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I remember liking the ending of SMB2, but then, I was like seven years old, so I didn't really know much about plot progression or character development. Still, it was sort of an a-ha moment, because it sort-of-kind-of explained the crazy stuff that went on in SMB2, with villains that never resurfaced.
But then, crazy stuff happens in all of the Super Mario Bros. games, so it's not really necessary to say that the crazy stuff happening in SMB2 wasn't really happening.
But then, crazy stuff happens in all of the Super Mario Bros. games, so it's not really necessary to say that the crazy stuff happening in SMB2 wasn't really happening.
I'm still going with my theory that everything after the first Super Mario Brothers game are dreams.
Anyway, if there's one thing that's better than the "it was all a dream" was the good ol' "omg he/she/they were really dead". The first Silent Hill is an example of this and it's done so brilliantly.
Anyway, if there's one thing that's better than the "it was all a dream" was the good ol' "omg he/she/they were really dead". The first Silent Hill is an example of this and it's done so brilliantly.
The writing is kind of on the wall that it's all a dream when you first crack open the instruction manual. Not that I'd expect any little kid to get this, but the name of the world Mario and co. travel in is called SubCon, an abbreviated take on the word "subconscious."
Oh, and there's no such thing as shortcomings in Super Mario Bros. 2. That game is magic compared to the hatefuck that was released in Japan.
Oh, and there's no such thing as shortcomings in Super Mario Bros. 2. That game is magic compared to the hatefuck that was released in Japan.
Completely agreed. That was a pretty lame ending. I am glad that they released Mario 2 to America through Wii VC and Super Mario All stars though. It's still a lame cop out to have a whole game be a dream.
The music at the end is some of the best ever in a game. I'd beat the game just to listen to the song.
"If you ask a bunch of videogame fans on the street about Super Mario Bros. 2, I bet the same amount that knows how the game ends (read: all of them) will agree that the ending was rather disappointing and ultimately out of place."
Actually, I think they'd say, "dude, it's a Mario game. You actually gave a shit about the story? Go play Final Fantasy, asshole."
The dream thing was much more interesting than having some ungrateful fuck congratulating you and making you start all over again. It's probably my favorite Mario ending just because it was different. Besides, you got to see a new sprite in the form of those winged bastards that carried your hero across the screen. That's always exciting.
Actually, I think they'd say, "dude, it's a Mario game. You actually gave a shit about the story? Go play Final Fantasy, asshole."
The dream thing was much more interesting than having some ungrateful fuck congratulating you and making you start all over again. It's probably my favorite Mario ending just because it was different. Besides, you got to see a new sprite in the form of those winged bastards that carried your hero across the screen. That's always exciting.
I have to agree with Mxyzptlk - as much of a copout the ending is, getting to see Mario cuddle down in his nightcap (still sporting a trademark M) is worth the playthrough of the game.
As a kid, I really don't remember being disappointed. At that age, actually finishing a whole game got me so excited that I more or less ignored the actual ending.
As a kid, I really don't remember being disappointed. At that age, actually finishing a whole game got me so excited that I more or less ignored the actual ending.
The was just so silly and out of place that the ending didn't really matter to me. I mean you were throwing vegetables at midgets in masks, throwing potions to reveal strange dream world like areas and you fought a bird thing that spit eggs at you. It was just so fun and silly that I forgot to care about the ending.
@kawitchate
I thought Super Mario World had a pretty good ending for a Mario game.
@kawitchate
I thought Super Mario World had a pretty good ending for a Mario game.
Not only did Doki give us Birdo, but also Shy-guy's and Bob-Ombs which are now an essential part of the Mario universe.
although it was a huge copout, it was truly very genius of Nintendo to explain why things were so strange.
I always liked to think that even though it was happening in his head, it was still real. Maybe it was an out-of-body experience for him, maybe he was controlling your character through subconscious telepathy, and maybe if you don't defeat Wart, Mario can never dream again. In the immortal words of Professor Dumbledore, "Just because it's in your head, why should that mean it's not real?"
I still maintain that one should never end with "and it was all a dream" in any medium, because it forces the gamer/viewer/reader into facing the fact that they just wasted part of their life on a meaningless venture.
Haha, I was such (and am still) a nerd. The only thing I thought was how amazing the graphic of Mario sleeping looked for the time. Looked like a cartoon!
Make your next Memory Card the best NES ending of all time in your opinion (next to the ones you may or may not have already covered) to counter this one.
I agree with necros. Any absorbing plot in a game, book, movie will already have a letdown of it not being real after finishing it. There's no reason to force the player through that experience twice, especially at the expense of a satisfying conclusion.
I'm not sure how much of a copout it really is... The whole game hints at it from the start. Did you ever think about why the world is called Subcon?
Here's a hint: Subconscious.
Of course, it's a Mario game, so the story really doesn't matter. It's the journey that counts. But the idea that it was a dream world... was probably Nintendo's way of not committing to re-using any of the elements in the game later. Just In Case, as they say.
Here's a hint: Subconscious.
Of course, it's a Mario game, so the story really doesn't matter. It's the journey that counts. But the idea that it was a dream world... was probably Nintendo's way of not committing to re-using any of the elements in the game later. Just In Case, as they say.
We always got told in English class never to use that technique. Partly because it's a cop out and partly because it frustrates the reader. It is totally annoying when you think you have achieved something and then it turns out to be completely false and you lose your connection with it. Sometimes however it can work, possibly in this game I'm not sure, havent played it.
Yeah it was a dream but I always tought that SubCon was the world of dreams, so what he did really happened, just not in the real world. And maybe a couple shy guys and birdos escaped so that's why we have them now and also two starly(the black stars if that's what they are called) that appeared in bowser's castle in mario world. Anyway SMB2 will always have a spot in my hearth because it's the first game I played ever and it's also the first one I finished. I played that with my mom and at night when I was sleeping my mom played with my dad to know what to do next, that was the good times.
And what if it were made clear in the intro that all of this were a dream? What would your expectations be then?
They did a similar thing with Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, but the "it was a dream" device works in Link's Awakening because:
a. In the case that you didn't finish the game, Link would have never woken up.
b. It still leaves you wondering a little if it was real.
a. In the case that you didn't finish the game, Link would have never woken up.
b. It still leaves you wondering a little if it was real.
I'm with Necros. It's rare that "it was all a dream" is ever implemented successfully and meaningfully. It usually just empties all meaning out of what preceded it. And I believe that SMB2 is the best of the Mario games, so it especially feels cheap.
What meaning was in Super Mario Bros. 2? Was the game instantly less fun after discovering the ending? That's the point of the game. It's not to get emotionally attached to the character where it would be a copout, but to have fun. How does the ending negate this?
The game was fun and hard at the same time but still I to felt years leater it was a cop out ending. Back then I didn't give it a second tought about the ending either but now looking back at it it was a cop out but hey I could always hope that the zelda games for the 3do were a bad dream to.
I got told in english class to never think that the storyline of a mario game is in the least bit important.
I got told in English to never say "I got told."
However, I was told that maybe some of you guys didn't pay a whole hell of a lot of attention in English class.
However, I was told that maybe some of you guys didn't pay a whole hell of a lot of attention in English class.
Each one of these things reminds me that I still need to finish Final Fantasy 4, 6 and Chrono Trigger.
Way to make me feel guilty Chad.
On another note, while the ending kinda made sense, it also really sucked. I mean, Mario can go to place inhabited by plants with grass skirts that are as ugly as sin and clean up the world with a giant sentient water pistol, but Wart was all a dream?
Fuck that shit.
Way to make me feel guilty Chad.
On another note, while the ending kinda made sense, it also really sucked. I mean, Mario can go to place inhabited by plants with grass skirts that are as ugly as sin and clean up the world with a giant sentient water pistol, but Wart was all a dream?
Fuck that shit.
Although not a lot happens, the ending of Super Mario Bros. 2 is easily one of the most memorable videogame moments of all time.
Actually, I forgot about the ending. Which contradicts that sentence. :O)
Actually, I forgot about the ending. Which contradicts that sentence. :O)
I always thought it was a case of Mario being stuck in SubCon (ie, his subconcious), and defeating Wart and freeing the SubConians (ie, his mind) was the only way to keep living.
I'm waiting for [i]Newhart: The Game[i] to come along and finally do this technique some justice in videogame storytelling.
I just finished Phantom Hourglass and yet again I got a very similar ending akin to Link's Awakening. The whole it was a dream but it really happened because segments of the dream show up anyways. Nintendo really needs to try something innovative like giving a non-predictable ending.
But then again I remember that the intended audience of Nintendo are kids who don't have the concept of over used plot developments.
But then again I remember that the intended audience of Nintendo are kids who don't have the concept of over used plot developments.
i hate how everyone is complaining about the whole "it's a dream ending"
what really bothered me is the fact that in the credits they call Birdo by the wrong name.
She has Ostro in the credits, and the ostrich looking thing above her is Birdo.
what really bothered me is the fact that in the credits they call Birdo by the wrong name.
She has Ostro in the credits, and the ostrich looking thing above her is Birdo.
Great Memory Card.
So how about this though: has any other game pulled this? Its definitely worth a memory for the fact that its unique, or at least very rare.
Yeah, reading it now, it does kind of follow. Subcon, and so on.
So how about this though: has any other game pulled this? Its definitely worth a memory for the fact that its unique, or at least very rare.
Yeah, reading it now, it does kind of follow. Subcon, and so on.
This ending also represents that moment in the industry, where there wasnt the internet, or wikipedia, and gamers werent' ravenous enough to feel duped or somehow cheated by the idea of slapping Mario over another IP. The ending could be considered maybe a little apologetic, for when those older gamers looked back to try and figure out what they actually played. But also at once "insulting" as Chad put it.
This game also set the precedent, for Mario being an appearance whore, and set the stage for Mario being plastered on anything and turning it into gold . . .
This game also set the precedent, for Mario being an appearance whore, and set the stage for Mario being plastered on anything and turning it into gold . . .
@GoldBond,
I in no way said the game was less fun. In fact, I love that game (which I mentioned multiple times in the article). I just think the ending was rather strange. If Super Mario Bros. 2 was a completely original game (and not Doki Doki Panic with a Mario spit shine) I may think the ending was cute and different. But Nintendo obviously added it to explain why the game had nothing to do with any of the other Mario games. That's all I was saying. I still love the game. A lot. :) :)
I in no way said the game was less fun. In fact, I love that game (which I mentioned multiple times in the article). I just think the ending was rather strange. If Super Mario Bros. 2 was a completely original game (and not Doki Doki Panic with a Mario spit shine) I may think the ending was cute and different. But Nintendo obviously added it to explain why the game had nothing to do with any of the other Mario games. That's all I was saying. I still love the game. A lot. :) :)
Fair enough. Just as long as you understand that there are no shortcomings to Super Mario Bros. 2. It's a absolutely brilliant game. Hopefully Nintendo realizes this and makes a New Super Mario Bros. 2 for DS.
I loved SMB2, but thinking about it now, I too have concerns about the whole "it was all a dream" bit. Yet the fact that a lot of characters were introduced via this game, ie. shy-guys, birdo, pokey, etc. which are now part of the Mario canon.
But I guess that's acceptable, rather than retconning it out of existence. However, Mario was never a series concerned with maintaining continuity. That's Castlevania's job.
I wonder if another doki doki panic game were to be made, if it would be allowed to use the characters from SMB2? Or were their designs changed when the game was turned into SMB2, making them unique?
But I guess that's acceptable, rather than retconning it out of existence. However, Mario was never a series concerned with maintaining continuity. That's Castlevania's job.
I wonder if another doki doki panic game were to be made, if it would be allowed to use the characters from SMB2? Or were their designs changed when the game was turned into SMB2, making them unique?
does anyone know the ending of doki doki panic? did it just end in the celebration or did it cut to one of the characters dreaming of super mario brothers?
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