I always liked SMB2. I have to say, I think it's much better than the Lost Levels. Lost Levels just isn't as well put together as SMB. I agree it was better to put out SMB2 outside of Japan--it's pretty much what started Nintendo's trend of putting out new, different spins on sequels, rather than just retreading the same game, which is what Lost Levels does.

Yeah, I always felt lost levels was only hard because of poor level design.

Ah, Super Mario USA... It seems that most either hate it or love it, but not a lot of in-betweeners exist. Not unlike the love/hate directed at Adventure of Link, actually. Personally, I'm on the "like it" side of the fence (as I am with Adventure of Link, actually). It's not perfect, but what is? At least it tried something different and interesting in a market that was rapidly degrading into games whose design philosophy could be described as "let's be like Super Mario Bros.". And it did more to define the Mario universe than any other Mario game has, which is pretty ironic given its ostensibly dream-based setting.

I like SMB2, but I love SMB and SMB3.

I decided to record all of Super Mario USA's impact on Mario series.

Character traits introduced to the series:
* Mario's overweight form
* Luigi's tall form
* Luigi's flutter-kick and slippery control
* Peach's floating abilities

Recurring characters introduced to the series:
* Bob-omb
* Shy Guy
* Pokey
* Birdo

Features introduced to the series:
* Multiple playable characters besides Mario and Luigi
* Differentiated character abilities
* The ability to backtrack in levels
* No time limits

Just try and name one Mario game that's had that many traits inherited by future titles in the series that isn't Super Mario USA. Only the original can claim to have had a similar impact, and it started the series.

Super Mario Bros. 2 NA Version? WTH?

Ohhh, you mean TOAD VS. WART '88. Yeah, that was a good one.

I like the game too. That game really brought the Mario characters to life. They each seemed to have their own personality. In a list of all my favorite Mario games, this one probably ends up pretty far down though.

Ahhh SMB2NA, i remember everyone asking why it was so different, i was the only one with the answer in my neighborhood thanks to a chinese friend who actually had Doki Doki Panic and SMB2J and i played them in his house before the SMB2NA launch...

I like SMB2J because is a really good challenge, that being said, I think SMB2NA is a better game than SMB2J in terms of being on the Super Mario series, and in Japan (when it was launched as Super Mario USA and remade in the All-Stars and in the SM Advance series) they really liked the game, beacuse of that you see elements of the game in World, 64, Yoshi's Island, RPG, New SMB, Advance Series, even in The Legend of Zelda... And personally, the Ninjis are one of my favorite characters on the Super Mario series...

BTW, Shigeru Miyamoto was the creator and Koji Kondo composed the music, what else do you want?

SMB3

Overworld to access levels

Automatic Scrolling sections

Thwomps

Giant/Mini level

Boos

Skeleton Koopas

Magikoopa

More then four levels per act

Toad assistance/houses

Music Blocks

Blocks that appear and disappear with pow.

Fortress

Boom Boom

Chomps

Dry Bones

Missle Bills

Flying Goombas

Tanooki Suit

Racoon Tail - First time Mario Flies

Frog

Power-up holding

Arguably the best back story up until Galaxy

Koopa Kids

Walls and ceiling that move to crush.

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...

Edit: I just wanted to add that I agree about SMB2NA being important but I got challenged.

My most played Mario game ever. Truly fantastic. Only SMB3 gets close.