If Super Mario Bros. 2 always felt like the weird Mario game, there is a very good reason. The version released in North America was built from another Nintendo-developed game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, then adapted with Mario characters and other changes for its international release.
Why didn't North America get the original Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2?
Japan received a direct sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. that was much harder and looked very similar to the first game. That game later became widely known outside Japan as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Nintendo instead released a redesigned version of Doki Doki Panic as Super Mario Bros. 2 for players outside Japan.
Why can you pick up enemies in Super Mario Bros. 2?
That mechanic comes from the underlying Doki Doki Panic design. Instead of defeating most enemies by jumping directly on them, players pick up vegetables, enemies and other objects and throw them.
Why are Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad so different?
Each character has noticeably different movement abilities. Peach can float, Luigi has a distinctive high jump, Toad is quick at picking things up, and Mario is the balanced option. That character variety is another major reason the game feels unlike the original Super Mario Bros.
Did Super Mario Bros. 2 still matter to the Mario series?
Absolutely. Even though its development history was unusual, the game introduced or popularized enemies and ideas that became permanent parts of Mario history, including Shy Guys, Bob-ombs and Birdo.
Was the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 ever released in North America?
Yes. The harder Japanese sequel later reached international players under the title Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, including through the Super Nintendo compilation Super Mario All-Stars.
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