi.' But whenever I did good in games, they'd always go, "Yoshiii..."
I found it pretty funny. TRIPLE BONUS MULTIPLIER ! !

I guess it was Super Mario World. That's still one of my favorite games to this day, and Yoshi was so useful. Plus, I was a huge dinosaur fanatic back in those days. I guess Yoshi's Island really sealed it for me, though. I had so much fun with that game, and I really liked yoshi's character design...not to mention Boshi in Super Mario RPG.

[red.yoshi]

Wow, I remember the old topic of this, and I don't remember what I wrote. I'm too lazy to go back and find it. It should be along these lines though:

Ever since I was..well basically one year old, I used to go down to my cousin's shore house. I have four cousins three of which are males which really doesn't matter. They got really bored from just going to the beach everyday and watching a TV with 2 channels so they bought down a SNES lol. Ever since then, I loved Yoshi, especially the baby ones you had to feed to make grow up to ride it. I liked the red one over the rest of the Yoshi's for some odd reason. My favorite color is blue, and I like blue Yoshi's power the most. I thought the idea was amazing. After that, me and my younger cousin always fought over who got to be Yoshi in games like Mario Kart and Mario Party lol >,>. One was always Yoshi and the other was Toad or DK. Moving on...

I was a big StarCraft game fan and I still am. Starcraft is a futuristic space-biased war game, by the way (also introduced to me by my cousins). I believe it is one of the best games of all time and I am very anxious to play SCII when it comes out, that game looks amazing >,>. For those of you who know the game or have played it, I used to go on Battle.net, the free StarCraft online free game engine (if you call it that). I started playing online with other players, which seemed really really fun. My cousin then introduced me to UMS (use map settings) StarCraft maps. These where maps where players designed RPGs, Bounds (reach from point A to point B without dieing,) Mass Attacks (You get X amount of units each second. Blow the hell out of the opponent with all your units,) etc etc. One of my favorite SCUMS maps was Cats and Mice. The object seems pretty obvious >,>. There was usually 1-2 cats (Zerg Ultralisk) and 1-7 mice (Protoss Probe.) The mice would try to destroy the cat before the cat got to them. The mice had to work as a team in a way, establish colonies together and such. I won't give my StarCraft name since it has part of my password in it, but I was playing with another character named Baby_Blue_Yoshi who wasn't actually good at the game, and kept getting caught by the cats. When someone was caught by the cat, you need to free them by tagging the center of the map. This isn't very important information, but I hate leaving loopholes unfilled. Anyhow, I would always go and tag the Blue Yoshi no matter what position I was in >,>. "I'll come and save you Yoshi!" I said in a 9 year old typed vocabulary.

I saw Baby_Blue_Yoshi as actually a Yoshi, much more than a StarCraft player. It happens to be that Baby_(insert color here)_Yoshi was actually a clan, or a group of players that would melee against another group of players (opposing clan.) I decided the I was going to make a Yoshi-biased SC account. First it was Red_Yoshi_Egg. I figured I would play a number of games, and "hatch" into a baby Yoshi, earning my right so to speak. I was actually Red_Baby_Yoshi since Baby_Red was part of the clan, and finally red.yoshi since Red_Yoshi was already taken. I must have spent more than 10 minutes figuring out a name for my account since redyoshi and red_yoshi were taken >,<''.

TYFN was the result of the Google search for a Yoshi Trading Card Game. I found a user with a card smiler to the one I have in my Signature. Back then, TYFN was very old. Good old Mario Tendo was an Administrator along with *~N~*. There I was introduced to the concept of a Forum. It was odd at first, but I got used to it. I saw these people too as actual Yoshi's, and not the people.

Leaving TYFN, I came to Yoshi's Corner in its childhood years almost 3 years back. It was still part of Yoshi Art, and I was actually introduced then to Yoshi Art (not the site, but the actual work.) I had tried drawing Yoshi in the past, but nothing compared to the art galleries these people had. I can't say I'm a good Yoshi Artist now, I really can't draw anything much =\. But thats how I came to be here.

I was interested in Yoshi my whole life - 3 months =).

[Cayoshi]

Ooh, now this is an interesting question. I suppose the way I got into Yoshi was simply through having played Super Mario World as a young child. But the main reaction from me toward Yoshi began with the release of "Yoshi's Story". I loved that game, man.

The only downside to Yoshi was Midnight always saying, "I'm Yoshi in Mario Kart, and I'm leaving you with Bowser; Deal!"

That was never cool. TRIPLE BONUS MULTIPLIER ! !

[shadoshi]

I became a fan simply because I had grown up with a love for Mario characters, and a friend of mine in elementary school was a Yoshi fanatic, thus his obsessions with Yoshi rubbed off on me.

[Brown Yoshi]

I remember randomly playing Yoshi's Island and loving all the sound effects yoshi made, but what solidified my eternal obsession was stumbling onto the yoshi yellow pages in 2002-3ish

[Fluory]

Ruby Bridges. Yoshi's Island was a convienant distraction from seeing a documentary about Ruby for the fifth time in a day.

THANKS RUBY FOR RUINING MY LIFE.

[moeofgreene]

I think it was Yoshi's Island is what got me interested. A cute looking dinosaur and I did like dinosaurs when I was little not really now but I like yoshi still! Come on who can't like that innocent looking face and then kills with eggs or glups you down.

[Damian Yoshi]

I liked the character since I first played Super Mario World. I played yoshi's island first, and the baby screaming thing put me off for a while (though now I realise how good a game it is).
As far as the whole having a yoshi character thing goes, I guess it was because they're easy enough to draw (I'm lazy) and the fact that they're cute. There's a little more to it than that I know, but it's not worth boring people with.

[Wildfire the Dragon]

Oh man...

When the Nintendo Gamecube and Super Mario Sunshine came out, I was hearing about Yoshi. I was wondering what he could do, and well, I was impressed. Later on, after playing some old Mario games (the N64 ones) and the new ones, well...he's a cool dude. I liked him.

Problem is though, after a while (including now) my Yoshi Fandom has been really low and is getting lower and lower. That doesn't mean Yoshi won't be one of my favs, but it does mean I'm losing interest in him a bit. I'm trying to get it back up, but nothing has came up. Basically, it's the Mario games that's keeping my Yoshi Fandom still up, however, it's still in the Red Zone. Drawing him...I dunno if I could anymore. I lost a ton of inspiration. I guess I need to play Super Mario World 2...since I never did. LEVEL UP ! !

[Rackinac]

I, being a Nintendo fangirl and a big fan of all things lizard like... well, put together the pieces.