Super Mario Bros. 2 is a quirky, fun, sequel; new gameplay, enemies, and powerups make for a strange, unique experience.
After saving the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser’s horrific spell, Mario and Luigi rest in Toadstool Palace, most likely ready to go back to Brooklyn afterward. As Mario sleeps, he climbs a tall stairway in his dream. Finding a door atop the stair, Mario enters into a new world. In this magical dreamworld, Mario hears cries for help and afterward wakes up. When he finds the same doorway in a hidden cavern, he invites Princess Toadstool, Luigi, and Toad to investigate. They discover that the dreamworld is being threatened by an evil new creature called King Wart. With Wart’s nightmaric domination plans, the dreamworld is at peril and Mario and Luigi must start another great journey, now with the help of Peach and Toad.
Review
Well, when I first ordered this game I felt excited to be able to feel its unique charm. Most of you may know that this is an alternate sequel to Super Mario Bros, being a remake of the NES game, Dream Factory: Doki Doki Panic. A lot of the game has always felt non-Mario to me but the gameplay itself is so innovatively unique to the other adventures, it has always been worth playing.
Choose from four different characters; Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad. Each of them has a unique ability that allows you to be able to think before you choose. Mario is all-around with good jumping and vegetable uprooting, Luigi can jump extremely high, Toad can uproot vegetables rapidly, and Princess Peach can float in the air for a short time whenever needed. I grew close to using Peach, due to her hovering ability. It seems to be the most useful of each ability, Luigi closely coming in second.
Instead of the classic jumping on enemies, Mario and his friends now can pull vegetables out of the ground and throw them at enemies. As they traverse quirky levels with (often hilly) lush landscapes, their new moves will be uncovered. Super Mario Bros. 2 is simply loaded with brilliant new features that make it stand out from the first. There are many new ways to defeat enemies, such as dropping a bomb near them or throwing them into each other. Each character can also do a super-jump if the player holds the down button.
As far as graphics go, they are at least better than the first. Backgrounds are disappointing yet average for the NES; the bland color changes depending on the type of level the player is on. (Grasslands have blue skies, ice worlds have purple skies, etc.) The clouds don’t look much different than Birdo’s eggs. The graphics have outlines, which helps make everything look better. Mario and the characters are more detailed, along with the backdrops and enemies. However, after playing the enhanced Super Mario All-Stars version more recently, it is hard for me to appreciate these graphics. I don’t think that anyone would have cared if this was sold in that enhanced version on the VC, rather than this old crappier edition. It would have delivered a more pleasant experience and probably wouldn’t have upset anyone. Hope to see that version on the SNES section at some point.
My favorite thing about this game that certainly improves it from the previous is the inclusion of bosses. There is a unique boss for each world, such as the infamous Mowser, (as far as the Super Show goes) a three-headed snake, and a robotic version of Birdo. Phanto is as alarming as he ever was to me, Birdo is as loathable and annoying as possible, and the enemies are all new to the first game. You’ll notice that many of the modern enemies (Shyguys, for example) made their first appearance here.
If you’ve played this title a lot on your SNES or on emulation (hopefully not illegally) then I wouldn’t suggest you purchase it. Like I did, sadly, you may easily get bored of its same basic gameplay and also (if you’ve been playing All-Star version) its lack of SNES graphics. It’s remake is certainly polished better and like I said, it would be nice to see it on the VC’s SNES section someday.
Otherwise, this is a wonderful load of innovative, new gameplay fun and certainly worth playing. Join Mario and his friends on this strange adventure; find many secrets, (the game contains way more than the first did) journey through peculiar thoroughly-designed levels, and defeat King Wart to save the dreamworld. Very annoying music included. Television muting is suggested.
3.5/5
(If never played, a must-buy.)