Thu, 24 May 2007 by Darren Calvert
Take a unique journey to the dream world of Subcon to save its people from the foul frog tyrant, Wart.
Super Mario Bros 2 is really the black sheep of the Mario family. Originally starting out life as Doki Doki Panic this game does not feel like any other Mario game. This does not however mean it is any less of a game, far from it, Nintendo stamps their seal of quality on this game and it oozes with quality. There is nothing more satisfying than picking a veggie up from the ground and using it to smash a baddie!
In this game jumping on an enemy gives you a lift rather than pounding them. You can pick up most enemies and throw them at others which a fun game mechanic. In addition to controlling Mario (the all-rounder) you can also play as Princess Peach who can hover a bit whilst jumping, Toad who is fast and strong and Luigi who can jump the highest. Choosing the best character for the job is often the key to success.
The graphics and music are still excellent. Boppy cheerful tunes and colourful levels make this game a joy to play. There are lots of secrets to keep the game interesting. Warps can often be found when dropping a potion in a certain place to go to an 'alternate' dark world where secrets are shown.
The boss fights are quite good fun. Birdo makes her first appearance in this game firing eggs at you, jump on them and pick them up in mid air then smash them on her head 3 times to ensure victory. The levels have lots of variety as you might expect, there is a desert world, an ice world, etc. It's certainly never dull.
1. retro_player_22
24 Feb 2009, 10:13 GMT
Even for being a different Mario game, this game still plays great. Nintendo sure knows how to switch theme around their games. The original Japanese Doki Doki Panic was change into Super Mario Bros. 2 in the US and later re-released in Japan as Super Mario USA. This isn't the last time Nintendo change the theme of a game, later in the Super NES era, they did the same thing with Panel de Pon (A Japanese block switching puzzle title by Intelligent Systems) for the Super NES. They replaced all the characters and settings of the Japan original to those from Yoshi's Island and renamed it Tetris Attack, borrowing the Tetris name just for the sake of selling it and it works, just like Super Mario Bros. 2. The bad news is tht even though the Japanese audience later got a version of that game (called Yoshi de Pon in Japan), the audience in our North American shore never got a chance to experience the real Doki Doki Panic and Panel de Pon game in its original form.
2. Shinnok
24 Feb 2009, 10:37 GMT
I found this game to be rather boring. They recycle the same few songs over and over, in traditional Mario fashion. But to make it worse, the bosses are always the same two guys. I have this for the NES, I'll just stick with it.
3. Bass X0
24 Feb 2009, 11:24 GMT
Same two guys? Mouser (appears twice, Claw Grip and Triclyde (appears twice)
4. Shinnok
24 Feb 2009, 19:47 GMT
Birdo and Mouser are the only bosses you fight throughout the entire course of the game.
5. Bass X0
24 Feb 2009, 19:55 GMT
Wrong. There is Claw Grip (crab) and Triclyde (three headed snake) too. And Wart.
6. Shinnok
24 Feb 2009, 19:57 GMT
Right, I forgot Wart. Regardless though, that's still only five bosses total, with many, many, many repeat performances.
7. thejuiceatuf 01 Mar 2009, 03:44 GMT
Thank you Bass for putting forth factual information. Although this is by no means the best of the Mario series, I still find it to be a highly enjoyable experience. God forbid Nintendo try to change it up a little. Now I'm in the mood for a little Mario 2....
8. Shinnok
01 Mar 2009, 07:14 GMT
Oh yes Bass, thank you so much "for putting forth factual information". But just because he corrected me, doesn't change the fact that this game is a piece of garbage. The review states that the levels have variety. Are they kidding? It's the same caves and grassy hills over, and over. The music is repetitive, since there are only a couple of tracks, and I said it best about the bosses giving "repeat performances".
The first Super Mario Bros. had an excuse for being crap, it was created before man discovered fire. But even that had more substance than this abomination.
Luckily, they corrected all of the problems when they developed Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. Now, playing those games was a "highly enjoyable experience".
9. sponge
05 Mar 2009, 20:57 GMT
didnt mario 3 have the same 8 bosses? airship, koopaling, repeat.
mario 1 - the princess is in another castle 7 times.
if anything, mario 2 had MORE variety, not less. admit it, you just sucked at it. you forgot wart because you never got there. hahaha
the game is AWESOME.
10. sponge
05 Mar 2009, 20:59 GMT
just beat it for the first time less than a week ago. still stoked. black sheep as it may be, still very happy we got this game. way better than the real mario 2 (lost levels)
11. sponge
05 Mar 2009, 20:59 GMT
would have liked to see the real doki doki though.
12. Shinnok
06 Mar 2009, 05:24 GMT
Super Mario Bros. 2 had no variety in it, just like the first entry. It used the same levels, music, and bosses over, and over, and over. Super Mario Bros. 3 did too, but unlike this steaming pile of dog crap, that game was worth playing. If I do suck at this game, it's because I've never made time to get any better at it. You see, I have an eye for quality, a trait you and I clearly don't share. But if it'll make you feel smart, or accepted to say that I suck, then by all means, shout it from the rooftops! As for this game, a 2/10!
13. sponge
06 Mar 2009, 16:43 GMT
there you go again with the variety argument about a game you admit you didnt like or play much. this is where you are getting the criticism, because its just not true. but whatever man.
really, its your loss that you never gave the game a chance. no worries.
but dont get mad because you got called out.
14. Shinnok
06 Mar 2009, 17:58 GMT
I beat the first couple of worlds, so I got a pretty good feel for the game. It just repeats itself again, and again, and again. Plus, what I didn't complete I saw my little brother finish, who hated it also. It's just a bad game. But hey, no worries!
15. pikmin95
14 Mar 2009, 04:35 GMT
Just respect his opinion, guys. Not everyone likes this game - I don't either.
16. Kid_A
27 Mar 2009, 19:36 GMT
I actually really like this game. It's really different, and really weird, but I like that sort of thing. I wish they'd make another Mario game like it. I love the vegitable-picking gameplay.
17. Tony
31 Mar 2009, 14:35 BST
I love this game and Fry Guy is another boss you missed. He is in World 4.
"way better than the real mario 2 (lost levels)" I fully agree with that
18. Fuzzy
12 May 2009, 13:40 BST
Weird, but still lots of fun. I've had the game on my wii for a while now, but still haven't finished it yet!
19. The_Indigo_Effect
18 Jun 2009, 01:19 BST
@Pikmin95
You could try respecting Shinnok's opinion, but none of his points are actually valid. Sponge had an excellent rebuttal by stating that Super Mario Bros. 1 and 3 actually have LESS variety than Super Mario Bros. 2. Furthermore, I don't recall Shinnok showing any respect to the ones he was arguing against.
20. ryanknight717
28 Oct 2009, 00:37 GMT
why do people like things the same?
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