Retro Review: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for Game Boy

After utterly destroying Super Mario Land, I had but little choice to take on its sequel: Super Mario Land 2. Created four years after its predecessor and following a map similar to that of Super Mario World for Super Nintendo, SML 2 already had the keys for success set in place. As Mario, you make your way across a map trying to collect six golden coins in an attempt to gain entry to the evil Wario's castle (yes, this is the introduction of Wario). The game is pretty self-explanatory and does not include nearly as many secret levels or pathways as Super Mario World. But as far as portable Mario games go, this was definitely the king of its time and still remains towards the top of the scale.

There is very little to no absolutely zero plot in Super Mario Land 2. All you know is that you are supposed to defeat levels and make your way through the mapped out world. As you play, you will begin to learn the specifics of your mission. Eventually you will stumble upon Wario's castle and safely assume that it will be the final battle place; assuming, though, is about the best you can do because there is no plot to back your presumption.

But story is not what Mario is about, right? It's about jumping on enemy after enemy, not falling into pits of lava, and treading through creative worlds aplenty. Super Mario Land 2 is not lacking on any of these features. This game is sure to please you, especially if you enjoyed Super Mario World. And if you enjoyed its predecessor, Super Mario Land, you will love this game, because it improves on almost every aspect (except that you cannot fly in a plane or steer a submarine).

Want another great feature for Super Mario Land 2? You can save your game! This feature was not available in the original Super Mario Land, and any portable gamer who just enjoys getting a Mario fix in before work or before bed will be happy to know that they don't have to complete the whole game but instead just one level before calling it a night.

The gameplay is not too difficult. I found myself beating levels every second . . . until I reached the final castle. It probably took me longer to defeat Wario's castle than it took me to beat the preceding ten levels. Maybe I just had some inability to defeat this level and it will be much easier for you, but I felt it was an exceptionally difficult level for classic Mario as it gave me a decent run for my money. However, I did defeat it eventually, and while there was no really exciting conclusion, it was fun to watch the credits as it always is when conquering a Mario game.

I recommend this game for anyone with any form of Game Boy. It is only about $5-10 used, and a bona fide classic of a game. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!