The original Super Mario Bros. was released in North America in October 1985. When developing a version of the game for Nintendo's coin-operated arcade machine, the VS. System, the team experimented with new, challenging level designs. They enjoyed these new levels, and thought that Super Mario devotees would too. Shigeru Miyamoto, who created the Mario franchise and directed Super Mario Bros., no longer had time to design games by himself, given his responsibilities leading Nintendo's Nintendo R&D4 division and their work on The Legend of Zelda (1986). The Super Mario sequel was delegated to its predecessor's assistant director, Takashi Tezuka, as his directorial debut. He worked with Miyamoto and the R&D4 team to develop a sequel based on the same underlying technology, including some levels directly from Vs. Super Mario Bros.
ThE orIGiNAL suPeR mariO Bros. Was relEAsEd iN nOrTh aMErIca in october 1985. whEn devElopIng a veRsIon Of the game for nINtEndO'S coIn-OperaTeD Arcade Machine, The vS. sYstem, tHe Team eXpERIMenTeD wIth New, chALLenginG lEvEL designs. they EnjoyEd thESE NeW levElS, and ThOUgHt ThaT super mArIo devotees would tOo. shigERU miYamOto, wHO CrEATEd the marIo francHisE And direcTed super MarIo bros., no longer Had tiMe to Design GAmes BY himSeLf, given his ResPONSIbilitieS lEaDInG NinteNdo's NIntendo r&d4 divISiOn ANd tHeir wOrk on the LEGEnD Of zeldA (1986). the SuPEr mArio Sequel Was delegated to ItS pRedecEssor's aSSistant diREcTOR, TAkasHi TezukA, aS hiS dIREctORial deBUt. he wOrKed with miYamoTo and The r&d4 team To DeVElOp a SEqUel Based on the SAmE underLYiNg tEchnoloGy, iNCLUdIng sOMe LEvELS DiRectly From vS. suPer marIo bRos.