Vaneshi: lemurs: it wasn't some random game off the street that they decided to turn into SMB2.

Nor was it SMB2 in Japan.

But it was brought back to Japan as Super Mario Bros. USA.

A chemical analysis proves nothing of hypothesis that I thought up in the shower while I read nintendo power.

tweek46420: that farking game....first game that ever made me want to break a controller

I came super-close to destroying one of my controllers over Battletoads.

I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE that game.

Toshiro Mifune's Letter Opener: tweek46420: that farking game....first game that ever made me want to break a controller

I came super-close to destroying one of my controllers over Battletoads.

I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE that game.

But apparently love FF6.

Despite me being a video game nerd worthy of a neckbeard of kings, I was too poor growing up to buy Nintendo power, and hooked up to the internet since 1996. Thus, aside from a piece of gaming history, it's finale means little to me.

It's pretty interesting that aside from the babysitter story, I can relate to pretty much every other one in the thread though. Or terrifying. But was fun reading.

I found a bunch of old issues clearing the garage out for a yard sale a few months back, they made my insides hurt a little. Heres a nostalgia smack along those lines.







/Nintendo had me on a mouse waaay before MS did!

Seeing all the Dragon Warrior love here just makes me so happy. I talk to others about my love for the game series and I just get blank stares.

My absolute favorite Christmas was when I got my copy of Dragon Warrior 2. I think it's my favorite of the whole series.

/Second the Dragon Warrior > Final Fantasy comment

Fuzzmosis: Despite me being a video game nerd worthy of a neckbeard of kings, I was too poor growing up to buy Nintendo power, and hooked up to the internet since 1996. Thus, aside from a piece of gaming history, it's finale means little to me.

I dig, I follow.

I'll say this, as biased as its reviews may/may not have been, I enjoyed it more than GamePro.

Electronic Gaming Monthly, now... I dug THAT.

D_Evans45: I found a bunch of old issues clearing the garage out for a yard sale a few months back, they made my insides hurt a little. Heres a nostalgia smack along those lines.

[media.gdgt.com image 460x345]


[sexedmusic.files.wordpress.com image 550x413]


/Nintendo had me on a mouse waaay before MS did!

I still can't believe how short the cable on that mouse was. I had to sit on the floor a couple feet from the TV just to use it.

Shostie: Had that first issue. Read it to the point of disintegration.

Same here. I got the first issue for free in the mail shortly after my 10th birthday. I didn't even have a NES yet, but I played it all summer at my cousin Jimmy's house. I read that damn issue front to back everyday on the bus ride to and from school until it was barely hanging together at the staples. I miss those days.

ShawnDoc: Anyone else remember back in the day Nintendo ran a free tips line? Since there was no Internet, if you got stuck and couldn't figure out how to solve a problem in a game, you were either stuck until you ran across someone in real life who knew the solution, or you could call Nintendo and they'd help you through. I remember at the time it was free to call, and considered revolutionary.

There were 2 lines: one for game play tips, which was billed by the minute. and a toll-free number which you called for general questions (like release dates of upcoming games or locations of places that repair Nintendos) and customer service.

I know somewhere I have the first issue hiding ... somewhere. Too funny.

whistleridge: Without that magazine, It would have taken 4-5 times longer to beat FF1 & Metroid, I'd have missed out on a lot in SMB2, StarTropics, Crystalis, Castlevania 3, etc. and I never would have beaten Battletoads.

In fact, even though I'm 35 now, beating Battletoads still probably qualifies as a Top 5 Lifetime Achievement. Thank you, Nintendo Power.

/ also would have spent a shiatton of Christmas gifts on crappy games with slick marketing, instead of on good games that I enjoyed playing. The previews that it gave really helped with that

Those games are f*cking classics. If they made a StarTropics 3 for the Wii U or 3DS, I would buy it IMMEDIATELY.

Vaneshi: Rev.K: While we're on the subject of Super Mario 2, I'm going to go on record and say that I really do love that game. The Mario purists hate it because it's so different from the others, but f*ck those fools, SMB2 is a classic.

In fact, I'ma play it right now.

It's also fascinating because SMB2 in Japan was a balls out precision platformer that was deemed 'too difficult' for the Western audience. So they reskinned another game (Doki Doki something or other) as SMB2.

The reason why it was so different is that it wasn't actually a Mario game. But it was that reskin which most modern Mario games are descended from.

Just a bit of history for ya.

The American SMB2 was the "real" one. It sold more copies than the Japanese version (aka The Lost Levels), and it contributed far more to the Mario series. The idea that Mario and Luigi are different, with different abilities. Peach and Luigi as playable characters. A bunch of recurring enemies first appeared there: Pokeys, Bob-ombs, Shy-guys, and others.

The Japanese SMB2 was just a re-hash of SMB with the difficulty cranked--up to 11. It didn't really contribute any new ideas to the series going forward.

The US SMB2 game is a great game in its own right, and a great Mario game as well. It was created by Miyamoto, and then re-created by Miyamoto as a Mario game, and that's good enough for me. The "purists" who slag SMB2 as being somehow illegitimate don't know what they are talking about.

Damn, I thought I was the only weirdo out there who loved SMB2. I remember everyone I knew hated it back in the day.

spman: Mario 2 is a fantastic game despite it's differences. Only a true expert such as myself has the skills to beat the game from beginning to end, no warps, using only Toad.

/stupid worthless Toad

I use Toad too. Quick pulling is underrated.

FuryOfFirestormThere were 2 lines: one for game play tips, which was billed by the minute. and a toll-free number which you called for general questions (like release dates of upcoming games or locations of places that repair Nintendos) and customer service. 

For a long time the Nintendo tip hotline, staffed by actual game counselors was free of charge except long distance. The number was 206-885-7529. At some point they switched to a shiatty pre recorded pay-by-minute thing. Not the same.

APE992: Doc Daneeka: Vaneshi: Rev.K: ***snip***

It was a hack that anyone could have done.

It is still fun. Lost Levels on the other hand is ragefuel.

I remember calling the Nintendo customer service line like every week to ask when the 64DD was going to come out, so I could play some sweet sweet Earthbound 2.

It never came out in the US.

Oh, and I was like 16 at the time. Yeah, I was an awkward teen.

DaJesus:
The only time I called was when I had finished Matroid 2 on Game Boy. Climb out of the caverns and there is... nothing. There was a big wall to the left and, after some running, a big wall to the right. I knew there had to be something, and I couldn't risk turning off the system. I finally was able to convince my Mom to let me call and the solution was to space jump over the right wall. There wasn't really any clues that would make you think to try that


Actually, trying to jump or climb the walls would be the very first thing I'd try upon entering a room like that. Were you new to gaming or something? :P

JavaMoon: Seeing all the Dragon Warrior love here just makes me so happy. I talk to others about my love for the game series and I just get blank stares.

My absolute favorite Christmas was when I got my copy of Dragon Warrior 2. I think it's my favorite of the whole series.


Nah, 3 is way better. 4 would probably be my favorite if they didn't make it AI control for the non-hero characters in the main game. I really enjoyed all the opening scenarios for the different characters though...

Telos: JavaMoon: Seeing all the Dragon Warrior love here just makes me so happy. I talk to others about my love for the game series and I just get blank stares.

My absolute favorite Christmas was when I got my copy of Dragon Warrior 2. I think it's my favorite of the whole series.


Nah, 3 is way better. 4 would probably be my favorite if they didn't make it AI control for the non-hero characters in the main game. I really enjoyed all the opening scenarios for the different characters though...

Sure, 3 and 4 are great games. I'm not knocking them. 2 has a special place in my heart, though, because of that Christmas. It was my first real RPG (used to rent Dragon Warrior 1 a lot but never owned it, oddly enough).

Huh, somehow I think I missed the first part of that... I get it. :)

/I stand by my rankings though
//I had an amazing amount of Nostalgia returning to Tantagel in DW3
///DW3 also had the best opening by far

I liked Dragon Warriors 3, 5, and 6 best. The newer ones weren't bad, either, though I get most of my old school turn-based RPG gaming from the Shin Megami Tensei series these days. I can understand why Atlus didn't bring SMT or SMT2 to America, but American kids still missed out.


Now I sort of want to play some Dragon Warrior and some Mario 2.

/subscribed to Nintendo Power up until the N64 era

Grand_Moff_Joseph: Question: Did anyone ever win anything by sending in the contest cards that were included each month?

Not a damn thing. Where did you get that Goldeneye watch?

The only remains of Nintendo Power that I have left are the tear-out series of original Pokemon strategy guides and the poster of all 151 pokemon. I figured that if anything might be worth something in the future it would be that.

Mad Tea Party: Damn, I thought I was the only weirdo out there who loved SMB2. I remember everyone I knew hated it back in the day.

I also like Zelda 2 (the side scroller).

Somehow, the side scrolling added something extra (like the whole jump + duck trick to scrape damage off of the Ironknuckles. Or doing the multi down stab to do more damage to soft enemies.

// and don't forget the fight with Dark Link

ShawnDoc: Anyone else remember back in the day Nintendo ran a free tips line? Since there was no Internet, if you got stuck and couldn't figure out how to solve a problem in a game, you were either stuck until you ran across someone in real life who knew the solution, or you could call Nintendo and they'd help you through. I remember at the time it was free to call, and considered revolutionary.

Holy crap that brings back memories! I called it once because I was totally stuck on some level in Willow for NES. I still remember some chick answering the phone and then either telling me what to do or giving me a hint or something. Good times.

Telos: After years of thinking about it, I think it really came down to the sound effect. Somehow that little whistle followed by a fuzzy noise just sounds like a sword swinging through the air and hitting a wolf monster.

Oh, and that feeling when you get an excellent hit. That sound created such a visceral feeling...

Telos: JavaMoon: Seeing all the Dragon Warrior love here just makes me so happy. I talk to others about my love for the game series and I just get blank stares.

My absolute favorite Christmas was when I got my copy of Dragon Warrior 2. I think it's my favorite of the whole series.


Nah, 3 is way better. 4 would probably be my favorite if they didn't make it AI control for the non-hero characters in the main game. I really enjoyed all the opening scenarios for the different characters though...

Agreed, DW-III was by far my favorite, followed by I and IV, and then II. I love the side quests in III, like getting the king some black pepper, and then needing to get a ship. DW-II was darker for me, like literally the color scheme was odd, while III captured that original palette from the first one. Things like that make a difference to me when I play, for some reason...

Doc Daneeka: The US SMB2 game is a great game in its own right, and a great Mario game as well. It was created by Miyamoto, and then re-created by Miyamoto as a Mario game, and that's good enough for me. The "purists" who slag SMB2 as being somehow illegitimate don't know what they are talking about.


TIL; There are people buthurt over Doki Doki Panic's reskin.
TIL: You're one of them.

Go away.

Doc Daneeka: The American SMB2 was the "real" one. It sold more copies than the Japanese version (aka The Lost Levels), and it contributed far more to the Mario series. The idea that Mario and Luigi are different, with different abilities. Peach and Luigi as playable characters. A bunch of recurring enemies first appeared there: Pokeys, Bob-ombs, Shy-guys, and others.

Not that I don't agree with your general premise, but the Japanese SMB2 had the same difference between Mario and Luigi; Luigi jumped higher, but didn't have as much traction.

Oh, and it also had poison mushrooms. Which haven't been back in the series since.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: Question: Did anyone ever win anything by sending in the contest cards that were included each month?

Yes - I got a "Demo" SNES game - it was marked as a Demo cartridge, ie. for the consoles in KBToys that you could play.

Unfortunately, it was NCAA Basketball :(

roc6783: APE992: Doc Daneeka: Vaneshi: Rev.K: ***snip***

It was a hack that anyone could have done.

It is still fun. Lost Levels on the other hand is ragefuel.

And the Lost levels version in All Stars was still toned DOWN in difficulty from the original. Japan SMB2 is difficult to an evil definition. Poison mushrooms were just a tiny shade different in their palette color compared to the Super Mushroom. Invincible blocks in the exact spot where you would jump. Warp zones that sent you BACK to 1-1. Those jumps that needed the green spring and wind (and the original had bugs where the springs may not even show up, making the jump impossible).

In Allstars, SMB1 had a save at the start of every world. Lost levels had a save after every STAGE.

I prefer Doki Doki Mario instead.

NeverDrunk23: roc6783: APE992: Doc Daneeka: Vaneshi: Rev.K: ***snip***

It was a hack that anyone could have done.

It is still fun. Lost Levels on the other hand is ragefuel.

And the Lost levels version in All Stars was still toned DOWN in difficulty from the original. Japan SMB2 is difficult to an evil definition. Poison mushrooms were just a tiny shade different in their palette color compared to the Super Mushroom. Invincible blocks in the exact spot where you would jump. Warp zones that sent you BACK to 1-1. Those jumps that needed the green spring and wind (and the original had bugs where the springs may not even show up, making the jump impossible).

In Allstars, SMB1 had a save at the start of every world. Lost levels had a save after every STAGE.

I prefer Doki Doki Mario instead.

During college, my friends and I played SMB 1-3 and Lost Levels on the SNES All Stars without using warps. It took us 17 hours to finish all of them. Lost Levels took over 12 hours itself. Of course we were epically wasted the entire time, so that may have had something to do with it.

ManateeGag: Rev.K: Had a subscription to Nintendo Power.

Nothing beat getting home from school and seeing a new issue on the dining room table.

at that age, any mail for you is awesome. as adults, most mail is either bills or junk requesting you to refinance.


So true. Even getting junk mail was fun for me to get, as a kid. I purposefully mailed away to put myself on the mailing lists of a bunch of software and electronics catalogs. It said my name on the mail, just like an adult! Heh.

Anyone else here fondly remember eagerly flipping through stuff like "The Software Labs" shareware catalog?

I finally got rid of most of my old PC Gamer magazines a while back, but I still have my NPs (SNES era). I really used to look forward to both, each month in the mid-to-late '90s

Damn
My younger brother and I used $50 and a NP subscription to buy out our older brothers stake in our 8B Nintendo system, keeping the Dragon Warrior game that came with said subscription. Not only did I end up with the games and the system, which I still have, I later found all the NP's boxed up in storage.

HAHA I WIN!!!

Hypnozombie
/just took 20+ years