Playing through the harder version, Nintendo employees found that they actually enjoyed the new challenge. The main difference? That game was much harder - in order to better take player’s money. In looking to create a Super Mario sequel, Nintendo first looked for inspiration in the closest thing available: its rejiggered version of the first game which was put in arcades. Different gaming cultures wanted different things out of games. 2 is one of the first moments where video game companies began to realize that their markets around the world were not universal. SMB 3 solidified the popular conception of Mario gameplay: jumping, shells, question mark blocks. 3 was released these changes were scrapped. Game companies experiment with their properties all the time. Instead, you have to pick up radishes from the ground and toss them at enemies.Īt the time of its release, as noted by a video from the channel Gaming Historian, this wasn’t seen as much of a big deal. The game also doesn’t play like other Mario games with jumping on shells and mushrooms.
The game allows for more character choice than other pixel-era Mario games, adding Peach and Toad into the mix. It’s something of an anomaly in the franchise. 2 is a fun game to play, especially with a friend.
