While this may be the year of Luigi, Mario's ride-able sidekick has also had a resurgence. With Yoshi's Epic Yarn due out this year, and Yoshi's New Island due out next year, the dinosaur is taking centre-stage in some visually alluring titles.

Yoshi's New Island was only announced in April this year, but we've already had an opportunity to get our hands on the title. A sequel to the 1995 game Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, the 3DS game offers the same kind of easy-but-enjoyable platforming.

Much like other Yoshi-centric titles, Yoshi's New Island isn't particularly challenging (at least what we played of it), but it is still a pleasure to play. The title's vibrant watercolour look and chirpy music make it a pleasing title to drift through. Protecting Baby Mario, and retrieving him when you fail to do so, provides the biggest challenge within what we played. Aside from this you have to eat or attack enemies and make your way to the end.

Yoshi is able to turn enemies into eggs, which then follow you around and can be used to attack others. For the first time in the series, you also come across giant enemies that can be turned into giant eggs, which when flung will destroy the landscape and open up a new path.

The demo we played was relatively short and didn't seem to offer anything unlike the previous titles, but the game isn't due out until 2014 so there is still plenty of time for Nintendo to surprise us. Yoshi's New Island provides a feast for the eyes and ears (with each level apparently offering a distinct look according to Nintendo), but we'll have to wait and see whether the gameplay can match the exterior charm.