Releases

The two versions compared on this page are the following:

Region Title Release date Platform
USA Super Mario Bros. 2 October 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System
Japan スーパーマリオUSA
Super Mario USA
9/14/1992 Nintendo Famicom

As you might have heard already, the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 came from modifying a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. About four years later, this version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in Japan as Super Mario USA. (Speaking of Doki Doki Panic, we also did a special on the changes from Doki Doki Panic to Super Mario Bros. 2.)

Since the Super Mario USA manual leaves out a lot of enemies, some of the Japanese names in the comparisons below come from two additional sources: the Doki Doki Panic manual and Nintendo's official Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia. The English names are from the SMB2 manual and Nintendo Power's Super Mario Bros. 2: Inside Out guide.

Title screen

Super Mario USA's title and story screens have a sepia-toned background, which was borrowed from the Bonus Chance slot game. Also, "1992" was added to the copyright notice.

Super Mario Bros. 2Super Mario USA

Characters

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
ルイージRuījiLuigiLuigi
マリオMarioMarioMario
ピーチ姫Pīchi HimePrincess PeachPrincess Toadstool
キノピオKinopioKinopioToad

Enemies

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
トンドルTondoruTondoruAlbatoss
ターボンTābonTābonAutobomb
トンダリヤピンクTondariya PinkuTondariya PinkBeezo - Pink *
トンダリヤレッドTondariya ReddoTondariya RedBeezo - Red
ボブBobuBobBob-Omb
ガラゲーロGaragēroGaragēroCobrat
ナカボンNakabonNakabonFlurry
ターペンTāpenTāpenHoopster
ハックンAHakkun AHakkun ANinji - 1
ハックンBHakkun BHakkun BNinji - 2
ダウチョDauchoDauchoOstro
ポンキーPonkīPonkīPanser
カメーンKamēnKamēnPhanto
ドドリゲスDodorigesuDodorigesuPidgit
サンボSanboSanboPokey
ハリマンネンHarimannenHarimannenPorcupo
ヘイホーピンクHeihō PinkuHeihō PinkShyguy - Pink
ヘイホーレッドHeihō ReddoHeihō RedShyguy - Red
ムーチョグレーMūcho GurēMūcho GraySnifit - Gray
ムーチョピンクMūcho PinkuMūcho PinkSnifit - Pink
ムーチョレッドMūcho ReddoMūcho RedSnifit - Red
スパックSupakkuSupakkuSpark
トトスTotosuTotosuTrouter
リートンRītonRītonTweeter
Bosses
キャサリンKyasarinCatherineBirdo
チョッキーChokkīChokkīClawgrip
ヒーボーボーHībōbōHībōbōFryguy
マスクゲートMasuku GētoMask GateMask Gate
ドン・チュルゲDon ChurugeDon ChurugeMouser
ガプチョGapuchoGapuchoTryclyde
マムーMamūMamūWart
Notes
  • Albatoss: His Japanese name "Tondoru" comes from kondoru (condor).
  • Beezo: Though a pink Beezo is listed in the manuals, neither game has one. This error comes from the Doki Doki Panic manual's gray Beezo entry, which includes a screenshot of a pink Beezo that doesn't appear in the actual game. For the SMB2 manual, NOA kept the old screenshot and renamed the enemy "Beezo - Pink."
  • Clawgrip: In both versions, the ending sequence calls him "Clawglip."
  • Cobrat: "Garagēro" is from garagara, which represents a rattling sound.
  • Hoopster: In both versions, the ending sequence calls him "Hoopstar."
  • Ostro: "Daucho" is a rearrangement of dachou (ostrich).
  • Shyguy: Now known as "Shy Guy," he was also called "Shy-Guy" in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Tetris Attack. His Japanese name "Heihō" is likely derived from hohei (foot soldier).
  • Spark: "Supakku" is derived from supāku (spark).
  • Tryclyde: In both versions, the ending sequence calls him "Triclyde." His Japanese name "Gapucho" might be from gabugabu (gulping down), since he was originally called "Gabucho" (ガブチョ) in the DDP manual.
  • Wart: "Mamū" comes from muma, which is Japanese for "nightmare."
  • The following enemies appeared in the SMB2 manual, but not the Super Mario USA manual: Autobomb, Bob-omb, Cobrat, Hoopster, Ninji, Ostro, Panser, Phanto, Pokey, Spark, and Tweeter.

Items

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
1UP1UP1UP1-UP
バクダンBakudanBombBomb
チェリーCherīCherriesCherries
コインKoinCoinCoin
水晶玉SuishōdamaCrystal BallCrystal Ball
カギKagiKeyKey
魔法の薬Mahō no KusuriMagic PotionMagic Potion
きのこKinokoMushroomMushroom
きのこブロックKinoko BurokkuMushroom BlockMushroom Block
POWPOWPOWPOW
ロケットRokettoRocketRocket
小さいハートChiisai HātoSmall HeartSmall Heart
HoshiStarStarman
ストップウォッチSutoppuwotchiStopwatchStopwatch
こうらKōraShellTurtle Shell
はずれ野菜Hazure YasaiUnripened VegetableUnripened Vegetable
野菜YasaiVegetableVegetable
Notes
  • 1-UP: The SMB2 manual calls it "1 UP" without the hyphen.
  • Magic Potion: The Inside Out guide uses just "Potion."
Special thanks: The Chef.