Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan) |
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| Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Takashi Tezuka |
| Series | Mario |
| Platform(s) | Famicom Disk System Super Nintendo Entertainment System Game Boy Advance Virtual Console |
| Release date | Famicom Disk System JP 3 June 1986 Game Boy Advance JP 10 August 2004 Virtual Console |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media | Famicom Disk System 128k Disk Card Super Nintendo 24 megabit cartridge Game Boy Advance 64 megabit cartridge |
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, known in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2 (スーパーマリオブラザーズ2 Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Tsū?), is a platformer video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Famicom Disk System. First released in Japan on June 3, 1986, it is direct sequel to the top-selling video game Super Mario Bros. Due to high difficulty of the game, Nintendo of America chose not to market it in the United States.[1][2] A full remake, entitled Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, was included as part of Super Mario All-Stars, a 1993 game compilation for the Super NES.[3][4] In 2007, the original Famicom Disk System version was made available as a download for the Wii Virtual Console.[2][4]
The premise is identical to Super Mario Bros.: King Bowser has abducted Princess Peach and is holding her captive in one of his castles. Either Mario or Luigi must navigate through the Mushroom Kingdom, overcome Bowser's henchmen, and rescue the Princess. New obstacles such as hazardous winds, negative warp zones, and poison mushrooms have been put in place to hinder their quest.[2][1] Unlike the original game, Super Mario Bros. 2 does not support a two-player mode. It uses the same game engine as its predecessor and is quite similar in visual style; however, the level of difficulty is substantially higher.[2][5] It is intended to challenge players who have mastered the original Super Mario Bros.[6][7]
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[edit] Gameplay
At the start of the game, the player must select between Mario or Luigi as their player character. Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first entry of the Mario series in which Mario and Luigi exhibit differing movements:[1][4] Mario is more agile and exhibits better traction, whereas Luigi can leap longer distances.[8][9] Minor tweaks have been made to the physics engine, allowing Mario or Luigi to bounce higher off the backs of enemies.[10] Aside from improved sound quality (owing to the capabilities of the Famicom Disk System), the background music and sound effects are lifted entirely from the previous game. Character sprites are (for the most part) unchanged from Super Mario Bros., though more detail is given to the surrounding backgrounds and terrain.[2][4]
The game follows the same style of level progression as Super Mario Bros., with 8 Worlds comprised of four levels each. The player enters a lava-filled castle at the end of each World, culminating in a battle against Bowser.[4] The first eight Worlds are numbered 1-8, while the remaining four — earned by completing the game eight consecutive times[1][10] — are lettered A-D.[8][10] World 9 (alternatively known as "Fantasy World") appears only if the player completes the first eight Worlds without using "warp zones",[6][8] hidden areas which automatically transport the player to a different World. Should the player search for a warp zone, they may accidentally uncover a 'reverse' warp zone which leads back to a previous World.[2][11] Since Super Mario Bros. 2 is restricted to side-scrolling in one direction, the only way to escape a reverse warp zone is to intentionally fall into a pit or allow the timer to run out, thereby restarting the level (at the cost of a life).[11]
There are no new enemies in Super Mario Bros. 2, though many of them behave differently from before. Land-borne enemies such as Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Lakitus appear during underwater levels, while sea creatures such as Cheep Cheeps and Bloopers can be found hovering in midair.[2][11]In addition, red Piranha Plants are more aggressive and will emerge from their pipes even if Mario or Luigi is standing directly beside them;[8][3] in the original Super Mario Bros., red Piranha Plants stay dormant if Mario is standing in close proximity. Lastly, in some instances Bowser will appear twice inside his castle. The first Bowser is a fake, and is a darker hue of green than his counterpart.[8][10]
The poison mushroom, a recurring obstacle in the Mario series, is first introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2 as a false power-up.[5][9] While similar in shape to a super mushroom, the poison variety will harm Mario if he touches it.[6][11] The resultant damage is similar to being struck by an enemy: if Super Mario touches a poison mushroom, he will revert to regular Mario. If regular Mario touches one, the player will lose a life.[2][4] In the original release, poison mushrooms are distinguishable by their green spots (as opposed to the red spots of a super mushroom); in later editions of the game, the mushroom sports a telltale skull marking. Another new obstacle, windstorms, appear during clifftop levels. The gusts blow intermittently from left to right,[4] and are strong enough to push Mario or Luigi off a ledge.[1][3] The direction of the wind is determined by the leaf animations which blow across the screen.[10]
[edit] Development
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (April 2008) |
The Lost Levels did not see release outside of Japan until 1993. Nintendo feared the high difficulty of the game would frustrate American audiences.[5] The Chairman of Nintendo of America, Howard Lincoln, is reported to have disliked the game, believing that it did little to innovate the franchise.[4][8]
[edit] Reception and legacy
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (April 2008) |
Poison mushrooms have proven to be an enduring aspect of The Lost Levels, appearing in subsequent games such as Super Mario Kart, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Mario Party series, and the Super Smash Bros. series.
[edit] Re-releases
[edit] Super Mario All-Stars
A remake of Super Mario Bros. 2, entitled The Lost Levels, was released in 1993 as part of the Super Mario All-Stars collection for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In Japan, the numerical letter "2" in the game title was replaced by the subtitle "For Super Players.[7] Each game in the collection is given a 16-bit graphical and sound upgrade, as well as a save feature which enables players to restart from any level if all lives are lost.[6] There are no longer any prerequisites for entering Worlds A through D. Each of the lettered Worlds behave in a similar fashion to the original Super Mario Bros "Hard Mode"; all Goombas are replaced with Buzzy Beetles, and enemies generally move faster. World 9 remains hidden, and players who use warp zones are disqualified from entering it.
[edit] Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
In May 1999, a handheld port of The Lost Levels (under the Japanese title For Super Players) appeared as an unlockable reward in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the Game Boy Color.[12] Like the All-Stars remake, this port includes a save feature. Among the many differences between the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Color versions is the exclusion of Worlds 9 and A-D. The overall difficulty has been reduced through various means, including the elimination of strong winds and the shortening of jumps. The physical differences between Mario and Luigi have been removed, allowing them to move in an identical manner.
[edit] Famicom Mini
On August 10, 2004, the game was re-released as part of the Game Boy Advance Famicom Mini series. It is a direct port of the original Famicom Disk Version and features all levels from the original.
[edit] Virtual Console
In observance of the 2007 Japanese Hanabi Festival, Super Mario Bros. 2 was made available as a download for the Wii Virtual Console. The title is priced at the standard 500 Wii Points in Japan and 600 in all other regions.[13] In Europe and Australia, the game was released for a limited time during the latter half of September. Nintendo of Europe announced that Super Mario Bros. 2 would be retired as a download at the end of the month.[14][15] The game was listed as one of the Top 20 Most Popular Downloads in North America and was the #1 download from October 4-21.[16]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Thomas, Lucas M. (2007-10-03) Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels Review - Only in Japan. (Until now.) IGN. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels for Wii Review. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c The Lost Levels: Ultimate Test of 2D Super Mario Bros Skill. racketBOY. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Scalzo, John. (2007-10-03) Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Gaming Target. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c McLaughlin, Rus. (2007-11-08) IGN Presents The History of Super Mario Bros. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
- ^ a b c d e Nintendo Power Vol. 52, 1994-08.
- ^ a b Davis, Cameron. (2000-01-28) Super Mario Deluxe for Game Boy Color Review. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Super Mario Bros The Lost Levels The Great Games Experiment. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b Hayward, Andrew. (2007-10-01) VC Update: Sin and Punishment, Mario: Lost Levels. 1up.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b c d e The REAL Super Mario Bros. 2 SydLexia.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ a b c d Suellentrop, Chris. (2007-11-05) Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - After 20 years, I can finally play this lost gaming classic. Slate. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ Harris, Craig. (2004-06-04) Classic NES Series: Super Mario Bros. - The classic's reborn on the GBA exactly as it was nearly 20 years ago. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
- ^ Truta, Filip VC Update (Europe) - Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels for Just 600 Pts. Softpedia. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ MCV Staff. (2007-09-17) Wii Virtual Console Makes a Big Bang! Market for Home Computing and Video Games. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ Munn, Stephen. (2007-09-14) European Virtual Console gets a time-limited Mario, and Sin & Punishment. Aeropause. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
- ^ Snow, Blake. (2008-08-09) Mario dominates most popular Virtual Console games. Gamepro. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
[edit] External links
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels at Virtual Console Reviews
- Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels at the Mario Wiki
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