Finally finished Super Mario Land 2!
This game came with my hand-me-down DMG I got for my birthday back in 2001. Thankfully I never made it to the final level back then, pretty sure I would've tossed the game out the window after losing 50+ lives. Looking for what I should play next, recommendations welcome :)
The disparity between the final level and any other level in that game is insane. Congrats on the win!
To add to that, I think this may have been the game that started that trend. There was always a difficulty ramp, but the sudden spike level came later in the series. Any Mario platformer these days has a crazy difficulty spike near the end.
I mean, New Super Mario Bros. 2 had an entire DLC called "impossible levels." And don't get me started on The Final-Final Challenge in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
this gives me memories of being at my grams house in rochester during the summer 💕
That sounds like a lovely memory. :)
(i just realised this said part 2 and not 1 but it still applies :))
Iirc I did this once when I was a much younger person. Fantastic game and incredibly challenging, especially near the end. Great work!
That screen doesn’t look right unless you messed your console with some new acreen
Haha yes definitely not original. I put an IPS screen in it over Christmas. Gave me the push I needed to revisit the GB library on semi-official hardware.
When I was a kid I bought one of these weird magnifying lens/lighting attachments for my game boy so I could play it when I was supposed to be asleep. I know what you did somehow desecrates the historical hardware but if I had the opportunity to get that mod in 1990 then I would’ve done whatever I could to afford that backlit screen!
I loved that game. I'd recommend Link's awakening next. It's completely different, of course, but it's another great adaptation of something familiar for the gameboy.
Funny you say that, I took a break from Link's Awakening to play Super Mario Land 2. Trying my hardest not to use a walkthrough but some of the late game dungeons are pretty tough compared to LTTP.
They are, yeah. I don't sweat walkthroughs anymore. I'm about 20 years too old to have enough time to wander around frustrated. I give it a go, and look for a hint when I can't figure it out.
I was really hoping this was going to be a patient gamer shitpost lol
I don't think I ever beat it! I got to the final fight with Wario. I figured out I could turn it off right before I would die and not lose my progress. (When you lose all your lives you'd have to redo the boss levels and, you know, get the 6 Golden Coins.)
That is great! Never too late to get rid of the old backlog.
I only played the first one now that I remember haha.
This game gave me an uncanny feeling as a kid!
Here you go everyone: https://youtu.be/ICXltEUJ41U?si=gZnpuN8A85UKyjyC
Exactly what you didn't know you were looking but, in the back of your mind, you really were.
Hah! I beat that back in the early 90s when it first came out and again recently using an emulator. It's a great little game!
I'll always prefer SML 1.
But I do fondly remember this.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say this.
SML1 was basically just a proof of concept, it’s so short, lacking graphical detail and proper Mario physics. It’s not awful or anything, but if it didn’t have “Mario” in the title it wouldn’t even be remembered today.
SML2 isn’t perfect but it’s one of the best original Gameboy games, and really shines on its own. They don’t even feel like they’re part of the same series. I highly recommend the SML2 DX hack, played it on my Analogue Pocket and loved it, without the slowdown and with colour it’s very fun.
SML 1 was my first game, and I love it dearly, but SML 2 is objectively better in almost every way.
I think it's a combination of nostalgia and the fact that SML1 had levels, enemies and music that were super unique compared to other Mario games before or after.
SML2 is a better game on the technical side of things but nothing in it blew me away or was memorable enough for me to recall with super clarity like I do with 1.
If you have a GBC I would recommend super Mario bros deluxe. gives you SMB and the Japanese SMB 2 along with a bunch of of unlockable QoL fun feature like time attack, save files, and a red coin challenge.
The game always reminds me of being in the hospital getting my adenoids removed in 1992.
How many hours did it take? Congrats
Maybe 5 or 6 hours total? One hour was just trying to beat thee Wario level over and over.
I never finished this game as a kid . I had this with my original no color gameboy. Not sure how my mom paid for it . But she did go to jail one Christmas for shoplifting so maybe she didn't lol .
Congratulations! The music will stay with you forever.