Earthbound

***Marilink*** · 12-23-2011, 02:24 PM

Earthbound

This is the game that has a solid #3 spot in my Favorite Games of All Time. I love Earthbound, and I can't say it enough.

WHAT THIS GAME DID POORLY

-...um...I dunno. Like, honestly, I can't really find many flaws. I'd say the pace and movement can be a little slow sometimes, but that's part of the aesthetic of the game, and it gives it that feel that's so crucial to the story. So...even something that would usually be considered a flaw got turned into something that makes the game so beautiful.

-The only flaw I can find is that the inventory is a little cumbersome, but you got used to it.

WHAT THIS GAME DID WELL

-Story. That's the number one thing that makes this game for me. Video Games can elicit a lot of emotions, but this game brings you into its story (literally, actually) and just captures you.

-Characters. Now, you might say that the playable characters are dull, that they don't know each other, they're loosely connected, and those points could be negatives. But in this game, the silent nature of all the playable characters really makes you roleplay even more--and that's what RPG's are all about anyway.

Now, aside from the playable characters, this game has a very unique, very fun, very enjoyable cast. The NPC's are funny, charming, heartfelt, aggravating...yeah.

-Lightness and Darkness. Here's what I mean: This game is very humorous, and you'll find yourself laughing quite often through the course of it. The humor of the game is great, and has a combination of maturity and immaturity that appeals to all ages alike.

However, the game can often suddenly turn dark and surreal, which can really freak you out. Moonside is one of these times where you just get there and you're like "...the hell is going on" and you don't want to stop playing because you just want to get through this part to make the creepiness STOP. The best example is probably Magicant, the world of Ness' mind, when you literally cross over from good to evil in your own mind and fight probably the hardest boss in the game 1 on 1. Powerful stuff.

-Final Boss. Man, is it creepy. Giygas is the only final boss that makes me feel that helpless. When you're fighting just to stay alive, and not even Ness who's so unbelievably powerful at that point can do anything, you tend to freak out. Eventually, your only option is to pray. That one command that Paula has that you probably had forgotten about by that point in the game ends up being your saving grace. Then the whole world gets on your side, and all the good that's in you and in every character of the game comes together to defeat evil...the ending of this game is awesome.

-Post-final boss. This game is very unique in that after you beat the game, you can run around the entire world and revisit almost every place you've ever been, monster-free. Then, to give you assurance that the game makers took such great care when making this game, almost every NPC on which you had an impact (which is almost all of them) has new dialogue. It's a little last hurrah that makes the end of the game even sweeter, as you personally experience the fruits of your labor.

OVERALL

I love this game. Everything in this game combines to give you this awesome feeling. You get so invested in the story and characters without even really realizing it. It's a beautiful game and a must-play.

Now, I wanna play Mother 3.

EDIT: Almost forgot! Favorite track from the game:

Click to view video.

And my favorite remix track from the game:

Click to view video.

Anyone who likes the music from Earthbound should check out the OCRemix project "Bound Together." Great stuff there.

**Loot** · 12-23-2011, 03:09 PM

I honestly wasn't fond of the battle system. I guess I may have been spoiled by the Tales series, but it's just dull. Magic as PSI, meh. Enemies were very creative but dear lord they got annoying. Curious as to how it feels when the piracy flag does the extra enemies out.

***Marilink*** · 12-23-2011, 03:38 PM

I thought the battle system was awesome. The ticking life meter was genius, sometimes it really made you race the clock to stay alive.

Maximum Spider · 12-23-2011, 04:49 PM

I've tried to get into playing Earthbound, but I don't think I've gotten any further than dealing with the Happy Happyists.

Great music, too.

Daos · 12-23-2011, 07:01 PM

I agree completely. Earthbound is one of those games that hold a place very close to my heart. To say the game is a masterpiece wouldn't do it justice.

**Loot** · 12-27-2011, 12:24 PM

Speaking of Earthbound, I should probably play Mother 3 one of these fine times.

***Marilink*** · 12-27-2011, 01:49 PM

I've started a game of Mother 3 since writing this. I love it.

***Cosmonautical*** · 12-27-2011, 07:33 PM

To start with, there would be no Pokemon if there were no Mother. The team to make the series wouldn't exist.

That ticker for stats like HP in battle is ingenious. And anybody who doesn't find the battles amazing probably doesn't read the text. This is an intentional throwback to the battle systems of western RPG games like Ultima, which directly inspired Yuji Horii to create Dragon Quest and invent the Japanese RPG. It's meta industry humor before the industry was really considered a collective of developers.

**Loot** · 12-27-2011, 08:28 PM

I forgot about the texts, now THAT was colorful dialogue, I will give them that.

**Cravdraa** · 12-28-2011, 11:36 PM

*Mr. Batty thought about the situation.
*Mr. Batty began to feel strange...

Lord_Zack · 01-08-2012, 07:21 PM

I've only recently started playing this and I'd say it's pretty awesome. I'm almost done with the game, though.

I'm often getting my butt kicked when I enter a new area. Particularly I recently had a hard time going back to Onett with all the Ghosts of Starmen and such. I'm thinking of leveling up a bit before going beyond the point of no return...

Spritedude · 01-08-2012, 07:48 PM

I haven't played it, but I've always wanted to. I might pick it up one day when I have the time.

I have seen some clips of it though, including... Giygas. Sweet beejezus that might be the most disturbing boss ever.

***Marilink*** · 01-08-2012, 08:10 PM

hah, it's funny that this topic got bumped. I'm watching a speedrun of this right now on Speed Demos Archive for the "Awesome Games Done Quick" anti-Cancer Marathon. The guy did the entire game in 2 1/2 hours...needless to say, there was some profuse game-breaking going on.

**Crazyswordsman** · 01-09-2012, 08:18 PM

Everyone who has not played this needs to do so immediately. -CSM

Lord_Zack · 01-29-2012, 06:54 PM

Well I finished the game. Pretty awesome.

Katty Bard · 01-30-2012, 06:19 PM

aah I love this game. I think my favourite element is the text....I've been wanting to play this game lately.

And yes, all of you reading this thread HAVE to check out Bound Together - An EarthBound Remix Project

This is my favourite track from that album-

Click to view video.

**Cravdraa** · 02-13-2012, 12:38 AM

Speaking of music, and looking as at the series as a whole...

Did you know that even though it only came out in japan, the official sound track of Mother was produced entirely in english?
The songs were odd, quirky, and increadibly cheesy and done in a number of styles. And I have to admit, I absolutely love them for it.

There are actually a number of references to the various lyrics in the other games of the series. If you're familiar with them you might notice them if you give them a listen

Click to view video.

FlyingWaffles · 02-19-2012, 09:21 AM

Woah...this used to be my favorite game a few years ago.

There honestly isn't any other games like it today, besides from other games in the Mother series. I guess no one just has the courage to risk innovation. These games were so quirky and fun, I didn't believe half the stuff I saw the first time through. I haven't seen a better use of humor in a game since. I mean, the game parodies the RPG in general! It parodies itself! How is that not awesome?

Earthbound looked so simple if you just look at it and play it through, but if you search, and you don't have to search hard, there's tons of different meaning then KILL THE NIGHTMARE FUEL. Not as many as Mother 3, but still quite a few. And the music is awesome. AWESOME.

Sim Kid · 02-19-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loot

I honestly wasn't fond of the battle system. I guess I may have been spoiled by the Tales series, but it's just dull. Magic as PSI, meh. Enemies were very creative but dear lord they got annoying. Curious as to how it feels when the piracy flag does the extra enemies out.

Well even for the time, the only thing unique about the battle system was the scrollers, which are a lot more easy to exploit in Mother 3 anyways. *shrugs* Other than that, it's basically just Dragon Quest or Glory of Heracles. (The first ones) heck, the sound effects when you scroll even sound like the SNES Dragon Quest games.

But I assume that's what they were trying to go for, anyways.

FlyingWaffles · 02-28-2012, 04:44 PM

Click to view video.

Giygas: "COME ON NESS, HIT ME. HIT ME HARDER."
Sounds like Giygas is enjoying that a little too much.

12-23-2011, 04:49 PM	#4
Maximum Spider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I'll take Street Fighter over Dragonball any day. Gender: Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 0 Thanked 191 Times in 126 Posts	I've tried to get into playing Earthbound, but I don't think I've gotten any further than dealing with the Happy Happyists. Great music, too. Last edited by Maximum Spider; 12-23-2011 at 04:57 PM.

12-23-2011, 03:09 PM	#2
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	I honestly wasn't fond of the battle system. I guess I may have been spoiled by the Tales series, but it's just dull. Magic as PSI, meh. Enemies were very creative but dear lord they got annoying. Curious as to how it feels when the piracy flag does the extra enemies out.

12-23-2011, 03:38 PM	#3
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	I thought the battle system was awesome. The ticking life meter was genius, sometimes it really made you race the clock to stay alive.

12-23-2011, 07:01 PM	#5
Daos Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Earth Gender: Posts: 6,228 Thanks: 146 Thanked 245 Times in 179 Posts	I agree completely. Earthbound is one of those games that hold a place very close to my heart. To say the game is a masterpiece wouldn't do it justice.

12-27-2011, 12:24 PM	#6
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	Speaking of Earthbound, I should probably play Mother 3 one of these fine times.

12-27-2011, 01:49 PM	#7
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	I've started a game of Mother 3 since writing this. I love it.

12-27-2011, 07:33 PM	#8
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	To start with, there would be no Pokemon if there were no Mother. The team to make the series wouldn't exist. That ticker for stats like HP in battle is ingenious. And anybody who doesn't find the battles amazing probably doesn't read the text. This is an intentional throwback to the battle systems of western RPG games like Ultima, which directly inspired Yuji Horii to create Dragon Quest and invent the Japanese RPG. It's meta industry humor before the industry was really considered a collective of developers.

12-27-2011, 08:28 PM	#9
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	I forgot about the texts, now THAT was colorful dialogue, I will give them that.

12-28-2011, 11:36 PM	#10
Cravdraa VGF RPG Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: It's Round on the sides and high in the middle. Gender: Posts: 8,470 Thanks: 171 Thanked 661 Times in 403 Posts	Mr. Batty thought about the situation. Mr. Batty began to feel strange...

01-08-2012, 07:21 PM	#11
Lord_Zack Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Gender: Posts: 778 Thanks: 30 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I've only recently started playing this and I'd say it's pretty awesome. I'm almost done with the game, though. I'm often getting my butt kicked when I enter a new area. Particularly I recently had a hard time going back to Onett with all the Ghosts of Starmen and such. I'm thinking of leveling up a bit before going beyond the point of no return...

01-08-2012, 07:48 PM	#12
Spritedude Calibrating... Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Centennial State Gender: Posts: 1,425 Thanks: 70 Thanked 84 Times in 51 Posts	I haven't played it, but I've always wanted to. I might pick it up one day when I have the time. I have seen some clips of it though, including... Giygas. Sweet beejezus that might be the most disturbing boss ever.

01-08-2012, 08:10 PM	#13
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	hah, it's funny that this topic got bumped. I'm watching a speedrun of this right now on Speed Demos Archive for the "Awesome Games Done Quick" anti-Cancer Marathon. The guy did the entire game in 2 1/2 hours...needless to say, there was some profuse game-breaking going on.

01-09-2012, 08:18 PM	#14
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	Everyone who has not played this needs to do so immediately. -CSM

01-29-2012, 06:54 PM	#15
Lord_Zack Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Gender: Posts: 778 Thanks: 30 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Well I finished the game. Pretty awesome.

02-19-2012, 09:21 AM	#18
FlyingWaffles Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Behind you. 0_0 Gender: Posts: 129 Thanks: 12 Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts	Woah...this used to be my favorite game a few years ago. There honestly isn't any other games like it today, besides from other games in the Mother series. I guess no one just has the courage to risk innovation. These games were so quirky and fun, I didn't believe half the stuff I saw the first time through. I haven't seen a better use of humor in a game since. I mean, the game parodies the RPG in general! It parodies itself! How is that not awesome? Earthbound looked so simple if you just look at it and play it through, but if you search, and you don't have to search hard, there's tons of different meaning then KILL THE NIGHTMARE FUEL. Not as many as Mother 3, but still quite a few. And the music is awesome. AWESOME.