Played the NES versions of some older Mario games (I'm more familiar with the All Stars versions) after fiddling w/ SNES Classic mods. Namely Super Mario Bros 2 (USA) and Super Mario Bros 2 (Japan)/Lost Levels.
I recall Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) getting flack for not being authentic Mario, but personally that's never taken anything away from it for me (I don't think it's some sort of sell-out move to re-brand a different property that wouldn't otherwise get exposure anyways with a new skin, personally). Not sure how well appreciated it is, so hard to say if it's underrated, but it's a great game with a wonderful aesthetic, and a welcome change of pace. I actually would put it on the same level or higher as many other revered Nintendo games, like the first Donkey Kong Country, for example. However, it's definitely not the outright masterpiece that Super Mario Bros. 1, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World are, IMO.
Having said that, I was thinking about it, and I actually kind of absolutely love the boldness of Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)/Lost Levels, which I had previously dismissed as an amusing curiosity and nothing more. I think it's a very appropriate way and brilliant way to do a sequel. Instead of necessarily re-inventing the wheel every single time, the idea of taking a masterpiece and doing the same thing again but completely removing any compromise and disregarding the general audience to make the most extreme/sadistic/amusing thing that you feel like making, that toys with your psychology/expectations, and without any dip in quality, is incredible. It takes all of the intrigue of sadistic Mario Maker levels and rom hack culture, that generally tend to feel gimmicky and stupid but fun, and instead does it completely organically and with as impeccable game design as the first game. Kind of an inspired decision/attitude that Nintendo never attempted again. The decision to opt for a different-physics Luigi that changes the whole game over a two player mode is really cool as well. I'm tempted to even go as far as to say that it's as great or better than the first one. There's something about it that feels strangely liberating in an almost avant garde kind of way.
After playing these, it's kind of become crystal clear to me that I feel that the original trilogy of Super Mario Bros. 1, Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan), and Super Mario Bros. 3 is by far the greatest, most consistent/tight/cohesive, and most relentlessly bold and awe-inspiring video game trilogy of all time. It's rare to have a trilogy so peerless in any medium, really. Normally there are bound to be holes and weak links even in the best of them, but not in this case.
