Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)

Large character sprites and clearly separated platforms make Mario's movement easier to read than a tiny imitation of a television game. The themed zones turn a small world map into a useful way to choose the next short stretch of play. Familiar jumping does the work, with a few transformations adding variety. Visibility comes with a trade-off: the screen reveals less terrain ahead. Most stages are welcoming, but the final castle is a sharper test than that gentle beginning suggests.