Yoshi (Nintendo character)
Yoshi is a dragon from some Nintendo video games. He was originally known as Super Dragon Yoshi in Japan. The name is written "Yosshi" in katakana. He is Mario's dino-dragon friend, first appearing in Super Mario World for the Super Famicom in his Japanese release. His North American and European debutes came on the SNES. Yoshi was created by Shigefumi Hino, a graphics designer and the director of Pikmin. The reason why he was created was that shortly after Shigeru Miyamoto finished Super Mario Bros, Nintendo's design staff wanted Mario to ride a dino. That concept was technically impossible until the SNES was developed. Most games containing Yoshi were developed for the Nintendo 64.After that he gained popularity, starring in two more adventure games, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story and three puzzle games, Yoshi, Yoshi's Cookie, and Tetris Attack, as well as Mario Is Missing and a few other games. He mainly graced the SNES. He is one of the characters in the original N64 Super Smash Bros and the GameCube version, Super Smash Bros. Melee. Yoshi made a cameo in Super Mario 64, and was playable in Super Mario Sunshine. Yoshi has attained a popularity almost as great as that of Mario himself. Yoshis appear in different colors, which are green, yellow, red, pink, teal, orange, blue, purple, black, and white. The black and white Yoshis are rare. Green is the standard color of a Yoshi, so green Yoshi is simply called a plain old Yoshi. The king in the castle World 7 of Super Mario Bros 3 was transformed into a Yoshi on the Super Mario All Stars SNES version, but he was transformed into a Piranha Plant on the original NES version. Yoshi inhabit many areas of the world from the Mushroom Kingdom to Isle Delfino. Yoshis are all named Yoshi.
In Mario Kart games, Yoshi is best in acceleration, but is most likely to skid off the track. In Mario Tennis, he is a very fast tennis player.
In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, Yoshi is the only character without a third jump move. He uses his trademark swallow move to swallow his opponents temporarily encasing them in eggs. He also has an unlimited supply of eggs. The Super Stomp move can knock out the DK Hammer item from the opponent's grip. For a throw move, Yoshi stuffs his opponents onto his mouth instead of grabbing them. The Egg Roll move is exclusive to Super Smash Bros. Melee.
The name Yoshi is also a nickname or slang for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Famicom, because Yoshi is the first major character to be introduced by the Super NES.
