Retrospective When 2 Was Weirder Than 1

Super Mario Bros. 2, the total deviation.

- David

WHEN IT COMES to video game sequels today, fans usually have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Odds are any "2" is going to be something similar to the original "1," but with better graphics and sound - maybe a couple of tweaks or twists to keep things interesting, if we're lucky.

Back in the '80s, though, that was not the case just as often as it was. In fact, Nintendo has made a habit of bucking expectations going almost al the way back to the beginning, with Donkey Kong Jr. flipping the script and not only making a villain out of Mario for the one and only time so far in his career, but putting the original antagonist's son into the role of the hero.

While Nintendo has been known to flip the script (or table, if you'd prefer) for better or for worse when it comes to sequels, there is perhaps one example which stands head and shoulders above al others: Super Mario Bros. 2.