Programmer and digital artist Sammu recently released a helpful video showing her work showing the two different versions of Super Mario Bros. 2 in a mega game with the mechanics of one and the levels of the other. As a fan of both, I desperately want to play it.
The original 1986 Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in Japan as a traditional follow-up to the first game with more difficult levels. Afraid it would be too much of a challenge for the Western audience, Nintendo of America suggested Nintendo develop a separate one in front of the United States, resulting in the release of a completely different one Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988.
This new, safe version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was based on a game known as Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic in Japan. Funnily enough, Doki Doki Panic itself started out as one Mario prototype before using it Yume Kōjō licensed to market a Fuji Television tech expo of the same name.
While a departure for the franchise at that time, the game – titled Super Mario USA in Japan – introduced the series’ first playable versions of Princess Peach and Toad, lifting and throwing mechanics and now iconic Mario characters like Shy Guys and Birdo. The original Super Mario Bros. 2 eventually made its way west – where it is known as Super Mario Bros .: The Lost Levels—As part of the 1993 Super Nintendo compilation Super Mario All-Stars
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That’s all to say that Sammu’s work combining the two is both totally genius and obvious in a “why didn’t anyone ever do this” kind of way. The project, she explained, was born of a personal project Super Mario Bros. 2 levels in GameMaker. Nintendo’s tendency to threaten independent creatorshowever, Sammu uncertain she will one day release the mash-up for public consumption, a completely understandable decision.
In any case, she deserves a lot of compliments here. Really great job, Sammu!