Name: Super Mario Bros 2: Lost Levels.
Platform: NES (Japan Only), SNES (Bundled with Super Mario All Stars)

Introduction

Hmmm... now what is this that we have here? Hang on... this isn't Super Mario Bros 2! Well believe it or not.... yes it is! Super Mario Bros 2: Lost Levels was indeed the sequel to Nintendo's little gem, Super Mario Bros for the NES. Originally released in Japan in 1986 for the Famicom Disk System, Super Mario Bros 2: Lost Levels was pretty much Super Mario Bros except with harder levels, slightly changed graphics and more twists. You could say one of the main reason we didn't get it was because we didn't get the Famicom Disk System, but there may have been another reason. According to what I know, Lost Levels was considered much more difficult than the original... so difficult it was considered one of the hardest games for it's time! So with that Nintendo canned any plans of releasing this outside of Japan. Instead, what they did was take a game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, change the graphics around to that of Mario characters and then send it off to America titled Super Mario Bros 2! We DID however get Lost Levels for the SNES bundled in with Super Mario Allstars!

Wow... the similarities are unbelievable!

Gameplay

The gameplay is very similar to that of Super Mario Bros with a few exceptions! First, there is no multiplayer mode! On the title screen, the player must choose between a Mario Game or Luigi Game. Just like in Super Mario Bros 2, Luigi can jump higher than Mario, however Mario can run faster and as better traction. All your favorite enemies are back and fierce as well as some new faces! A very famous one ofcourse is the Poisonous Mushroom, yes this is the game that the little purple fungi originated. Just like with normal mushrooms, the Poison Mushroom only comes out if you hit a ? Block containing one. Coming to contact with one has the same effect as contacting with an enemy, you will either lose your power or lose a life. Some other enemies just don't make sense, for example a Blooper that swims.... in the air? Don't get me wrong, it gave a nice fantasy feel to the game but I couldn't help laughing whilst I witnessed seeing a squid flying through the air. Finally of course, the Red Piranha Plant, of whom would rise up out of it's pipe even if you were standing next to it! There were many other changes as well, such as Warp Zones that took you backwards and the Green Spring that launches Mario or Luigi so high that they would leave the screen for a few seconds and then surprisingly come down normally at the most inappropriate time.



Sound

The music and sound effects for this game remain identical to that of the original Super Mario Bros. The same catchy over world theme music and jumping sound effects we have come to know Mario game for are all still here. Still, maybe a bit of a more original tunes for this game would have been better.

Replay Value

Believe it or not this game is challenging to the point you don't wanna stop playing it. Whenever you die you are always trying and trying repeatedly to beat this level, and simply beating a level that you find extremely difficult gives you the inspiration to go ahead with the next one. What's more is that because of the games difficulty you never know what will be around the next what kind of mess the next level will have in store for you. If you want a real treat, try beating the game without using any Warp Zones.

Overall

There really isn't alot to talk about really. The game is an extremely challenging addition to the original on the NES. For those who didn't play the Lost Levels on the SNES, keep your fingers crossed that Nintendo will release it on the Virtual Console. It's worth a buy if you are a hardcore Nintendo vet who needs a new challenge, if your still struggling to defeat the original however I would recommend you give this title a pass.

Gameplay: 4/5- Ridiculously difficult, but it's Mario!
Sound: 3/5- Very much the same as the original, still good though.
Replay Value: 4/5- Whether you're trying to beat it or just you're high score, you won't put this one down easily.

Overall: 11/15