《超級瑪利歐兄弟2/金牌瑪利》（Super Mario Bros. 2）是任天堂於1986年在日本發售的動作平台遊戲，最初僅在Famicom Disk System（磁碟系統）上推出。並非海外玩家熟悉的版本，而是被稱為「失落的關卡」（The Lost Levels）的作品，與1988年在北美推出的《Super Mario Bros. 2》完全不同。是對《超級瑪利歐兄弟》原版的直接續作，延續並強化前作的設計理念，以更加嚴苛的難度和關卡設計挑戰玩家的操作技術和耐心。

劇情設定與前作幾乎相同，並未做太多改動。庫巴（Bowser）再度侵略蘑菇王國，綁架碧姬公主（Princess Peach），瑪利歐和路易吉兄弟再度踏上拯救公主的旅程。雖然故事情節簡單，但遊戲的重點並不在於劇情，而在於關卡設計和玩法上的極端挑戰。

沿用與前作相同的基本操作方式，包括移動、跳躍、踩踏敵人、吃蘑菇變大，以及收集火焰花以投擲火球擊敗敵人。然而，增加一些細微但重要的變化，使關卡更加多樣且困難。一個顯著的改變是，可以選擇使用瑪利歐或路易吉進行遊戲，兩者的能力有所不同。

瑪利歐的操控較為平衡，跳躍穩定且反應靈敏，適合大多數關卡。路易吉擁有更高的跳躍能力，但移動時較為滑溜，容易在狹窄的平臺上失足。這種差異為遊戲增添不同的挑戰方式，鼓勵玩家反覆嘗試。

保留經典的道具系統，包括超級蘑菇、火焰花和無敵星星，但也加入一些新的機制，例如毒蘑菇（Poison Mushroom）。毒蘑菇外觀與普通蘑菇相似，但若誤食會縮小或直接殺死玩家，這大幅增加整體的挑戰性。此外，風向變化和隱形方塊的設計也使玩家必須時刻保持高度警覺，防止在跳躍時意外墜落。

關卡設計以高難度著稱，這與前作相較之下顯得更加苛刻和不容錯誤。敵人配置更加密集，陷阱和跳躍挑戰更加複雜，某些場景甚至需要精確計算跳躍距離和時機才能通過。例如，部分平台極小或懸浮於高空，一旦失足便會直接死亡。

風的元素是本作的特色之一，特定關卡中會出現強風，使得角色在跳躍或移動時受風力影響而偏移。這需要練習在風勢中精確控制角色，否則很容易墜落或撞上敵人。此外，還引入隱藏管道和假目標旗杆，一些關卡會有通向死路的錯誤旗杆，迫使重新尋找正確路線，增加挑戰性。

本作的最終世界為「World 8」，通關後，還可以挑戰更加困難的「World 9」和「World A-D」，這些額外關卡不僅關卡設計更加刁鑽，敵人配置和陷阱也更加密集，被視為對技巧的終極考驗。

當年在日本市場發售後獲得相當大的關注，並吸引大量熱愛挑戰的玩家。然而，由於挑戰的難度極高，並非所有玩家都能順利通關，甚至被稱為「硬核玩家的遊戲」。部分玩家認為遊戲過於嚴苛，缺乏前作的輕鬆娛樂性，因此該作在市場上的評價呈兩極化。

在海外市場，任天堂最初認為這款遊戲的難度過高，可能無法被美國市場接受，因此選擇不直接引進。作為替代，1988年在北美推出的《Super Mario Bros. 2》實際上是改編自日本遊戲《夢工廠大冒險》（Doki Doki Panic），將角色替換為瑪利歐等人，並重新包裝為新作。真正的《超級瑪利歐兄弟2》直到1993年才以「失落的關卡」（The Lost Levels）之名收錄於《超級瑪利歐合輯》（Super Mario All-Stars）中，正式登陸海外市場。

儘管遊戲難度成為爭議焦點，該作仍然對後續的瑪利歐系列產生深遠影響。許多關卡設計理念和機制在後續作品中得到延續或改進，而毒蘑菇等元素也逐漸成為該系列的重要象徵之一。此外，這次的市場成功證明平台遊戲在挑戰性方面的潛力，並激發其他開發者創作更多難度較高的作品。

這是充滿挑戰與創意的經典續作，儘管其高難度使其成為「粉絲向」作品，但它在設計和系統創新方面的成就不容忽視。作為該系列的重要一環，這款遊戲不僅展現任天堂對平台遊戲的深厚理解，也鞏固瑪利歐在電子遊戲界的地位，至今仍被許多玩家視為極具挑戰性的經典之作。

Super Mario Bros. 2 (known as The Lost Levels outside Japan) is an action platformer developed by Nintendo and released in Japan in 1986, exclusively for the Famicom Disk System. Unlike the version familiar to overseas players, this game is the direct sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. and presents a significantly more challenging experience, focusing on difficult level design and advanced player skills. It differs entirely from the Super Mario Bros. 2 released in North America in 1988.

The plot remains almost identical to the original game, with minimal changes. Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom once again and kidnaps Princess Peach, prompting Mario and Luigi to set off on a journey to rescue her. Although the story is simple, the game's core lies in its level design and gameplay, which push players to their limits.

The basic mechanics—moving, jumping, stomping on enemies, collecting mushrooms to grow, and using fire flowers to shoot fireballs—are retained from the original. However, several subtle but significant changes make the levels more diverse and challenging. A key addition is the option to choose between Mario and Luigi, each with distinct abilities.

Mario offers balanced controls with stable and responsive jumping, suitable for most levels. Luigi, on the other hand, can jump higher but has slippery movement, making him prone to falling off narrow platforms. This difference adds a layer of variety and encourages players to experiment with both characters.

The classic power-ups such as the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman (invincibility) return, but new elements like the Poison Mushroom are introduced. The Poison Mushroom resembles the Super Mushroom but shrinks or instantly kills the player if collected, significantly increasing the game's overall difficulty. Additional mechanics, including wind currents and invisible blocks, require constant attention and careful movement to avoid accidental falls.

The level design is notoriously difficult, surpassing the original game's challenges. Enemy placements are denser, traps and platforming segments are more intricate, and some areas demand precise jump timing and distance calculations. For instance, some platforms are tiny or suspended high in the air, and a single mistake results in immediate death.

Wind is a notable feature in some levels, causing characters to drift during jumps or movement, requiring players to master control in challenging environments. Hidden pipes and fake goalposts also appear, with some leading to dead ends, forcing players to find the correct route through trial and error.

The game’s final stage is World 8, but after completing it, players can unlock even harder stages in World 9 and World A-D. These extra levels push difficulty to the extreme with more traps and densely packed enemies, serving as the ultimate test of skill.

Upon release, Super Mario Bros. 2 drew significant attention in Japan and attracted players seeking a challenge. However, its high difficulty led to polarized reception, with some players praising its intensity while others found it overly punishing and less relaxing than its predecessor.

Nintendo decided against releasing the game in North America, believing its difficulty might alienate the American audience. Instead, Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES in 1988 was a rebranded version of the Japanese game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, with characters replaced by Mario and friends. The authentic Super Mario Bros. 2 was not available outside Japan until 1993, when it was included in Super Mario All-Stars for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) under the title The Lost Levels.

Despite the controversy over its difficulty, Super Mario Bros. 2 left a lasting impact on the Mario series. Many level design concepts and mechanics were carried over or refined in future installments. The Poison Mushroom, for example, became a recurring element in the franchise. Additionally, the game's success demonstrated the market potential for challenging platformers, inspiring developers to create more difficult titles.

This challenging yet creative sequel is considered a "fans-only" title due to its punishing difficulty, but its innovations and design achievements cannot be overlooked. As a crucial part of the Mario series, Super Mario Bros. 2 highlights Nintendo’s expertise in platforming game design and solidifies Mario’s place in gaming history. To this day, it remains a classic revered by players who seek a formidable challenge.