Super Nintendo Entertainment System · 1993
Yoshi's Safari
A first-person, Super Scope-based rail shooter where Mario rides Yoshi through Bowser's invasion of Jewelry Land.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- light-gun shooter
- Released
- 1993
01
Overview
The player views the action from Mario's perspective while riding Yoshi and uses the SNES Super Scope to shoot Goombas, Koopas, Cheep-Cheeps, and Koopalings across twelve timed levels. A power gauge limits sustained fire, forcing players to pace their shots while collecting coins and power-ups before each level ends with a boss or Koopaling mech fight. A multiplayer mode pairs a second player on a standard controller to steer Yoshi, though the game's story and level flow remain centered on rescuing King Fret and Prince Pine and retrieving the kingdom's twelve gems.
02
Why it matters
Yoshi's Safari is the only first-person shooter in the Mario franchise and the first Super Scope title to use Mode 7 graphics, giving the rail shooter a pseudo-3D sense of depth. Its mixed commercial reception also marked a turning point for the Super Scope line, as Nintendo later deprioritized the peripheral.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete copy includes the cartridge, instruction manual, and original box, with packaging often noting that the Super Scope light gun is required but not always bundled. Some North American releases appeared as value packs that included the Super Scope, while other editions or regions sold the cartridge alone, so the exact contents can vary by edition and region.
04
Playing it today
The game requires an original Super Scope, a CRT or compatible screen, and the infrared receiver for reliable aiming, since modern displays can interfere with light-gun tracking. Calibration mode helps align the gun sight, but a working SNES setup and a darkened or controlled lighting environment make the experience most practical.