It was originally released as Doki Doki Panic in Japan, an entirely different game than the original SMB 2 game, which was considered too hard for America. Doki Doki had quite a bit of differences from the USA version, including the characters, the music, and the fact that you had to beat the game with every character before seeing the ending.
Gameplay:8/10
Due to the gameplay being completely ripped out of Doki Doki Panic, it was very different from other Mario games. Instead of the famous jump-to-defeat style, you throw vegetables picked from the ground. Like in the original Mario Bros. game, there were POW blocks, but with a stark difference:Instead of being in the air to hit, it was on the ground and had to be thrown. (Also, instead of flipping enemies over, it eliminated them immediately.) Instead of transforming into Fire Mario on your third power-up, you stay the same but you have an extra health point. It still made the game unique, so I give it an extra point for that.
Story: 8/10
SMB2 USA has a story going like this: Mario is having a dream in which the people of Sub-Con, the land of dreams, need help because an evil frog-king, Wart, has put them under an evil spell. When Mario wakes up he tries to clear his mind by talking to Luigi. Then, they go on a picnic with Princess Toadstool and Toad on a mountain, where they find a cave. Suprisingly, there are stairs leading up a seemingly never-ending path. When they reach the top, they find a door. Once they open it, POOF! They are instantly in Sub-Con!
The story is pretty good, like every game's story should be, and like everything else in this game, it is different from the other Mario games, such as the fact you play in Subcon instead of in the Mushroom Kingdom, and that the primary villan is Wart rather than Bowser.
Graphics: 9/10
Why am I giving a NES game like this a high rating? Because you can compare it with the 1st Super Mario Bros. game. In 1, the graphics were made out of pixel blocks. In 2, the graphics are much smoother. In 1, you could not properly tell out Mario's (or Luigi's) head. In 2, their faces are detailed. In 1, Luigi was nothing more than a palette change of Mario. In 2, he's taller, looks younger, and has a floaty jump compared to Mario's normal jump!
Difficulty: 9/10
This game is a bit tough for people at first, but as time passes, it becomes easier to do the things required. For example, the main 2 ways to defeat an enemy are plucking vegetables from the ground and picking up the enemy itself to throw at another. After a bit of practice, it becomes easier to throw by measuring distance.
Overall: 8/10
This game is pretty cool because of its levels, the enemies, and mostly its originality!
Available in the Wii Shop Channel for: 500 Wii Points
