EarthBound
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EarthBound (known as Mother 2 in Japan) is a computer role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second title in the Mother series. It is known for its characteristic cartoon-like graphics, soundtrack (that, uniquely for its time, incorporates sampling), irreverent humor, portrayal of the Western world as seen by Japan, and quirky, almost caricatured characters.
The game is often dubbed a "sequel" to the original Mother, an NES title released only in Japan. In practice, however, the games largely exist as "stand alone" titles, with similar themes and storylines, but no direct plot or character continuity.
Plot
Template:Spoiler EarthBound is set in the year "199X" in the small town of Onett, part of Eagleland. The main character, Ness, wakes up when a meteor falls close to his house in the middle of night. He heads out to investigate the meteor, but not before his mother reminds him to change out of his pajamas. At the crash site he meets an insect named Buzz Buzz from ten years in the future who sends him on a quest to destroy the intergalactic destroyer Giygas in this time, because he is too powerful in the time period that Buzz Buzz came from. Ness must then journey through the world, seeking his eight "sanctuaries" where the Earth's power is strongest in order to unite his own powers with the Earth's and gain the strength needed to confront Giygas. If the game sounds slightly cliche, it is. However, the unremarkable story only augments the game's humor. This is evident in the campy dialog (such as when Ness' mother tells him to be careful while he's out saving the world) and some of the plot elements. One noteworthy moment is Buzz Buzz's demise, a rather unspectacular end for someone who travelled ten years in the past and can block powerful psychic attacks.
The plot of EarthBound is hardly complex or unique, particularly when compared to other Japanese console RPGs such as the Final Fantasy series. However, in general EarthBound is not a heavily plot-driven game, with the Giygas story merely serving as a vehicle for a series of wacky misadventures that allow for an unconventional take on the conventions of RPGs. Indeed, perhaps the greatest difference between EarthBound and other console RPGs (except, perhaps, the English-Language version of the Lunar series) is the remarkable silliness of the game, which often seems less interested in a gripping story than making jokes and puns, constructing absurd subplots and goals (for instance, traveling through a cave full of monkeys in search of a "trout-flavored" yogurt machine), and poking fun at Western culture.
EarthBound breaks the escapist tendencies of most RPGs by placing the action in a modern day world, much like Shin Megami Tensei but without the dark overtones of that series. These changes to typical RPG stories are often taken to an absurd extreme in EarthBound, such as the inclusion of baseball bats and yo-yos as weapons instead of swords or magical staves.
One of the most unusual elements of EarthBound may be the fourth-wall-breaking inclusion of the player as an active participant within the story itself, which is in great contrast to the plots of other console RPGs that usually never reference the player behind the controller, much less incorporate him or her into the story.
Gameplay
Many of the RPG elements featured in EarthBound are very traditional. In towns, players can purchase items, recharge energy, or gather information from various NPCs. Battles are not random because you can see the enemies in the navigation portion of the game. When you come in contact with an enemy, a battle starts. Depending on how you come in contact with the enemy, you can be at an advantage or disadvantage when the battle starts. If you approach the enemy from behind, you get an extra turn at the beginning of the battle and vice versa.
The battle system is very similar to the Dragon Quest series. Once all actions are inputted, you and the enemy perform the actions depending on character speed. Once the battle is won, players recieve experience points in order to level up their characters and improve attributes. Naturally, as the game progresses, it becomes neccesary to increase levels in order to cope with stronger enemies.
One traditional RPG element not present in EarthBound is an overworld. Instead, players follow a path, occasionally branching off in some areas. Later on in the game, teleporting spells help players return to previous areas quickly.
Japanese release
The game was released in Japan on August 27, 1994. Known as Mother 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back!, the game is the sequel to Mother, released for the Famicom. This game became a phenomenal blockbuster, so much that it soon matched Dragon Quest in popularity.
The next game in the series, Mother 3, is still in development. It continues to be in the Famitsu Most Wanted list, only falling below No. 10 twice, to No. 11. The title Mother 3 was originally planned to be a game designed for the Nintendo 64. According to Nintendo of America, the game was scrapped due to a lack of time, and an eventual public lack of interest in the Nintendo 64. However, according to Shigesato Itoi, the reality was that they couldn't run the 3D graphics in the game very well at all due to the development team's complete inexperience at 3D graphics. The new "Mother 3" is being developed for Game Boy Advance.
EarthBound follows the same basic plot as its predecessor, but Giygas (or Gyiyg) is the only returning character.
The Japanese release of Mother 3 is officially announced for April 20th, 2006 with no American date confirmed as of yet.
U.S. release
Releasing the game in the United States was considered somewhat of a gamble, as the game's graphics were very simple, especially compared to other role-playing games of the time, such as Final Fantasy VI. Additionally, the humor of the game is tied to its quirky portrayal of the West, which may not have translated to that region. The game was also extensively promoted within Nintendo Power, with various special offers, including a contest involving scratch-and-sniff stickers, as well as a Nintendo Power-published player's guide that was included as a pack-in with the initial American release to boost sales and assist players. Ultimately, EarthBound was not very commercially successful in the United States at the time of its release, although it has since spawned a large cult following among its loyal fans.
Other appearances (cameos)
Ness also appears in the video games Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 and Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube. In addition, the Onett and Fourside cities are battle stages in SSBM, and there are several 3D renderings of EarthBound characters in the form of trophies in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and EarthBound's Mr. Saturn also appears as one of the items. Incidentally, three of Ness' attacks in Super Smash Bros. Melee are not learned by him in EarthBound. (PK Fire, Thunder, and Magnet.) In Super Smash Bros. Melee it is explained that Paula taught him how to use them.
Mr. Saturn appears in Kirby Super Star as a treasure in the game mode "The Great Cave Offensive", which was also developed in part by Hal Laboratory.
Playable characters
- See also: List of EarthBound characters
| Name | Weapons Used | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ness | Bats, Yo-yos, and Slingshots | The silent protagonist in EarthBound. Has good attack and decent defense, along with having the second strongest PSI attack (though the majority of his PSI powers heal or affect status), makes him a well-rounded fighter, but has low speed until after Magicant. Occasionally, he will develop homesickness, and will waste turns in battle daydreaming about his home. For much of the game, Ness is the main healer for the group, because until Poo arrives, he is the only character with the ability to regenerate HP and cure ailments. | Beginning |
| Paula | Frying Pans, Yo-yos, and Slingshots | The first character to join Ness' party. She is adept almost exclusively with PSI powers. Has low HP and Defense, but high speed and good skill with PSI, including a shield. Has a unique "pray" ability. Pray can cause one of several random effects in battle, that can assist or weaken one or both parties, and occasionally is vital for winning battles. Although Paula has a bad physical attack and low HP, her PSI skills make up for it. Most of her PSI is centered on attack and defense. | Found in the Cabin near Happy Happy Village, after beating Carpainter. |
| Jeff | Guns, Yo-yos, Slingshots, Bottle Rockets, and various gadgets. | The second character to join Ness' party. Jeff is unable to use PSI powers, but he makes up for it with his ability to take a piece of junk and turn it into a useful item, and his ability to use things like bottle rockets as weapons. Has a unique 'spy' ability, which allows him to see an enemy's offense, defense, and any weaknesses they may have. | Winters, a country in the far north. He soon flies over to Threed in the Sky Runner to join Ness' party. |
| Poo | Skilled in martial arts but can equip the Sword of Kings and Yo-yos (Yo-yos lower attack) | The final character to join Ness' party. Having spent his entire life training on a small, isolated village on top of a mountain, Poo is unique in that foreign foods barely help him, in terms of HP recovery, and cannot use the same equipment as the rest of the party. Wearing equpment other than those that were made just for him actually LOWERS his attack and defense. Has a unique "Mirror" ability, which allows him to shapeshift into a monster during battle and use all the monster's attacks. Has well-rounded PSI skills, with fairly good attacks, and good healing. | After completing his training in his homeland of Dalaam, he teleports to Ness and his friends in Summers. |
* Ness' PK Kiai/PSI Rockin' attacks take the name of "your favorite thing", defined at the game's beginning. "Kiai" is the default in Mother 2 & "Rockin" is the default in EarthBound.
Special Features
- Many of the animated backgrounds of the fight sequences in EarthBound are actually mathematical graphs that employ dynamic variables.
- Because of the unusually orderly structure of the game's memory, it is rather easy to modify in ROM format.
- Used the Super Nintendo's special "Mode 7" graphics.
- ROM hackers of EarthBound discovered a debug menu featuring a Kirby cursor sprite and a hidden BGM track not present in the game itself. The debug mode can only be accessed through a Game Genie (or equivalent), or by modifying the ROM.
Hidden references
The Beatles
It's interesting to note that the team that designed EarthBound are also open fans of the British pop and rock band, The Beatles. Throughout the game, there are countless examples of this:
- In the Japanese version of EarthBound, Mother 2, many of the extra alternate names for characters and such are that of Beatles band members. Among them are John (Ness), Yoko (Paula), Paul (Jeff), George (Poo), and Ringo (King). In this particular set, the main character's favorite food is "Honey Pie", and his favorite thing is "Love".
- A question is asked by a townsperson in Onett that relates to the band's song "Yesterday".
- There are two notable instances that actual Beatles songs were sampled for background music. The music used while inside the Brickroad dungeon is a sample of the beginning of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)". The music used in the Cave of the Past is a sample from the first few notes of "All You Need Is Love".
- The music that plays in every drugstore and department store sounds quite similar to When I'm Sixty-Four, including the famous refrain.
- The yellow submarine in the game is obviously a nod to their song and animated movie, Yellow Submarine.
- The tune played when Ness and his friends wake up after resting is called "Good Morning". It is a slower version of the chorus of the Sgt. Pepper's song "Good Morning Good Morning".
- A member of a band in the game called the Runaway Five references a song which The Beatles covered called "Money (That's What I Want)", originally by Barrett Strong.
- The music playing when Ness steps outside after the meteor crashes resembles the drums in the ending of "Strawberry Fields Forever".
- The music heard in the Saturn Valley area sounds a lot like "Wild Honey Pie", from the Beatles' White Album.
- The beginning of the song it plays when you ride Tessie across Lake Tess closely resembles the beginning of Strawberry Fields Forever from the Magical Mystery Tour album.
Other references
- The music played when starting a new game and naming the characters contains a short musical sample from the theme song for the show Monty Python's Flying Circus, John Philip Sousa's Liberty Bell March.
- In Jackie's Cafe, the music contains a sample from the theme song for the Our Gang film series. Also heard is a sample of America's National Anthem.
- The background music for Moonside has a sample from the Ric Ocasek song, "Keep On Laughin".
- One of the weapons Ness can equip is called the Casey Bat. While it increases his Offense more than any other weapon he can equip, it misses three times out of four (all his other bats miss one time out of sixteen). Appropriate, since the bat's name is a reference to Casey at the Bat, the baseball poem by Ernest Thayer about a revered batter, the "mighty" Casey, who strikes out.
- One battle music track features music similar to the intro from "Johnny B. Goode" and several other Chuck Berry songs.
- The Runaway Five sharply resemble the Blues Brothers (especially the two lead singers). The original Japanese version had the band wearing black suits instead of the colored clothes of the American release, and were called the "Tonzura Brothers".
- A NPC in the Onett arcade calls Ness "a real Rambo type".
- Giant Step and Lilliput Steps are references to Gulliver's Travels.
- One of the non-player characters in the game looks almost exactly like Mr. T (though he is never referred to as such or says anything Mr. T might be thought to say). Fans of the game refer to him almost exclusively as such.
- Two enemies in the game share the names of famous David Bowie songs: "Starman" (the trademark Starmen enemies appear throughout the game) and "Diamond Dogs" (Diamond Dog is one of the major bosses in the game). The veiny machine from his "Ashes to Ashes" video also resembles the final boss of the game, Giygas.
- The Starmen characters appear to be based on the alien from the classic sci-fi film the Day the Earth Stood Still.
- During the battle with the Slimy Little Pile (one of Master Belch's minions) one can hear a sample of the Super Mario Bros. theme.
- Aloysius Minch, Pokey's father, is a clever opposite to Atticus Finch from the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
- In the Japanese release of EarthBound (Mother 2), there is a set of default names for the characters and items related to the Super Mario Bros. series. Ness, Paula, Jeff, and Poo become Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Toad, respectivly. The dog (King) becomes Yoshi, the player's favorite food becomes "mushroom", and the player's favorite thing becomes "goal".
- The arcade in Onett contains a couple of Donkey Kong arcade machines. There are no real titles on the machines, but the tell-tale red girder pattern of the first level shows on the first machine in front row, and on the second-to-last machine in the back row. Also, the main stage theme for Xevious can be heard in the background noise.
- One of the battle themes resembles the song Tequila by The Champs.
- A character in Onett will play a melody from Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, movement 2 on trumpet upon being spoken to.
- Shigesato Itoi has revealed in interviews that Giygas' dialogue was inspired by a traumatic childhood experience wherein he mistakenly walked into an adult movie theatre playing a rape scene.
- The Mr. Saturn's font is inspired by Shigesato Itoi's daughter's handwriting.
- There is a boss fight with a fire-breathing, snake-like sea monster called the Kraken. This is a reference to the sea-creature of legend.
- The second song played by the Runaway Five in the Chaos Theater strongly resembles the song The Changeling by The Doors.
- The second-weakest hat for Ness is the "Mr. Baseball Cap". This is a reference to the Tom Selleck movie Mr. Baseball about an American baseball player who played on a Japanese baseball team.
- The Peaceful Rest Valley was known as the Grateful Dead Valley in the original Japanese Mother 2.
- After defeating Gygas return to Onett's condemned house at the cliff and enter inside. There go behind the desk, search and you will find a joke story about a man being pulled over by a cop on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Cuts and changes
As with any Japanese property, EarthBound underwent a number of changes in translation.
- Several names of towns are different:
- Threed was originally Threek.
- The Dusty Dunes Desert was originally the Doko Doko Desert.
- Dalaam is known as Ranma. It's unknown whether or not this was to prevent confusion with anime property Ranma 1/2.
- All references to alcohol were removed. Jackie's Cafe, for example, was originally known as Boruhesu's Bar. Coffee is uniformly substituted in place of alcohol.
- In the original Japanese version, the hospitals all had red crosses somewhere on the building. They were removed from the English version, presumably because of the religious significance of crosses.
- All the "PSI" abilities in English are known as "PK" abilities in Japanese.
- In the Japanese version, Ness is nude in Magicant. In the English version, he is wearing his pajamas.
- There are many other cuts. See the link below.
In the Player's Guide
- On page 17, Killer Instinct is mentioned as being one of the games available in Onett's Arcade.
- On page 111, there is an image of Ness in the nude on the bottom left of the page. This is an oversight on the part of NoA, as Ness was nude in Magicant in Mother 2.
External links
- Template:Nintendo.com
- Starmen.Net
- Mother Party (Japanese)
- EarthBound IPM
- The game at the gameinfo wiki
- Bound Together - An EarthBound Remix Project
- Mother2.Net
- EarthBoundHQ.com
- List of major changes in translation
- EarthBound Webcomic
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