About this game
Super Mario Bros. 2 (1986), released on the Famicom Disk System, is the direct Japanese sequel to Super Mario Bros. — a game that pushed every element of the original to its extreme. It introduced differentiated physics for Mario and Luigi, Poison Mushrooms, backward Warp Zones, wind gusts, and 13 worlds of escalating difficulty. Nintendo of America judged it too hard for Western audiences and released a different game under the 'Super Mario Bros. 2' title in the West; the Japanese original was not titled 'The Lost Levels' until its Super Mario All-Stars appearance in 1993.
Key Features
Mario and Luigi play differently: Luigi jumps higher and has less traction, Mario stops more quickly and has firmer footing — a distinction that carries real strategic meaning on the game's precise jump challenges. Poison Mushrooms appear among regular mushrooms, punishing careless power-up grabs. Backward Warp Zones send the player to earlier worlds as a trap. Wind gusts alter jump trajectories unpredictably. The game spans 13 worlds (plus hidden worlds unlocked after completing the game multiple times) — compared to Super Mario Bros.' 8 worlds.
The Story Behind
Super Mario Bros. 2 launched on June 3, 1986 as one of the flagship titles for the Famicom Disk System — alongside The Legend of Zelda — and became the best-selling FDS game with approximately 2.5 million copies sold. Its rejection by Nintendo of America created one of the most significant decisions in console history: the Western 'Super Mario Bros. 2' was instead a reskinned version of the Japanese game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, a choice that shaped how entire generations of Western players experienced the Mario series. The original Japanese version finally reached Western audiences through Super Mario All-Stars on Super Famicom (1993) and later via Virtual Console.
Tricks & Tales
Unlocking the hidden worlds (Worlds A through D) requires completing the game eight times from World 1-1 without using a continue. A title screen input code also existed for accessing these worlds directly. The game's extreme difficulty was itself a product of design intent — Shigeru Miyamoto and the team designed levels specifically to challenge experienced players who had mastered the original, with the assumption that those who completed Super Mario Bros. deserved harder content. Some levels deliberately reuse geometry from the Vs. Super Mario Bros. arcade game with heightened obstacle placement.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
This game was never officially released outside Japan in its original FDS form. Western players first encountered it as 'The Lost Levels' in Super Mario All-Stars (SNES, 1993). The original FDS disk is Japan-exclusive and requires a Famicom Disk System to play.
Maintenance Tips
Famicom Disk System games use magnetic floppy disks that are prone to data corruption over time — especially if stored near magnets or in humid conditions. The disk drive's belt (drive belt) is almost certainly degraded in any original FDS hardware today and requires replacement for reliable reading. Clean disk contacts gently with isopropyl alcohol. Store disks in their original cases, standing upright, away from heat and magnetic sources.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑