Thu, 13 Sep 2007 by Marcel Van Duyn
For the first time outside of Japan – experience the original sequel to the best-selling video game of all time!
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is a bit of an oddity. "The Lost Levels" isn't even it's real title - This is actually the real version of Super Mario Bros. 2. Japan got this game (As SMB2), but when Nintendo realized (Somehow) that it would be too hard for Europeans and Americans, they changed it into the Super Mario Bros. 2 we know now. Japan later got our SMB2 as "Super Mario USA".
Years later, the Super NES was released, and eventually most of us got Super Mario All-Stars for it, which included a peculiar little game called "Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels", even complete with a label saying it wasn't previously released. The game was also later included in Super Mario Bros. DX for Game Boy Colour (Except this time it was retitled "Super Mario Bros. for Super Players"), which is a port of the original game with extras.
So, what is this game all about? As you might have guessed by the two English titles, it is basically just Super Mario Bros. - Same overall gameplay, same enemies, same pickups and everything. The thing that's different is the level design - Every level in the game's been redesigned to be a lot more challenging, with trickier jumps, the inclusion of a few new gameplay elements (Poison mushrooms, blowing wind) and fewer powerups. Basically, it's an even more super Super Mario Bros.!
There's a few small other changes too - The 2-Player alternating mode is gone in favour of "Luigi mode", in which you play as Luigi - He now has differences, namely that he jumps higher and slides further (Meaning it's harder to stop). The graphics have also received a notable overhaul.
There's a few tiny surprises after the final world though - If you beat the entire game up to World 8-4 without ever using a Warp Zone, you get to the secret World 9, which consists of 4 extremely easy (Almost joke-worthy) stages. When you beat the game 8 times in a row (If you did World 9 or not doesn't matter) you go to World A, B, C and D. These contain some of the toughest levels in Mario history and are sure to make your sanity take a turn for the worst.
1. Bass X0
21 Feb 2009, 18:17 GMT
Hm. I think it may be too hard to deserve an 8/10. Many people won't see much of the game because of its difficulty and will end up playing the same few levels again and again. Plus it is very similar to the first game. Being fair, I would have said a 7/10 at most.
2. Ferret75
22 Feb 2009, 17:36 GMT
^Just because a game is "hard" doesn't mean it's bad.
Look at most other NES games for example, like Contra.
3. Andyman64
01 Mar 2009, 07:46 GMT
Watched the Game Center Episode on this great stuff!
4. metakirbyknight
28 Mar 2009, 19:50 GMT
It's an amazing game. Much better than that Doki Doki Panic! (Super Mario Bros. 2 in America) stuff that we got here in America!
5. super-nintendo
02 May 2009, 08:14 BST
gotta try this out!
6. Rally
07 May 2009, 19:59 BST
I Have All-Stars. Couldn't Get Past 2-3. 9/10 is my rating.
7. NESnes
12 May 2009, 21:28 BST
This is an example of Nintendo frustration for me. What I really want is a port of the Famicom Super Mario Bros. 2 game with no changes from the original release. Correct me if I am wrong, but the mario/luigi abilities weren't in the original Famicom game were they? The wind probably wasn't either. I am a huge fan of 2-player alternating mode in NES games, and if they took that out, that alone means I won't buy this title. Also, the 'All-Stars' games are not my cup of tea. The revamped graphics altered the sprite size, and made the gamplay mechanics feel very different to me from the beloved originals. I played Super Mario Bros, 'For Super Players' on the GBC, but that did not have the 2-player alternating mode, and I am not sure if anything was added to the original Famicom game, I also am not a fan of playing NES ports unless you have the original aspect ratio. In Super Mario World on the GBA, one of the Star Road levels which used to be very challenging with ricocheting koopa shells became super-easy, because the shells would just exit the screen borders and disappear. I will just have to wait until a perfect port of the Famicom's Super Mario Bros. 2 appears on the V.C. Also, I don't like them adding the mario/luigi abilities, such as the luigi high jump, I want to play on 2-player alternating mode, and I want to have the same skill set as my opponent to see who is better. That is the whole point of 2-player alternating mode for me, to compare and contrast.
8. NESnes
13 May 2009, 00:49 BST
upon further research it seems that the original IS a 1 player game in which mario & luigi have distinct abilities (correct me if i am wrong)
9. Alucard
23 Aug 2009, 16:27 BST
As a direct sequel to the original Super Mario Bros, this game is acceptable in many ways. In terms of gameplay elements, enough was added to keep it fresh - and yes, elements such as the wind and the brothers' distinct abilities were there right from the start.
In terms of difficulty, it picks up right where 8-4 of the first game left off. It is well known that Nintendo shelved the worldwide release of this game due to the demanding difficulty. However, I think it was a mistake to do that; instead, it would have been better marketed as a "master challenge" for those who had completed the original. And considering how many players were at least acquainted with the original, this shouldn't have been too much of a problem, aside from concerns about setting a precedent for future Mario titles.
As it stands now, in its original form, it is a worthwhile download, as a historical curio and as a serious game. However, it is missing the welcoming "playground" feel of more successful Mario platformers - and as such, it requires a serious, persistent commitment to master.
While its rank and standing in the Mario series is up for debate, don't miss the special opportunity to download and play this game in its original form.
10. foxhound1234567
18 Oct 2009, 23:29 BST
arf
11. Hipeoplessssss
19 Nov 2009, 15:12 GMT
i love SMB lost levels yay its fun cool, yay i got it a while ago yay yay yay
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