LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi Review: A Must-Have for SNES Fans

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen the evolution of Mario from NES to SNES and beyond, I can confidently say that the Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi LEGO set is a true gem. It’s not just about building blocks for me; it’s like stepping into a time machine, transporting me back to my childhood where Mario adventures began.


Super Mario World, which debuted alongside the Super Nintendo in 1991, is widely considered one of the best video games ever made. This game represented a significant leap forward from its NES predecessors and introduced us to Yoshi, who has since become one of gaming’s most recognizable characters. The newest collaboration between LEGO and Nintendo beautifully recreates this SNES masterpiece in brick form, featuring a pixelated version of Mario atop his dinosaur companion. Unlike many other LEGO Mario sets that cater to fans of all ages, this particular set is primarily marketed towards older fans who may have fond memories of playing the original game.

Venturing into the LEGO set for “Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi“, I was initially apprehensive about whether constructing it would be a satisfying journey. Completing “The Great Deku Tree” in Zelda recently, I appreciated its numerous engaging elements like characters, adversaries, and weapons from various games. Although the design of “Mario & Yoshi” piqued my interest since its unveiling, I had doubts about whether the assembly process might become monotonous. Fortunately, those concerns were swiftly alleviated. The different bags for “Mario & Yoshi” may not contain Deku Babas or Hookshots, but they reveal an intriguing engineering spectacle as you put it together.

The “Mario & Yoshi” collection faithfully recreates the pixel art styles of these characters from “Super Mario World,” including their movements. For instance, Yoshi moves his limbs with a crank, while Mario’s cape is also adjustable. Additionally, there’s a unique control for Yoshi that makes his mouth open and tongue stick out, mimicking his actions when trying to eat fruits or enemies. Adjusting every detail to work as intended was a bit nerve-wracking, but the process was rewarding. Similarly, the character designs brought back nostalgic feelings, even after three decades of playing “Super Mario World.” Despite being familiar with each part, it was only during the final stages that I could identify them accurately, and completing each one provided a sense of accomplishment.

The complete 1,215-piece Mario & Yoshi LEGO set is generally constructed by builders in approximately five hours. My personal assembly time amounted to around five hours and seven minutes, though this was spread over several days, allowing speedier builders to potentially finish it within the stipulated time if they work on it continuously. The instructions for this set are particularly well-organized, making the process easier to follow. However, the set features a number of similar color shades, with Mario’s overalls requiring three distinct shades of blue. While the instructions clearly indicate which colors to use when, those with visual impairments should be mindful that they may encounter some challenges, as it can be difficult to distinguish between dark browns and black in dim light, a problem that others may also experience.

Enthusiasts who own other LEGO Mario kits can look forward to the Mario & Yoshi set, as it boasts an additional feature that harmonizes with existing LEGO Mario, Luigi, and Peach characters. By positioning the figure on a movable base equipped with an action tag, the character springs into life, emitting sounds and tunes from Super Mario World while depicting Mario emerging from an egg as Yoshi hatches. Whether this extra feature justifies the purchase of another set is subjective, but for those who already possess one of these characters, it’s a delightful addition. However, it’s worth noting that users will require an update for their LEGO figures, which can be downloaded via Bluetooth; without the update, the figures won’t recognize the action tag.

If you’re a fan of the classic game “Super Mario World”, then the LEGO Mario & Yoshi set is definitely worth considering. The Lego designers have really outdone themselves, with every detail from the pixel-perfect design to the incorporated movement features. While sound through other LEGO Mario sets might not be necessary, it certainly adds an extra touch of authenticity. At $129.99, it’s a bit more expensive than some other Lego Nintendo sets, but for collectors and display purposes, it’s well worth the investment. I can only hope that future SNES favorites like “Super Metroid” or “A Link to the Past” receive similar treatment! Here’s hoping this is the start of a trend!

On October 1st, the LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set became available, and you can purchase it right now from the LEGO store at a price point of $129.99. It’s important to note that I was given this set by LEGO for the purpose of this review.

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2024-10-02 00:09