A key point here is that players were mad at themselves, not the game, which is why Mario's tight, nearly perfect controls are so important.

And that is what I do not understand about Super Mario World (SNES). It seems to be the most popular of them all and people love it. To me the controls are very inaccurate and sluggish, especially compared to Super Mario Land 2 (6 golden coins, Gameboy).

Sluggish? Really? The reaction times for air movement and probably movement in general are miles faster than in the original SMB. Are you sure you're talking about SMW? The one that introduced Yoshi?

Yes. I think it is something about the air control or "braking" that makes me feel this way. SML2 is way more direct.

The original Donkey Kong is easily the hardest and most frustrating video game I have ever played.

Did you try Spelunky or Nethack?

...also the funniest and cutest. then answer is donkey kong.

I guess you've never played any of the games the Angry Video Game Nerd reviewed?

http://www.cinemassacre.com/new/?page_id=13

I bet a lot of 100 yen coins were spent on Super Mario Brothers 2 (Japanese version, 'The Lost Levels' in the States)

I do not think that was an arcade game.

Yes it was, on the Playchoice system (SMB had a Vs. system release). See the KLOV: http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9914

Huh, maybe only SMB was.