Nintendo Entertainment System · 1988
Super Mario Bros. 2
The North American second Mario entry adapts a distinct Japanese Game Boy platformer into a turn-based NES experience.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- Platformer
- Released
- 1988
01
Overview
Players alternate between Mario and Luigi across a course of varied enemy encounters and level puzzles. Progress is managed through a password system rather than battery-backed saving, which shapes how a session can be paused and resumed. The two-player mode has both players share one console and take turns controlling the brothers.
02
Why it matters
This entry stands apart from the Japanese second Mario title because its content derives from a separate Game Boy source. It also illustrates how Nintendo handled saving and multi-player play on the NES with passwords and turn-based mechanics.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete copy includes the NES cartridge, the printed instruction booklet, and the box or sleeve that holds the package. Packaging layouts can vary by region and print, so the cartridge itself is the constant element across editions.
04
Playing it today
The game runs on original NES hardware or compatible systems with a standard NES cartridge slot. Since it uses a password system, players should write down passwords after major progress points.