Welcome to the first of what I hope is many NES reviews for the Freakin’ Awesome Network. I’m FSin, the resident NES nut around here. I guess before I get to reviewing, I’ll get my backstory out first.
Video gaming has been a big part of my life. One that many would say fiercely dominates it. I’ve been playing video games since I was at least two or three years old. And, like most children my age, my first console was the Nintendo Entertainment System. Hell, I can even remember the first game I ever played. It was Super Mario Bros, and being young and not knowing what I was doing, I ran into the very first Goomba.
Fess up. Chances are it happened to some of you too.
I played the hell out of the NES as a youngster. I vividly recall playing games like Ducktales, Rescue Rangers, Tiny Toon Adventures, M.C Kids, and so many others when I was young. However, eventually like most kids, I moved on to the next generation consoles. The Genesis, the Playstation, Etc. And for a long time, I left the NES behind. Well, until 2007 at least. Upon checking a local Cash Converters, I noticed a copy of Startropics. I instantly bought it. Problem was I had no NES to play it at the time. Luck would come my way a mere two days later, as I’d get an NES and several more games like Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Dr. Mario. I played through these games, and a rush of nostalgia and fun went through me that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I knew then and there that this was my true gaming love. And here we are, four years since, and my NES collection has ballooned to over 260 cartridges. A venerable bevy of games from every genre, and almost every developer. Among them are common classics, rare gems, and even some outright stinkers.
So with this large collection at my disposal, and the magic of the internet, I figured I should review some of them. So welcome to Playing With Power, my review column that will look at the many titles of the console, as well as many items from the time when Nintendo Ruled the world. I will go through the game, and give info on what lies within, as well as give my rating at the end if it’s a thumbs up, in the middle, or thumbs down game. And what better game to kick off this review series than with one of the most controversial games on the console.
Year of Release: 1988
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
To say you have no clue who Mario is would be a blatant lie. Even if you never picked up a video game controller before, you’ve seen his lovable Italian mug. And it’s hard not to. He’s the most successful video game character of all time. Being featured in over a hundred games, having tons of merchandise, even having three animated cartoons, and his own bad 90’s movie. Mario is a pop culture icon who is more beloved in this generation than both Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny combined. And it’s all deserved, because Mario rarely disappoints when it comes to his video game adventures. Especially in the days of the NES
Super Mario Bros was an instant hit when it debuted on the NES in 1986. The side-scrolling adventure was revolutionary for its time. Tons of levels, power-ups, tricky areas, and plenty of hidden secrets. It was something nobody had ever seen at the time, and is still considered as one of the greatest games of all time. And, of course, everybody was waiting for a sequel that would be just as epic.
And they would get one. Just not exactly the real one.
In 1986, Nintendo released Super Mario Bros 2 on the Famicom. The game was in a way more a remake of the original Mario game, only much, much harder. New perils like poison mushrooms, unfair hidden blocks, and tricky wind were just a couple of the culprits that made this one of the most challenging video games of all time. And, like the original, it was an instant hit in Japan. So, you’d think with another hit on their hands, Nintendo would get this to the North American market ASAP right?
Well, no.
There was belief that this Mario game would be way too hard for the more simple American gamer (However, I don’t think that was the only reason, and I’ll get to that in a minute). So instead, Shigeru Miyamoto would take another game her worked on, a game called Doki Doki Panic!, and have the game rebuilt replacing the characters of the game with Mario sprites, retooling the game, and shipping it off to the rest of the unknowing world in 1988 as Super Mario Bros. 2
While one could say this was an underhanded move by Nintendo, I personally think it was a wise decision. One, for the infamous difficulty excuse, which is more arguable than true. And another because I think that somehow a sequel so similar to a game that most already owned would have flopped. Remember, these games were almost 100 bucks a cart at the time. And most gamers wanted something fresh for their money. So, why shill out the extra coin for a harder version of a game they got for free with their console? In other words, the Japanese Mario 2 feels more like the 80’s equivalent to a shallow DLC add-on then a new Mario adventure that gamers were waiting for. All in all, a dirty truck, but a sensible one. And the real Mario 2 would eventually be released with Super Mario All-Stars on the Super Nintendo. Affectionately renamed “The Lost Levels”. As for Doki Doki Panic, I don’t know if it would’ve had the ability to find a big fanbase on it’s own outside Japan, but probably would’ve been a cult classic at best.
Now that we’ve talked about the legendary backstory of this game, let’s get to reviewing the actual game itself.
Story
During a dream, Mario finds a strange door atop a long stairway. Upon opening it, he discovers a strange new world known as Subcon. The peaceful world of dreams has been taken over by a tyrannical vegetable hating frog known as Wart. Mario recruits Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool to help save Subcon, and put a stop to Wart once and for all.
Gameplay
Super Mario Bros 2 is a standard side-scrolling platformer similar to Super Mario Bros 1, only with several major differences. The goombas, koopa troopas, and piranha plants of old are nowhere to be seen, and you have to deal with enemies like Shyguy, Ninji, Bob-Omb, Flurries, and many other Subcon creatures. Mario’s stomping ability doesn’t work here, so to kill enemies, you either have to pick them up by pressing the B button while on top of them, or by plucking the many vegetables found on the ground. Yes, vegetables replace the bricks from the original game. You can find several items as well on the ground. There’s POW bocks that will destroy everything on screen, stop watches that freeze time, koopa shells that act like the ones in Mario 1, 1-ups, and potion bottles.
These bottles, when through on the ground, will turn into doors. Entering the door will take you to subspace, where you’ll find mushrooms that give you extra health. Also, every vegetable plucked in subspace will give you a coin which can be used for the end level slot machine. Plus, if you enter subspace through certain pipes in the game, you can warp to later worlds.
There are also cherries scattered in every stage. Collecting 5 will activate a star man, which will rise (albeit quite slowly), from the bottom of the screen. Once collected, you gain the legendary invincibility that is present in almost every Super Mario adventure.
You can choose between any of the four Mario characters at the beginning of each level. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses that will make them essential for certain levels in the game. Mario is the balanced character. He jumps high, and can pluck vegetables at a decent speed. Luigi is the highest jumper in the game, but plucks vegetables rather slowly. Toad is the smallest, and has the worst jump. However, he can pluck veggies the fastest. And of course, everyone’s favourite, Princess Toadstool can briefly float in mid-air by holding A for a couple seconds. However, she is the slowest when it comes to plucking veggies.
There are 7 worlds, with a total of 20 levels to traverse. At the end of almost every non-main boss level, you’ll face off with Birdo. A gender confused dinosaur that will shoot eggs, and sometimes fire, at you. After hitting him three times with eggs or blocks, you’ll be able to head to the next stage. There are several bosses in the game to deal with. Mouser, a giant mouse who chucks bombs at you. TriClyde, a three headed fire-breathing snake, Fryguy, a giant fireball that will split apart when hit, Clawgrip, a giant boulder throwing crab, and the main villain Wart. Each enemy requires little strategy defeat. Just have good timing when throwing things back at them.
Certain levels will require keys to open doors within the stage. However, once you grab the key, you;ll have to haul butt back to the door pronto, before an evil mask called Phanto catches you.
That damned mask was no doubt the cause for many a nightmare for some kids. There’s also walls that need bombing, whales to traverse, sand to dig through, wheel carts to ride, and other things to dodge and avoid.
While a straightforward side-scroller throughout, there’s still plenty of variety to keep you entertained throughout.
Graphics
The graphics are colourful and vibrant, giving off the feeling of a strange new world unlike the one you faced in Super Mario Bros. You’ll traverse through several locales. From grasslands, to pyramid deserts. Spelunking through caves, and finding your way through enemy castles. There’s just enough variety in the game to keep it from ever feeling dull, or looking bland. The characters all have great designs, and the enemies look unique and original.
Music
The game has some of my favourite NES tracks. They mix from peppy and fun, to mysterious, and ominous, to even a bit thrilling and dangerous. It’s nearly impossible to play this game without having one or two songs stuck in your head.
Overall thoughts
This game is a classic. Great controls, fun gameplay, and memorable music. While it has become the black sheep to many because of it’s shady origin, it still deserves more praise than it gets. Many of the franchise’s most beloved enemies like Birdo, Shyguy, and Bob-Omb all made their debuts here. Many character traits like Lugi’s super jump, and Peach’s floating ability made their debut here as well. Not to mention the game was the focal point of the Super Mario Bros Super Show, a late 80’s cartoon starring the late WWE Hall of Famer Captain Low Albano. The gameplay may be a bit too different from the norm when it comes to Mario games, and the challenge can be at times annoying, the feeling of chucking enemies into one another is just as satisfying as stomping on them.
While it may have a dark past, this is a bright addition to any video game collection, and is one of my favorite NES games of all time.
Rating: Thumbs Up
Thank you so much for reading my review. See you next time.