Here's the thing, the game is fine, but it doesn't feel like a Mario game which is my biggest issue. I know the game is a reskin of Doki Doki Panic, but they tried to make it feel like Mario right? It just doesn't seem like that worked at all. Yeah the iconic enemies like Shy Guy and Birdo (named Ostro in this game) exist, but they also originated from Doki Doki Panic. It just feels like there's nothing to really identify this game as a Mario game except for the fact that Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach are playable. Besides that, the game isn't bad. Some of the levels feel kind of tricky, but the game isn't cheap like how Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels were (those stupid levels that looped until you took the right path are what I'm referring to). The only levels I didn't really like were the desert levels since you had to dig into the ground and it felt awkward. There's no variety with the bosses as it's either Ostro (Birdo) or the boss at the end of the world which you would beat in the same way. I don't like how you can't jump on enemies to kill them in this game since it, again, doesn't make the game feel like a Mario game. The plus side is the different characters because Luigi and Princess Toadstool are fun to play (I didn't figure out what Toad did prior to the review, oops). Those make beating levels more unique since you can use different characters to solve the same problems. Overall, the game isn't bad by itself, but as a Mario game, it doesn't really fill the quota.

Die Story ist selbst für Mario-Verhältnisse hanebüchener Blödsinn, aber das Gameplay ist wenigstens originell. Leider ist das ganze Spiel derart unmenschlich schwer, dass ich ab Welt 4 nur noch mit Savestates weitergekommen bin, da ich sonst ständig das gesamte Spiel von vorne hätte beginnen müssen.

Das Leveldesign ist stellenweise sehr fragwürdig, man muss aber dazu sagen, dass dies kein wirkliches Super-Mario-Spiel, sondern ein Reskin des japanischen Doki Doki Panic ist. Insgesamt ohne Nostalgiegefühl also keine Empfehlung.

Achievements: 50 %

Pros: Four characters to choose from to play as! Fun boppy music! Interesting and fun pluck mechanic. And, best of all NO TIMER! You can diddle around as much as you want in these levels without the stress of impending doom by a clock.

Cons: The platforming gameplay of this game, just isn't as fun as traditional hop & bop Mario platformers. Also, the level design is kinda not great, to be honest... There's one stage with a series of jars/pipes, and only one of them has a key hidden inside it, so you're going down each jar/pipe to find the key, dealing with enemies over and over, until you find the right jar/pipe with the key... and there's no sense of design at all, just blind trial and error until you find the right pipe/jar with the key... a bit frustrating really, and there's bits of things like that throughout the game, that leads this one feeling a little less quality than other more mainstream Mario titles.

What it means to me: First played this on the All-Stars version for SNES, and it was pretty whimsical, and for a while, this was my favorite Mario game, really! Playing as Peach with her hover ability, and not having a timer, really helped ease myself into these types of games as a kid. A lot more accessible considering those elements, which, makes this game a lot better as a result.

Gets way too much flack for being "different" (which yes I understand the history that literally everybody knows now) and instead people ignore just how rock solid of a platformer Super Mario Bros 2 actually is. Sure, it's not as tight as the first game nor as varied and charming as later installments, but in it's place are four distinct characters, each with their own unique playstyles, and level design that actually rewards replay and exploration.

It just feels really good to go through to boot. I love the throwing mechanic, and how it allows you to use enemies as their own platforms. I love the different kinds of enemies in this and how each one is completely unique from each other. I love the improved sprite work from the first game. It's just a great, fantastic time, if a little clunky sometimes. Still worth a check out if you haven't played it, and worth a second look if you dismissed it at first.

The situation of my youth, where I just assumed Nintendo dropped everything right away from their best-selling game to try something absurd and different, was a lot funnier.

The idea of Doki-doki panic overlaid with Mario, though, is also funny, and the four characters with differences, still works. An early case where a Princess character was not only valid but beneficial, is a great boost for my daughter.

But Luigi is king, you don’t need her fluttering jump, but his high jump helps. Anyway, you’re not really platforming, so the game is super weird, you do throw a lot of eggs at Birdos.

Still more a fun novelty than an upper-echelon or considerable Mario game.

Played in one sitting!

Super Mario Bros. 2 is a bizarre sequel to one of the most iconic video game mascots, but it’s a good game nonetheless. Instead of Goombas, Koopas, or Bowser himself, we have Shy Guys, birds with magic carpets, and Birdo. I think you all know the history surrounding this game, so I don't think I need to go over that.

It has aged in a few areas, and a few bosses can be quite a nuisance to beat when you're playing this for the first time (looking at you Fryguy), but it’s still a fun experience with solid gameplay and a variety of characters.

It's not my favorite 2D Mario game by a long shot, but I say this ranks above the first game for me and is miles better than The Lost Levels. I'm glad I got the chance to fully experience this game.