History YMMV / SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels

* ContestedSequel: Fans either like this game for being an enhanced version of the original with unique and more difficult levels, or dislike it because it's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]] and [[MissionPackSequel doesn't really change much]], or [[TakeaThirdOption another subset of fans]] still enjoy the game despite being ''extremely difficult and similar'' to its predecesor due to its (admittedly few) improvements/differences over the original and still providing a good challenge "for super players" that had mastered the original game, seeing it as a good piece of extra content for it, but still vastly prefer ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' overall and as a proper sequel due to it being a much more unique and innovative brand-new game that was still made as a ''Mario''-style game by the ''Mario'' team themselves and think Nintendo made the right call releasing it first.

* HilariousInHindsight: The reason the game wasn't released internationally was due to the game simply being the first game again, only more difficult, which had Nintendo worried that the game would not sell and cause people to not buy video games again (this was part of the reason why the video game crash occurred). Fast forward 20 years later, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' is released and it's basically the first ''Galaxy'' game again with more gimmicks (some that were cut from the first game) and harder difficulty. While the game did get some criticism for it (principally for removing the beloved story elements from the first game in favor of a much simplified ExcusePlot), most people enjoyed the game and it sold fairly well.

* HilariousInHindsight: The reason the game wasn't released internationally was due to the game simply being the first game again, only more difficult, which had Nintendo worried that the game would not sell and cause people to not buy video games again (this was part of the reason why the video game crash occurred). Fast forward 20 years later, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' is released and it's basically the first ''Galaxy'' game again with more gimmicks (some that were cut from the first game) and harder difficulty. While the game did get some criticism for it, most people enjoyed the game and it sold fairly well.
** Considering how the game ended up being ''by far'' the biggest example in the ''NSMB'' series and 2D ''Mario'' games as a whole of a MissionPackSequel alongside this game, the name for ''New'' ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' ended up being just as fitting as its originally intended name ''New Super Mario Bros. Gold''.

* ContestedSequel: Fans either like this game for being an enhanced version of the original with unique and more difficult levels, or dislike it because it's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]] and [[MissionPackSequel doesn't really change much]], or [[TakeaThirdOption another subset of fans]] still enjoy the game despite being ''extremely difficult and similar'' to its predecesor due to its (admittedly few) improvements/differences over the original and still providing a good challenge "for super players" that had mastered the original game and seeing as a good piece of extra content for it, but still vastly prefer ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' as a proper sequel due to it being a much more unique and innovative brand-new game that was still made as a ''Mario''-style game by the ''Mario'' team themselves and think Nintendo made the right call releasing it first.

* ContestedSequel: Fans either like this game for being an enhanced version of the original with unique and more difficult levels, or dislike it because it's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]] and [[MissionPackSequel doesn't really change much]], or [[TakeaThirdOption another subset of fans]] still enjoy the game despite being extremely difficult and similar to its predecesor due to its (admittedly few) improvements over the original and still providing a good challenge "for super players" that had mastered the original game, just still prefer ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' due to it being a much more unique and innovative brand-new game that was still made as a ''Mario''-style game by the ''Mario'' team themselves and think Nintendo made the right call releasing it first.

* ContestedSequel: Fans either like this game for being an enhanced version of the original with unique and more difficult levels, or dislike it because it's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]] and [[MissionPackSequel doesn't really change much]], or [[TakeaThirdOption another subset of fans]] still enjoy the game despite being extremely difficult and similar to its predecesor due to its improvements over the original and still providing a good challenge "for super players" that had mastered the original game, just still prefer ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' due to it being a much more unique and innovative brand-new game that was still made as a ''Mario''-style game by the ''Mario'' team themselves and think Nintendo made the right call releasing it first.

* AmericansHateTingle: Even after the game was exported to the Americas and Europe, this game rarely appears in fan-made lists of favorite ''Mario'' games, as they do feel the game is either too hard to be enjoyable, or too similar to its predecessor (for what it's worth, Japanese reviewers also criticized the difficulty and similarity).

* AmericansHateTingle: Even after the game was exported to the Americas and Europe, this game rarely appears in fan-made lists of favorite ''Mario'' games, as they do feel the game is either too hard to be enjoyable, or too similar to its predecessor (for what it's worth, Japanese reviewers also complained about the difficulty).

* ContestedSequel: Fans either like this game for being an enhanced version of the original with unique and more difficult levels, or dislike it because it's [[ItsHardSoItSucks too difficult]] and [[MissionPackSequel doesn't really change much]].

* PortingDisaster: The GBC port on ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe'' isn't necessary unplayable, but it strips several features from the original, which is not brought up in-game or in the manual. Luigi as presented in the original is not available (you can switch between him and Mario on the world map, but he's merely a PaletteSwap in this version), Worlds 9 through D are absent, the game uses Super Mario Bros. 1's physics (no [[GoombaSpringboard high bounce out of enemies]]) and graphics, the wind mechanic is removed, and [[EventObscuringCamera the smaller screen introduces some serious]] FakeDifficulty.

* PortingDisaster: The GBC port on ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe'' isn't necessary unplayable, but it strips several features from the original, which is not brought up in-game or in the manual. Luigi as presented in the original is not available (you can switch between him and Mario on the world map, but he's merely a PaletteSwap in this version), Worlds 9 through D are absent, the game uses Super Mario Bros. 1's physics (no [[GoombaSpringboard high bounce out of enemies]]) and graphics, the wind mechanic is removed, and [[CameraScrew the smaller screen introduces some serious]] FakeDifficulty.

* SophomoreSlump: Sitting between the well-regarded [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 first]] entry and the cult classic American ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'', ''The Lost Levels'' is too much of a difficulty spike to be considered a worthy successor. Too much focus was put on making the game hard instead of being innovative, or at least fixing the flaws the original game had.

* SophomoreSlump: Sitting between the well-regarded [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 first]] entry and the cult classic American ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'', ''The Lost Levels'' is too much of a difficulty spike to be considered a worthy successor. Too much focus was put on making the game hard instead of being innovative, or at least fixing the flaws the original game had.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: According to Jeremy Parish and other historians, this was another factor in Nintendo of America's decision not to release the game. By the time it was sent for localization, Nintendo, Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Capcom}} and other companies had already began releasing games with more advanced gameplay and graphics in America (such as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'', ''VideoGame/Metroid1'', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan1''). In addition to being easier, ''Doki Doki Panic'' offered both more complex gameplay and higher-quality graphics than ''The Lost Levels''.

*** 9-1, 9-2, and 9-4 are the easiest underwater levels in either the original or Lost Levels. There are no devilishly-placed coins that try to lure you do your doom, and the enemies are mostly overworld enemies that are ground-bound and easy to swim over or move in easy-to-dodge patterns.
*** 9-3 is a castle level with no tricky platforming and the only enemy a single Bowser.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: According to Jeremy Parish and other historians, this was another factor in Nintendo of America's decision not to release the game. By the time it was sent for localization, Nintendo, Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Capcom}} and other companies had already began releasing games with more advanced gameplay and graphics in America (such as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'', ''VideoGame/Metroid1'', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan1''). In addition to being easier. ''Doki Doki Panic'' offered both more complex gameplay and higher-quality graphics than ''The Lost Levels''.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: According to Jeremy Parish and other historians, this was another factor in Nintendo of America's decision not to release the game. By the time it was sent for localization, Nintendo, Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Capcom}} and other companies had already began releasing games with more advanced gameplay and graphics in America (such as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'', ''VideoGame/Metroid1'', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan1''). In addition to being difficult, the game was also seen as too dated to release compared to its competition.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: According to Jeremy Parish and other historians, this was another factor in Nintendo of America's decision not to release the game. By the time it was sent for localization, Nintendo, Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Capcom}} and other companies had already began releasing games with more advanced gameplay and graphics in America (such as ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'', ''VideoGame/Metroid1'', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan1''). This game, in addition to its difficulty, would been seen as too dated to release compared to its competition..

* SophomoreSlump: As a sequel to the original game, ''The Lost Levels'' is too much of a difficulty spike to be considered a worthy successor. Too much focus was put on making the game hard instead of being innovative, or at least fixing the flaws the original game had. Despite this, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' is often considered the best in the original trilogy, and one of the greatest 2D platformers of all time.

* OlderThanTheyThink: A few of the levels in this game and Peach's poem were present in the arcade game ''VS. Super Mario Bros.'' Also, ''Lost Levels'' is where Luigi gains his distinctive higher jumping and worse traction, before the US ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2''.

* OlderThanTheyThink: A few of the levels in this game and Peach's poem were present in the arcade game ''VS. Super Mario Bros.'' ''Lost Levels'' is also where Luigi gains his distinctive higher jumping and worse traction, before the US ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2''.

* OlderThanTheyThink: A few of the levels in this game and Peach's poem were present in ''VS. Super Mario Bros.'' This game is also where Luigi gains his distinctive higher jumping and worse traction, before the US ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2''.

** 8-2 is much shorter and easier than the levels before and after it, with the only tricky part being a bounce off a Paratroopa to reveal a beanstalk, which leads to the exit. Come to think of it, [[UrExample that might be the first time a secret exit ever made an appearance in a 2D Mario game]].

** As with the [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 first game]], the ''All-Stars'' version adds a audio cue in the maze castles to indicate if you've taken the correct path.

* AnticlimaxBoss:
** As if to throw the player a bone for the game's infuriating difficulty, the Bowser fights are relatively unchanged from the first game. 8-4 adds two Bowsers to the mix (the first one is on a long floor with no ax rather than a bridge, is considered fake, and is a darker color, being the same shade as Koopa Troopas in castle levels), but you can skip the first one, and the game gives you at least two chances to get a secret mushroom or fire flower beforehand (if you can find them and keep them). Just watch out for the warp pipe pit with Invisible blocks prior to the fake Bowser (this pipe will send you back as far as you can go in the level) and the lava pit+piranha plant combo (plus a lone buzzy beetle) preceding the real Bowser.
** In the original FDS version, the Bowsers in worlds A through D don't throw hammers. ''All-Stars'' would correct this and make them the fearsome hammer throwing kind.

* PortingDisaster: The GBC port on ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe'' isn't necessary unplayable, but it strips several features from the original, which is not brought up in-game or in the manual. Luigi as presented in the original is not available (you can switch between him and Mario on the world map, but he's merely a PaletteSwap in this version), worlds 9 through D are absent, the game uses Super Mario Bros. 1's physics (no [[GoombaSpringboard high bounce out of enemies]]) and graphics, the wind mechanic is removed, and [[CameraScrew the smaller screen introduces some serious]] FakeDifficulty.

* World 9 only gives you one life to get through, but if you're good enough to get there, that should be all you need.
** 9-1, 9-2, and 9-4 are the easiest underwater levels in either the original or Lost Levels. There are no devilishly-placed coins that try to lure you do your doom, and the enemies are mostly overworld enemies that are ground-bound and easy to swim over or move in easy-to-dodge patterns.
** 9-3 is a castle level with no tricky platforming and the only enemy a single Bowser.

* SequelDifficultySpike: It's much more difficult than the first game, and more difficult than all subsequent games as well. This is attributed to the game being under the impression that you've played and mastered the first ''Mario'' game. As such, this game features more enemies to deal with at once, introduces new obstacles such as the poison mushrooms, and has overall more deceptive level designs that border on trial and error.