EarthBound
EarthBound, known in Japan as Mother 2, is a role-playing game developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Players control Ness, a young boy from the suburban town of Onett, who embarks on an epic journey to collect the eight melodies of the Earth and stop the universal cosmic destroyer Giygas. The game subverts traditional RPG tropes by setting its adventure in a whimsical parody of 1990s America, where players use baseball bats and psychic powers against enemies like rampaging taxis and cultists obsessed with the color blue.
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About This Retro Game
EarthBound was directed and written by the renowned Japanese copywriter Shigesato Itoi, whose unique creative vision resulted in a game that blends quirky humor, suburban mundanity, and profound existential dread. Its development spanned five years and faced repeated cancellations, only being saved when future Nintendo president Satoru Iwata joined the team as lead programmer. The game features a seamless world map, eschewing the traditional overworld for a fully connected environment, and replaces random encounters with visible enemies on the field, allowing players to avoid or initiate combat strategically.
One of the game's most innovative mechanics is the rolling HP meter. When a character takes damage, their hit points decrease like an odometer, giving players a precious few seconds to heal them or end the battle before they fall unconscious. This system adds a layer of tension and strategy absent from other RPGs of its era. The party consists of four unique children: Ness, the silent protagonist with balanced abilities; Paula, a powerful psychic; Jeff, a genius inventor who uses gadgets; and Poo, a prince who masters martial arts and PSI after completing his intense Mu Training.
Despite a critically panned initial release in North America and a famously sarcastic marketing campaign with slogans like 'This game stinks,' EarthBound has since become a beloved cult classic. Its influence is vast, inspiring a dedicated fan community, decades-long campaigns for re-releases, and modern indie hits like Undertale. Ness's inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. series introduced the character to a global audience, cementing EarthBound's legacy as one of the most idiosyncratic and cherished RPGs ever created.
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EarthBound, known as Mother in Japan, is a role-playing video game developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory, and published by Nintendo. The game follows Ness, a young boy with psychic abilities, and his friends as they journey across the world to collect melodies and defeat the cosmic horror Giygas.
A compilation containing enhanced versions of Mother (EarthBound Beginnings) and Mother 2 (EarthBound) for the Game Boy Advance. Experience the quirky, emotional RPG adventures that inspired a generation.
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