Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988)
Super Mario Bros. 2 is a 1988 platformer for the NES (Western release), famous for doing things “the weird way”: choose one of four characters, pull vegetables from the ground, throw enemies, and climb through surreal, dreamlike stages.
Game Data
| Release Year | 1988 |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Platform | Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) |
| Genre | Platformer / Puzzle |
| Players | 1–2 (alternating) |
| Original Media | NES Cartridge |
Gameplay:
Pick a character with distinct movement: Mario (balanced), Luigi (high jump), Toad (fast + strong lift), Peach (float).
Instead of stomping, you often grab items and enemies and throw them—turning many encounters into puzzle-like setups.
Story:
Mario and friends enter the dream world of Subcon to stop the tyrant Wart.
Stages feel like a strange fairytale—full of masks, potions, and odd creatures—until the final confrontation.
Trivia:
The Western Super Mario Bros. 2 is based on a different game that was re-themed for Mario.
Its ideas lived on: Shy Guys, Bob-ombs, and character ability differences became recurring Mario staples.
Super Mario Bros. 2 broadened what a “Mario game” could be: character choice mattered, levels were more vertical, and combat became about picking up and throwing. Even though it’s the odd one out, it injected the series with enemies, items, and design ideas Nintendo reused for decades.
Screenshots
Timeline / Versions
Why Super Mario Bros. 2 Was Historically Important
It introduced character-specific movement and a grab/throw combat loop that felt fresh next to traditional stomp-based Mario. Many “Mario icons” (like Shy Guy and Birdo) became series regulars because of this game, and the concept of distinct playable characters later showed up across mainline and spin-off titles.
