Super Mario Bros. 2

"Super Mario Bros. 2" is a classic platformer developed and published by Nintendo, originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1988 in North America. Unlike its predecessor, "Super Mario Bros. 2" offered a different gameplay experience, allowing players to choose from four characters, each with unique abilities:

• Mario is the balanced character, with average jump height and speed.
• Luigi has the highest jump, allowing him to reach places others can't, but he's a bit harder to control.
• Princess Peach (Toadstool in some versions) can float for a short time after jumping, which is great for clearing long gaps.
• Toad has the fastest running speed and can pick up items quickly, but he doesn't jump as high.

The game mechanics in "Super Mario Bros. 2" are a departure from other titles in the series. Instead of stomping on enemies, players are encouraged to pick up and throw objects at them, including the enemies themselves after flipping them over. The game is also known for its vertical levels, where players often have to climb to reach higher areas.

How to Play "Super Mario Bros. 2":

1. Start the Game: After the title screen, select your character.

2. Navigating the Levels: Use the D-pad or arrow keys to move your character left or right through the level. Navigate through the various platforms, avoid or defeat enemies, and look for hidden items.

3. Defeating Enemies:

   • Pick up items or smaller enemies by standing over them and pressing the appropriate button.
   • Throw the picked-up objects at other enemies to defeat them.
   • Alternatively, jump on an enemy, which will flip them over, pick them up, and then throw them.

4. Boss Battles: At the end of certain levels, you'll encounter bosses. Use the environment and objects within the level to defeat them.

5. Power-ups and Items: Collect mushrooms to increase your health, coins for extra lives, and cherries for invincibility after collecting a certain number.

6. Subspace: Collecting potions and dropping them in strategic locations will open doors to "Subspace," where you can collect coins and mushrooms.

7. End of Level: Reach the end of the level and enter the door to fight the boss or move on to the next stage.

"Super Mario Bros. 2" was notable for its dream-like design, having been adapted from the Japanese game "Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic." It was later revealed in canon that the game's events occurred in a dream world, differing from the typical Mushroom Kingdom setting.

The game has been re-released on various platforms over the years, including the Super NES as part of the "Super Mario All-Stars" collection, and on modern Nintendo consoles via Virtual Console, allowing new generations to experience the unique gameplay of this classic title.