NES Platformer Action 1988

Super Mario Bros. 2

Reviewed by Console Codex Editorial Team · Released 1988

The controversial sequel that introduced Toad, Princess Peach, Wario's nemesis Wart, and the character-selection mechanic — a beloved oddity in the Mario series.

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💡 Super Mario Bros. 2 — Key Facts

→ Super Mario Bros. 2 was developed by Nintendo and published by Nintendo
→ Released in 1988 on NES
→ Genre: Platformer, Action
→ We rate it 8.8/10 — highly recommended
→ Part of the Super Mario franchise
→ The controversial sequel that introduced Toad, Princess Peach, Wario's nemesis Wart, and the character-selection mechanic — a beloved oddity in the Mario series.

Overview

Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) is the franchise’s most unusual mainline entry — a reskin of a different game that became beloved on its own terms. The North American SMB2 is based on Doki Doki Panic, a Famicom Disk System game also developed by Nintendo. Nintendo adapted it because the original Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 (known in the West as The Lost Levels) was considered too similar to SMB1 and too difficult for Western audiences.

The result is a game that plays nothing like any other Mario title — uprooting vegetables and throwing enemies at each other instead of stomping, selecting from four characters with different abilities, vertical stage designs emphasizing climbing and exploration. It’s weird. It’s beloved.

The Four Characters

Mario – Well-balanced. Average speed, average jump, average carrying capacity. The safest choice for beginners.

Luigi – The highest jump in the game and the longest air time, but with slippery traction on ice and slopes. Essential for reaching high platforms.

Toad – Fastest runner and quickest item-pickup animation. Cannot jump as high as the others. The ideal choice for speedrunners who know the levels.

Princess Peach – Can float briefly after jumping by holding the A button, allowing course corrections mid-air. The most useful ability for casual exploration; also the slowest character.

Legacy

Despite being a reskin, SMB2 introduced characters and concepts that became franchise staples. Birdo debuted here and has appeared in nearly every subsequent spin-off. Shy Guys became one of the most common enemy types in the franchise. The character-selection mechanic influenced Super Mario Bros. 35 and Smash Bros. The vegetable-throwing combat appeared in Super Mario Bros. Odyssey’s Mushroom Kingdom section.

Our Review

8.8

Excellent / 10

🎮

Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

🎵

Audio

★★★★★

🔄

Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Super Mario Bros. 2 plays completely differently from its predecessor. Plucking vegetables and throwing them at enemies replaced stomping; selecting between four characters with different abilities added strategy; the vertical stage design emphasized climbing and exploration over speed. It's a mechanically distinct game that succeeds on its own terms while remaining definitively 'Mario.'

Graphics

SMB2 introduced more colorful, detailed sprites than the original — Birdo's pink egg attacks, the Egyptian-themed Muda Kingdoms, and Wart's throne room all featured richer visual design. The different character sprites for Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach each maintained distinctive visual personalities.

Audio

The rearranged classic Mario themes and new compositions (the overworld music, the boss theme) by Koji Kondo are distinct from the original while maintaining the franchise's musical identity.

Replayability

Moderate. The four different characters — each with unique speed, jumping, and lifting stats — encourage replays with different playstyles. Speedrunners favor Toad's item-speed; casual players often choose Peach for her float.

Historical Significance

Super Mario Bros. 2 introduced Princess Peach as a playable character for the first time, and Toad as a distinct character beyond a generic NPC. The game's character-selection mechanic and vegetable-throwing combat appeared in dozens of subsequent Mario games, including Super Mario Bros. 35 and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

✅ Pros

+ Four playable characters with distinct abilities add strategic depth
+ Completely fresh gameplay compared to SMB1 and SMB3
+ Excellent variety across 20 stages
+ Introduced iconic characters (Birdo, Wart, Shy Guy) to the franchise
+ Charming visual identity distinct from any other Mario game

❌ Cons

- No multiplayer mode
- Short compared to SMB3
- Some find the non-Mushroom Kingdom setting jarring

Also Known As

Super Mario USASMB2Doki Doki Panic

Super Mario Bros. 2 FAQ

Is Super Mario Bros. 2 the same as Doki Doki Panic?

Super Mario Bros. 2 (North America) is a reskin of Doki Doki Panic, a Famicom Disk System game developed by Miyamoto's team. Nintendo used it as the Western Mario sequel because the original Japanese SMB2 was considered too difficult for Western audiences. The Japanese SMB2 was later released in the West as The Lost Levels.

What is the difference between SMB2 characters?

Mario is balanced. Luigi jumps highest but is slippery. Toad runs fastest and picks up items quickest. Princess Peach can float briefly after jumping — the most useful ability for exploration. Toad is best for speedruns; Peach is best for casual play.

Is Super Mario Bros. 2 canon?

Officially, SMB2 is presented in the game as Mario's dream. Despite this, Birdo, Wart, Shy Guy, Phanto, and other SMB2 characters have appeared repeatedly in Mario Kart, Mario Spinoffs, and Smash Bros. The game's content is effectively canon through repeated inclusion.