EarthBound Beginnings

EarthBound Beginnings ＭＯＴＨＥＲ Mother
Mother boxart
File:EarthBound Beginnings banner.jpg Banner from the Nintendo website
System	Famicom, Wii U Virtual Console
Genre	RPG
Rating	T for Teen (ESRB rating, EarthBound Beginnings rerelease)
Publisher	Nintendo
Developer	APE Inc.
Release dates
Japan	July 27, 1989 June 14, 2015 (Wii U Virtual Console)
North America	June 14, 2015 (Wii U Virtual Console)
Europe	June 14, 2015 (Wii U Virtual Console)

EarthBound Beginnings (Japanese: マザー Mother, stylized as ＭＯＴＨＥＲ), is a 1989 roleplaying video game originally released on the Famicom. It was developed by Ape Inc. and was published by Nintendo, and is the first game in the 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. 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, and would finally be released in North America on the Wii U Virtual Console as EarthBound Beginnings, following the original prototype version.

Plot

During the 1920s, a cloud forms over a small American town, during which a couple, George and Maria, are abducted. Years later, George quietly returns, and begins a study of powers called PSI.

In the year 198X, Ninten, a young boy north of the city of Podunk, has his house wracked by a doll, which holds a tune that he memorizes. His father calls and instructs him to go on an adventure to realize his PSI skills. In the town, he rescues Pippi, a girl missing in the graveyard, and calms the Zoo, where animals had gone crazy due to the influence of a cosmic Starman. Heading east, Ninten comes across an entryway to 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. They head to the wintry town of Snowman, where a psychic girl named Ana joins the party. The children find the melodies along canaries, haunted houses, a talking cactus, and dragons beneath Magicant.

Ninten, Lloyd, and Ana arrive in Ellay. The leader of the Bla-Bla Gang, Teddy, attacks the group, but soon becomes amiable after losing to Ninten. At the base of the nearby Mt. Itoi, Ninten and Ana profess their love. A large robot attacks their cabin, and the party is saved by Lloyd. Teddy is severely injured. The party continues to climb Mt. Itoi, and meet George's benevolent robot, EVE. Their quick ascent ends after EVE sacrifices herself to defeat a large robot. After learning the final melody at the summit of the mountain, the party is teleported to Magicant. Queen Mary, recalling the Melodies, tells the party of her adopted young alien child named Giygas, and reveals herself as Maria. Magicant, a result of her own conscience, disappears, along with Maria herself, leaving the children to face the alien threat at the peak.

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".

Blurb

The year is 198X. As Ninten, a young boy from Podunk with psychic powers, you must locate the eight melodies to aid the Queen of Magicant. Armed with your trusty baseball bat, you'll fight crazed hippies, zombies... and the occasional Magic Snail? Find out what's causing these strange phenomena in the first-ever US release of the EarthBound Beginnings game!

Robots are everywhere, and Ninten can't beat them alone. You'll have to team up with a colorful cast of unexpected characters–including Lloyd, Ana, and Teddy–to win intense battles with psychic attacks. PK Fire! PK Thunder! PK Freeze! Sound familiar? Well, Ninten isn't the only one with psychic powers–his companion Ana also uses offensive PSI attacks to help out in battle.

But that's just the beginning of your epic team-ups. On Ninten's journey between Magicant and Earth, you'll join forces with the Flying Men too! Have a blast exploring an abandoned zoo, saving the world, and more!

Characters

Playable characters

EarthBound Beginnings has four different characters that can be controlled by the player. At the beginning of the game, the player must give a name to the following four characters. Only three can be in the party at a time.

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Non playable characters

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

• Maria is Ninten's great grandmother. She and her husband were abducted by aliens in the 1900s. Her consciousness appears in Magicant, where she rules as Queen Mary.
• George is Ninten's great grandfather. While abducted by aliens, he studied and stole the knowledge of PSI.
• EVE is a robot created by George to defend Ninten. Residing at the base of Mt. Itoi, EVE possess the seventh melody.
• Giygas is an vengeful alien that was sent to retrieve the information of PSI. He is the main antagonist of the game.

Gameplay

The game utilizes random encounters, similar to other early RPGs, such as the Final Fantasy series. When Ninten takes a certain number of steps, the screen will transition to the battle screen, displaying a random enemy. In battle, Ninten must defeat the enemy simply by attacking or using PSI, short for Psionics. Additionally, Ninten has the option to run if the enemy is too powerful to fight. If Ninten defeats the enemy, he and any members in his party will gain EXP. Once Ninten gains a certain amount of EXP, his level increases, allowing for greater stats and new PSI powers. A high level is mandatory to finish the game, as the enemies progressively get more and more powerful as Ninten progresses.

Status ailments

Status ailments are conditions that hinder the player or an enemy in battle. They can usually be cured with certain items.

• Asleep - renders the player unable to do anything.
• Asthema - renders the player unable to attack. This ailment is exclusive to Ninten.
• Blindness - decreases the accuracy of an attack.
• Bound - similar to paralysis, can only be afflicted with a rope.
• Cold - causes the player to lose 1 HP for every 8 steps in the overworld.
• Confusion - confuses the player, making them able to attack anyone, even those in their party.
• Faint - occurs when the player's HP reaches zero. The player gains a Game Over if their entire party has this ailment.
• Paralysis - renders the player unable to do anything.
• Poison - same as Cold.
• PSI Block - renders the player unable to use PSI
• Puzzled - causes the player to daydream.
• Stone - renders the player unable to do anything.

Statistics

• HP (Short for "Heart Points") - Shows the amount of damage Ninten can withstand. Any healing item replenishes this.
• PP (Short for "Psychic Points") - Shows how much PSI Ninten can use.
• Offense - Shows the maximum amount of damage Ninten can deal with a normal attack.
• Defense - Shows how much damage Ninten can resist from an enemy attack.
• Speed - Determines how fast Ninten can attack. If he has the greater speed, he attacks first.
• Strength - Determines how much HP is gained when a character levels up.
• Fight - Determines the likelihood of an attack being successful, as well as the likelihood of it being a hit.
• Wisdom - Shows how likely a status ailment can be inflicted on an enemy.
• Force - Determines how much PP is gained when a character levels up.

Enemies

Normal enemies

Image	Name	HP	PP	EXP	Money	Location
align="center"|	Lamp	align="center"|6	align="center"|0	align="center"|1	align="center"|$0	Ninten's house
align="center"|	Rat	align="center"|10	align="center"|0	align="center"|3	align="center"|$2	Ninten's house Choucream Zoo Sweet's Little Factory
align="center"|	Centipede	align="center"|12	align="center"|0	align="center"|1	align="center"|$1	Podunk Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Crow	align="center"|22	align="center"|0	align="center"|3	align="center"|$4	Podunk
align="center"|	PseudoZombi	align="center"|30	align="center"|0	align="center"|8	align="center"|$12	Podunk South Cemetery
align="center"|	Snake	align="center"|18	align="center"|0	align="center"|2	align="center"|$8	Podunk
align="center"|	Stray Dog	align="center"|16	align="center"|0	align="center"|4	align="center"|$10	Podunk Merrysville Duncan's Factory Reindeer
align="center"|	The Hippie	align="center"|25	align="center"|0	align="center"|6	align="center"|$35	Podunk
align="center"|	Wally	align="center"|20	align="center"|0	align="center"|5	align="center"|$35	Podunk
align="center"|	Gang Zombie	align="center"|34	align="center"|0	align="center"|12	align="center"|$32	South Cemetery
align="center"|	Ghost	align="center"|20	align="center"|0	align="center"|5	align="center"|$10	South Cemetery
align="center"|	Mr. Bat	align="center"|20	align="center"|0	align="center"|4	align="center"|$7	South Cemetery
align="center"|	Alligator	align="center"|30	align="center"|0	align="center"|21	align="center"|$18	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	BionicCenti	align="center"|35	align="center"|0	align="center"|18	align="center"|$14	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Elephant	align="center"|70	align="center"|0	align="center"|60	align="center"|$99	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Fly	align="center"|10	align="center"|0	align="center"|1	align="center"|$1	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Gorilla	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|23	align="center"|$52	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Hyena	align="center"|30	align="center"|0	align="center"|12	align="center"|$20	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	Tiger	align="center"|35	align="center"|0	align="center"|24	align="center"|$47	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	BigWoodoh	align="center"|70	align="center"|0	align="center"|100	align="center"|$140	Magicant
align="center"|	Dadseyes	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|35	align="center"|$53	Magicant Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Foureyes	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|32	align="center"|$26	Magicant Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Groucho	align="center"|35	align="center"|0	align="center"|3 (If defeated) 60-80 (If left alone)	align="center"|$12	Magicant Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Magic Snail	align="center"|50	align="center"|0	align="center"|42	align="center"|$28	Magicant
align="center"|	Momseyes	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|35	align="center"|$34	Magicant Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Raeb Yddet	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|25	align="center"|$27	Magicant
align="center"|	Sky Yddet	align="center"|74	align="center"|0	align="center"|40	align="center"|$23	Magicant
align="center"|	Watcher	align="center"|30	align="center"|0	align="center"|5	align="center"|$20	Magicant Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Woodoh	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|40	align="center"|$38	Magicant
align="center"|	Ullrich	align="center"|40	align="center"|60	align="center"|50	align="center"|$65	Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Bag Lady	align="center"|90	align="center"|0	align="center"|63	align="center"|$150	Merrysville
align="center"|	Eagle	align="center"|45	align="center"|0	align="center"|36	align="center"|$30	Merrysville
align="center"|	Fugitive	align="center"|60	align="center"|0	align="center"|60	align="center"|$350	Merrysville
align="center"|	Lil Saucer	align="center"|32	align="center"|20	align="center"|20	align="center"|$22	Merrysville Reindeer Spookane
align="center"|File:MadCar.gif	Mad Car	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|55	align="center"|$32	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|File:MadTruck.gif	Mad Truck	align="center"|60	align="center"|0	align="center"|57	align="center"|$30	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|File:ManiacTruck.gif	ManiacTruck	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|75	align="center"|$58	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|File:PsychoCar.gif	Psycho Car	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|61	align="center"|$45	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|File:PsychoTruck.gif	Psycho Truck	align="center"|58	align="center"|0	align="center"|24	align="center"|$37	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|	Rope	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|48	align="center"|$80	Merrysville Reindeer
align="center"|	Barbot	align="center"|60	align="center"|40	align="center"|32	align="center"|$45	Merrysville Sweet's Little Factory Spookane
align="center"|	Bear	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|70	align="center"|$250	Merrysville Spookane
align="center"|	Cougar	align="center"|42	align="center"|0	align="center"|32	align="center"|$25	Merrysville Spookane
align="center"|	Skunk	align="center"|40	align="center"|0	align="center"|32	align="center"|$32	Merrysville Spookane
align="center"|	Wolf	align="center"|50	align="center"|0	align="center"|34	align="center"|$31	Merrysville Spookane
align="center"|	Bomber	align="center"|60	align="center"|0	align="center"|56	align="center"|$32	Duncan's Factory
align="center"|	Dr.Distorto	align="center"|60	align="center"|0	align="center"|45	align="center"|$40	Duncan's Factory
align="center"|	Fire Ball	align="center"|58	align="center"|50	align="center"|61	align="center"|$35	Duncan's Factory
align="center"|	Old Robot	align="center"|60	align="center"|30	align="center"|54	align="center"|$38	Duncan's Factory
align="center"|	Scrapper	align="center"|70	align="center"|30	align="center"|65	align="center"|$38	Duncan's Factory
align="center"|	Big Foot	align="center"|90	align="center"|50	align="center"|150	align="center"|$48	Snowman
align="center"|	Lone Wolf	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|100	align="center"|$41	Snowman
align="center"|	Polar Bear	align="center"|100	align="center"|0	align="center"|160	align="center"|$50	Snowman
align="center"|	Silver Wolf	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|66	align="center"|$43	Snowman
align="center"|	Alarm Ghost	align="center"|50	align="center"|0	align="center"|80	align="center"|$27	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Armor	align="center"|120	align="center"|100	align="center"|200	align="center"|$300	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Bionic Bat	align="center"|50	align="center"|0	align="center"|40	align="center"|$34	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Dust Ball	align="center"|78	align="center"|0	align="center"|80	align="center"|$100	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Nasty Zombie	align="center"|90	align="center"|0	align="center"|68	align="center"|$58	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Shroudley	align="center"|90	align="center"|0	align="center"|58	align="center"|$34	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	Zombie	align="center"|70	align="center"|50	align="center"|48	align="center"|$43	Rosemary's house
align="center"|	BionicScorp	align="center"|100	align="center"|0	align="center"|61	align="center"|$56	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	EnergyRobot	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|202	align="center"|$70	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	Gabilan	align="center"|100	align="center"|0	align="center"|70	align="center"|$43	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	Nancy	align="center"|120	align="center"|60	align="center"|68	align="center"|$50	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	OmegaSaucer	align="center"|65	align="center"|50	align="center"|82	align="center"|$57	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	Rattlesnake	align="center"|100	align="center"|0	align="center"|57	align="center"|$54	Yucca Desert
	Scorpion	align="center"|75	align="center"|0	align="center"|50	align="center"|$36	Yucca Desert
	Starman	align="center"|80	align="center"|50	align="center"|165	align="center"|$68	Spookane Yucca Desert Swamp] Mt. Itoi
	Tarantula	align="center"|120	align="center"|0	align="center"|205	align="center"|$85	Yucca Desert
	UltraBarbot	align="center"|80	align="center"|50	align="center"|220	align="center"|$87	Yucca Desert
	Red Snake	align="center"|150	align="center"|0	align="center"|500	align="center"|$37	Youngtown
	Spider	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|48	align="center"|$40	Youngtown Swamp Ellay
	Titanees	align="center"|130	align="center"|40	align="center"|78	align="center"|$50	Youngtown Swamp
	Bison	align="center"|160	align="center"|0	align="center"|186	align="center"|$63	Swamp
	Buffalo	align="center"|150	align="center"|0	align="center"|103	align="center"|$95	Swamp
	Crocodile	align="center"|120	align="center"|0	align="center"|172	align="center"|$88	Swamp
	Kelly	align="center"|120	align="center"|80	align="center"|102	align="center"|$88	Swamp
	Mook	align="center"|85	align="center"|80	align="center"|166	align="center"|$42	Swamp
	Seagull	align="center"|90	align="center"|0	align="center"|100	align="center"|$44	Swamp Mt. Itoi
	B.B. Gang	align="center"|80	align="center"|0	align="center"|72	align="center"|$60	Ellay
	BlueStarman	align="center"|100	align="center"|80	align="center"|150	align="center"|$91	Mt. Itoi
	Cerebrum	align="center"|200	align="center"|180	align="center"|89	align="center"|$80	Mt. Itoi
	Gargoyle	align="center"|180	align="center"|60	align="center"|110	align="center"|$86	Mt. Itoi
	GrizzlyBear	align="center"|340	align="center"|0	align="center"|250	align="center"|$65	Mt. Itoi
	Megaborg	align="center"|160	align="center"|60	align="center"|197	align="center"|$109	Mt. Itoi
	Rockoyle	align="center"|120	align="center"|60	align="center"|162	align="center"|$93	Mt. Itoi
	SuperEnergy	align="center"|120	align="center"|0	align="center"|230	align="center"|$260	Mt. Itoi
File:Titanian.gif	Titanian	align="center"|320	align="center"|0	align="center"|180	align="center"|$130	Mt. Itoi
	Oh-Mook	align="center"|160	align="center"|250	align="center"|175	align="center"|$110	Mt. Itoi
	Giga Borg	align="center"|180	align="center"|80	align="center"|98	align="center"|$143	Mt. Itoi
	Juana	align="center"|300	align="center"|200	align="center"|270	align="center"|$362	Mt. Itoi
	LastStarman	align="center"|120	align="center"|100	align="center"|330	align="center"|$389	Mt. Itoi
	Star Miner	align="center"|200	align="center"|0	align="center"|209	align="center"|$138	Mt. Itoi

Bosses

Image	Name	HP	PP	EXP	Money	Location
align="center"|	Doll	align="center"|12	align="center"|0	align="center"|10	align="center"|$50	Ninten's house
align="center"|	Starman Jr.	align="center"|52	align="center"|16	align="center"|32	align="center"|$5	Choucream Zoo
align="center"|	The Fish	align="center"|65	align="center"|0	align="center"|140	align="center"|$180	Magicant Underground
align="center"|	Dragon	align="center"|650	align="center"|220	align="center"|500	align="center"|$1,200	Magicant Underground
align="center"|	R7037	align="center"|1,000	align="center"|0	align="center"|205	align="center"|$71	Yucca Desert
align="center"|	B.B.'s Boss	align="center"|N/A	align="center"|0	align="center"|0	align="center"|$0	Ellay
align="center"|	R7038	align="center"|1,000	align="center"|0	align="center"|430	align="center"|$101	Mt. Itoi
align="center"|	R7038XX	align="center"|1,000	align="center"|0	align="center"|550	align="center"|$180	Mt. Itoi
align="center"|	Giygas	align="center"|N/A	align="center"|0	align="center"|0	align="center"|$0	Mt. Itoi

Release

Mother was originally released in Japan for the Famicom in 1989.

The game was translated into English by Nintendo of America in 1990 and slated for a 1991 release, but marketing delays prevented the translated game, to be titled Earth Bound in English, from ever seeing release. The fan group Demiforce, who had been working on their own translation of the game at the time, discovered that a prototype cartridge had been sold to Kenny Brooks, a game collector, and made a deal with him to release a ROM of the game to the public in 1998. The released ROM featured minor alterations from the prototype cartridge to get around the copy protections Nintendo had placed on it, as well as the addition of "Zero" to the title screen to differentiate it from its sequel, which had received an English release in 1995. Since then, four other cartridges with the prototype have been found, one of which resides in Nintendo of America's headquarters.

Unlike the original Japanese release of Mother, the prototype English translation contains detailed enemy descriptions, some redesigned areas, and an ability to run, among other differences. A few of the changes were requested by Nintendo of America producer and scriptwriter Phil Sandhop, who stated that there were plans to release the game with an 80-page instruction manual and a separate release of the game's soundtrack, but the production costs ended up having the game cancelled. Most of the alterations later saw official release in Mother 1+2.

On June 14, 2015, Nintendo announced and released Mother for Wii U Virtual Console, in Japanese as well as its first ever English release, under the title EarthBound Beginnings. While the English version is the same as the unreleased English prototype, the Japanese version had several changes from Mother 1+2 backported to it. Notably, the Crow's cigarette was removed and a line in Twinkle Elementary School that mentioning Dragon Quest 4 had the reference to that game removed.

Reception

Mother was a commercial success in Japan, receiving the "Silver Hall of Fame" score of 31/40 from Weekly Famitsu. According to a Famitsu poll, it was considered the 9th best Famicom game and the 38th best game of all time. EarthBound Beginnings also received strong positive reception in the west, similar to its successor. It was one of the most bought NES game 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 Dragon Quest series. Around the time of its Inital release, EarthBound Beginnings was the best selling downloadable game on the Wii U in America and Europe, surpassing Splatoon in digital sales.

Balance issues

However, the game has recieved criticism, one of the most noted is the balancing problems. Many parts of the game give the enemies a sudden increase in difficulty (most infamously Mt. Itoi) which causes many players to go through long periods of level grinding in order to progress, other complaints also include the random encounter rate. Nevertheless, EarthBound Beginnings remains one of the most popular downloadable games on the virtual console behind its successor.

Gallery

For the subject's image gallery, see Gallery:EarthBound Beginnings

• 

  English title screen

• 

  Japanese title screen

• EarthBound Beginnings logo.png

  EarthBound Beginnings logo from the E3 2015 trailer

• Ninten.png

  Clay model of Ninten

• 

  Ninten using Telepathy

• 

  Game Over Screen

Trivia

• Mother was named after the John Lennon song of the same name.
• It took 26 years for Mother to get an English release, making it only the second game in the series to be released outside of Japan.
• Prior to its official English release, the game was commonly called Earthbound Zero.

External links

Pages of this topic are also found on our partner wikis
	Mother

• Starmen.net complete walkthrough

	and by Shigesato Itoi
	Unreleased titles (EarthBound 64) (Nintendo GameCube)

	Characters of EarthBound Beginnings
	Main Party Ninten Lloyd Ana Teddy Allies George • Maria Mimmie and Minnie • Pippi Queen Mary • Flying Men • Eve Villain Giegue Others Mick • Mrs. Lindgren • A. Goodman • Abbott • Mysterious Goods-Keeper • Mysterious Mimicker • Benevolent Old Man • Forgotten Man • Goldrich Duncan • Old Sawbones Benny • Mysterious Teacher • Suzy • Buggerror Rosemary • Tom Garrickson • Garrickson baby • Lloyd's father • Bla-Bla Gang • Able • Baker List of all characters