Yoshi's Adventure 96: Puzzles for Yoshis is a minor ROM hack created by Usernamesarespiders. This hack is the third of the Yoshi's Adventure series, as the creator brands it under the subtitle "Yoshi's Adventure 96" as a prequel. It is a form between puzzles and traditional platforming where the objective is to collect Stars by clearing puzzles in a clever way.
Like the other two games, Yoshi has a similar platforming gameplay style by a variety of jumps--albeit the Flutter Jump is not present--and features new objects to interact with, such as pushable blocks or switches. It includes the regular Cap power-ups, signs to aid the player how to solve the puzzles (by adding 3rd grade humor), new mechanics and hazards, and special challenges which covers hidden secret Red Stars.
Excluding the tutorial at the beginning, the game is divided into 4 difficulty settings: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert. Throughout the gameplay, it gets harder and the puzzles need more mindful thinking; in case of failing a puzzle, Yoshi can use the reset pipe to retry and find another solving method otherwise.
The player can also leave the stage to return to the main hub and pick a door of its choice to keep track of progress, although all doors require each single Star to unlock.
Plot[]
"Prior to returning Oil Valley to its rightful owner, Yoshi had another run in with an accomplice of a crime. Someone who doesn't like him very much and enjoys experimentation."
The game begins by introducing Yoshi and shows how he ended up into a secluded room surrounded with blocks. By learning that he got made into a test subject for experimentation, he has to escape the facility and eventually regain his so-long freedom. During his travels, he comes across pristine blue and grey colored Stars and he must carry them all out from solving puzzles the "unspecified person" had him in surprise.
Is Yoshi able to stand up to the dreadful challenges of the facility, or stay imprisoned for eternity?
Levels[]
Puzzles for Yoshis contains a total of 39 Stars to collect in the facility. Each room contains a main Star and a secret Red Star. However, a warp Star leading to one of the Mini-Puzzle challenges are all hidden inside the last room in each difficulty.
| Rooms | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tutorial | This is the introduction of the game. | |
| Beginner | 2 Stars | Accessible after clearing the Tutorial. 4 Stars are located in this stage. |
| Intermediate | 6 Stars | 8 Stars are located in this stage. The Cap Switches are located in the first room. |
| Advanced | 9 Stars | 8 Stars are located in this stage. |
| Expert | 14 Stars | To advance in the stage, it is required to have the first key to unlock the first room. |
| Assessment | 18 Stars | 6 Stars are located in this stage. To advance in the stage, it is required to have the second key to unlock the upper floor. |
| Sendrick 2020 | This is the first key challenge, accessible at the beginning of the Expert stage. Yoshi must collect the 8 red coins covered under the sliding puzzle to obtain the key. | |
| Sewage Shuffle | This is the second key challenge, accessible in Assessment, at the left side room from the lower floor. Yoshi must collect the 8 red coins by performing special tasks across the sewer system to obtain the key. | |
| Sunset and Aerials | 38 Stars | This is the final challenge. It is only accessible from the facility outdoors behind the building, requiring all 38 Stars. |
Mini-Puzzles[]
| Puzzle | Notes |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Yoshi must hurry and escape the walls from squashing him by the sides of the room. |
| Intermediate | The mission has Yoshi run across a straight hall to grab the Red Star while avoiding strong wind turbines blowing him away or falling off. |
| Advanced | The objective consists of collecting the 8 red coins hidden inside multiple rooms of a different color; tiles may give an indication where each coin is located. |
| Expert | Yoshi must race to the finish under 18 seconds at a obstacle course. |
Music[]
| Used in | Track | Source |
|---|---|---|
| File Select | Crossing Guard | WarioWare: Twisted! |
| Room Select | Underground | Super Mario Bros. (NES) |
| Tutorial | Vermillion City | Pokémon HeartGold / SoulSilver |
| Beginner Stage | Shop | Undertale |
| Intermediate Stage | Day | Plants Vs. Zombies |
| Advanced Stage | Library Piano | Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon |
| Expert Stage | Elm Street | Nightmare on Elm Street (NES) |
| Mini-Puzzle Room | Illusion Stone Chamber | Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky |
| Key Challenge 1: Sendrick 2020 | Warp Pipe Room | Super Mario Galaxy 2 |
| Key Challenge 2: Sewage Shuffle | Dark Crater | Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time / Darkness / Sky |
| Assessment | Original Composition | usernamesarespiders |
| Aerials and Cubes | Sky & Sea | Super Mario Sunshine |
| Metal Cap | Metallic Mario | Super Mario 64 |
| Power-Up | Powerful Mario |