EarthBound (series)

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The official EarthBound logo.

EarthBound (Mother in Japan) is a role-playing game series created by Shigesato Itoi for Nintendo. The series started in 1989 with Mother for the Famicom/NES, and was then followed up by a sequel, Mother 2 (known as EarthBound in America) for the Super Famicom/Super NES system, and followed up again much later with Mother 3 for the Game Boy Advance in 2006.

Like the Final Fantasy series, the Mother games are not a sequential series, but rather three "stand alone" games that feature some common characters, themes, and settings.

Although most RPGs depict knights and wizards in pseudo-medieval settings (such as Final Fantasy), the Mother series takes place in more modern present-day (western) settings told from a Japanese perspective. Mother is set in a suburban America in 1988, while Mother 2 is set in 199X in EagleLand (A reference to the United States) which and Mother 3 is set on Nowhere Island (with some western overtones). Enemies consist of everything from aliens, to possessed cars, to evil hippies. Instead of swords and shields, weapons consist of household items, from Yo-yos to frying pans. The series became extremely popular in Japan, and merchandise for the game was produced, including shirts, handbooks, and even a fully-orchestrated and performed soundtrack. Its popularity matched and even surpassed that of Dragon Quest. Also, while Ness is in all the versions of the Super Smash Bros. series, no Mother game, other than Mother 2, has been released outside of Japan.

1 Gameplay
- 1.1 Battle
2 Games
3 Notable characters
4 External links

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Battle

In battle, some characters are able to use psychic powers called PSI. PSI attacks include offensive attacks, healing abilities, status causing abilities, and abilities that change the stats of allies and enemies. Each attack consumes a set amount of points that can be recharged through items, and other means.

[edit] Games

[edit] Mother

Main article: Mother (video game)

Mother told the story of a young boy who had to journey around the world to save the planet from an evil race of mind-controlling aliens. Along the way he was joined by several friends, and met many unusual characters and visited strange settings before ultimately confronting the leader of the aliens. The game was a smash hit in Japan, and gamers appreciated its unorthodox and refreshing take on the often formulaic RPG genre.

Nintendo of America planned to translate and release the first Mother game in the United States under the title Earth Bound. Although the game's localization and translation was finished a year earlier, the game was ultimately deemed unprofitable for a US release, and the planned release was canceled after the game had already been translated and all packaging and advertising was ready. It was confirmed by former Nintendo employee Phil Sandhop, that Nintendo refused to release EarthBound (Zero) in the U.S. because the Super Nintendo had already been released in the country and it thought that no one would notice a new NES game because a large number of gamers had already shelved their Nintendo Entertainment Systems for their new Super Nintendo [1]. The cancellation was due to marketing.

[edit] EarthBound

Main article: EarthBound

EarthBound (known as Mother 2 in Japan) is a distant sequel to the original Mother, with many characters, themes, and tunes borrowed from its predecessor. Many of the characters and settings are very similar, but the only explicitly returning character is Giygas, who swears revenge at the end of the first game (evidenced by Mother 2's Japanese subtitle: Gyiyg Strikes Back!).

Though Mother never saw the American marketplace, its sequel for the Super Famicom/SNES, Mother 2, did. It went by the name of EarthBound in the US and starred a young psychic boy by the name of Ness. It too was extremely phenomenal in Japan, but it did not sell as well in the US, as RPGs were generally unpopular with the American market at the time, and this game was released just as strong RPG titles such as Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger appeared, whose graphics and sound made EarthBound's look dated. However, the game has since developed one of the strongest cult followings in North America, a community which is still thriving even today.

[edit] Mother 3

Main articles: EarthBound 64 and Mother 3

Lucas and Boney walking around town.

Mother 3 is the long-awaited (and according to Shigesato Itoi, final) game in the Mother series. Beforehand the game was in development for Nintendo 64, but the project was cancelled due to the release date being near the end of the systems life span (and possibly with issues with the 3D engine and other production problems) The project picked up again for the Game Boy Advance (which was announced on a commercial for Mother 1+2). The game was finally released on April 20, 2006, and retained the traditional EarthBound artstyle and the general story and characters that were introduced in the cancelled N64 version. Unlike the first two games the story focuses on a boy named Lucas and his family on Nowhere Island. Their home is invaded and the peace is disrupted by the mysterious "Pig Army" who dramatically changes Nowhere Island by introducing technology and infrastructure and performing bizarre experiments on the flora and fauna in their takeover. The game chronicles the trials and tribulations of Lucas and his family and friends as they fight against the Pig Army threat.

Currently, the game is only available in Japan, although many EarthBound fans are hoping for a U.S. release. There were rumors from the United Kingdom's Official Nintendo Magazine of a possible European release, although nothing is confirmed yet.

The game once contained the subtitle "The Fall of the Pig King." However, this was omitted later on.

[edit] Other games

A compilation for the Game Boy Advance, called Mother 1 + 2, was released in Japan Q3, 2003. The game was meant to promote the upcoming Mother 3 (also for Game Boy Advance) as the rebirth of the franchise. Mother 3 had been in development for the Nintendo 64, but it was cancelled due to production problems. The game's story had already been developed, along with the main characters, but at one point, the game's creator reported in a series of interviews that he had written a new script. However, it seems that the original N64 storyline in Mother 3 is remained intact.

Mother 1+2 and perhaps Mother 3 are not expected to be released in North America, and Mother 3 was recently released in Japan on April 20, 2006. However, the UK Official Nintendo Magazine magazine suggested that Mother 3 may hit Europe on late 2006. However, 2006 passed without the European release of Mother 1+2.

There are also rumors, according to Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine, of a compilation of the three Mother games for the Nintendo DS, but nothing has been confirmed. [2]

Ness, the main character from 1 & 2 is a playable character in Super Smash Bros.(unlockable) & Super Smash Bros. Melee. His special moves are PK Fire, PK Thunder (his third jump), a special force field that absorbs projectile attacks to restore (lower) damage percentage, and PK Flash (in Melee). Melee featured Onett and Fourside arenas to battle in. It is still unknown if Ness will be included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl but chances are he will.

[edit] Other releases

There were also EarthBound strategy guides, manga comics, apparel and the Mother 2 Soundtrack.

[edit] Notable characters

The first two games feature four main characters who are largely the counterparts of the other:

Ninten / Ness - The main protagonist in both games is a boy in a red cap who never speaks. He is gifted with telepathy which gives him psychic powers. His main weapon is usually a bat.
Lloyd / Jeff - The main character is later joined by a smart boy with glasses who is very skilled at building inventions, but lacks psychic abilities. His main weapon is usually some type of toy gun.
Ana / Paula - Both games likewise feature a female character in a pink dress who is also a skilled psychic. Her main weapon is usually a frying pan.
Teddy / Poo - The last party member in both games is a skilled fighter. In Mother he is a street gang leader with no psychic powers, while in Mother 2 he is an oriental martial arts master and psychic.