Even for being a different Mario game, this game still plays great. Nintendo sure knows how to switch theme around their games. The original Japanese Doki Doki Panic was change into Super Mario Bros. 2 in the US and later re-released in Japan as Super Mario USA. This isn't the last time Nintendo change the theme of a game, later in the Super NES era, they did the same thing with Panel de Pon (A Japanese block switching puzzle title by Intelligent Systems) for the Super NES. They replaced all the characters and settings of the Japan original to those from Yoshi's Island and renamed it Tetris Attack, borrowing the Tetris name just for the sake of selling it and it works, just like Super Mario Bros. 2. The bad news is tht even though the Japanese audience later got a version of that game (called Yoshi de Pon in Japan), the audience in our North American shore never got a chance to experience the real Doki Doki Panic and Panel de Pon game in its original form.

I found this game to be rather boring. They recycle the same few songs over and over, in traditional Mario fashion. But to make it worse, the bosses are always the same two guys. I have this for the NES, I'll just stick with it.

Same two guys? Mouser (appears twice, Claw Grip and Triclyde (appears twice)

Birdo and Mouser are the only bosses you fight throughout the entire course of the game.

Wrong. There is Claw Grip (crab) and Triclyde (three headed snake) too. And Wart.

Right, I forgot Wart. Regardless though, that's still only five bosses total, with many, many, many repeat performances.

Thank you Bass for putting forth factual information. Although this is by no means the best of the Mario series, I still find it to be a highly enjoyable experience. God forbid Nintendo try to change it up a little. Now I'm in the mood for a little Mario 2....

Oh yes Bass, thank you so much "for putting forth factual information". But just because he corrected me, doesn't change the fact that this game is a piece of garbage. The review states that the levels have variety. Are they kidding? It's the same caves and grassy hills over, and over. The music is repetitive, since there are only a couple of tracks, and I said it best about the bosses giving "repeat performances".

The first Super Mario Bros. had an excuse for being crap, it was created before man discovered fire. But even that had more substance than this abomination.

Luckily, they corrected all of the problems when they developed Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. Now, playing those games was a "highly enjoyable experience".

didnt mario 3 have the same 8 bosses? airship, koopaling, repeat.
mario 1 - the princess is in another castle 7 times.
if anything, mario 2 had MORE variety, not less. admit it, you just sucked at it. you forgot wart because you never got there. hahaha

the game is AWESOME.

just beat it for the first time less than a week ago. still stoked. black sheep as it may be, still very happy we got this game. way better than the real mario 2 (lost levels)

would have liked to see the real doki doki though.

Super Mario Bros. 2 had no variety in it, just like the first entry. It used the same levels, music, and bosses over, and over, and over. Super Mario Bros. 3 did too, but unlike this steaming pile of dog crap, that game was worth playing. If I do suck at this game, it's because I've never made time to get any better at it. You see, I have an eye for quality, a trait you and I clearly don't share. But if it'll make you feel smart, or accepted to say that I suck, then by all means, shout it from the rooftops! As for this game, a 2/10!

there you go again with the variety argument about a game you admit you didnt like or play much. this is where you are getting the criticism, because its just not true. but whatever man.

really, its your loss that you never gave the game a chance. no worries.

but dont get mad because you got called out.

I beat the first couple of worlds, so I got a pretty good feel for the game. It just repeats itself again, and again, and again. Plus, what I didn't complete I saw my little brother finish, who hated it also. It's just a bad game. But hey, no worries!

Just respect his opinion, guys. Not everyone likes this game - I don't either.

I actually really like this game. It's really different, and really weird, but I like that sort of thing. I wish they'd make another Mario game like it. I love the vegitable-picking gameplay.

I love this game and Fry Guy is another boss you missed. He is in World 4.

"way better than the real mario 2 (lost levels)" I fully agree with that

Weird, but still lots of fun. I've had the game on my wii for a while now, but still haven't finished it yet!

@Pikmin95
You could try respecting Shinnok's opinion, but none of his points are actually valid. Sponge had an excellent rebuttal by stating that Super Mario Bros. 1 and 3 actually have LESS variety than Super Mario Bros. 2. Furthermore, I don't recall Shinnok showing any respect to the ones he was arguing against.

why do people like things the same?

I didn't really like this game either. It just feels like the same thing over and over again.

I know a lot of people who think this is the best of the first 3 mario's. I can't pick a favorite. The first one is great because it's classic. The second is great because it's the most unique, and the third is just all-around amazing! Got this one because my wife wanted it. It's a great game for it's time but to me it hasn't aged as well as 1 or 3. Still awesome though.

I still don't get what Shinnok is trying to say. What made Mario 3 so good that it could be repetitive that this one didn't have? Sure it's different, but that's what makes it amazing! People are just saying this crap because they don't like that it's not like other Super Mario Bros., and if that's the case make a hate club for all I care just don't keep on posting the same stuff over and over again.

(Notice how 'Subcon' seems to resemble the shortened version of 'subconscious'.)

Some people find it a bit frustrating how at the end of the game, it is revealed to you that the entire game is in fact a dream Mario had; which means the game 'never existed', almost making it seem as if you did all you could to finish the game, and in the end realize that is was all for nothing. Some people feel that, however I don't.

@VirtualConsoleGuy but was it just a dream or did Wart pull Mario into the dream world? I mean, c'mon this is the same series that lets castles be taken into outer space by mean of a flying boat. Anything is possible, in fact, I have a theory that the entire Nintendo universe is centered in the 1960's during a hippie love in by a guy tripping on acid. But that's a completely different story there.

This game does deserve an 8/10. It really doesn't feel like a Mario game. SMB, SMB3 and SMW are far superior. It's still a good game, don't give me wrong, but it just feels like a plain joke to me (especially Sunshine).

What also makes this game worse is the higher difficulty level, IMO. The later levels are so dang frustrating.

You know what Mario game is much harder than this one? The Lost Levels, that one is just TOO HARD!!!

2 is my favourite of the original 3. I didn't play Super Mario Bros. as a youngin' much, so if anyone is trying to see a pattern in the likes or dislikes of the Mario games and why, hope I helped some.

I liked this game and this was the first Mario game I beat when I was a kid. I think it is not as hard as 1 but still fun to play and I like being able to pick diffrent characters. I think it is way better than Lost Levels because that game is really hard.

Hey Sponge? please let shinnok have his own opinion

By the way. I think this is the worst NES game evver made. 2/10. I'm sorry but I really hate this game. the only cool thing is you can be mario, luigi, peach,and toad. that gives the game a one star better. 2/10.

if it warn't for the cool option of playing as luigi, peach, and toad, then this game would of been a 1/10.

@Shinnok I think I have to agree with you on the super mario bros 2 NES review you did. I think that this game is a 2/10. it is not my favorite.

"By the way. I think this is the worst NES game evver made."

Hahaha. Good one kid.

I used to dislike the game because it was different but now that I’m older and can put gaming prejudices aside I think it's really cool. It's a lot of fun and very addicting, with very creative level and enemy design. Plus, given that the source material was from most of the same team that made SMB1, it doesn’t feel like a drop in quality or too out of place compared to the other Mario NES games. It was a great idea to release this in the west instead of Lost Levels, which, difficulty aside, was far too similar to its predecessor.