Developer: Nintendo EAD Publisher: Fuji Television (DDP), Nintendo (SMB2)

Designer:Shigeru Miyamoto Release Date: 7/10/1987 (DDP, Japan), 10/10/1988 (SMB2, US)

I’m sure by now that a many of you know SMB2s dark little secret (though probably less so these days..damned information age). In 1988 the release of the newest Mario game was in fact not a Mario game at all. But a conversion by Nintendo of a game called Yume Kōjō:Doki Doki Panic (“Dream Factory: Heart-Pounding Panic”)- a game based on a story of a family - Papa, Imajin, Lina, and Mama - go out on in adventure in an Arabian novel (known as ‘Subcon’ in SMB2). And of course people feel two ways about this: those who believe that because of the characters were Mario based that it was a true Mario Game. Then there are those who believe that because the game was not designed to be a Mario game from the ground up, it didn’t warrant a ‘real’ Mario label. I suppose both sides have a point. Although Miyamoto did have a heavier involvement in DDP than the actual SMB2 in Japan (the lost levels here).

As for myself -  I hate to say it, but I lean towards the ‘not a Mario game’ slot. For me it has to do with the initial intent (but hey, that’s me).

Anyways. Read More »