You know whats crazy? I played Mother 2 initially as a kid and loved it came back few years later to play EarthBound too. The localization changed alot of ghe dialouge to fit the western style of humor and both JP and Eng has their charm

8:14 This is the Seinfeld Problem. Earthbound is *so* revolutionary in part *because* so much is based on those understood standards being played straight. The way you can buy an option in a store that lets you sell items so long as you have that option in your inventory, it’s so fucking bonkers. And the impact of the final boss fight is so powerful in part because it subverts the “basic” fight scheme used all throughout the game.

You should play MOTHER 3 now! It not only fixes most issues EB has, but also has one of the greatest narratives ever written. It’s easily my favorite game ever, and if you like “quirky Earthbound inspired Indy RPGs with allegories for depression”, you’d love the game!

I grew up playing this game when it was new. It was a rough childhood trying to explain to people what Earthbound back before it became a household name for RPGs. It's been weird watching people go from "What is that?" to it making it to top ten underrated lists. This game has a unique feel to it that really does a good job of making it feel like an authentic urban adventure instead of just a list of places you need to hit to get to the final boss. However, a lot of that vibe disappears once you've hit Magicant and start going into the endgame. The game gets really bleak, really hard, and really dark (color palette-wise) for the last act, and it doesn't feel as satisfying as the rest of the game. But having the ending allow you to essentially go around the world and see how things shook out before going home for the credits roll brings back the heart and soul of the game.

9:47 Finally some recognition for my favorite RPG of all time, the moment DK pulls out the holy bongo-sword and says "My friends, kongs and kremlings, will never again suffer from your selfishness, shall the god of bananas retire and let a new era be born" I knew I would never meet a better game ever.

Earthbound has a great story, but most of it happens off screen. Mother 3's story is absolutely amazing (despite also having lots of it happen off screen) and you should definitely check it out.

Dude this game was all the rave online when I was in middle school. It’s been a long while since then and yet there’s still people who just now got into it and ramble about it today. Really shocking how much staying power this game has. I’m really glad you enjoyed it!

This dude needs Crush The Industry in his life!! Super-mega-Earthbound-inspired turn-based strategy game!! 10/10

Earthbound was my favorite childhood game. It's a shame that many people missed out on it!

When I first started playing it, my sister thought I was playing a modern game that was made to look old-school.

Moonside gave so many people trouble that Nintendo Power had a section of which warp guys to talk to and a reminder to tell the last one "No".

I grew up so attached to this game. The players guide was so cool and the world building was amazing. What I love about this video is that you admit that the story elements of this game are pretty bare bones. I adore this game but I've always felt that it didn't have much of a story, but you put it perfectly when you said it's a bunch of funny vignettes. There's really not a lot of drama or narrative tension in the game, but it's a masterpiece nonetheless

I do not know why Cole using *PSI Wife* to slaughter his enemies is enemies is funny to me.

Earthbound has a special place in my heart, I remember making an Earthbound inspired game in RPGmaker XP years ago. thats how much it inspired me

PLAY MOTHER 3!!!

God thx for making an earthbound video!!! I love earthbound and it’s great to see that people still love it enough to make videos these days!!! I’d love to see a playthrough.

Earthbound has been my favorite game since 1994.

I've subscribed. I hope you get more recognition, dude. I'm enjoying the video so far.

One of my favorite subtle character story is with Jeff's boarding school roommate Tony. Tony is a gay boy with a one-sided crush on Jeff. Jeff leaves the night before Tony's birthday party, can steal all the party favors for his trip, and Tony still actively helps him escape because he knows how important it is to Jeff. He calls in Summers to ask for the player name and pretty clearly is dying to see Jeff get home soom. (Spoilers) Late in the game when the Starmen have kidnapped multiple people, Tony is one of the rescued. If Jeff is KO'd in your party, Tony is inconsolably pissed at Ness. "What have you done? How could you? You took him from me!?" He's mad at you for not taking care of Jeff, and is also plainly jealous of how Jeff ran off with Ness. Like he's *such* a minor character, but the few lines of dialogue he has is filled with so much relatable emotion. Compare him with how little you hear from Paula's family, Poo's court or Jeff's own (astranged) father.

the morning music also samples the beatles' "good morning, good morning" (technically i guess it's more of a quote but)

This was so well done I legitimately thought your channel had at least 100K. Have my like.

I personally never really had to grind, except for a tiny lil bit in the beginning.

My little brother has beaten one game in his life. Earthbound. The first time I felt comfortable with my nerdom was when someone noticed I was reading a magazine with earthbound on it and asked if I had played it. The first time I had a friend around gaming.

I played it on the Wii U virtual console and it was incredible it was very challenging but is a guy who grew up playing GameCube I figured it out and it was worth the time played I won't lie to you though I never beat the final boss

Always happy to have a new convert to the earthbound cult-I-mean fanbase!

"its not for everyone, but it is for me" this is exactly how i feel about mother 1/earthbound beginnings. its the first game in the series i ever played and beat. i will say its story is even MORE nebulous and minimal than earthbound, but.... idk, i feel like the charm is how somber and melancholic its story is compared to 2 and 3. its quiet, mysterious, and charming with its heavy environmental story telling while, being wholly unique despite being a prototype for earthbound/mother 2. What I'm trying to say is, earthbound beginnings's problems are almost exactly what you pointed out in earthbound except worse (you dont know true grinding until youve experienced this game without any mods). This is probably the worst way to sell it, but i feel like i have to be transparent because well.... its my favorite of the 3 and i think the worst thing someone can do is go into it thinking it'll be like the other 2 games. There's something about it that just keeps sticking with me, perhaps because this game specifically reminds me of my childhood and how my inner world worked back then despite never playing it as a kid (i played these games in my 20s). Luckily, Mother 1 is the most modded/remade game in the series to become more accessible to earthbound fans. Not only that, but theres also the Mother Encore fan project in which a team of fans are developing an entire remake of the first game to look amd feel more like its predecessors. And i gotta say, im really excited to see how it goes. They have a demo out and its just pure fun. I would recommend playing the original game first though, i dont see it as a "replacement". Personally, i played vanilla on an emulator so i still had save states and ff, i had a decent time playing that way. But theres other ways to play like the easy ring mod and the 25th anniversary edition. I would look into it and pick which works the best for you because if you plan on playing 3, it hits just a bit harder to have the context of both 1 & 2 behind it. Especially knowing how and where it all started

Yesss! Earthbound/Mother content! Love it!

I see Earthbound and I click, it's that easy. Very nice dude!

give my regards to the next frog you meet

With the editing, script, and delivery I thought this was a video by another longtime nostalgia game review channel. Never would have guessed less than 1k subs, algorithm throwing out gems today. Subscribed

top 10 game of all time - hands down

mentioning FRANKEN RPG!?! IN 2023!?!

The rolling health was enough for me to really like earthbound's combat Enemies late game could oneshot and the cave of the past is scary (only cuz there's no save before giygas) but you also have tools to deal with them, an i never shielded (cuz im stupid)

I don't see this game recommended enough to Earthbound fans, but people should check out Kingdom of Loathing. It's a web-based comedy RPG with beautiful hand drawn graphics. It feels very Hitchhikers Guide/Discworld-y. I adore it's sense of humor. There was a puzzle boss at one point that was a possessed organ (the instrument), your attacks would just graze off it. So you had to scare it off by Using some Powder Organ (like the kind in jars around mummies). You can assault a pirate ship; one of the pirate enemies is very clearly clingy and annoying. If you use a napkin on him, the player character hurridly writes down a random phone number on it and you won't see that enemy for the rest of the day. The game is also built around new game plus. You can beat the game at level 13, and ascend as a new class and permanent a skill between classes, slowly building up your list of spells overall. Like, it's not an Earthbound-like at all, but god it's writing is cute as hell.

Great video bro! Earthbound and Mother 3 are for sure one of my most games ever.

fantastic video!

You know... Every time I think of Earthbound, I just think of Chuggaconroy's playthrough of it lol. Worst case scenario you play alongside his playthroughs (Honestly the new one is wonderful but theyre both charming, too...) But if you really don't want to play it... Well, his playthrough will have you set on content for a while

Great video. Though I never took Earthbound for a grindy RPG. I never really have to grind in earthbound, but maybe that’s just because of how well I know it.

Lisa is like mother 4 a little bit

please try mother 3

A hero is never appreciated in his own time

Crazy to think that the indie RPG revolution wouldn't have happened if this game did not have a following, and absolutely no one would've cared or known about this game in the first place if it wasn't for Smash Bros.

A person who played, LISA before earthbound. That's a unique experience.

Good stuff man. I like your work👍

sorry but you do not need to grind in earthbound, it's a pretty easy game overall 😭not to insult you or anything! this is a great video!! Your compliments for it's writing are spot on.

Why do you hate Moonside and not the monkey cave also grinding is for only Onett and the last part of the game

u make VERY good video essay ❤

Moonside ain’t so tough if you have a slime generator

I'M THE COOLEST THING

I've beaten this game without grinding at all. Did you even discover the rolling health system? It makes one shots a non-issue if you're quick enough.

You might like Chrono Trigger.

You were getting one shot at the end of the game? Even at level 50 I tend to survive enemy attacks in end game. Beyond the early game I never really find myself grinding in earthbound... I guess that's just how much experience I have in earthbound.

ur underated

The conflict lol to play or not to play

❤️

>Fast-forward you didnt beat the game

Bruh, If you thought Earthbound was difficult, try Earthbound beginnings. I've tried to play it twice, and it's difficulty and terrible graphics are just too much...

Great video, but you crying about moonside really made me just sit there and say git gud you scrub.

Please play mother 3

Grinding in earthbound? The only grind is at the start if youre a bit nervous for Frank. Yeah theres the Sword of Kings but thats optional.

Many indie games are inspired by earthbound, but a game that really isn't mentioned that much is Mother 3. Games like OMORI, you can tell that they are much more inspired by Mother 3 than earthbound. The difference between mother 3 and earthbound is that the plot of mother 3 is much more serious than earthbound. It doesn't lose that humorous factor, but really, it's much more dramatic than earthbound

Flawed and overrated, not a bad game though