Okay, so picture this: I'm at a friend's house, probably way too young to be unsupervised, and they're all gathered around the TV. The Wii is brand new, a mythical beast at that time, and they're playing... Super Mario Bros. 2. But not the one I knew. This wasn't Goombas and Koopa Troopas. This was... radishes. And Shy Guys with masks. I was so confused. "What is this?!" I shrieked, probably a little too dramatically. Thus began my love-hate relationship with one of the most bizarre Mario games ever created.
And here we are, years later, still scratching our heads (affectionately, mostly) at Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Wii. Specifically, I'm talking about the version you can download on the Wii Shop Channel... if you still have a Wii that works and haven't bricked it trying to install homebrew. Anyone else feel old? Anyway, that little gem of a download gives you access to a game that's less a "true" Mario game and more of a… well, let's just say it's a very creative adaptation of a different game entirely.
The truth? Super Mario Bros. 2 wasn't originally a Mario game at all. It was a game called Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic (Dream Factory: Heart-Pounding Panic). Nintendo decided the actual sequel to Super Mario Bros. was too hard for American audiences (and, let's be honest, it was pretty brutal), so they slapped some Mario characters on Doki Doki Panic, changed a few things, and boom! Super Mario Bros. 2 was born. Don't feel bad if you were fooled - we all were!
This explains the, shall we say, unconventional gameplay. Instead of jumping on enemies, you pick them up and throw them. Instead of a flagpole at the end of the level, you grab a magical potion and enter a dream world to fight a boss. It's wild! Honestly, it's a testament to the game's creativity and charm that it works as well as it does.
And the characters! You get to play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad, each with their own unique abilities. Peach can float! Luigi can jump higher! Toad is strong and can pick up items faster. Mario is, well, Mario. He's the all-rounder. Choosing the right character for each level is key to surviving the madness. Pro-tip: Peach is your best friend when it comes to avoiding bottomless pits.
Downloading Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Wii gave a new generation access to this weird and wonderful piece of gaming history. It's not the Mario game you expect, but it's a whole lot of fun. The graphics look pretty decent on the Wii's virtual console, and the classic gameplay holds up surprisingly well.
Of course, some might argue that Super Mario Bros. 2 is a stain on the Mario legacy. A Frankenstein's monster of game design. To them, I say, lighten up! It's a bizarre, charming, and utterly unique experience that's worth playing, especially if you're a fan of the Mario series and want to see just how far Nintendo was willing to go outside the box (or, in this case, repurpose a box).
So, if you still have that dusty Wii kicking around, dust it off, grab a Wii Remote, and download Super Mario Bros. 2. Just be prepared to pick up some vegetables and throw them at some strange-looking enemies. You've been warned. Happy gaming!
