The Lost Level is the most difficult 2D level of all Mario, and many of the crazy levels seem designed to make Mario fail over and over again. For beginners, the game can be particularly difficult, as there is no way to know what the enemy's next danger will be and no chance to react to the ensuing chaos.

This can sometimes be disruptive. For example, a hidden block will inevitably hit Mario on the head while jumping a huge gap, resulting in his death. Even after playing the game a few times, the SNES controller gets worn out in the process, but it's still very difficult because it requires fast reaction times and precision. The Lost Level is more about experience and experimentation than pure skill.