Difference between revisions of "EarthBound Beginnings"

| image=EarthBound Beginnings boxart.png

| caption=EarthBound Beginnings boxart (Nintendo Switch Online)

| other boxart=Mother boxart.png

| other boxart caption=Mother boxart

| system=[[Nintendo Entertainment System| Famicom]]

| rereleasesystem= [[Wii U]] [[Virtual Console]] <small>(initial platform outside Japan)</small><br>[[Nintendo Switch]] (Nintendo Switch Online)

| jpreleasedate=July 27, 1989<br>June 14, 2015 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br>February 10, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small>

| nareleasedate=June 14, 2015 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br>February 9, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small>

| eureleasedate=June 14, 2015 <small>(Wii U Virtual Console)</small><br>February 10, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small>

'''''EarthBound Beginnings''''', also known by its Japanese name '''''Mother''''' (Japanese: '''{{tt| マザー| Mazā}}''', stylized as '''ＭＯＴＨＥＲ'''), is a 1989 roleplaying video game originally released on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System| Famicom]]. It was developed by [[Ape Inc.]] and was published by [[Nintendo]], and is the first game in the [[Mother (series)| ''EarthBound'' trilogy]]. Originally created by Japanese copywriter [[Shigesato Itoi]], ''EarthBound Beginnings'' follows the travels of four children — [[Ninten]], [[Lloyd]], [[Ana]], and [[Teddy]] — and their attempts to stop an intergalatic alien's invasion of Earth. Gameplay takes place within an overworld consisting of Americana themes and tropes, where random encounters trigger turn-based battles with menu interfaces.

''Mother'' was released to positive reception and commercial success in Japan, although some noted its difficulty. In 1990, Nintendo of America commenced and completed localization of the game under the name ''Earth Bound''. However, the release of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] and other difficulties resulted in the game not being released for the NES. Prototype cartridges of the localized version were discovered and uploaded to the Internet in 1998 with the name "EarthBound Zero". ''Mother'' would later be succeeded by ''[[Mother 2]]'' and ''[[Mother 3]]'', of which only ''Mother 2'' would be released internationally as ''[[EarthBound]]''. ''Mother'' was later part of the Game Boy Advance compilation ''[[Mother 1+2]]'' in 2003. On June 15, 2015, Mother was finally released in North America and other countries on the Wii U Virtual Console as ''EarthBound Beginnings'', following the original prototype version, making it the second installment of the series to be released outside Japan.

In the year 1988, Ninten, a young boy north of the city of [[Podunk]], has his house wracked by a poltergeist causing his lamp and sister's doll to come to life. Once the poltergeist left he examines the doll, which holds a tune that he memorizes. His father calls and instructs him to go on an adventure to realize his PSI skills. He advises Ninten to find his Great Grandfather's diary left in the basement. In the town, Ninten searches for a young girl named [[Pippi]], who had gone missing in the graveyard. After rescuing her, Ninten is tasked by the [[A. Goodman|mayor]] to calm the Zoo, where animals had gone crazy. Along the way he returns a lost canary chick to its mother, who sings a song which Ninten memorizes. At the zoo the animals became hostile due to the influence of a cosmic [[Starman]]. After defeating it and calming the animals, he learns another melody from a singing monkey. Heading east, Ninten comes across a cave with a strange pink rock where he hears a voice speak to him telepathically. He reads the Great Grandfather's diary which opens an entryway to {{ebb| Magicant}}—a mystical world ruled by Queen Mary. She explains the importance of finding [[Eight Melodies]] to complete a song.

Returning to the normal world, Ninten finds a boy named [[Lloyd]], who joins Ninten's party after receiving a bottle rocket from the nearby [[Sweet's Little Factory|factory]]. After this they head north to find a way to clear a landslide which is blocking the train station past the town's northern exit. After traveling through the large [[Duncan's Factory]], Lloyd fires a bottle rocket to blow up the rocks to clear the way. They head to the wintry town of [[Snowman]], where a psychic girl named [[Ana]] joins the party after Ninten returns her hat. Ana informs Ninten that they must check on the town of [[Youngtown]]. Along the way the children investigate a haunted houses, where a piano plays a melody for Ninten all on its own. They then head through a vast desert where a talking cactus sings another melody. At Youngtown they find that all of the childrens' parents have been abducted by a large spaceship and taken to [[Mt. Itoi]], beyond a swamp and to the town of [[Ellay]].

 

At the top, Giygas reveals himself, telling how George stole the ability of PSI, unknowingly "betraying his people". Giygas attempts to unleash an attack on the party, but the children sing the Eight Melodies to him. Giygas, recalling Maria and her motherly love, is overwhelmed in emotion, and departs from the Earth. Lloyd, Ana, and Teddy return to their normal lives, while Ninten returns home. His father calls, and while waiting for Ninten to answer, states that "something has come up".

===[[Playable character]]s===

{{Character list| color=M1| Sprite| Name| Description}}}

{{Character list/cell| [[File:Ninten sprite.png| link=Ninten]]| [[Ninten]]| '''Ninten''' is the game's protagonist. A 12-year-old boy from the town of [[Podunk]], he is sent by Queen Mary of Magicant to locate the Eight Melodies. Ninten can use special PSI abilities like [[4th-D Slip]] and [[QuickUp| Quick Up]]. He can also use various [[baseball bat| baseball bats]] to attack opponents.}}

{{Character list/cell| [[File:Lloyd sprite.png| link=Lloyd]]| [[Lloyd]]| '''Lloyd''' is an 11-year-old weak and nerdy boy from [[Merrysville]]. Although lacking PSI, Lloyd can attack enemies using various types of [[gun]]s and explosives.}}

{{Character list/cell| [[File:Ana sprite.png| link=Ana]]| [[Ana]]| '''Ana''' is a 12-year-old girl from [[Snowman]]. Ana joins Ninten to look for her missing mother. She possesses many powerful offensive PSI abilities. Additionally, Ana can use [[frying pan]]s as weapons.}}

{{Character list/cell| [[File:Teddy sprite.png| link=Teddy]]| [[Teddy]]| '''Teddy''' is the boss of the [[Bla-Bla Gang]]. Teddy joins Ninten to avenge his murdered parents. Although he lacks PSI, Teddy excels in physical combat, especially with [[blade]]s.}}

EarthBound Beginnings has a variety of non playable characters. The following are important factors to the storyline:

===[[Status ailment]]s===

*'''Asthma''' - renders the player unable to attack. This ailment is exclusive to Ninten.

{| style="image-rendering:pixelated; background:#{{darkcolor|{{{game|EBB}}}}}; border: 2px solid #{{darkcolor|{{{game|EBB}}}}}; {{roundy|15px}}; width: 100%; padding: 2px;"  

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:Lamp M1 sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[South Cemetery]] <br> [[Rosemary's house]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |3 (If defeated)<br>60-80 (If left alone; EXP granted to only one party member)

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[Merrysville]]<br>[[Reindeer]]<br>[[Spookane]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Mad Car sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Mad Truck sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Maniac Truck sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Psycho Car sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Psycho Truck sprite.png]]

| style="background: #fff;text-align:center;" |[[File:M1 Titanian sprite.png]]

{| style="image-rendering:pixelated; background:#{{darkcolor|{{{game|EBB}}}}}; border: 2px solid #{{darkcolor|{{{game|EBB}}}}}; {{roundy|15px}}; width: 100%; padding: 2px;"  

EarthBound Beginnings also received strong positive reception in the west, similar to its successor. It was one of the most bought NES games on the Wii U Virtual Console during its lifespan, and was the only NES game with a 5-star rating during the first few months of the release. Critics praised its originality, music, and artstyle, while saying how it "parodies" other more "serious" RPG games such as the ''[[dragonquest:Dragon Quest (series)| Dragon Quest]]'' series. Around the time of its initial release, EarthBound Beginnings was the best selling downloadable game on the Wii U in America and Europe, surpassing Splatoon in digital sales<ref>https://earthboundcentral.com/2015/06/earthbound-beginnings-rules-multiple-wii-u-sales-charts/</ref>.

While positively received, there are still various criticisms with the game - namely, the infamous difficulty spikes. Many parts of the game have enemies far more powerful than the previous section's (most notably [[Mt. Itoi]]) which forces grinding. Another complaint is also the random encounter rate, with enemies appearing far more frequently than other RPGs of the time.

{{gallery/cell|EBB banner EU.jpg|200px|European banner from the official website}}

{{gallery/cell|EarthBound Beginnings title.png|100px|English title screen}}

{{gallery/cell|Mother title.png|100px| Japanese title screen}}

{{gallery/cell|EarthBound_Beginnings_logo.png|100px| EarthBound Beginnings logo from the E3 2015 trailer}}

|}

{{EarthBound Beginnings locations}}