EarthBound: Difference between revisions

|image=EarthBoundBox.jpg

|size=250px

|caption=English boxart

|image2=Mother_2_Box.jpg

|caption2=Japanese boxart

|system=[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]<br>[[Nintendo 3DS]] and [[Wii U]] ([[Virtual Console]])

|rating=[[wikipedia:ESRB|ESRB]]: E <small>(SNES)</small><br />ESRB: T <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br />[[wikipedia:CERO|CERO]]: A <small>(All Japanese VC rereleases)</small>

|jpreleasedate=August 27, 1994<br/>March 20, 2013 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br/>March 4, 2016 <small>(New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console)</small>

|nareleasedate=June 5, 1995<ref>[https://earthboundcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/EarthBound-Press-Release-1.jpg EarthBound press release]</ref><br/>July 18, 2013 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br/>March 24, 2016 <small>(New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console)</small>

|eureleasedate=July 18, 2013 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br/>March 3, 2016 <small>(New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console)</small>

'''''EarthBound''''' (Japanese: '''{{tt|ＭＯＴＨＥＲ２: ギーグの逆襲|Mazā Tsu: Gīgu no gyakushū}}''' ''Mother 2: {{tt|Gyiyg|Giygas}}'s Counterattack'') is a 1994 role-playing video game developed by [[Ape]] and [[HAL Laboratory]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is a sequel to 1989's Japan-only ''[[Mother (video game)|Mother]]'', and is the second entry in the [[EarthBound (series)|''EarthBound'' series]]. Set in a fictionalized and hyperbolized version of [[Eagleland|America]], ''EarthBound'' involves four children led by the brave [[Ness]], prophesied to save the world by collecting eight melodies strewn across the world.

 

''EarthBound'', and the ''Mother'' series as a whole, amassed a cult following of fans, mostly through Internet forums such as Starmen.net. Retrospectively, it has received acclaim, with critics highlighting its varied soundtrack, script, and tone. ''EarthBound'' was packaged in the Japan-only rerelease ''[[Mother 1+2]]'', and did not recieve an international release until 2013, being published on the Wii U Virtual Console and the New Nintendo 3DS.

{{Party list|color=M2|Character|Name|Description}}

{{Party list/cell|[[File:Ness sprite.png|25px|link=Ness]]|[[Ness]]|The protagonist of ''EarthBound'', who lives in the town of [[Onett]]. Ness uses his psychic abilities to perform [[PSI Flash]] and [[PSI Rockin]] attacks. In addition to [[PSI]], Ness uses various [[Baseball bat]]s as weapons.}}

{{Party list/cell|[[File:Paula sprite.png|25px|link=Paula]]|[[Paula]]| A girl from [[Twoson]]. She is able to perform [[PK Freeze|PSI Freeze]], [[PK Fire|PSI Fire]], and [[PK Thunder|PSI Thunder]] attacks; she can also use a special ability known as [[Paula#Praying|Pray]], which creates random effects in battle. Paula uses various [[Frying pan]]s as weapons.}}

{{Party list/cell|[[File:Jeff sprite.png|25px|link=Jeff]]|[[Jeff]]|A boy from [[Winters]]. He is unable to perform PSI attacks -- instead, he relies on his high IQ to help the team. He can also [[Jeff#Spying|Spy]] on an enemy to learn about its stats. Jeff is able to repair certain items that would otherwise be unusable and then use them in battle. To attack, he uses various types of [[Gun]]s. He is the son of the famous scientist [[Dr. Andonuts]].}}

{{Party list/cell|[[File:Poo sprite.png|25px|link=Poo]]|[[Poo]]|the prince of [[Dalaam]], is the oldest member of the team and a martial arts master. He is able to perform [[PK Freeze|PSI Freeze]], [[PK Thunder|PSI Thunder]], and [[PK Starstorm|PSI Starstorm]], and he can also use his [[Poo#Mirror|Mirror]] ability to transform into an enemy during battle. Poo specializes in a sword known as the [[Blade|Sword of kings]].}}

*'''[[Giygas]]''' - The main villain. He sends an alien army to attack earth after the [[Apple of Enlightenment]] foresaw that he would be defeated by [[Ness]].

 

 

*'''[[Frank]]''' - The leader of a vicious gang known as [[The Sharks]]. He appears as the main boss of [[Onett]].

 

*'''[[Mr. Carpainter]]''' - The chief leader of the [[Happy Happyism|Happy Happy Cult]] in [[Happy Happy Village]].

 

*'''[[Geldegarde Monotoli]]''' - The shrewd mayor of [[Fourside]], who is corrupted by the Mani-Mani Statue.

 

*'''[[Master Belch]]''' - An employ of Giygas responsible for the Zombie Invasion in [[Threed]], as well as the kidnapping of several [[Mr. Saturn]].

 

*'''[[Department Store Spook]]''' - A [[Mook]] that kidnaps Paula in Fourside and creates a blackout in Fourside's department store.

 

*'''[[Starman Deluxe]]''' - A powerful [[Starman]] that acts as the overseer and power source of [[Stonehenge Base]]. It also keeps several humans prisoner inside the base.

Unlike the original ''Mother'', EarthBound has enemies appear directly in the overworld, rather than appear in random encounters. If Ness touches an enemy, he will enter the battle screen. The battle system is mainly the same as in Mother. Ness can fight the monster, use PSI, or run if the enemy is too powerful. If Ness defeats the boss of the area, the enemies will run away from Ness if he approaches them. Additionally, if Ness is at a higher level than the enemies, he can kill them instantly.

{| style="border-collapse:collapse;border:2px solid #000000;padding:3px;margin:0 auto;"

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CoilSnake.gif]]

| [[Onett]]<br />[[Threed]]

| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:SpitefulCrow.gif]]

| [[Onett]]<br />[[Happy Happy Village]]<br />[[Winters]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:RunawayDog.gif]]

| [[Onett]]<br />[[Twoson]]<br />[[Winters]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SkatePunk.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:YesManJunior.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:AttackSlug.gif]]

| [[Giant Step]]<br />[[Rainy Circle]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:BlackAntoid.gif]]

| [[Giant Step]]<br />[[Twoson]]<br />[[Grapefruit Falls]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:RowdyMouse.gif]]

| [[Giant Step]]<br />[[Brick Road]]<br />[[Rainy Circle]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Cop.gif]]

| [[Onett]]<br />[[Twoson]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:AnnoyingOldPartyMan.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CrankyLady.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MobileSprout.gif]]

| [[Twoson]]<br />[[Peaceful Rest Valley]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:UnassumingLocalGuy.gif]]

| [[Twoson]]<br />[[Happy Happy Village]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:LilUFO.gif]]

| [[Twoson]]<br />[[Happy Happy Village]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SpinningRobo.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:TerritorialOak.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:InsaneCultist.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MightyBear.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MolePlayingRough.gif]]

| [[Lilliput Steps]]<br />[[Dusty Dunes Desert]]<br />[[Summers]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MrBatty.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:HandsomeTom.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:NoGoodFly.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:PutridMoldyman.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SmellyGhost.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SmilinSam.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:TrickOrTreatKid.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:UrbanZombie.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ZombieDog.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:GruffGoat.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MadDuck.gif]]

| [[Brick Road]]'s Dungeon<br />[[Saturn Valley]]<br />[[Gold Mine]]

| [[Brick Road]]'s Dungeon<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CaveBoy.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:FarmZombie.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:PlainCrocodile.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Foppy.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MostlyBadFly.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SlimyLittlePile.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Ranboob.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:StruttinEvilMushroom.gif]]

| [[Rainy Circle]]<br />[[Milky Well]]<br />[[Monkey Cave]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ToughMobileSprout.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:BadBuffalo.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CrestedBooka.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CriminalCaterpillar.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CuteLilUFO.gif]]

| [[Dusty Dunes Desert]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:DesertWolf.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Skelpion.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SmilinSphere.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:AnnoyingReveler.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ExtraCrankyLady.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:CrazedSign.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MadTaxi.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:GiganticAnt.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:NooseMan.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:GiganticAnt.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ThirstyCoilSnake.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MysticalRecord.gif]]

| [[Grand Department Store]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ScaldingCoffeeCup.gif]]

| [[Grand Department Store]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Musica.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:DalisClock.gif]]

| [[Moonside]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:EnragedFirePlug.gif]]

| [[Moonside]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Robopump.gif]]

| [[Moonside]]<br />[[Dungeon Man]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:SentryRobot.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MightyBearSeven.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Arachnid!.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ElderBatty.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:StrongCrocodile.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:OverZealousCop.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ToughGuy.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:DeadlyMouse.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:FilthyAttackRoach.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:StinkyGhost.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ConductingMenace.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:KissOfDeath.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Tangoo.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:ThunderMite.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:HighClassUFO.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:BeautifulUFO.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:DreadSkelpion.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:GreatCrestedBooka.gif]]

| style="text-align:center;" |[[File:MasterCriminalWorm.gif]]

==Virtual Console re-release==

Furthermore, in March of 2016, ''Earthbound'' was re-released again in all three regions for the New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service.

''Earthbound'' was included as one of the games on the Super NES Classic Edition (known as the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe and Oceania and Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom in Japan), released on June 26, 2017.

==Music Sampling Controversy==

''EarthBound'' has been noted to feature a number of samples/homages to other songs. For example, the Onett trumpet player plays Symphony No.9 Movement 2, the music that plays while fighting [[Frank]] or a [[New Age Retro Hippie]] bears some resemblance to the beginning of ''[[wikipedia:Johnny B. Goode|Johnny B. Goode]]'', and the Megaton Walk sounds remarkably like a segment from [[wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' ''[[wikipedia:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''. These samples of music caused controversy for Nintendo of America when the company tried to approve the game for digital distribution on the Wii's Virtual Console. Hirokazu Tanaka stated in an interview, "The sampling issue is a little sensitive because, well, I don't know for sure, but it sounds like that is one of the reasons ''EarthBound'' is not able to come out in America." During the Nintendo Direct announcing ''EarthBound'''s approval for the Wii U Virtual Console, Satoru Iwata mentioned the fan outcry being one of the reasons. Regardless the music was kept in the Virtual Console release.

Although the game was a success in Japan much like its predecessor, the game initially had very poor sales in the West which even prevented the game from being released in PAL regions, the cause was due to RPGs not being very popular in the west, and an odd marketing campaign.

However due to a dedicated fanbase and the series representation in the Smash Bros series, the game became an incredible success with its Wii U Virtual Console re-release. The game received a ''GameZone'' score of 10/10 and the ''Nintendo World Report'' gave it 9.5/10, while receiving a ''GameRanking'' score of 88%. Critics praised the wacky humor, characters, and unique real-world setting, considering it as not only one of the greatest RPG games of all time, but the most original. They also praised how the game can shift from being "dark and serious" to "lighthearted and silly". EarthBound became one of Nintendo's best selling downloadable games in the Virtual Console lifespan, constantly topping the charts of the Wii U's most bought downloadable games, and is commonly referred to as the example of a cult classic.

==Trivia==

*The ESRB, the American rating system for video games, rated ''EarthBound'' for the Wii Virtual Console. This rating, however, was a mistake.<ref>[http://www.infendo.com/no-earthbound-for-vc-esrb-rating-a-mistake/ Article of the Wii's VC's Earthbound ESRB rating]</ref>  The game was later confirmed for a Wii U Virtual Console release, scheduled for late 2013.<ref>[http://earthboundcentral.com/2013/04/earthbound-on-virtual-console-coming/ EarthBound Central's Article on the Wii U's VC's EarthBound release]</ref>

*''EarthBound'' had an infamously odd marketing campaign in North America, which included the tagline "This game stinks!" (a reference to the included scratch-and-sniff cards).

*All of the game's areas are connected to each other. Using a [[walk through walls glitch|glitch to walk through otherwise impassable objects]] and off the map, players can walk to Giygas' lair in the [[Cave of the Past]].  

*The game has several checksum to avoid abusing the previously mentioned map glitching to complete the game. The player must fall down the hole in [[Lumine Hall]], and must have defeated [[Ness's Nightmare]].

*''EarthBound'' takes place in a fictional land called [[Eagleland]]. Many fans think this is a parody of the United States of America, but Shigesato Itoi stated that the game is not necessarily set there. This is why party members like [[Poo]] appear to come from different cultures.

*''Mother 2'' was available as a downloadable game for the [[wikipedia:Nintendo Power (cartridge)|Nintendo Power]], a Japan-only flash-memory cartridge that allowed owners to purchase Super Famicom games at a lowered price.

{{gallery}}

|

{{Gallery/cell|Ness sprite.png|18px|[[Ness]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|Ness robot sprite.png|18px|Ness}}

{{Gallery/cell|Ness ghost sprite.png|17px|Ness}}

{{Gallery/cell|Ness pajamas sprite.png|19px|Ness}}

{{Gallery/cell|Ness bike sprite.png|24px|Ness}}

{{Gallery/cell|Paula sprite.png|18px|[[Paula]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|Paula ghost sprite.png|18px|Paula}}

{{Gallery/cell|Ness's Mother.gif|16px|Ness' Mother}}

{{Gallery/cell|Tessie.gif|78px|[[Tessie (EarthBound)|Tessie]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|BrickRoad.gif|16px|[[Brick Road]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|Tessie Watcher.gif|16px|[[Sebastian (EarthBound)|Sebastian]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|GeorgeMontague.png|17px|[[George Montague]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|Gerardo.png|16px|[[Gerardo Montague]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|SanchezBrotherEB.gif|16px|[[Sanchez Brothers]]}}

{{Gallery/cell|SmallTenda.png|5px|[[Ay-go Stikke]]}}

===NPCS===

{{Gallery/cell|Old man EB.png|16px|Drugstore Shopkeeper (Male)}}

{{gallery/cell|Mother 2 Box.jpg|50px|Japanese box art}}

{{gallery/cell|Mother 2 logo.png|100px|Japanese logo}}

{{gallery/cell|EarthBound logo.png|100px|American logo}}

{{gallery/cell|Early EarthBound boxart.jpg|100px|Early American box art}}

{{gallery/cell|Alt EarthBound logo.png|100px|Alternative American logo}}

</center>