Super Mario Bros 2D is widely considered the hardest normal level in GD as of 5/23/2025

This is a 3 minute XL minigame level that serves as a GD recreation of Levels 1-1 and 1-2 from the original Super Mario. As a recreation, the level is pretty solid - it looks indistinguishable from the original Super Mario aside from the occasional pink jump pad effect that sneaks its way on screen.

The problem with this level is the controls. TaKaYaMa chose a bizarre 2P control scheme where one input makes the player jump while the other input makes the player either run or switch directions depending on whether you hold or tap, respectively. This makes movement extremely unintuitive as you will often switch directions when you mean to run or vice versa.

There is one part in the underground section that is particularly mean where you have to jump between single block pillars with 1 block pitfalls in between. Dying here feels like a gut punch every time.

Coins are awarded for 1) Getting 15 Mario coins, 2) Getting 30 Mario Coins, and 3) Stomping 21 Goombas. You must reach the flagpole after the underground section within 3 minutes or you will die at 98% (this level can give you free orbs in that sense)

Overall this level is technically very impressive as an early remake of Super Mario in GD, but it is ruined by awkward controls that make it unfun to play.

This level scores high visually as a remake but I cannot give it above a 1/10 gameplay wise as it is universally annoying to stargrinders. Maybe if the controls were better this could have been higher, but TaKaYaMa wouldn’t, he couldn’t, and now he is paying the price.