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Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) – The Weird, Wonderful One

Super Mario Bros. 2 came out in 1988 (USA) and immediately raised eyebrows — in a good way. It looked like Mario, but it didn’t play like it. No stomping Goombas, no fire flowers, and the whole thing felt dreamlike… because it literally was. Turns out, this version was based on a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. Still, it became a classic in its own right, especially in the West, and introduced a bunch of characters that stuck around.

What’s Going On Here?

The story kicks off with Mario waking up from a dream and finding himself in Subcon — a surreal world ruled by Wart, a giant frog with a grudge. Instead of the usual hop-and-stomp approach, you’re picking up enemies, yanking vegetables from the ground, and chucking stuff at anything in your way. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it works surprisingly well.

What Makes It Different?

• 4 Playable Characters: You can switch between Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool. Each one feels different — Peach floats, Luigi jumps high, Toad pulls stuff fastest, and Mario’s the all-rounder.
• No classic power-ups: No mushrooms or fireballs here. You’ll be weaponizing whatever’s lying around — turnips, shells, even enemies.
• Vertical levels: A lot of stages scroll upward, which was a big shift from the usual left-to-right style.
• Mini-bosses galore: You’ll run into Birdo a lot, plus other weirdos like Mouser and Fryguy. Each fight plays a little differently.

How It Plays

• Grab stuff and throw it. Enemies, veggies, bombs — it’s all fair game. It’s less about stomping and more about timing and positioning.
• Look for potions. They open doors to “subspace” where you can grab health boosts and coins.
• Pick the right character. Peach’s floating ability is a lifesaver on tricky jumps. Toad’s great for speed-running veggie-heavy sections.
• Bosses don’t go down easy. No jumping on heads here — you’ll need to throw stuff at them and dodge patterns.

Some Handy Tips

• Peach is your best bet for most stages. That float makes a huge difference on platforms that disappear too fast.
• Hearts show up when you defeat multiple enemies in a row or discover secret potion spots. Keep an eye out.
• Birdo shows up constantly. Learn her egg-throwing rhythm early — you’ll be dealing with her in half the game.
• Coins aren’t just for points. After each stage, you’ll get a shot at a slot machine. Stack coins to earn extra lives.

Why It’s Still Worth Playing

Even though it’s the oddball in the NES trilogy, Super Mario Bros. 2 brought in a bunch of now-iconic elements — Shy Guys, Bob-ombs, Birdo — and proved that Mario could be more than just pipes and power-ups. It’s colorful, quirky, and packed with personality. Whether you played it back in the day or you’re discovering it now, there’s something charming about its strange little dream world.

How It Compares

Super Mario Bros. 2 might not follow the usual Mario playbook, but that’s exactly what makes it memorable. If you’re up for something a little strange — and a lot of fun — Subcon’s ready for you.