JCC Gaming Retro Gaming Den

Its amazing Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) only exists because Lost Levels which is SMB2 Japan was too hard for Americans.

 

It is.

Doki Doki Panic.

The Lost Levels is quite difficult to navigate, imo.

Oh, BTW, been playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors and it's a masterpiece of retro games. The adrenaline rush is absurd, as is the game. Brilliant!

 

Luigi is indeed tough to use, but he's also the only character that can complete every single stage in the game (Peach misses the required jump height for one stage that is Luigi-exclusive, Mario and Toad don't have the jump length for several). Can't quite 100% it - there's a couple of subspace areas where he's not a fast enough grabber to get the health bonus.

Poor Mario. He is indeed distinctly average, and level design is such that one of the other three is invariably a better choice (if he's not eliminated outright by his jumping limitations). It's been a while, but if memory serves, even using Warps, you can't complete the game using only Mario because there's one stage where he can't jump far enough.

Discovered the "lost levels" on the Super NES "Super Mario All Stars" compilation. They were great fun, but did require the kind of twitching skills required for the harder NES platform games

 

ZAMN is one of the best games I've ever played, hands down. And contains so many references to old school Sci Fi and horror tropes. The difficulty is intense after stage 3, and there are like 55 levels, omg!

I can safely say I'll never beat ZAMN, even in co-op which is an awesome option the cart provides. And also passwords, which I've not used as still learning the game and enjoy restarting after my initial deaths.

@The2ndQuest
You are so on point re: Luigi in SMB2.
He is definitely the hardest to use, imo.
I have a buddy who beat the whole game using only Luigi and it baffled us then and now.

Well said on Toad too, as his ability to pick up so quickly both in game and in subspace can really pay dividends as far as longevity later on.

In contrast, Peach picks veggies like a Princess might do. Yet, her ability to float and glide horizontally is definitely a fan favorite.

I love SMB2 so much. Hard to choose, bit I think it's me fave Mario game all time.

And from now on when I play the game, I shall limit to using Mario only for a new and fun challenge, at least for me.

Edit:
Well said @Lordban
Interesting about Mario's jump inability at that stage. Sounds legit, although I've never tried it.
There are definitely stages where Luigi ought to be the go to, no doubt. The difficulty level is greatly amplified in those stages if using Mario or Toad, for example.

Toad is the sand man for sure. Otherwise, tough sell.

 

Super Mario Bros. 2 (American version ) is lowkey one of my NES faves. I've beaten the game completely without warping using each character for all stages (i.e. four playthroughs). While some might have to miss out on a Super Mushroom due to gimped jumping, it's certainly possible to beat every stage with every character.

 

Impressive! Most impressive.
How did Mario do on those long vertical jumps? And Toad, for that matter?

Fun fact: I've never used, located, or found any warp stations in SMB2.
Pretty much news to me.

Whenever I play the original SMB, I avoid warps like the plague. Prefer to collect every item as possible, as time allows, and play each stage.

The happy cloud dropping dude on 4-1 never ceases to inspire fear lol.

 

As far as I recall, there's no jump in the game (i.e. that's required to clear the level) that Mario and Toad can't make. There are certain bonuses they can't reach, but they can make it to the end of each stage.

 

Good to know, as I'm going to keep my promise and play through SMB2 as Mario only henceforth.

It will be a challenge for sure!

 

These tips on SMB2 makes me want to play it and see if I can finally beat it.

 

It's amusing how people can run the spectrum on how difficult the same game can be.

 

As someone who managed to beat the original TMNT game for NES without any ROMs, hacks, Game Genies or anything like that, I agree.

 

You must be a gaming god! That game is hard!

 

My strategy was:
Leonardo for basic exploration, Raphael as backup if Leo got hurt.
Donatello for boss fights.
Michelangelo for disabling the dam bombs.

Whichever of the Mike and Raph duo had the most health would be the one to carry the super powerful weapon you find on the rooftops in Stage 3. And then I do NOT use that character again until the Technodrome to get through that absolute nightmare of a gauntlet on the way to Shredder.

 

It's about learning about the game and practice and patience.

I've been playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors which has a simple concept, and yet am stuck on Level 3.

There are 55 levels!

 

Exactly, and every player is different. For example level 55 may be easy to you when you reach it, to another the hardest level.

 

Oh, I have indeed beaten it. More than once, in fact. Stage 3 is relatively simple in that it’s just a longer version of Stage 1.

Stage 4 is the trickier one in that you have multiple underground locations you need to explore to find the boss, but because of the RNG factors you might get lucky and find the boss on the first try.

Also, Stages 3 and 4 each contain prisons where any turtles you might have lost on the earlier stages are held captive. This is the game’s version of extra lives, making it easier to get to the Technodrome as strong as possible.

 

I've watched a youtube walkthrough of someone beating TMNT. And 'fairly quickly' I might add.

It looked nuts. Just pure insanity lol.

I think I got to JFK airport when I was a kid when it first came out.

 

Turtle Power!

My favorite was Turtles in Time, which I think may have been SNES of the arcade game?


Turtles IV

 

You answered my query! Thank you.

Man my friend and I played Turtles in Time like crazy. It had Super Shredder at the end.