Hirokazu Tanaka handled the audio, and created a theme that sticks with you constantly. It’s peppy pacing and addictive hooks are a highlight for the series. While maybe not as influential to pop culture as the level 1 theme from the original Super Mario Bros., it certainly can hold its own.
The Present
If there’s a lost game in the series made by Nintendo, this is it. No one seems to bring this title up in discussions about Mario, and it has to be the radical changes. There’s simply no other reason for it.
Granted, the sprites are unbearably small and it can lead to irritating deaths, Mario Land holds up just as well as the others. The platforming mechanics still maintain their trademark feel, and the level design creates some unique challenges. You’ll need to play through this one twice at minimum to grasp everything even with the shorter than average length.
While fun for their time, the shooting levels do stick out. They’re mostly filled with cheap shots and end level bosses that sound like a sheep when hit. Not only that, they’re some of the most out of place challenges in a traditional 2-D Mario game. There’s a reason this feature was left out of all following efforts. The same goes for the fireball power, which is wonderful in enclosed areas, and completely useless in any level without a ceiling.
Those minor quirks are small problems in this ignored entry to the venerable Mario family. It’s no less playable today than it was nearly 20 years ago.
Facts and notables
None of the enemies would be reappear in future platforming Mario games, and the same goes for the soundtrack.
This is the only Mario game with shooting stages.
Gunpei Yokoi and composer Hirokazu Tanaka would team up for numerous classics, notably Metroid and multiple releases for the Virtual Boy.
Even with the resounding sales success, Mario Land 2 would become a traditional Nintendo platformer, with giant sprites and a far more involving game world.
Article comments
1 - RCM
Gunpey came out for Wonderswan (originally)which Yokoi also had a hand in creating.
Didn't Metroid II pioneer the double jump? I swear it did.
I dig this title, it has a distinct feel and charm when compared to the Miyamoto Marios and is far greater than New SMB for DS.
2 - Matt Paprocki
Yeah, and I'm so glad to see Gunpey branching out too. It's a great design.
3 - Wacky
hey, i love this game it was the first game i ever played on gameboy, it game with it youknow the original fat one, seethrough edition. is it on wii yet? and if not any idea when it will?
4 - Matt Paprocki
Game Boy games aren't on the Virtual Console. Don't know why, but if they eventually add them, I'm sure this would be on of the first.