NES Player - Super Mario Bros 2 (J) Famicom Review

Famicom
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1 Player
Release Date: 1986
Genre: Adventure/Platformer
Saving Option: No Saving Feature

Here is the infamous and mysterious Super Mario Bros. 2, or the SMB2 that we never saw... Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japanese). Also known as Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels, this rarity can only be officially found on a Famicom Disk System game in Japan and was dubbed too hard for American's and also to be a sequel to the amazing classic Super Mario Bros. The story is, Nintendo used another FDS game called "Dream factory: Doki Doki Panic" and then replaced sprites with Nintendo characters. This game became the vegetable throwing, game with Mario in the blue background holding the turnip on the games label. This was an awesome game none the less and revolutionized the Mario series. So what about the other Smb2? It ended up on Super Mario All-Stars for the SNES as "Super Mario Bros: The lost Levels" and can be found as pirates or pirate multi-carts. Let's take a closer look...

Storyline: The story continues off of Super Mario Bros; after rescuing the Princess, Mario and Luigi rest a bit and get used to their new home of the Mushroom kingdom (since they have no idea how to get back to Brooklyn). Some how Bowser gets back from a fiery death and he captures the Princess again. This time however, Koopa has more powers and used greater black magic and he gave his minions powers and created more evils to assist him this time. Now, Mario and Luigi must decide who will venture onto the long journey and rescue the Princess and defeat Bowser once and for all.

Graphics: Things remain the same as with SMB, but with some minor graphics changes similar to the Mega Man series. Right away you notice the improvements in the ground textures, trees, bushes, and even clouds look a lot different from the original. Other than the fact that the mushrooms have a different face and the fonts in the game are more brighter and improved, everything is exactly like smb which was perfect to begin with... NES-wise. Almost forgot that the princess was drastically changed in this game and looks a lot better. She'll be a sight for sore eyes... if you even get to see her, that is.

Sound: This is basically the same as the original, the classic overworld theme is used once again, the water theme is back, the underground and koopa themes are back... the exact same. I guess there was no real reason to change the music, except for the ending music which is enhanced and is extended from its original form. This song in case you don't know is the one played when you save the princess.

The sound effects are the same as the original, as classic as you can get and just as awesome. One added effect is when you make a sharp turn in direction with the Mario Bros. in which you get a "burning rubber-like" sound effect which is heard in Super Mario Bros. 3. One new sound effect is added to a new feature in the game: the wind. I makes this blowing sound when ever it shows its annoying self.

Gameplay: Each world contains 4 levels (normal, underground/water, tree/mushroom top, and then castle) and are displayed as "1-2" for example, 1 being the world and 2 being the level of that world. At the end of each world there's a castle in which you fight an imposter Koopa and rescue a Mushroom retainer (or mushroom person) and they tell you the famous words: "Thank you Mario! But our Princess is in another castle!".

New features in this game include: Flying Bloopers, red quicker Piranha plants, green trampolines that put you up in the air for 5 seconds, wind which can blow you around Ninja Gaiden-style, and poison mushrooms! In case you didn't know, you can only play as either Mario or Luigi (1 player only). What's the difference between the two you ask? Mario is normal, but Luigi is slower and jumps higher!

You have 5 power-ups in the game:

Mushroom: Makes Mario bigger and is called, "Super Mario". You will take two hits to die instead of one.

Fire Flower: Gives Mario the ability to throw fireballs and gives him a red and white suit, he is called, "Fiery Mario". You will take two hits to die instead of one.

Star: Makes Mario invincible and therefore cannot be hurt for a limited time.

Green Mushroom: Gives Mario an extra life.

Poison mushroom: Is harmful to Mario and counts as a hit!

Overall, there are 9 worlds and on the 4th level on that last world you face the real Koopa to rescue Princess Toadstool. Yes, there are 9 worlds other than 8 but you can't warp and you come across some path in a level in the 8th world and you'll end up in the bizarre world 9 where you face enemies in strange places like lakitu's in the water levels and Bowser in the middle of nowhere! And it's not over there! Each time you beat World 8-4, the game will add a star to the SMB logo on the title screen. When you have eight stars, at the title screen hold A and press Start. You will be whisked away to World A-1. (You can accumulate a maximum of 24 stars, but only eight is needed to unlock Worlds A - D.) So that means the very last level is in fact D-4!

Control: Perhaps one of the greatest games for control, this game returns the control Super Mario Bros. had including the ability to make your character run by holding the B button while also holding the control pad for the direction! Also, A makes you jump and B can also be used for shooting fireballs. Start is used for pause and select is for... get this... "selecting" the modes between Mario or Luigi on the title screen.

Fun Factor: Just like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japanese) can be loads of fun either way you look at it. There isn't any 2 player, but you can still use Luigi in the first game to give him his own identity. Regardless to the fact that in order to finish this game 100% you have to finish it 8 times, and then go through the alphabet levels, you can still have fun. Alternate players in between games so that you use both Mario and luigi about times each proving your the greatest. plus, its nice to see the new and improved (and better-looking) princess.

Frustration: Well, the game is pretty damn hard... thus being the reason why we never got it in the first place. The game is full of "itchy" jumps where an inch off and you'll will fall into more pits than anything before. In order to beat this game you have to beat the the 1-1 to 8-4 levels 9 times (if you don't warp you get the 9th world) and then after that you get the alphabet levels: A-1 to D-4! What a heck of a distance in a game!

......BOTTOM LINE: And there you have it. A look at this rare gem that few can honestly say they actually physically own. You can however pay a certain site to stick the game itself into a NES cart and then you can own it. Check out nesreproductions.com for that if you're interested. Regardless, this one is a must-play. If you ever see Super Mario All-Stars on SNES or Super Mario Deluxe on the Game boy Color, give this a spin and ask yourself: would've this been the better Smb2? Probably not, but it makes an awesome piece of NES mystery history!

-Jason Hogan