I first played Earthbound in 2016, and at the time I really didn't appreciate it. I didn't get it. I constantly found myself lost and having to look to the internet for help. I didn't find myself really caring much about the world or the characters, and when I did beat the game, my takeaway was just "That was a good game" and that's it. I liked it, and didn't feel strong about it in any particular way.
At the time I hadn't really played RPGs, I was a big Pokémon fan but that's about it. And I tried to play this game with that mindset, and Earthbound does not work in that way. Since then I have fallen in love with Undertale and Deltarune, and got into another big RPG series, being Xenoblade Chronicles. And with my recent playthrough of the original Mother, I had to give this game another go, and man, did I absolutely love it.
Similar to the original Mother, you're left to immerse yourself in this world and use your imagination to fill in the gaps, an aspect I absolutely adore about these games. I am typically one to dislike silent protagonists but I don't really see Ness or Ninten in that way, and there's a key difference as to why. Earthbound is all about the experience of growing up, experiencing the world for the first time. Who are these kids? What are they like, what do they do? Well, how many kids knew those answers for themselves at that age? That's what makes this work so well. I just immerse myself in this world, talk to tons of NPCs, see what hidden goodies I can find, see what these towns are like, how these folks go about their day to day lives. It's great stuff and in my opinion handled even better here than in the first game.
Speaking of which, this game on the surface seems pretty familiar doesn't it? Giygas is attacking the earth, and Ness must learn to master his psychic abilities with the help of 3 friends while gathering 8 magical melodies? Yeah, that's all Mother 1 again.
But here's the thing. Mother 1 felt like your own adventure. You could go about the journey in any way you liked, really see these characters however best fit for your experience. Earthbound however, is a different story. This is Ness's journey, one that feels specifically tailored to him. While the beats are similar, they are handled in very different ways. For example, just like in the original, you end up in Magicant for a while. While before it was a central hub area and where you would go for crucial story beats regarding to solving a mystery, here, this is Ness's Magicant. It's where he goes to battle his inner fears and accept that he is a hero. There are 8 melodies again, sure, but while before they were the key to helping the queen and reaching the final area, here, they're especially meant for Ness. Each time you get one Ness has a weird vision or memory. These melodies are what allow him into Magicant in the first place.
The game really reminds me of Super Metroid in this way. Yes there is familiar ground being treaded here from the series' NES entries, but expanded upon in many ways, that flesh out the world.
Beyond all that though, the game actually plays MUCH better than before. The battle system is so much more expanded upon and each character has their own strengths while also not RELYING on that strength. How did Mother 1 handle this? Ninten was for support, Ana was for offensive PSI, Lloyd relied on gadgets and weapons, and Teddy just hit really really hard. Here? Ness is your tank while also being great for support, Paula is a great PSI user for both offensive AND defensive, Jeff not only has much better gadgets but also can hold his own in normal combat as well as laying out enemy weaknesses, and Poo is your glass cannon, having the most offensive options while also being fairly frail. This all makes combat a lot more fun and involved, rather than the original game where the same strategy tended to work over and over and over again. Also, PK Starstorm is in this game and I think that speaks for itself!
I think this goes without saying but this game is also very funny. It had me laughing out loud many times. Mother 1 had some humorous dialogue here and there but they really nailed it here. Everywhere you turn there's a good joke to find. This game is just fun, ya know? I just had a blast playing it.
Earthbound just improves on Mother 1 in so many ways while also doing its own thing, and for that I love both of these games. I am so glad I played this again so I can give it the credit it properly deserves!
Ok but seriously what WAS the deal with that cameraman???
At the time I hadn't really played RPGs, I was a big Pokémon fan but that's about it. And I tried to play this game with that mindset, and Earthbound does not work in that way. Since then I have fallen in love with Undertale and Deltarune, and got into another big RPG series, being Xenoblade Chronicles. And with my recent playthrough of the original Mother, I had to give this game another go, and man, did I absolutely love it.
Similar to the original Mother, you're left to immerse yourself in this world and use your imagination to fill in the gaps, an aspect I absolutely adore about these games. I am typically one to dislike silent protagonists but I don't really see Ness or Ninten in that way, and there's a key difference as to why. Earthbound is all about the experience of growing up, experiencing the world for the first time. Who are these kids? What are they like, what do they do? Well, how many kids knew those answers for themselves at that age? That's what makes this work so well. I just immerse myself in this world, talk to tons of NPCs, see what hidden goodies I can find, see what these towns are like, how these folks go about their day to day lives. It's great stuff and in my opinion handled even better here than in the first game.
Speaking of which, this game on the surface seems pretty familiar doesn't it? Giygas is attacking the earth, and Ness must learn to master his psychic abilities with the help of 3 friends while gathering 8 magical melodies? Yeah, that's all Mother 1 again.
But here's the thing. Mother 1 felt like your own adventure. You could go about the journey in any way you liked, really see these characters however best fit for your experience. Earthbound however, is a different story. This is Ness's journey, one that feels specifically tailored to him. While the beats are similar, they are handled in very different ways. For example, just like in the original, you end up in Magicant for a while. While before it was a central hub area and where you would go for crucial story beats regarding to solving a mystery, here, this is Ness's Magicant. It's where he goes to battle his inner fears and accept that he is a hero. There are 8 melodies again, sure, but while before they were the key to helping the queen and reaching the final area, here, they're especially meant for Ness. Each time you get one Ness has a weird vision or memory. These melodies are what allow him into Magicant in the first place.
The game really reminds me of Super Metroid in this way. Yes there is familiar ground being treaded here from the series' NES entries, but expanded upon in many ways, that flesh out the world.
Beyond all that though, the game actually plays MUCH better than before. The battle system is so much more expanded upon and each character has their own strengths while also not RELYING on that strength. How did Mother 1 handle this? Ninten was for support, Ana was for offensive PSI, Lloyd relied on gadgets and weapons, and Teddy just hit really really hard. Here? Ness is your tank while also being great for support, Paula is a great PSI user for both offensive AND defensive, Jeff not only has much better gadgets but also can hold his own in normal combat as well as laying out enemy weaknesses, and Poo is your glass cannon, having the most offensive options while also being fairly frail. This all makes combat a lot more fun and involved, rather than the original game where the same strategy tended to work over and over and over again. Also, PK Starstorm is in this game and I think that speaks for itself!
I think this goes without saying but this game is also very funny. It had me laughing out loud many times. Mother 1 had some humorous dialogue here and there but they really nailed it here. Everywhere you turn there's a good joke to find. This game is just fun, ya know? I just had a blast playing it.
Earthbound just improves on Mother 1 in so many ways while also doing its own thing, and for that I love both of these games. I am so glad I played this again so I can give it the credit it properly deserves!
Ok but seriously what WAS the deal with that cameraman???