#1 Super Mario Bros 2 (Nintendo) – Warpless
Beginning a monumental challenge like this, it felt best to start somewhere comfortable and familiar. Contrary to what many might think, I’m not as adverse with the NES library as I probably should be given the task at hand. I expect there to be many painful experiences ahead, so why discourage myself right off the blocks with some hellish abomination.
SMB2 is far from Hell. For me this game is nostalgia personified, playing this is like finding a long forgotten toy at the back of a wardrobe and finding out it still has that unique smell that reminds you of childhood. Add to that Fantastic controls, wonderfully inventive gameplay, variety, stunning visual and sound programming and you have a true testament to great game design.
Some may not know the history of this title. I’ll briefly explain. SMB2, at least what we call SMB2, is actually not SMB2! The real SMB2 was released in Japan and considered by Nintendo to be to difficult for Western audiences (bloody cheek). Determined to have another hit on their hands, Nintendo decided to release another game altogether in its place. The game was a Japanese only release titled: Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic. A simple sprite swap with characters from the Mushroom Kingdom and western audiences received their very own exclusive Super Mario Bros 2!
Its hard to say if the decision was the right one or not. SMB2 was certainly a massive hit, but it wasn’t as successful as SMB had been, nor what SMB3 became. I think the game was just too different from the original to sit right with all fans of the first. For me however, it sat just right. SMB2 was my favourite game on the NES along with Zelda 2 (you see I was that kid, the one who always had to be different!) The game is still as much fun as it ever was and has certainly stood the test of time. Definitely recommend to any that haven’t had the joy of playing it.
Oh and we did eventually get the real SMB2 over here as part of Super Mario Allstars on the Snes titled – Super Mario: The Lost Levels And guess what? It’s not a patch on Doki Doki Pani… I mean Super Mario Bros 2!