What do you get when you combine one of Nintendo’s most unusual Mario adventures with a collection of ridiculously overpowered Game Genie cheats? Absolute mayhem, of course!

Today we’re heading back to the good old Super Nintendo to wreak havoc in Super Mario Bros. 2, as featured in Super Mario All-Stars. We’re talking infinite jumps, floating characters, disappearing enemies, broken boss battles and cheats that turn the game’s rules completely upside down.

Whether you’re a long-time retro gaming enthusiast or a Nintendo fan who has never experienced the wonderful world of the Game Genie, you’re in for a treat!

Super Mario Bros. 2: A Mario Adventure with a Difference

Super Mario Bros. 2 has always been something of an oddball in the Mario series. Instead of simply jumping on enemies to defeat them, Mario and his friends can pick up vegetables, grab enemies and throw objects around the screen.

We also get four playable characters with different abilities. Mario is our trusty all-rounder, Luigi can jump particularly high, Toad is remarkably quick at picking things up, and Princess Toadstool can briefly float through the air.

These differences are part of what makes Super Mario Bros. 2 so enjoyable, but what happens when we start messing with the game’s underlying rules?

That’s where the Game Genie comes in!

Let the Game Genie Mayhem Begin!

For those unfamiliar with this magnificent piece of retro gaming technology, the Game Genie was a cheat device that allowed players to modify certain aspects of their favourite games by entering special codes.

Depending on the code, you could give yourself unlimited lives, alter your character’s abilities or completely change how a game behaves. Some cheats made games easier, while others produced wonderfully unpredictable results.

Armed with a selection of Game Genie codes, I decided to see just how much chaos I could unleash on the SNES version of Super Mario Bros. 2.

Every Character Can Float Like Princess Toadstool

Princess Toadstool has always had one particularly useful advantage in Super Mario Bros. 2: her ability to float through the air for a short period after jumping.

With the Game Genie code 6267-A5A6, we can give that same floating ability to every playable character!

Suddenly, Mario, Luigi and Toad can all enjoy a little extra airtime, making it much easier to cross gaps, avoid enemies and reach otherwise troublesome platforms.

It’s particularly amusing to watch characters who were never intended to float casually sailing through the air!

Unlimited Jumps: Who Needs Platforms Anyway?

If floating isn’t quite enough for you, how about being able to jump repeatedly without having to land?

The unlimited-jump cheat, DD65-61D6, takes platforming to a completely different level. Instead of carefully timing your jumps and hoping you reach the next platform, you can keep jumping your way through the air.

Suddenly, some of the game’s trickiest obstacles become considerably less intimidating. Why bother taking the intended route when you can simply jump your way past everything?

It’s completely ridiculous, and I love it!

Disappearing Enemies and Walking Through the Sky

Things start getting particularly strange when we begin interfering with the enemies and the environment itself.

One of the cheats, DC66-A966, produces some unusual behaviour involving disappearing enemies and walking through the sky.

When cheats start interfering with the mechanics that normally keep the game running as intended, you can end up with some truly bizarre results.

It’s the sort of unpredictable behaviour that makes experimenting with old Game Genie codes so entertaining. You never quite know what you’re going to get!

Infinite Lives and the Ultimate Survival Cheats

Of course, no collection of classic video game cheats would be complete without a few ways to make your character practically unstoppable.

With the infinite-lives code C26E-D5A6, you can take much of the frustration out of those particularly troublesome levels. There are also cheats that let you begin your adventure with 99 lives or prevent you from losing hearts.

These codes are especially useful if you want to experiment with some of the more unusual cheats without constantly worrying about running out of lives.

After all, this is supposed to be about creating mayhem, not staring at the Game Over screen!

The Cheat That Rewards You for Dying!

Now here’s a particularly unusual one. The Super Power at Death cheat, 6D60-D506, changes what happens when your character dies.

Normally, losing a life is something we’d prefer to avoid, but Game Genie has a habit of turning conventional gaming wisdom on its head.

It’s an interesting example of how a simple cheat can completely change the way you approach a game. Sometimes, even dying can become part of the fun!

Unlimited Vegetables and Plants That Turn into Coins

One of the defining features of Super Mario Bros. 2 is the ability to pull vegetables out of the ground and throw them at unsuspecting enemies.

With the unlimited-plants cheat, D863-69DB, you can take this mechanic to ridiculous extremes.

And if an endless supply of vegetables isn’t quite strange enough, there’s another code, D865-D0AC, that turns plants into coins.

It’s yet another wonderfully bizarre way to experience a familiar game, and it demonstrates just how much fun you can have by changing even the simplest gameplay mechanics.

Bouncing Shells, Endless POW Blocks and Walking Through Walls

Some of my favourite Game Genie experiments involve cheats that change how objects interact with the environment.

In this collection, we’ve got shells that bounce off things, POW blocks that keep on POWing, and even the ability to walk through walls.

There’s also a cheat that allows you to open locked doors without having to find the key first.

These cheats can turn familiar levels into completely different experiences. Obstacles that once required a specific solution can suddenly be bypassed, while ordinary objects can behave in increasingly ridiculous ways.

Of course, bypassing the game’s intended mechanics doesn’t necessarily mean everything will work perfectly. Sometimes, breaking the rules can leave you in an unexpected situation!

Instantly Defeating Enemies and Bosses

And finally, we arrive at one of the most outrageous cheats of the entire collection.

With the code 7D8F-A16C, enemies and bosses can be defeated automatically as they appear!

It sounds like the ultimate power trip. Why bother picking up vegetables, dodging attacks or carefully planning your next move when the game can take care of your enemies for you?

However, there’s a rather entertaining catch. Some of the game’s progression relies on bosses behaving in a particular way, so instantly defeating them can sometimes prevent you from progressing normally.

It’s a perfect example of the Game Genie doing exactly what you asked while simultaneously creating an entirely new problem!

Watch Super Mario Bros. 2 Get Completely Wrecked!

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about returning to classic video games and experimenting with cheats that completely change how they work.

Whether you’re making the game ridiculously easy, discovering unexpected glitches or simply seeing how far you can push the Super Nintendo, the Game Genie offers a whole new way to enjoy some familiar favourites.

In my latest Super Mayhem video, I put all these cheats to the test and discover just how much punishment Super Mario Bros. 2 can take before things start getting seriously weird.

Check out the full video below to see all the Game Genie action for yourself!

Want to Try These Game Genie Codes Yourself?

If you’ve still got your SNES, a copy of Super Mario All-Stars and a Game Genie handy, why not have a go at some of these cheats yourself?

I’ve put together a dedicated reference over on MarioMayhem.com featuring the Game Genie codes covered in the video, along with explanations of what they do.

Check out the complete Super Mario Bros. 2 SNES Game Genie codes here!

Keep in mind that some codes can have unexpected side effects, and certain combinations may not work together as intended.

Have you ever used a Game Genie to completely break one of your favourite retro games? Let me know in the comments on the video!

Until next time, keep on gaming, and let the MAYHEM continue!

Awooo! 🐺