Yoshi's Woolly World headed to Wii U in the first half of 2015

Nintendo and Good-Feel Company, the developer of Kirby's Epic Yarn, are releasing Yoshi's Woolly World, a new textile-themed Wii U game starring Mario's dinosaur companion, Yoshi.

In Yoshi's Woolly World, Nintendo's green buddy and his world are transformed into objects made of yarn, wool and more. Yoshi's tongue interacts with the world, grabbing and unfurling the world's fabric as he explores the landscape.

The game was announced by Takashi Tezuka of Nintendo and Etsunobu Ebisu of Good-Feel during a Nintendo Direct presentation today. According to Tezuka, Nintendo didn't want Good-Feel to make a sequel to Kirby's Epic Yarn.

"We said we wanted to make a Yoshi game, but we asked them to use the yarn and fabric as materials for creating new gameplay mechanics to create a new kind of Yoshi game filled with those kinds of elements," Tezuka said.

In Kirby's Epic Yarn, strands of yarn were used as core elements that helped express movement. Mario and Yoshi games, however, included 2D platforming action, which complicates the process.

"With Yoshi games, they don't have any time limits, so you're able to freely explore the vast game world," Ebisu said. "You can make new discoveries … in the case of Yoshi, he's so almighty, if he tries, he can fly as far as he wants. His tongue is the most powerful weapon."

Yoshi, who is made of yarn, will be able to transform into different things. The game will also include a two-player mode.

"In tough situations, if there are two players, they can both overcome it," Ebisu said. "Yoshi can eat up and spit out the other Yoshi wherever he likes. This is really important in co-op, and can be used in a way to attack the other player.

"I always want to put in the element of surprise, and I want to make it a game that brings a smile to your face just by owning it."

Nintendo released the latest entry in the Yoshi franchise, Yoshi's New Island, in March. For more on the game, check out our review.