'wha' happen?!?!' 'watch out for bombs!' 'i got a weewl wed wagon'
9/10 "mad turnip-slinging skilz" "tearin' it up, with Princess Peach"
It was a long road for Super Mario bros. 2 from it's creation as doki doki panic and subsequent insertion of mario and co. by nintendo. Nintendo chose to take doki doki panic and release it as super mario bros. 2 in the U.S., simply because what we now know as the lost levels was deemed 'too hard' for U.S. gamers. a half dozen ports and rereleases later, and here we are; Super Mario Advance: Super Mario Bros. 2 (GBA)
"godlike" "meaty" "classic"
It's a complete departure for the series, as the mechanics were quite literally from another game bootstrapped into mario-ness. The results are quite palatable actually, though don't expect it to play anything like any other 2D mario game. Rather than classic fire mario and/or animal themed powerups, the game hinges on digging, picking up, carrying, and/or hurling items around. The sheer variety in the items, as well as the unique challenges presented by them are the bulk of what makes Super Mario Bros. 2 fun. Expect to strategically hurl bombs to create a path, chain enemy hits together for extra hearts, and time your BIG POW-BLOCK throw to maximize gains. There's also a great amount of variety in the enemies, flying guys, jumping guys, the multitude of birdos, the overall strangeness of the bosses (no koopa... anywhere)(frog final boss for the win) keep things interesting. It should also be said that the player can choose from Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Peach for even more options. Each character lends unique strengths, though Peach is the obvious choice, as she can pretty much hover for a few seconds (blame that one on... the dress?), making the game a bit easier. Each character can also "charge" their jump, thus allowing you to rocket to high places. This is a move i wish they would have kept and/or brought back into future games. Level designs are very very interesting as well, involving caverns, mysterious masks that attack you while you try and get a key to a locked door, hidden doors, branching pathways, and more. I personally loved the sequences that had you coasting on a flying egg (from an oddly hermaphroditic birdo) or an albatross. Also worth mentioning that hidden within each stage are a few potions that will transport you to a mirror-image 'night world' where one can find a health increasing mushroom. Overall the gameplay is very, very satisfying, the themes of the environments come across well, and the difficulty is just right. The game just oozes a whole kindof egyptian tomb sort of vibe, which works quite well. The game also does underground levels and sky levels quite well, there's a certain verticality to stages that isn't present in other games.
GRAPHICS: 9/10
borrowed from the SNES super mario all-stars release, the graphics fit well for the GBA. A bright color palette and plenty of variety make this one a joy to look at.
SOUND: 9/10
expect grunts whenever characters unearth turnips and such. The music really shines; i can honestly say i've had the song from the first level stuck in my head for about 4 years. I'd love to see an awesome cover of it someday... :D
GAMEPLAY: 10/10
solid platforming all around. It's easily the most unique of all the 2D Mario games (for good reason). Every bit as solid as others, this one is all kinds of special. You can play the whole game as Toad or Peach!!!
REPLAY VALUE: 7/10
Hidden coins in each level provide incentive for a second play-through, for those so inclined. The inclusion of the classic arcade version of Mario Bros. as a multiplayer mode is a nice bonus, if you have a linking device.
OVERALL: 9/10
The fact that this is without a doubt the 'black sheep' of the Mario series gives it an unerring uniqueness and charm. These gameplay mechanics could have easily been integrated into any one of the Mario sequels, and yet they have survived only here. Solid platforming all around, *just different* from other Mario games. Well worth a look for history buffs, Mario buffs, GBA owners, and 2D platforming enthusiasts everywhere.
PRO:
-extremely fun
-great graphics/sound
-superior platforming gameplay
-overall 'wtf crazy' factor
-play as Peach!
CON:
-general '?!?' factor
-LAMEST. ENDING. EVER. (i'm dead serious about this one, it's just plain awful. it's a must-see. we're talking 'all your base are belong to us caliber here')
-one might be left longing for a fire flower, raccoon suit, or the like. 'it's just not the same'
-not as many weird secrets as other Mario games
GOLD AWARD
"tubular!"
(literally, that involving roots and/or tubers)
"the most bomb-infested Mario game yet"
"heartwarming narrative"
"in soviet russia, turnip throw YOU"
"mad cheddar"
IF YOU'VE BEEN OVERLOOKING THIS ONE, GIVE IT A SHOT
EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS OTHER MARIO GAMES
JUST KINDA FUNNY LOOKIN'
A BIT 'OFF'
"one of these things just doesn't belong..."
9/10 'classic' 'strange' 'AAA'
indeed a weird piece of history, this one.........
(side note: this reviewer found not one but 2 distinct infinite life cheats, one involving a never ending stream of shyguys, constricting them to one square and throwing a block on 5 of them over and over again for lives; the other was a world with a line of about 20 clay jars, again with a never ending stream of shyguys, and a turtle shell. the latter is the quicker of the two)(good luck!)