BS Super Mario USA

BS Super Mario USA is a follow-up 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 Info
The game was released in four installments. In each one, the player was sent to a different SMB2 "World". The goal was seemingly to collect the Gold Mario Statues located in each level, defeat the boss, and then find and beat Wart, that can be battled in any world when going down in any vase, while the player is in Subspace. The player could select the levels in any order and return to the levels as often as desired until the "episode" ended 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 believed Subcon was all a dream and moved on. However, Wart returned and overthrew 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.

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 off as Mario. Character changing is forcibly done in timed events.
 * An interesting new feature is the addition of Mario Statues. 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.
 * Coins were added to levels.
 * 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 powerups, power-downs, obstacle-spawnings, or the revealing of secrets.

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

The four episodes were premiered during these weeks:

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
Directed by Programmed by
 * Toshiaki Suzuki
 * Shigehiru Kasamatsu
 * Yasunori Taketani
 * Nobuhito Koganezawa.

Cameos

 * In "Satellawalker 2 - Sate Bou wo Sukuedase!", BS Super Mario USA's Event Plaza, the giant Birdo tower, is one of the decaying Event Plaza buildings hidden under the lake.