Although it wasn't really my favourite in the series, Super Mario Bros. 2 is an excellent side-scroller and it shouldn't be missed.
A lot of people put this game down because it was so different. Well I say if a game is fun, it's fun....end of story.
REVIEW:
SMB2 was released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or was it 1987?). Well whatever year it was, the game was a big hit. It was much different from the original SMB. The reason behind this is actually a long story. Super Mario Bros. 2 is actually a Japanese game called ''Doki Doki Panic'', aka, Dream Factory. Nintendo slapped on a SMB label, added some SMB characters and called it a ''sequel'' to SMB.
The real SMB2 was released in the U.S. in 1993 on the SNES game Super Mario All-Stars (it was called ''The Lost Levels''). Despite all this, Americans' had no idea about the real sequel to SMB, so they took this game as the sequel. It's a weird story, but it's all true.
The graphics are bright and colorful. All the enemies look great and the backgrounds are pretty detailed. The cartoon-like graphics all come together at the end (you'll see when you get there.) All and all, the graphics are nothing to complain about; it's a great improvement from SMB.
The sound is just as good as the graphics. The sounds never get old or annoying. The classic Mario ''jump'' sound returns in this game. The music isn't the greatest, but it isn't so bad that you have to turn it off.
The gameplay is the best part of this game. This is the only Mario game where you can choose between characters. You can choose either Mario, Luigi, Toad, of Princess. Each character had their own abilites. For example: Princess can ''glide'' for a few seconds, and Luigi can jump high. Instead of shooting your enemies with fireballs, in this game, you pick up vegetables from the ground and throw them at your enemies. Sounds fun, right? Actually, you'll be surprised at how innovative this really is. SMB2 definitely wins my vote for ''Best Use of a Vegetable In a Video Game''. Other gameplay factors include getting mushrooms, which give you more energy, and a cool slot machine bonus game at the end of a level, which increase the number of lives you get....if you're lucky.
The Play Control in this game is simple. Basically you run and pick up vegetables with B, and you jump with A. Of course there are other things you can do like ducking, climbing ladders and vines, picking up enemies, and doing a super jump. All the controls are smooth and very responsive. I only have one complaint: Luigi's jump is sometimes pretty ''flakey'', but it really isn't too bad.
With four characters, 20 big levels, muliple secrets and paths, I'd say the replay value is pretty high. The game is also harder than SMB and SMB3, and different characters are better for different levels.
SMB2 is a great side-scroller which shouldn't be missed. Many people don't like this game because it's different, but don't listen to them. The game is fun and it definitely has the Mario feeling to it. If you find it, you should get it. It's pretty cheap at FuncoLand. I got it from a friend for a buck. If you don't have a NES anymore (you sick, sick person....) get SM All-Stars for SNES. If you don't have either....then...well....man I pity you. In short: SMB is different, fun, and exciting.