BS Super Mario USA

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 Super Mario Bros. 2 "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 jar 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 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. Both the protagonists and their foes can use the power of the stars (satellites) to their advantage. In addition, Mouser has stolen the gold Mario statues, symbols of peace, and hid them throughout Subcon.

Differences and additions

 * The game has a built-in clock (meant to be in sync with real-time) that has the game start at :06 minutes in and end at :50 minutes in.
 * The player starts and ends the game as Mario but 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.
 * Entering any jar in Subspace will lead to Wart's chamber.
 * 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. The top left is occupied by the good guys while the top right are the enemy bosses. These characters are engaged in off-screen shenanigans that can affect what happens on-screen:
 * Swap the player's character, in a few instances multiple times within a minute
 * Erase all enemies on-screen or turn them into Small Hearts, bombs, or other enemies
 * Slow down all enemies (same sound effect as a Stopwatch)
 * Turn all vegetables into coins
 * Grant the player invincibility
 * A rain of Birdo eggs, giant Birdo eggs, or Tryclyde fire
 * One minute of charge jump without need for squatting
 * Enemies throw a big bomb which explodes into smaller bombs
 * The Birdo trio dive attack like Beezos
 * The player landing from a jump will have the effect of a POW Block
 * When Peach gets angry, she will throw giant turnips which can hurt the player but also take out enemies in their path
 * Villains can also throw giant turnips but they are black with an angry face
 * A big Phanto will show up to attack but it cannot follow the player to other screens. If fades away after a minute.
 * Fryguy shows up and acts just like the big Phanto
 * Everything but player, enemies, and items will be blacked out
 * Quicksand can stop or speed up
 * Remove the slipperiness from Ice Blocks
 * Giant green or red mushrooms are thrown on-screen
 * Wart blows deadly bubbles from under the screen
 * Reveal the location of all mushrooms and statues that are hidden in subspace
 * Near the end of each broadcast, Peach will give out her Love Love Fire which is a giant heart that slowly floats down. It refills Mario's Health Meter while providing very brief invincibility that can even take out inactive Phantos.

When the time hits :50, gameplay switches to the Bonus Chance for three minutes. Here, players can increase the number of coins (or waste them) which will add to the final score. After the credits, the player's score will be summed up followed by a question of whether or not to submit the score for the online tournament. Players must get all ten gold Mario statues to be allowed into the ranking with the top player of the week getting a real life gold Mario statue. It was also given to the player with the highest overall score in all four broadcasts.

Release information
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 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM the following morning. It was rebroadcasted in June 1996 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and again in September 1998 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

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.

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.