Earthbound

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Earthbound; overlooked game
Tweet Topic Started: Oct 1 2010, 06:09 PM (310 Views)
Zak	Oct 1 2010, 06:09 PM Post #1
For The Circle Posts: 4,002 Group: D Rank Legend Member #9,748 Joined: February 10, 2009 3DS Friend Code: 1118-0225-4062 Steam ID: zakth686	Developer: Ape, HAL Laboratory Genre: Adventure RPG Release Date: August 27, 1994 in Japan, June 5, 1995 in North America Number of Players: 1 Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System Summary Most gamers know Earthbound only because of Ness' and later Lucas' appearances in Super Smash Brothers Brawl, this is because It's Prequel Mother(Earthbound Zero), and it's sequel Mother 3(Earthbound 2) were not released in America, and Earthbound itself did very bad in sales. Regardless, Earthbound is a very great game that is far too often overlooked. Plot Earthbound was released in the 90's, a time when RPGs were very popular. Earthbound however, was unique in the sense that it broke to mold of "Dragons and Swords" and replaced it with Possessed Cars, Aliens, and Baseball bats. It's quirky and weird, yet heartwarming tale is both hilarious, and very serious at times. The overall plot is Based around Ness, a young boy living in Onett, a small town in the country of Eagleland(an obvious recreation of America). When a meteor crashes in his hometown, Ness is told by an alien bee from the future that he is one of the "Chosen Four" that will defeat the evil Giygas and save the future. It is never actually explained how, but this encounter of the 4th Kind somehow gives Ness control of the psychic power known as PSI. He is told to go gain control of the eight "Your Sanctuary" locations in order to defeat Giygas. Later on in his journey, Ness meets the other members of the "Chosen Four": Paula, a girl living in Twoson, who also has control over a more extensive range of PSI powers. Jeff, a boy from the country of Winters(I assume this is supposed to be Canada), who is the son of the famous Dr. Andonuts and a brilliant inventor. And Poo, an Asian boy from Dalaam (read: China) who has control over a unique range of PSI powers, including the all powerful PK Starstorm. Ness also encounters trouble from his snotty next-door neighbor Pokey, who has become Giygas' right hand man. And help from a traveling soul group known as the Runaway Five (despite having six members), and the odd race of aliens known as the "Mr. Saturn". And they are only but a few of the many strange and interesting individuals Ness meets on his journey. The plot is truly was the creation of either a madman, or a genius. And I'm Sure the creator, Shigesato Itoi, is the latter. Every single NPC is unique in their own way, and their text boxes actually say meaningful things. Half of this game is simply talking, and listening to all the amazing things everyone has to say. Over all, the plot itself is a masterpiece in itself. 9/10 Game play: In terms of game play, Earthbound is really just like any old RPG. Players explore and over world filled with enemies, when the enemies are encountered, the game shifts to a battle layout, which is also usual. You have your Hit Points, and you Psychic Points. One keeps you alive, the other fuels your special attacks. Each character attacks one enemy at a time, and Experience is gained from each battles, eventually resulting in a level up, which increases the stats of the character. When Characters run out of PP, they are unable to execute special attacks and must use a standard low level "Bash". When their HP hits 0, they collapse and a rendered unconscious. When the whole party is rendered unconscious, the battle is over and the player losses. One of the unique things however, is Earthbound's "scrolling" HP meter. The HP and PP indicators are made to look an act like an odometer, in the sense that after being hit, the meter will have to take time to scroll down to the appropriate level. When healing, the reverse happens. This was a nice game play mechanic in that sense that if a character took a mortal blow, they could be saved if they were healed before the meter reached 0, almost like a timer. In the same sense, a character could recover less HP than anticipated if they were damaged in the middle of regaining health. Another good game mechanic was Paula's ability to "Pray". Praying would deal a random status aliment to a random enemy or character. This is considered risky, as it is a very good way of inflicting very serious aliments on your own party members. The status aliments were very unique to Earthbound too, as they utilized the normal "Confused, Blind, Sick" but also made use of out-of-the-ordinary aliments, such as "Possessed by a Mini Ghost", "Sun stroke", or "Dimondized". Earthbound had a few fun gimmicks, but in terms of game play, it was really any other RPG. 6/10 Music: And here is another area where Earthbound truly shines. The Soundtrack. The Music in this game is simply amazing at times, compositions in areas like Twoson, Fourside, and Saturn Valley are simply musical masterpieces. While granted not every score in the game will bring you to tears, there are just enough select few to make this a truly musical game, Including old compositions like "Snowman" and "Pollyanna". This is also helped by the inclusion of three "musical performances" in the game, in which the player cuts away from the action to just watch sprites dance around to some kick arse tunes. 8/10 Graphics: Now this, is one of the reasons that Earthbound did not do so well commercially. Every game has it's faults, and Earthbound is no exception. The SNES brought a whole new level of graphics to video games, an unfortunately Earthbound did not take advantage of this. Outside of a bit of add shading and room for more colors in an already simplistic palette, the game is pretty much using NES standards. While this In battle Pixel Art is very well crafted, about half the enemies are re-colors of previous enemies, and their over world sprites are identical. The characters have about four basic sprites. One for walking sideways, one for standing sideways (these two of which are choppily animated to simulate walking), One sprite for standing forward, and the last for standing backward. The forward and backward sprites are all positioned with one foot on the ground, the other outstretched, and when moving, the sprites are simply flipped vertically to switch feet. For an NES game, this would have been clever, but in a SNES game, more is too be expected. One could argue that the graphics were lacking to make room for other content, but this is not a good enough excuse. 4/10 Final Scoring: Overall, Earthbound is a game that is far too often overlooked. In terms of RPGs it's a pretty good game, but the story and characters that intertwine in it are superb. The game will capture you, and you will feel connected to the world of Earthbound. When the characters win, you may laugh, when they lose, you may feel sad, Earthbound is one of the few games that actually makes you feel the story. 9/10 I highly recommend this game. In think more people should play it, although I doubt many will. Earthbound was not be ported, and did not get released on the Virtual Console in America. This is due to an enemy in the game, the Dali's clock, which referenced the famous painting, The Persistence of Memory. This, along with many in-game songs that are references of popular songs from bands such as The Beatles, would infringe copyright as the laws have changed from the games release and now. The only legal way to play it would be on it's original SNES platform. Regardless, it is still a very great game, and one of Nintendo's more obscure creations.
	"Ati Ramar, In defeat we learn."


The Milkman	Oct 1 2010, 08:51 PM Post #2
I am The Milkman. Posts: 523 Group: B Rank Knight Member #11,336 Joined: August 21, 2010	It was also TOTALLY F##KING BOSS. You forgot to mention that.
	My milk is fortified with what the world wants. What the world deserves.


Hauntvine	Oct 3 2010, 06:53 AM Post #3
He's Hiding Something... Posts: 899 Group: D Rank Hero Member #11,445 Joined: September 26, 2010 3DS Friend Code: 3222-6026-7505	I just wish thay would've brought it out over here, you yanks should be lucky that you don't have to get an emulator!
	Click the link to visit us, we don't (always) bite. :3 For Entertainment and General Discussion Hallowe'en Movie Night (31/10/2012) Ohey lewk, a smiley face: =D Thank you for reading the above post! -Hauntvine


Phoenix-Saturn	Oct 3 2010, 01:36 PM Post #4
i just wwant to be beautiful for this one month Posts: 7,528 Group: A Rank Legend Member #10,191 Joined: July 27, 2009	Probably 90% of people who have played this game have used an emulator. Earthbound has the potential to be a cash cow if Nintendo decided to do something about the copyright stuff.
	i'm actually really sorry bout this unfashionably late as alwways I... Am... THE WEREHOG SUPPORTER! MUHAHAHAHA! Howl


Zak	Oct 3 2010, 02:18 PM Post #5
For The Circle Posts: 4,002 Group: D Rank Legend Member #9,748 Joined: February 10, 2009 3DS Friend Code: 1118-0225-4062 Steam ID: zakth686	Wisp Phoenix-Saturn Oct 3 2010, 01:36 PM Probably 90% of people who have played this game have used an emulator. Earthbound has the potential to be a cash cow if Nintendo decided to do something about the copyright stuff. It's just because NoA hates Mother. Mother 3 had no copyright claims, and we didn't get that either.
	"Ati Ramar, In defeat we learn."


Guernsey	Oct 4 2010, 05:22 PM Post #6
Angel Island Act 1 Posts: 48 Group: E Rank Adventurer Member #11,419 Joined: September 16, 2010	I like the Mother games, I had played it when I was a kid but I enjoying it even more now that I am a adult. This game really changed my perspective, most RPGs are either sword and sorcery or soemthign futurisitic but EarthBound does its own thing while not taking itself too seriously.



Hauntvine	Oct 5 2010, 01:29 PM Post #7
He's Hiding Something... Posts: 899 Group: D Rank Hero Member #11,445 Joined: September 26, 2010 3DS Friend Code: 3222-6026-7505	I enjoyed EB & M from what I played of it on Z***S.
	Click the link to visit us, we don't (always) bite. :3 For Entertainment and General Discussion Hallowe'en Movie Night (31/10/2012) Ohey lewk, a smiley face: =D Thank you for reading the above post! -Hauntvine


Aleks	Oct 5 2010, 02:27 PM Post #8
Ice Cap Act 1 Posts: 238 Group: C Rank Guardian Member #11,449 Joined: September 28, 2010	Defiantly and underrated game when it hit stores in America it was $50 and came in this really big box. At the time a lot of people couldn't afford the game and they weren't used to the games rpg method. Earthbound is like no other rpg which made it original its defiantly a gem. Its a shame it didn't do as well here in America as it did in Japan the game is called "Mother" over there I believe. Edited by Aleks, Oct 5 2010, 03:22 PM.



Hauntvine	Oct 5 2010, 11:34 PM Post #9
He's Hiding Something... Posts: 899 Group: D Rank Hero Member #11,445 Joined: September 26, 2010 3DS Friend Code: 3222-6026-7505	You are entirely correct Aleks.
	Click the link to visit us, we don't (always) bite. :3 For Entertainment and General Discussion Hallowe'en Movie Night (31/10/2012) Ohey lewk, a smiley face: =D Thank you for reading the above post! -Hauntvine


Aleks	Oct 6 2010, 12:07 AM Post #10
Ice Cap Act 1 Posts: 238 Group: C Rank Guardian Member #11,449 Joined: September 28, 2010	Gary-X Oct 5 2010, 11:34 PM You are entirely correct Aleks. Thanks guess I did my hw right ;P



Hauntvine	Oct 6 2010, 06:37 AM Post #11
He's Hiding Something... Posts: 899 Group: D Rank Hero Member #11,445 Joined: September 26, 2010 3DS Friend Code: 3222-6026-7505	Guess you did!
	Click the link to visit us, we don't (always) bite. :3 For Entertainment and General Discussion Hallowe'en Movie Night (31/10/2012) Ohey lewk, a smiley face: =D Thank you for reading the above post! -Hauntvine


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