Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A playthrough of Nintendo's 1988 platformer for the NES, Super Mario Bros. 2.
The video shows the entire game without the use of warp zones.
Super Mario Bros. 2 was amazing game that completely broke away from the conventions established by the first Super Mario Bros. game (youtu.be/R59Pb_rVbto). The reason it differed so much was that it is the Americanized version of Japanese disk system game that had nothing to do with Mario. Nintendo of America's Howard Phillips deemed the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 (which was eventually released in the west as "The Lost Levels" in Super Mario All-Stars) likely to be both too difficult and too similar to the first game to appeal to American customers, so the company repurposed and polished up Doki Doki Panic (youtu.be/elZI1YMbu2I), a Famicom Disk System game also created by Nintendo's EAD team. This version of Mario 2 made its way back to Japan years later under the name Super Mario USA, and was also later updated and re-released as part of Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES and as Super Mario Bros. Advance (youtu.be/8Z6M8ncQxb8) on the Game Boy Advance.
The puzzle elements, character selection, and the incredibly bright graphics all made this oddity a sheer joy to play when it was new, and the game is still feels great to play these days. As a kid, I loved the exotic settings, the ability to find secrets in Subcon (the shadowy parallel dimension), and the way each level played so differently depending on who you chose to use.
It wasn't really any easier or harder than the first Super Mario Bros., but the challenge felt very different. The gameplay is much less linear, and there are some unique puzzle elements that have been thrown into the mix. I still remember as a kid how satisfied I felt when I finally figured out how to get across the huge gap at the beginning of World 1-2, or when I discovered the warp zone hidden in the whale stage. There was so much to find in Mario 2, and the secrets went far beyond finding hidden blocks in the background.
Mario 2 feels like a much more solid step forward than The Lost Levels was, and it's far more accessible for people of different skill levels. It felt different from Super Mario Bros., but it was well made, and like its predecessor, it was a massive success. All things said and done, I think Nintendo made the right decision. Given the choice, I'm glad that the US folks went with this instead of the first Super Mario Bros. 2. How about you guys? Which did you prefer?
Happy fortieth birthday, Mario!
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
A playthrough of Nintendo's 1988 platformer for the NES, Super Mario Bros. 2.
The video shows the entire game without the use of warp zones.
Super Mario Bros. 2 was amazing game that completely broke away from the conventions established by the first Super Mario Bros. game (youtu.be/R59Pb_rVbto). The reason it differed so much was that it is the Americanized version of Japanese disk system game that had nothing to do with Mario. Nintendo of America's Howard Phillips deemed the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 (which was eventually released in the west as "The Lost Levels" in Super Mario All-Stars) likely to be both too difficult and too similar to the first game to appeal to American customers, so the company repurposed and polished up Doki Doki Panic (youtu.be/elZI1YMbu2I), a Famicom Disk System game also created by Nintendo's EAD team. This version of Mario 2 made its way back to Japan years later under the name Super Mario USA, and was also later updated and re-released as part of Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES and as Super Mario Bros. Advance (youtu.be/8Z6M8ncQxb8) on the Game Boy Advance.
The puzzle elements, character selection, and the incredibly bright graphics all made this oddity a sheer joy to play when it was new, and the game is still feels great to play these days. As a kid, I loved the exotic settings, the ability to find secrets in Subcon (the shadowy parallel dimension), and the way each level played so differently depending on who you chose to use.
It wasn't really any easier or harder than the first Super Mario Bros., but the challenge felt very different. The gameplay is much less linear, and there are some unique puzzle elements that have been thrown into the mix. I still remember as a kid how satisfied I felt when I finally figured out how to get across the huge gap at the beginning of World 1-2, or when I discovered the warp zone hidden in the whale stage. There was so much to find in Mario 2, and the secrets went far beyond finding hidden blocks in the background.
Mario 2 feels like a much more solid step forward than The Lost Levels was, and it's far more accessible for people of different skill levels. It felt different from Super Mario Bros., but it was well made, and like its predecessor, it was a massive success. All things said and done, I think Nintendo made the right decision. Given the choice, I'm glad that the US folks went with this instead of the first Super Mario Bros. 2. How about you guys? Which did you prefer?
Happy fortieth birthday, Mario!
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
![Final Fantasy III (SNES) Playthrough [2 of 3]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tJQtMmT9VfE/mqdefault.jpg "Final Fantasy III (SNES) Playthrough [2 of 3]
A playthrough of Squares 1994 role-playing game for the Super Nintendo, Final Fantasy III.
This video is part two of a three-part playthrough, beginning with the partys return to Narshe following the attack on Vector.
Following the events on the floating continent, the second half of the game begins at 5:55:44, and the video wraps up with odds and ends after defeating Phunbaba in Mobliz.
Part 1: https://youtu.be/wpKEFXrkGzc
Part 3: https://youtu.be/jxS32BHD6Xc
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
![The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) Playthrough [1 of 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/teCKhlWjPVU/mqdefault.jpg "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) Playthrough [1 of 2]
A playthrough of Nintendos 2009 action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
This is the first part of a two-part playthrough, showing from the beginning up through Link and Zeldas arrival at the Fire Temple.
Part two: https://youtu.be/-72pTFCufTY
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the direct sequel to 2007s https://youtu.be/ScHUpO7GG9k, and its the third and final game in The Wind Waker branch of the series overarching timeline.
Ive had this video recorded and ready to go for a long time. The thing that has prevented me from posting it until now is that Ive had no idea what to say about it. I dont find much fun in tearing into a game that obviously had a lot of effort and time invested in it, or one that has such a devoted fan base. That being said, if Im not truthful in expressing my thoughts on a game, theres no point in writing about it in the first place, so Im going to keep this short.
Spirit Tracks is similar to Phantom Hourglass in a lot of ways. The control scheme and the presentation have been refined, you still have an ever-present companion who talks a lot without saying anything substantial, and theres a ton of tedious backtracking. The dungeon layouts and puzzles are better designed, and the story is more engaging, but the game is still insultingly easy, and the overworld is the worst Ive seen in a Zelda game. It takes forever to get anywhere, and because navigation is restricted to literal rails, theres not much to do but fire at random enemies while staring at the scenery for minutes at a time. Its boring, but at least the music is fantastic.
Spirit Tracks is a better version of Phantom Hourglass, and if you liked that one, youll probably like this even more. If youre looking for a classical Zelda adventure, youre barking up the wrong tree.
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
![Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tuSqYzfYBK4/mqdefault.jpg "Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]
Strider Hiryu (PC Engine CD) Playthrough [English]")
