BS Super Mario USA

BS Super Mario USA
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD, St.GIGA
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Super Famicom
Release date	1996 Part 1 - March 31 Part 2 - April 7 Part 3 - April 14 Part 4 - April 21
Genre	Platform
Rating(s)
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	SNES: Satellaview soundlink
Input	Super Nintendo: SNES Controller

BS Super Mario USA is a direct sequel to Super Mario Bros. 2 (known as Super Mario USA in Japan) for the Satellaview, an add-on for the Super Famicom. It was the first Mario platformer game to make use of the Satellaview's Soundlink features. The gameplay and levels are essentially the same as the SNES version of Super Mario Bros. 2, but with numerous added features and a new plot, presented as a sequel to the original game.

General information

The game was released in four installments. In each one, the player is sent to a different SMB2 "World". The goal is seemingly to collect the Gold Mario Statues located in each level, defeat the boss, and then find and beat Wart, who can be battled in any world when going down in any vase while the player is in Subspace. The player can select the levels in any order and return to the levels as often as desired until the "episode" ends at around 50 minutes on the clock.

As the gameplay episode progressed, an audio drama would stream via St. Giga's Satellite radio, which would tell the narrative of the story.

Plot outline

After the events of Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario and friends believe Subcon is all a dream and move on. However, Wart returns and overthrows the King of Subcon in the heroes' absence. Mario and his friends must once again face the forces of Wart, including the Birdo trio, Mouser, Tryclyde, Fryguy and Clawgrip.

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Differences/Additions

• The game has a built-in clock (meant to be in sync with real-time) that has the game start at around :05 minutes in and end at around :50 minutes in.
• The player starts the game as Mario. Character changing is forced in timed events.
• Mario Statues are included. Picking up one of these gives Mario an extra life and fills his life meter. There are three of these in each level, plus one obtainable from the end-of-the-world boss. They are usually out in the open, but sometimes are hidden in Subspace. Levels can be played over again in order to obtain all of the statues. It is unknown whether there is a reward for collecting them all.
• The "Today's Results Screen" temporarily records the Mushrooms, Cherries, Coins, Mario Statues, defeated bosses, and current level.
• A points system was added. Points can be gained, among other things, by defeating enemies in various ways.
• Key sequences in the narrative are accompanied by events that occur in-game. The most common of these are the character portraits at the top of the screen which show which character is talking. Other events may include power-ups, power-downs, obstacle-spawnings, or the revealing of secrets.

Gallery

Gameplay screens

• 

  The game opens with a controller config. This stays on the screen until the timer allows the opening cutscene to play.

• 

  Peach's appearance on the top-left is meant to go along with the radio drama narrative. The game's real-time clock reminded players to pursue gameplay, as events happened at key timed instances.

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  The Result Screen shows the bosses defeated and Mario Statues collected in the level.

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  Toad fighting Wart with Peach in the background.

Cutscenes

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  Ōsama (the king of Subcon), his commander, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and a Golden Mario statue.

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  The return of Wart and his army.

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  Mario and Toad fighting Wart, Birdo, and the 8 bits off with vegetables.

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  A Red Birdo dreams of Ōsama's commander and the Subcon fairies.

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  Birdo and Mouser on a grassland.

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  Birdo, a Red Birdo and Tryclyde on a desert region.

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  A Red Birdo on a Whale and Fryguy on an icy land.

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  Wart and his army.

Release info

Being episodic, BS Super Mario USA was released on a weekly basis.

The four episodes were premiered during these weeks:

Date/Date Range	Japanese	Rōmaji	Translation
1996/03/31～1996/04/05	ＢＳスーパーマリオＵＳＡ　パワーチャレンジ 第１回 「あたしたち、スーパーキャサリンズ」の巻	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-1-kai "Atashitachi, Super-Katherines!" no Maki	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Episode 1 Volume of "We, the Super-Birdos!"
1996/04/07～1996/04/12	ＢＳスーパーマリオＵＳＡ　パワーチャレンジ 第２回 「ガブチョもびっくり流砂の秘密」の巻	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-2-kai "Gabucho mo Bikkuri Ryuusha no Himitsu" no Maki	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Episode 2 Volume of "Tryclyde also surprises, Secrets of the Quicksand"
1996/04/14～1996/04/19	ＢＳスーパーマリオＵＳＡ　パワーチャレンジ 第３回 「氷の海でヒーボーボー」の巻	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-3-kai "Kouri no Umi de Hībōbō" no Maki	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Episode 3 Volume of "Fry Guy at the Sea of Ice"
1996/04/21～1996/04/26	ＢＳスーパーマリオＵＳＡ　パワーチャレンジ 第４回 「マムーの罠，危うしマリオブラザーズ」の巻	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-4-kai "Mamū no Wana, Ayaushi Mario Burazāzu" no Maki	BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Episode 4 Volume of "Wart's Trap; Watch Out, Super Mario Bros."

The timeframe in which these episodes were featured was likely 7:00 PM. They were rebroadcast multiple times, but as a full schedule of releases for the Satellaview is not available it is uncertain exactly how many.

Music

The Satellaview's Soundlink-capabilities allowed music to be streamed via Satellite radio. This game used this to enhance its soundtrack with songs that could not be performed via the Super Famicom's soundchips.

As the game played, music from the Super Mario World soundtrack and Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3, Hop! Step! Jump! - as well as new, original compositions and jingles - would be used in place of the traditional Super Mario USA music. Surprisingly, none of the music is actually remixed or arranged from the original Super Mario USA.

Staff

Main article: List of BS Super Mario USA staff

Directed by

• Toshiaki Suzuki

Programmed by

• Shigehiru Kasamatsu
• Yasunori Taketani
• Nobuhito Koganezawa.

Trivia

• The cutscenes depict Mario and Luigi wearing their shirts and overalls in their original color scheme, despite that they have been swapped since 1988.

External links

Footage of game recordings from actual broadcasts. These show how the game plays and the audio drama that accompanies it.

• Footage #1
• Footage #2