EarthBound (game)

"EarthBound" redirects here. For the universe, see EarthBound (universe).

EarthBound
Developer(s)	Ape, Inc. HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Shigesato Itoi
Released	August 27, 1994 March 20, 2013 (VC) June 5, 1995 July 18, 2013 (VC) July 18, 2013 (VC)
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Ratings	ESRB: K-A (SNES), T (Virtual Console) PEGI: 12+ (Virtual Console)
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Media	24 megabit cartridge
Article on WikiBound	EarthBound

EarthBound (MOTHER 2 ギーグの逆襲, Mother 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back) is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second game in the EarthBound series, following the Famicom game Mother, later released outside of Japan as EarthBound Beginnings. The game is only loosely connected to EarthBound Beginnings, in that it shares neither the primary protagonists nor the primary setting; one of the few notable connections is Giygas, the primary antagonist of both games, here seemingly executing the revenge he swore to uphold against the planet Earth at the end of EarthBound Beginnings.

The plot is about a young boy named Ness whose adventure first starts when a meteor crashes in Onett and he goes to investigate. While there, Ness meets Buzz Buzz who tells Ness about the universe being sent into eternal darkness by from Giygas, the game's main antagonist. He tells Ness that he is the chosen one and that he and three other people will save the world. Ness eventually meets with the other people, who also have been given the same fate. They travel through the world collecting the Eight Melodies, and eventually defeat Giygas.

EarthBound was released on the SNES in Japan and North America. Although it sold considerably well in the Japanese market, EarthBound had poor sales in the American market and was initially poorly received by critics, due to its outdated graphics, "This Game Stinks" marketing campaign and lack of interest in JRPG games at the time of its release. A dedicated fan base has grown over time, however, and many critics nowadays deem it as a cult classic. A port of the game, coupled with its prequel, was also released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. EarthBound was never released for SNES in Europe and Australia, and it only finally saw release in these regions following a worldwide re-release of the game for the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2013, becoming a best seller.

In the Super Smash Bros. series

Ness standing outside of his house in Onett in the opening of EarthBound.

Fighter

Ness, the main protagonist, debuted in this game. He is a fighter in every Smash Bros. game, being an unlockable character in SSB, Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Ultimate, and a starter character in Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Moves

PK Flash (or PSI Flash in EarthBound), Ness's Neutral special move from Melee onwards and PK Starstorm (or PSI Starstorm in EarthBound), Ness and Lucas' Final Smash come from this game. PK Flash involves using the character's psychic power to cause a strong flash, which can have a variety of different effects. Ness is the one to learn it in this game. PK Starstorm involves using the character's psychic power to rain down falling stars and cause major damage. Although Ness uses PK Starstorm as his Final Smash, he cannot learn it in EarthBound. Rather, PK Starstorm is learned by his party member, Poo. In Ultimate, Paula and Poo assist Ness in his Final Smash.

Stages

Onett and Fourside come from this game. Onett is Ness's hometown in Eagleland. Fourside is a major city that Ness has to venture through in order to find the fifth Your Sanctuary location. Onett is a stage in Melee, Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Ultimate. Fourside appears as a stage in Melee and Ultimate.

Items

Mr. Saturn and Ramblin' Evil Mushroom come from this game. Mr. Saturns are strange creatures that reside in Saturn Valley where they provide health care and hotel stays free of charge. They also assist Ness and their friends in their quest to defeat Giygas. Ramblin' Evil Mushrooms are enemies that spread spores and confuse the player, making them attack themselves and party members in battle, and scrambling their controls on the overworld. Mr. Saturn appears as an item from Melee onwards. The Ramblin' Evil Mushroom appears in Ultimate.

Assist Trophy

Jeff is one of the player's four party members. He appears as an assist trophy in Brawl and onwards.

Boss

Porky Minch, who appears as a boss in Brawl, makes his debut in this game. Although, he was named "Pokey" in EarthBound and his design in Smash is based on his appearance in Mother 3.

Music

"Fourside (Melee)", "Smiles and Tears", "Onett Theme/Winters Theme" and. "Fourside" (new remix) come from this game. Fourside from Melee (known as "Earthbound" in Melee's sound test) is a techno-based remix of the track which plays in the city of Fourside. This track also consists of the first half of the "Eight Melodies" from EarthBound (called "Smiles and Tears"), and a small remixed excerpt from the theme played in Fire Spring, which consists mostly of drum beats. There are also the sound effects of caves and strange locations from EarthBound in the track. "Smiles and Tears" plays while the staff credits roll upon beating the game. "Onett Theme/Winters Theme" is a remix of two themes from this game: the music that plays as Ness explores Onett, and the music that plays when Jeff escapes his dormitory in Winters (which itself is a remix of EarthBound Beginnings's Snowman theme). The new remix for Fourside is the main theme of Fourside and incorporates a remix of the first 4 melodies, similar to the Melee remix.

Masterpiece

The game appears as a default masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and and an unlockable masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Both versions can be played for 300 seconds, notably the most generous amount of time for any masterpiece. The game is only available in the Japanese version of Brawl, and is notably the first re-release of the game in any format. The Smash Wii U version skips the character creation screens and starts at the opening cutscene to save time. It will need to be unlocked by getting 1968 ft. or more in Home-Run Contest. Once the timer elapsed on the Wii U version, the player was given the opportunity to purchase the game as a Virtual Console title on the Nintendo eShop before its closure on March 27, 2023.

Trivia

• EarthBound is the only Masterpiece in Brawl that was not available for sale on the Wii Virtual Console anywhere in the world.
  • It is also the only Masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U with an ESRB warning, likely because it is the only Teen rated masterpiece.