EarthBound

Released: August 27, 1994 (JP), June 5, 1995 (USA)

Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Introduction

EarthBound is a role-playing game that was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. I've played it twice, once in 2015 and once last year. It was written by Shigesato Itoi, a Japanese celebrity copywriter, and has gathered a cult following over the years.

While most Japanese RPGs at the time were fantasy themed and set in medieval times, EarthBound was distinct because it took place in 1990s America. Instead of potions, there are pizzas and burgers, and instead of swords and knives there are baseball bats and frying pans.

Impressions

As a game, EarthBound grew on me. It started out pretty slow, but what sticks in my mind about this game is the bright setting, memorable moments, and the feel-good story. I also remember the darker undertones that are prevalent throughout the game, which add depth and meaning to the overall positive message.

EarthBound is a balance of surface-level quirkiness and dark undertones, all draped in a cartoony depiction of American culture. It is also a heavily self-aware game, and it frequently satirizes the common tropes of other RPGs. The game is beloved by its cult following (and me) for all of these reasons.

Gameplay

EarthBound's main weakness is its gameplay. There are a bunch of frustrating aspects of this game that would never be seen in a modern game. For example, in order to talk to someone, you have to stand next to them, bring up a menu, and select 'talk' from the menu. If you want to read something, you have to do the same except select 'check' instead of talk.

Another problem I ran into was that when moving around, I would get my characters caught on trees, buildings, and rocks because of the poor collision detection. It wasn't a huge deal, but for me it made the game seem less 'finished'.

One thing I found great about the gameplay, however, was the battle system. When you get hit in a battle, your HP is not lowered right away, instead using an 'odometer' that gradually rolls down after the attack. For example, if you get hit by an attack that will kill you, you still have time while your counter rolls to 0 to heal yourself or to defeat the enemy and end the battle:

Music

Another aspect of EarthBound that everyone seems to love, including me, is the music. Taking inspiration from classic rock and jazz, the music really adds to the "small-town America" vibe. Some songs even sample all sorts of pop songs, from "All I Need is Love" to the theme songs of Monty Python or The Little Rascals. This video shows how each one is incorporated into a song from EarthBound, and I think it's worth a watch:

Aside from the music that samples pop songs, the rest of the soundtrack stands on its own. There are songs that capture the feeling of an American town (see "Boy Meets Girl"), songs that provide a sense of sci-fi unease (see "Threed, Zombie Central"), and the triumphant, feel-good song that has variations throughout the game and finally plays in full during the credits (see "Smiles and Tears").

Art/Visuals

Some examples of the sprites

When it was released, EarthBound was criticized for not having the best graphics. But as the game aged, the bright, Charlie-Brown-esque art style has remained just as vibrant as it was back in 1995, while other games that aimed for high-quality graphics quickly looked outdated. I like how the cartoonish style lets the designers exaggerate the features of the characters to reflect their personalities.

Story/Characters

I've mentioned this a few times before, but EarthBound is hiding some dark undertones. The main story, of four friends setting out to save the world from evil, includes some subplots you would never expect in a Nintendo game. Towards the beginning of EarthBound, you have to rescue one of the main characters, Paula, from a group known as the Happyhappyists. Happyhappyism is a religious cult bent on painting the world blue, and the leader takes Paula captive and intends to marry her. Right after you walk into Happy Happy village, a woman approaches you and asks for you to donate money. If you refuse, she follows you wherever you go. Everyone you talk to has been brainwashed, and they all try to get you to join, claiming that their lives have been a lot better since joining. They also sort of resemble the KKK, so that's something.

Another troubling part of the game is the story of Pokey Minch, Ness's (the main character's) neighbor and the main villain of the game. Early on, we see that he has physically and emotionally abusive parents, and that even though he's mean to Ness, he wants to be friends with him. When that doesn't work out, he spends the rest of the game gradually succumbing to his lust for power. At the end of the game, Pokey has completely deteriorated emotionally, and plays a role in the terrifying final boss fight:

Impact/Context

When it was released, the game sold very poorly. EarthBound is actually the second game in a trilogy, and until very recently was the only one released out of Japan. There, the series is known as Mother, and EarthBound is Mother 2. In America, however, it seemed that the game would die out in obscurity.

But EarthBound started to develop a dedicated fanbase. It started out when a few fans started a website, today called starmen.net. Over the years they grew in size and made fan art and music, and today are famous for being one of the most welcoming and dedicated fanbases in the video game community. They even have their own Wikipedia article.

Because of the EarthBound community, the game has gained much greater recognition, and the first game, Mother 1, has even been released worldwide. The community’s greatest achievement, however, has been creating a fan translation for Mother 3, the game that still hasn’t been released outside of Japan. The translation, which I have played, is professional grade.

Notes

Well, this was EarthBound, and frankly I probably should have done a smaller game as the first post. I had a lot to say about this game and I couldn't fit it in a blog post without it being VERY long. Next up is Metroid Prime, so stay tuned.