The Lost Levels features classic Mario action at the right price – if you're a masochist.
The game that American fans know as Super Mario Bros. 2 is actually a localized version of Yume Koujou Doki Doki Panic. Personalities from the Mario universe replaced generic characters from Doki Doki Panic, and gamers were treated to a fun, light-hearted romp through Subcon. In Japan, the true sequel to Super Mario Bros. was released on the Famicom Disk System, boasting slightly updated graphics and an incredibly steep learning curve. Nintendo considered the game too difficult for Western audiences, and our only experience with the real Super Mario Bros. 2 has been through ports on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy Color.
At first glance, The Lost Levels looks and feels just like the original Super Mario Bros. Aside from some minor graphical tweaks and the ability to play as Luigi, your first impressions of both games would be largely the same. As one of the Mario Brothers, your task is to make it to the flag at the end of each level by pouncing on Goombas, kicking turtle shells, and warping through pipes. Even the familiar musical themes have been lifted directly from the plumber's first outing. Unfortunately, the similarities end there. The Lost Levels is a masochistic take on a classic formula. Poor enemy placement, giant gaps, blind leaps, and a noticeable lack of power-ups taunt the player at every turn. The game sadistically breaks Mario conventions by introducing poisonous mushrooms that kill you or warp pipes that take you back to earlier levels. Challenge often feels artificial, as luck and memorization take priority over skill.
If you're the type of gamer who enjoys torment, trying levels again and again until you memorize every nuance, then the 600 Wii points you'll drop on The Lost Levels will be money well spent. If, however, you measure success with proficiency rather than perseverance, it's better to satisfy your curiosity with one of the easier SNES or GBC ports.