EarthBound, known as Mother 2 in Japan, is a 1994 role-playing game developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory (both are Japanese video game development companies). It was published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom in 1994 and is the second game in the Mother series of JRPGs.
When this hidden gem was first released in Japan in 1994, the SNES was oversaturated with RPGs like Zelda, Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy. The genre was getting crowded with similar games. Then came EarthBound, a very unique game that stood out by jokingly mocking the typical RPG trends of the time. Its goal was damn clear: to make fun at what other RPGs were doing back then.
The Story
An intergalactic threat hits the boring town of Onett when a UFO crashes from space! The world is now in grave danger of being destroyed by an monstrous force known as Giygas. A gallant boy named Ness, equipped with just a baseball bat, a cookie, and an ATM card, goes out to save the Earth. But first, he needs to find his gang: Paula, Jeff, and Poo. Along the way, he'll face terrible creatures. Can Ness and friends survive their quest and confront the mighty Giygas?
The Graphics and Sound
The graphics, while not that amazing, are pretty good and have a fun, comic-strip cartoonish style that fits well with the game's story. The monsters are more kinda looking cute than scary, but they still look nice.
As for the sound, it is filled with many catchy tunes and playful sound effects that remind you it is all just for gaming fun. So, sit back and enjoy it.
The Gameplay
The gameplay is damn simple to pick up. You start by waking up to a crash site near your house. When you do check it out, a talking magic bee shows up to help you fight an alien enemy. However, the bee gets killed when someone stupidly sits on it. Then, your quest begins, and along the way, others will join you. Your main goal is to find those 7 "shining" spots, each guarded by a boss. Defeat all the damn bosses to win! Along the way, you will have fun side quests like helping a music band get out of debt or dealing with a local crime gang. Instead of using gold, you use actual US dollars, which you get from your dad by calling him. You can withdraw money from an ATM. You can also carry a phone to stay in touch with a friend.
Replay Value is great. The game is really fun to play and can get tricky at times Once you beat the game, there is not much extra content, but it is still a great gaming experience.
My Verdict
This is an amazing unique RPG by Nintendo. Even though the little heroes are just kids, the game has an excellent story and fantastic gameplay. It is really one-of-a-kind, and if you come across it, you should definitely grab EarthBound!
Play it on the timeless Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a beloved emulator.