Topic: Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels...ridiculously under-rated

So me and my friend were sifting through the virtual console and realized that neither of us had ever played the real Super Mario Bros. 2. So we took the plunge, despite all the horrible things people say about it.

Apparently, it's totally awesome. Now, it's true--this game is preposterously difficult, and the levels seem specifically designed to trip you up and, more often than not, piss you off. But that's what makes it so wonderful. Every level is an epic challenge of timing, reflexes and patience. Please tell me I'm not the only one who loves this game.

I think you are the only one.

The difficulty is what makes it so unenjoyable. I wasn't having fun because of the unforgiving levels: I was chewing on my controller and throwing it at the walls.

I loved the game and could see some sadistic genius in some levels. It felt good to get through it all, and I did so without storing lives early on. That's a lot of game overs. Finishing it 8 times without using the warp pipe will unlock the 9th world, which I haven't done yet. I finished using Mario and I'm going to try Luigi next time.

I found it more annoying than anything else. I had a good time playing the original and found it quite hard (I was just a little fox at the time) but loved every moment. Not so much on this one.

Wth you got to be kidding me! I thought you guys would be all over this! (Well except for the negative ones in the group). Every stage is a challenge to your face. It's like Mario passed the controller to you and said, "Your a turn Mr. big e shot! Show me e what you got!" You guys want challenge, you got it, and now you cower behind your seats. It's not hard, you just have to find the right card. I mean you learn bit by bit what not to go in or jump over.

I just can't handle the controls. It's so slippery and the whole momentum thing is pretty dated (except in Sonic).
It's just way too hard to make precise jumps when you always have to get a running start.

Also, the sucking pits in the water levels are horrible, especially when combined with massive amounts of bloopers.

I'm normally a fan of difficult games but I just can't get into this one.

@KaiserGX: are they really negative, or are they just telling the truth you don't want to hear?

i remember I was able to get to the lettered levels when I was a kid playing SMAS... got to D-4 and was never able to beat it. when it hit the VC, I got ridiculously stuck on world 6 and am still stuck there to this day, though it's not like i've touched it in about a year, lol. it's an incredibly challenging game, but i'm really not one for just beating my head against a wall when there are other games available that I want to play.

I bought it for the same reason, but I found it to be a bit too difficult. Haven't played it for a while, and every so often I give it a go and then remember why I hadn't for so long!

Interestingly, I think I'll be able to play it better on the All-Stars Wii thing. Dunno why, I think the pretty graphics will distract me from how ridiculously hard the game is.

The game is easier on All-Stars, so there's another plus for you there. For some reason 8bit graphics intimidate me.

@Kid_A: You're not the only one who enjoys the real Super Mario Bros. 2, but it is an acquired taste. If you stick with it, you can breeze through most levels like they are absolutely nothing, and it feels godly when you do, but most people do not find constantly dying fun. To stick with it, you undoubtedly must be a masochist. I've heard Corbie beat the game front to back apparently without dying and Tails recently played through and reviewed the slightly easier version on All-Stars. Its rewarding like few other games in the sense of accomplishment it gives you when you get it right, but it causes most casual gamers to run to their mother's leg and cry underneath her skirt and kick and scream about how utterly unfair life is. Y'know, there's nothing wrong with only sticking to -ville browser games and games from Popcap, casuals. =P

The Lost Levels are easier on All-Stars because you can save after each stage.

On the NES / VC you can only continue after every 4 stages. That means: After world 1-4, 2-4, 3-4 etc. you are allowed to start back at 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 etc.

I loved The Lost Levels. In fact, I enjoyed it more than SMB1 itself! I always like a good challenge, and SMB2j had it just right. It's like Super Mario Bros. for professionals!

@SuperToad: Some of those facts are a bit off. Beating the game 8 times unlocks the letter worlds (A through D). To get the 9th world you have to beat the game without using warps.

I completely forgot I played the game before in SMBD.
I beat it even though I can't remember if it was with or without warpzones.
In addition, I heard the SMBD version is a bit easier.
I don't remember if I enjoyed it because I was rather young.

I love the game because I suck at SMB in the first place.

I like it in small doses, I find it quite funny just how bad at it I am but after so long failing I do get thoroughly bored of it for the next few months.
In no way do I hate it, I love how I'm still being schooled by a game over 20 years ago but as I said I just can't put up with it for that long.

I stand corrected.

I'd say it's superior to the US Super Mario Bros 2. The US version definitely gets some points for unique gameplay concepts and awesome enemy design, but the Lost Levels' controls are so much smoother, and I like the level design more.

It's a great game, it's just difficult, and it makes alot of gamers not like it...

Yeah, the game was fun for about half an hour, and then...