As moreSuper Mariogames were released, though,Super Mario Bros. 2differences became much more apparent.
At some point, the popular story behind that games differences began to take cultural root.
The game those of us in the West eventually came to know asSuper Mario Bros.
The Lost Levelswas the real Super Mario Bros. 2.
However, Nintendo felt that game was too difficult for Western audiences.
TheSuper Mario Bros. 2got in the West was instead a Mario-themed version of a completely different game.
As is typically the case, the true story is so much more interesting.
The Japanese version ofSuper Mario Bros. 2was considered to be too difficult for Western audiences.
When it came toSuper Mario Bros. 2, Phillips problem wasnt that it was difficult.
Lots of Nintendo games were difficult.
This was not a fun game to play.
I put down my controller astonished that Mr. Miyamoto has chosen to design such a painful game.
It was rare for a game to celebrate its difficulty and make it part of that titles appeal.
Thecommercial forSuper Mario Bros. 2even emphasized Mario dying just to let people know what they were in for.
Globally releasing aSuper Mariosequel that was essentially just moreSuper Mariowas seen as a risky move.
Thankfully, anotherSuper Mariogame was being developed at that time.
Its just that nobody involved with that project referred to it as aSuper Mariogame quite yet.
That meant that large sections of the game were ultimately entrusted to Tezuka.
However, Miyamoto was thinking of the future ofSuper Marioat that time.
Alternatively, you could just throw your partner upwards.
The problem was that it was always little more than a neat idea.
Most likely, theyd have to wait for the development ofSuper Mario Bros. 3.
The specifics of the game didnt seem to matter much.
When that game was eventually released to the public in Japan, it was a massive hit.
Doki Dokis success is an important and often forgotten part of this story.
So, they decided to convertDoki Doki Panicinto aMariogame as a quick solution.
However, thats only partially true.
Nintendo just recognized that Western audiences wouldnt know what to make of the games characters and themes.
So they decided to reskin the game withSuper Mariocharacters and kill two birds with one stone.
That isnt to say Nintendo was being lazy.
On the contrary, they took the opportunity to make numerous improvements toDoki Doki.
Yet, they all shared the quality of either being released as aSuper Mariosequel or originally envisioned as one.
Except thats not exactly what happened.
Its not hard to see why.
Its a simple, fascinating story perpetuated bySuper Mario 2s black sheep status.
Much of that information wasnt even available to the public until the last 10 years or so.
Thats not a knock againstLost Levels.
Thats an incredibly fun game thats particularly popular among the hardcore fans it was designed for.
More importantly, that otherSuper Mario Bros. 2has always been aSuper Mariogame in spirit and, eventually, name.
Maybe you dont loveSuper Mario Bros. 2.
Maybe you still think its a little odd.
Dont just take my word for it.
It has long been MiyamotosfavoriteSuper Mariogame.
