The Best Video Game Ever Made. Period.
* Update : 3/19/08. If you are taking this article personally, you need to go take a break from the internet for a while. Everyone has their favorite game, and I am just giving my argument, feel free to give yours.
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I have been doing a lot of Flash programming recently, and decided to take a break to talk about the best video game ever. And sorry, you cannot argue with this statement of truth:
Super Mario Bros 2 is the best video game ever made.
I know, I know, it’s a big claim to make. But for all you Halo lovers out there, I need to explain to you why Super Mario Bros 2 perfected gaming, and nothing has ever come close, ever. But before that, a short lesson in Mario 2.
History
Super Mario Bros 2 was released in the United States in 1988 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). If you are too young to know what an NES is, please unplug your next-gen consoles and visit Ebay to pick up your own system. The main basis of the game is to complete each level by side-scrolling through different levels, enemies, and obstacles. To deal with enemies, you would either pick up turnips from the ground or the enemies themselves and hurl them at other enemies. The game evolves from there.
Maybe you didn’t know, but Super Mario Bros 2 has a really confusing history. Super Mario Bros 2 in Japan was a different game than it was here in the US. Super Mario Bros 2 (Japan) was an extremely hard sequel to the original Super Mario Bros, and resembled the original game in most respects. It had levels that were near impossible for the casual Mario player to beat, which made it frustrating to play. The Japanese version of Super Mario Bros 2 did not launch initially in the United States but instead released years later, being retitled to “Lost Levels” and bundled in the Super Mario All-Stars game for Super Nintendo (and eventually onto the Wii Virtual Console as it’s own title). But while Japan was getting Super Mario Bros 2, here in the United States we were getting a totally different Super Mario Bros 2 game experience.
The game we had was a bubbly “pick enemies up and hurl them at each other” sidescroller, with a whole unique style of gameplay compared to the other Mario games.
But that unique gameplay was understandable, since the US version of Super Mario Bros 2 game was not originally intended to be a Mario title when it was made in Japan back in the 80’s. Super Mario Bros 2 (US) was actually reskinned from a Japanese Famicom game called “Doki Doki Panic” which had characters with similar gameplay traits, just with different looking bodies. The game was reskinned and shipped as a Mario title in the United States because of issues with audience… the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros 2 (Lost Levels) was extremely difficult and had very few changes since the original Super Mario Bros, so they changed up their gameplan when marketing a second Mario title for the United States.
Beyond some minor gameplay changes from Doki Doki Panic (for example, different music, graphics, and subtle boss changes), the game was relatively the same. The levels had similar layouts and could be completed the same way that you may beat them in Super Mario Bros 2.
Oh, and to confuse things even more, the US version of Super Mario Bros 2 went back to Japan in 1992, as the fourth Mario game called “Super Mario USA” even though it was made in Japan to begin with. Fun huh.
So now you know why Super Mario Bros 2 is so different from the other Mario games, and sticks out like a sore thumb.
So Why Is Super Mario Bros 2 the Best Game of All Time?
Because it does everything right as a video game.
Character Selection: At the beginning of the game you get to choose between four different characters: Toad, Mario, Luigi, and Princess. Each of the characters are unique in what they offer skillwise. Luigi can jump higher, Toad can pick up items faster, Princess can float, and Mario seems to have a little bit of everything. Choosing your character before the level impacted the entire game’s difficulty each time you play. So as you get better at the game, you’ll learn what parts of the game become important for specialized characters. How many games do you know let you choose between four unique characters with different abilities? Yeah I thought so!
Enemies: The enemies are not only diverse and smart, but completely awesome. For one, the main enemies in the game are Shy-Guys, which are weird round creatures with a mask and two small feet. They are completely menacing even though they are usually only capable of walking backwards and forwards… and won’t turn around unless prompted by a wall or ledge. In addition to being simple but deadly, they come in two main shades: red and pink. This game has a lot of character to choose it’s main enemy colors to be red and pink. But beyond that, there are other amazing characters in the game, which are all extremely memorable. Pokey the cactus was a family favorite.
Bosses: Each level usually ends in a boss battle with Birdo, which ranks as one of the best bosses ever. It shoots eggs from it’s mouth, and your job is to jump on the egg and throw it back at her/him (FACT: The gender of Birdo has changed since this game first launched to now… notice the lack of hair bow above compared to future versions). The hard part is that Birdo is constantly running back and forth, and shoots other eggs at you while you are trying to throw it back. In later levels, Birdo shoots eggs and fireballs, sometimes in multiples of three! Pattern recognition and timing make this is a boss that is not too hard, and something you can get better at as the game continues; and the best thing is that even though you play this boss about 5-10 times, it never gets old. Oh, and the final boss, Wart, is epic.
Music: The music for this game is incredible. There is one main theme for the main world areas, one for the underground areas, and one for boss battles. These three main songs play throughout the entire game, and you do not get tired of it. It’s catchy, fun, and it works in every gameplay situation. That is pretty incredible for a game. Also, there is a lot of class in the Pause screen of this game, which cuts the main notes of the music but keeps the bass line running.
Level Diversity: This game goes out of it’s way to mix up level design. Just from the start, you’ll fall several screen lengths, enter a large grassy area, go into a cave area, and end up in the clouds. The game just keeps throwing it at you, and as you visit different worlds it just gets better. The snow, desert, and sky levels all are very different and they keep the theming together with different characters and obstacles. There are 7 worlds total and each are very fun to play.
The worlds are also put together in a fashion that makes you feel like you are exploring. The levels are broad and keep going and going, but at times you’ll move up a screen or through a door to be transported to new areas. This helps the game create much more depth than the usual NES sidescroller. Also, when transporting to the “shadow land” it reverses the entire stage and manages to keep elements of the stage intact and interactive still. What you do in the normal world effects what is interactive in the shadow world; pretty deep for an NES game.
Water Levels: Do you know anyone who enjoys water levels? Super Mario Bros 2 has no water levels to speak of. Perfect.
Gameplay: It never gets old. Picking up enemies, throwing enemies at each other… it’s the perfect fodder. The relationship between enemy and player is much stronger than other games, and is prevalent through each level. For example, in one stage you must ride one of Birdo’s eggs across a large lake instead of using the egg to kill Birdo. In another, you must jump on the heads of Shy Guys to get across a pit of spikes. Also, this game has one of the best implementations of “find the key, unlock the door”. Instead of just grabbing the key and going, the key is a large pickup item like an enemy meaning that you cannot pick up other items while you are holding the key; it becomes a burden. There are nasty enemies called Phantos that chase you around the map while you have the key, which gets your heart pounding as you run towards the door like it’s the finish line. Just incredible.
Fun: The game is just fun. The levels are short and quick, but add enough excitement on each level to keep the player going. It is what Super Mario Bros 3 and Galaxy did a great job doing… giving a fun little mechanic to toy around with for a level and then moving on.
Difficulty Curve: By NES standards, this game is pretty easy to play. The difficulty curve is very appropriate, and even novice gamers will have fun on the first few levels. I know this myself, as I was kid playing my first console games when I first picked up this game with my Dad at the video store. But at the same time, it still takes a hardcore gamer to finish this game, but you feel eased enough into the ending that it is comfortable the whole way.
So what is wrong with this game?
There is very little wrong with this game. For one, there was never a Super Mario Bros 2: 2. A sequel would make my day. Second, there was no save game feature, meaning you either run for the end or turn off your NES (this was later fixed in the Super Mario All-Stars version of the game). Third, it had to live up to being a “Mario” game. I hated that. This was truly a different game than the Mario franchise would normally feature, but was forced to be compared to it’s brethren titles for years to come. It’s COMPLETELY different from the other Mario titles, yet it is one of the largest contributing Mario games of all time. Think about how the Mario games later were influenced. How about those giant multi-sectioned cactuses in Super Mario World? How about Princess as a floating character? How about Birdo? Shyguys? Bomb-ombs? It contributed so much that franchise, but at the same time setting itself apart from the other dozen Mario games created. Yet people rag on it for being the “Black Sheep” of Mario games, as if it was a bad thing.
Well tough, because Super Mario Bros 2 was the best game ever made. As a Flash developer, I have learned a lot from that game, and as a gamer, it has left a lasting impression that no other game could ever leave on me.
First off, Mario 2 was the worst mario game ever.
Also, it’s a complete rip from another game. Here is the full review of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdjYYFOGE3k
Thats one of the few Mario games I’ve never played. Looks fun, though. Most people normally cite SMB3 or SMW as the best Mario game, right?
Anyway, the greatest game ever made is Shadow of the Colossus, so…yeah
-Dim
Half Life 1 is the greatest game ever made, mind you
@Matt, I covered all the history of the game in the article, I know all about the rip. And honestly, that reviewer is just trying to work people up… he had a minute long segment just on how slow the invincibility star is. But fact of the matter is that Doki Doki Panic didn’t do what SMB2 did historically. Sure it’s ripped, but it’s not like Nintendo went and STOLE the game… besides they made a few changes which I thought were for the better.
Mario 2 was an awesome game indeed. Great review John - it was a nostalgic experience reading your post.
Learning about all that history was great. Thanks John for that! I would disagree on the “best game ever”, but still a fantastic article that I learned a lot from!
Great review.
Mario looked ugly on the cover, though
Peach Rocks!! Using her float technique was one of my favorite parts of the game.
Funny, I just got this the other day for my wii. Maybe not the best ever, but an underrated classic for sure, maybe the hardest of the early Mario titles.
Super Mario Bros 2 is NOT the best game ever made and there’s a certain feeling of disdain that comes with having to listen to someone rant like a fanboy about how flawless something is. In fact, you didn’t bring up any unique arguments about why SMB2 is the best game ever made. All you did was talk about how well it did everything that was present in almost every other video game during the time. In other words, your justifications are universal and can be applied to any game, which makes your entire review 2-dimensional. If you want to call this game the best ever made, at least bring up things that were completely innovative about it. Me personally, I’d say calling Resident Evil 4 the best game ever made would be a much safer bet than SMB2.
Matt: He already said in the review that it was a copy of the other game. So what! If it is fun, its fun!
The review was pretty amusing, but it still isn’t anything that John didn’t already go over.
Dan: Peach’s floating technique is totally the best! Just imagine what the other games would be like without that? I got Super Princess Peach recently, and they even built it into that. It is one of my favorite things about her character.
Cole: Lol! Did you read the review? He went over many reasons why it is unique and innovative. Personally, I was never impressed with Resident Evil 4. If you are trying to go for some creapy first person type adventure game, Bioshock is a million times better. But can you really say that any video game character, or series, has impacted the video gaming culture and industry more that Mario?
John, back to you who actually wrote the blog. I can’t say that I really disagree. I absolutely love this game. It made me quite nostalgic, and want to play it again. Unfortunately, I don’t have it!
:( :(! It is one of those games you can play over and over again, I love the music, and to me, it only adds to the Mario legacy.
Ok sorry I read this at work so I may or may not have skipped a few bits
Mario 2 was still the worst mario game
(in my opinion and by popular opinion :))
Glad you liked it though…
the first game is best =] oldschool =]
I was all about Toad in this game. I didn’t need no float from Princess, all I needed was a hyperactive mushroom running around like Tom Arnold on crack.
Very nice
btw very good tips i will use them. Some of them i did not knew.
Hello everyone. Nice articel John, good work
When i was a kid i hadd that game. its quit funny and as Carlie said, you can play it over and over again. at least i wish i could, but i dont have it anymore either 
[...] is plenty to do. If I do get burned out by a code that isn’t getting fixed I’ll go play video games for a while, surf the web, or play some Flash games online. It’s definitely different from casual home [...]
Mario sucks!!!
Personally, I think Big Rigs is the best game ever created.
he has good games but he is a fat plubmer from italy
i can debate this, STARCRAFT!
at minimiun, there is 5 channels on with starcraft in S.korea on TV, huge crowds of people come to watch it, plus starcraft has amazing…everything!
Great game, great review, great points
sadly not the best game ever, over countless ocassiosn has been sayed to be the worst in the true mario series, the only one without a gold award pretty much. I do not know the best game ever, but i do want the answer.
Searching over the internet I have found 3 games normally number 1 spot, Super metroid, LoZ:Oot and Super mario bros. One of them three.
Big Rigs: Over the road racing is indeed the best game ever.
[...] on this game were nonetheless carried out: we really wanted to make a game that paid homage to (the best game ever made) Super Mario Bros [...]
[...] I’ve wanted to make for most of my game producing life. I’ve loved Super Mario Bros 2 more than any other game ever made so a good tribute to it was always something I had in mind. BoMToons (the artist guy) and I [...]
I DISAGREE WITH ALL OF U, THE KINGDOM HEARTS SERIES ARE THE BEST GAMES EVER. SPECIFICLY #2
_____________________________________________
IF U DONT BELIEVE ME AND U HAVENT PLAYED IT, PLAY IT, AND THAN SAY U DONT BELIEVE ME.
AND IF U R AN OLD PERSON WHO LOVES “classics”
THAN U NEED TO SEE SOME MODERN GAMES!
XP
mario is boring
i not here to say ur wrong but it’s not the greast game ever made. i’ve played it i like it but it’s not the best. so many games can compete with it but a hell of a review. Good job
I personaly am not interested in mario , but my friend is. He is very smart.I love to hear about it because it is very interesting.
Mario bros. 1 started all platforming.
While I agree that super mario 2 is the undisputed champion of the super mario 2D platform series, I argue that super mario 64 is the best mario game ever made and, at least during its time, the best video game ever made. The newer editions of 3D mario do not come anywhere near matching the awsomeness of mario 64, which is, ironically, probably the first legitimate success in true 3D gaming. The game was massive. The controls were relatively easy and in the hands of a skilled player could turn mario into an unstoppable ninja master. It was mario’s insane acrobatic abilities that made, and make, me love this game.
Very nice review of the game, and, like many others here, it was a bit nostalgic for me. I may disagree with the statement that it was the best game ever, but I do agree that it was a keystone inclusion in the entire Mario series. One can only wonder what the Mario series would be today had we gotten the identical version to Japan’s Super Mario Bros. 2. While I can’t say I was around when the original games came out, I did grow up with them and they’ve had a massive impact on my gaming life. For all you younger kids who’ve never played the original games that helped set the bar for modern gaming; follow John’s advice, get yourself a copy of the game along with a NES, and sit down and play. Sure, it doesn’t compare to the graphics or first person shooters, or awesome platforming games that are available now, but just think; had it not been for games like this one that had an influence on the gaming industry, our games of today might have been quite different.
All in all, I think I’m going to go dig out my SNES and play a bit of Super Mario All-Stars (which happens to be my favorite Mario game on the SNES).
ZELDA IS THE BEST GAME EVER MADE, SORRY.
Assuming these lists represent voices of authority in the gaming community, we can easily make a cumulative list averaging out the most universally popular games. I’m not smart enough to do mathematical averages of rank, but based on sheer popularity (as defined by appearing on 14 or more lists, ie: at least 50%), the top five games of all time seem to be:
1 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (22 out of 32) 68%
2 Super Mario 64 (20 out of 32 ists) 63%
3 Tetris (appears on 19 out of the 32) 59%
4 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (17 out of 32) 53%
5 Goldeneye 007 (14 out of 32) 43%
Street Fighter II (14 out of 32)
I agree with grace but the legend of zelda twilight princess is the best game EVER!
Okay, first off, SMB2 was not even the best of the trilogy, let alone of all time.
Second, Birdo sucks so hard. Who likes Birdo? Besides, making you fight the same boss a thousand times is just lazy and unoriginal.
Third: “How many games do you know let you choose between four unique characters with different abilities? Yeah I thought so!” Donkey Kong 64, a game which is not by any means considered to be the best game of all time, lets you play as five.
Fourth: WATER LEVELS ARE AWESOME STFU.
“For one, there was never a Super Mario Bros 2: 2. A sequel would make my day.”
Super Mario Bros. 3…?
I know I’m being harsh, I mean it’s a good game and all, but best game ever it is not. Not even close.
great review but i dont really like SMB2 it’s pointless. now resident evil 5 is definately the best game.
This guy is right. Super Mario bros. 2 is the best game ever. Unfortunately, he’s talking about the wrong one. Sure, this was great, but nothing compares to the original SMB2 from japan. Sure, it’s a little more challenging than most people are used to, but that’s the fun of it. I’d perfer the lost levels (All stars version) because you don’t have to start the whole game over for that one. I bet a lot of people never played it, but really give it a chance, and whatever you do, don’t take any warps!
Ya know when I was reading this I really thought he was being sarcastic lol. Not only is this not the best video game of all time, and not only is it not even close to being the best mario game ever….it’s the worst one of that Mario 1, 2, 3 trilogy…BY FAR
YOUR STUPED!!! THAT IS NOT THE BEST GAME EVER MADE!!! YOYO,S GAME MAKER GAME IS !!!! YOUR SO DUMB AND STUPED!!!! HAHA!!!
[...] time you played a board game? Favorite console game is easily Super Mario Bros 2. See any of my previous rants for that subject. My favorite Flash game is currently is a toss-up between a few, Desktop [...]
This game was incredible
Nice review! But SMB2 is my second favourate game… The best game ever is “legend of zelda orcaina of time!” ^_^
dude, ARE YOU RETARDED!? super mario 2 was considered the worst mario game ever, next to mario’s hotel! sure it was a new experience but it doesn’t even qualify as being better then superman 64! plus! you left out that super mario brothers 3 was named the best selling nes game and the best nes game ever made, mario 2 was named the worst! plus HELLOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bye a 20/30 vote reviewers and cridics say tetris, the legend of zelda the ocarina of time, super metroid, and resident evil 4 and super mario brothers 3 are the 5 best games ever made!
dude your all dubm zelda is the best game ever old ones and new ones.
SMB 2 Is a lie
If it was realeased as a third party game no one would’ve bought it.
The real SMB2 is way better
SBM2 IS A FLAT-OUT LIE
I just thought I’d mention that Doki Doki Panic was made by Nintendo, so don’t listen to those sites that paint Nintendo as the big evil corporation that stole some smaller company’s work. A good number of the people behind it worked on Super Mario Bros, including Shigeru Miyamoto. Fuji TV isn’t even a game developer, they’re a TV station in Japan, the only thing they’re responsible for most likely is the main characters.