Retro Replay Retro Gaming History, Reviews & Emulation
Released in North America on 09 October 1988, Super Mario Bros. 2 took everything we thought we knew about Mario and threw it out the window. No more stomping enemies. Now we were pulling vegetables out of the ground, throwing bad guys around, and choosing between Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach, each with their own abilities.
And I loved it.
Super Mario Bros. 2 will always have a special place in my gaming memories. I got it right before summer vacation and played the heck out of it. I loved being able to choose different characters for different levels, and I thought the levels themselves were fantastic. For me, it was simply a lot more fun than the first game.
From the case file: The American Super Mario Bros. 2 actually began life as the Japanese game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (and the internet won’t let you forget it). Nintendo reworked it with Mario characters rather than bringing over Japan’s brutally difficult sequel. That decision also introduced us to Shy Guys, Birdo and Bob-ombs.
Some people still dismiss it as the oddball of the original Mario games. I think being different is exactly what made it great.
So let’s settle this: Was Super Mario Bros. 2 an underrated classic, or was the original still the better game?
