EarthBound (game)

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)
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
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 Mother series, following the Famicom game Mother which was not released outside Japan, therefore having its status as the second game in the series left unreferenced in its US title. The game is only loosely connected to Mother, 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 Mother.

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market, EarthBound had poor sales in the American market and was initially poorly received by critics, due to its outdated graphics, "This Game Stinks" marketing campaign and lack of interest in JRPG games at the time of its release.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 grew 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.

The game appears as a masterpiece in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In Brawl, it can be played for 300 seconds, but is only available in the Japanese version. In Smash Wii U, it can also be played for 300 seconds and starts at the opening cutscene. It will need to be unlocked by getting 1968 ft. or more in Home-Run Contest.

In the Super Smash Bros. series

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

Characters

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

Moves

PK Flash, Ness' Neutral special move, comes from this game. The move 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.

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 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Fourside appears as a stage in Melee.

Items

Mr. Saturn comes from this game. Mr. Saturns are strange creatures that reside in Saturn Valley where they provide health care and hotel stays free of charge, while other towns charge more and more as the game progresses.

Assist Trophies

Jeff is one of the player's four party members. He appears as an assist trophy in Brawl and Smash 4.

Music

"Earthbound", "Smiles and Tears" and "Onett Theme/Winters Theme" come from this game. "Earthbound" is mainly from the track "Because I Love You", 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 Mother's Snowman theme).

Trivia

• EarthBound is the only Masterpiece in Brawl 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.