Pros: A touched up Super Mario All-Stars version of SMB2, maybe touched a little too much... up... I do like the improved presentation here and there, the character select screen, the hidden Yoshi eggs, the added effects like large rotating enemies and platforms, it's neat.
Cons: The voices get annoying, and I find it especially strange how Birdo's voice sounds way too much like a middle-aged human woman. Why'd they have to do that? At least put her voice through a filter, like they did in Mario Tennis 64 a year earlier. Anyway, I get it's a showcase for GBA's tech, as this was its premier launch game... What a strange choice, SMB2/USA being the launch showcase game. I guess perhaps this was meant to be a Super Mario Bros. Deluxe on Game Boy Color follow-up, maybe. Also, a little nitpick, but for some reason I got it into my head that after I'd found every Yoshi egg, that, I dunno, I could play as Yoshi?? Is that my fault? Should I not have hoped for that? I feel like the game set me up for that, and with a new version, I hoped for a hefty new addition, like a new playable character... Nah.
What it means to me: My bro and I actually passed on this one at launch, considering we already had the All-Stars version, we thought... why bother? We got it a year or so later for Christmas anyhow, and it was alright. We mostly played the really fun Mario Bros. multiplayer game, a fun little inclusion.
Cons: The voices get annoying, and I find it especially strange how Birdo's voice sounds way too much like a middle-aged human woman. Why'd they have to do that? At least put her voice through a filter, like they did in Mario Tennis 64 a year earlier. Anyway, I get it's a showcase for GBA's tech, as this was its premier launch game... What a strange choice, SMB2/USA being the launch showcase game. I guess perhaps this was meant to be a Super Mario Bros. Deluxe on Game Boy Color follow-up, maybe. Also, a little nitpick, but for some reason I got it into my head that after I'd found every Yoshi egg, that, I dunno, I could play as Yoshi?? Is that my fault? Should I not have hoped for that? I feel like the game set me up for that, and with a new version, I hoped for a hefty new addition, like a new playable character... Nah.
What it means to me: My bro and I actually passed on this one at launch, considering we already had the All-Stars version, we thought... why bother? We got it a year or so later for Christmas anyhow, and it was alright. We mostly played the really fun Mario Bros. multiplayer game, a fun little inclusion.