Diffrent Mario Experience!

Super Mario Bros. 2 is very different from other Mario games. First, there are four selectable characters: along with Mario and Luigi, you can use Toad and the Princess. You choose your character after each level. Each character has very different attributes. Mario is average, Luigi jumps high and far but lacks power, Toad doesn't jump well but is the strongest, and the Princess has the ability to float for several seconds. Certain characters are better for certain levels. There is no score kept in this game, and the only familiar Mario powerups are mushrooms and stars. You have an energy bar which is comprised of hearts. There is also no time limit. Your main weapon is vegetables, of which there are big and small ones. They are thrown at enemies. Bowser has taken a break for this game too, and is replaced by a somewhat similar looking lizard named Wart. The game has seven worlds of three levels each, and is a one player game only. Graphics: 8/10 Fair sized sprites. The game is bright, and the worlds are varied for the most part. Sound: 7/10 The music is pretty good. Some of the sound effects are classic Mario sounds, such as grabbing coins, but others are completely foreign. Gameplay: 9/10 This game is very different from the other Mario games in this aspect. You still run and jump, but there are no fireballs or capes or tails. The vegetables are your main weapon. Another different aspect of the game is the use of blocks for stacking and throwing. Many areas can only be reached by stacking several blocks on top of one another, and some enemies can only be killed by being hit with blocks. Bombs are also used in this game, to kill enemies and blow up walls. An interesting item in the game is the potion. It can be carried, and when you drop it, a door appears. When you go into the door you are transported to "sub space", where all the vegetables have turned to coins and a mushroom may be available. You only have a limited amount of time in this sub space, and it is the key to accessing the game's warp zones. There are no familiar enemies from other Mario games. There is a mini boss at the end of each level, Birdo, a pink creature that spits eggs which must be tossed back at her three times. In later levels she spits faster and an occassional fireball is thrown into the mix. The game isn't too difficult, but there are some rough spots. Control is not a problem, except for Luigi sometimes, whose jumping ability is huge, but is often unpredictable and hard to judge. The different attributes of the characters are well done; all of them are very different but none has a huge advantage (except maybe the Princess, who has a great asset in her floating ability). Replay: 8/10 The game can be played using all four characters. It is also fun to experiment with blocks, as they have many different uses. Overall: 8/10 Many people criticize this game for straying from the traditional Mario standards, but I think it was a very well done game. The gameplay was solid and there are no obvious flaws. Worth a rental, and if you're trying to collect classics, a purchase as wellRead full review