Earthbound

[SkyMyl]

FULL STOP. Just...full stop.

If I make a thread in a game board, one that has the title of a specific game, then it's almost guaranteed to be a long winded discussion of me talking about something, while trying to entertain anyone reading it. Makes you wonder why I haven't really submitted anything to 8C.
The only reason you're still on staff at 8C is because they forgot that you were there.

But with Earthbound, I've heard a lot of praise for it. "Don't knock the graphics, because underneath the kiddy exterior, lies a charming adventure filled with wits, and depth", or something to that effect. I keep seeing people play it, and I keep hearing lots of things about it, namely about Giygas. Because peanut3423 will NEVER let me forget.
Also, Shadow of the Colossus is the best game ever. :3

But anyway, to those who have played Earthbound, I have a question for you: Is it worth it? Is it worth my time and effort to troll ebay, Amazon, Yahoo Auctions, local garage sales (If I'm lucky), and retro gaming stores just to find and buy this game? I'm assuming the best price I could get it at would be $40-$60, since it's pretty expensive, last I checked.
Which was about seven months ago, and on ebay. For all two minutes.

So, really. Should I save up and start scouring the realms of the internet just to play what some people consider one of the most underrated RPGs ever? Granted, I'm most likely going to receive encouragement to buy this game, right?


Also, if any of you mention Mother 3, I'll rip your head off.

[Qsmash]

Earthbound is pretty fun. It's VERY difficult, but slow paced. For advanced RPGers only.

[The Riddler]

Earthbound is pretty fun. It's VERY difficult, but slow paced. For advanced RPGers only.

This.

But more emphasis on fun. Shit is amazing.
And Giygas is nightmare fuel to no end.

[DededeCloneChris]

This.

But more emphasis on fun. Shit is amazing.
And Giygas is nightmare fuel to no end.

By that, we won't ever grasp Giygas's attack.

[Broken_Cartridge]

*holds up a shield*
My honest opinion is dont go hunting it down. Yeah, I know I'm bound(heh) to get people to bash me in some way shape or form, but (as much as I love Earthbound and the whole series) I do not think that game is worth 40 to 60 bucks. The Earthbound series is great in general, but, yeah, dont think it's worth that price range.

Again, Earthbound is great, but, as mentioned in the comment before me, it can be slow... I only suggest it if you are willing to grudge through the slow parts to get to the "good" ones. Which...again I dont think is worth 40 to 60 bucks.

[The Riddler]

Also, I wish I could afford it.
It's so expensive. =[

[Turok]

Also, I wish I could afford it.
It's so expensive. =[

This is the kind of situation where I don't have qualms about pursuing alternative means.

[The Riddler]

This is the kind of situation where I don't have qualms about pursuing alternative means.

If it were a DS game, I'd... pursue alternative means... but I'm a cartridge collector for NES-N64 D:

[Thirdkoopa]

As a pretty big Earthbound/Mother fan, even with realizing how incredibly overrated they are over the past years...

Why would you rip our heads off over mentioning Mother 3? Not like it matters anyways, because If you wanted to fully enjoy that, you'd play Earthbound first for the storyline value/fanservice. Besides, Mother 1/Earthbound Zero is the only one truly going rant crazy over anyways.

As for Earthbound; It's average priced at about 80$. I'd say myself as being it one of my favorite nintendo franchises that it's not worth it for that price - However you should be looking around. If you're completely against "The Other Means/Piracy" Maybe you should just do so until the first sound stone. I plan on getting it but only due to my SNES goal thanks to the past.


Good things about it: Most of the game is strikingly memorable and innovative compared to most other RPG's during the NES/SNES/Genesis games - It's memorable in that aspect for being different. Granted there's a few games with that same concept today, but If you're one to find the past interesting to look at, you'll find yourself enjoying it more. It has a highly memorable soundtrack, some highly memorable locations, setting, and theme. Basically everything asides from the bottom section was mostly good,

...And the bad: If you didn't know, Earthbound and Pokemon happen to be by the same devs (Or something like that) - Thus the combat itself won't be all that memorable. To top that, you'll get your ass stuffed with status alignments and there's not much overall character emotion put in to the protagonists. The story is something you'll get out of a Mario game that isn't an RPG with some good (but most obvious) twists.

The main thing this game really falls flat on it's face that makes it a hit or a miss is that If you know anything about the marketing campaigns they literately went about advertising it with a free guidebook. Yes, this game is that anti-linear while having an overall linear goal. I didn't have to use a guide or anything much myself but I've had friends who had hell getting the first sound stone. And this is the part that makes it really hard to get into.

So really, in short, this explains why earthbound is a huge hit or miss. If you have any other questions on it you can easily ask.

[SkyMyl]

All right, sounds like I can handle it, after playing Final Fantasy X.
Did you bother reading any of what he said?

Also, how long is it?

[Zero]

The entire series is poop. It's vastly overrated by a small group of people that think anything that is "niche" is immediately praiseworthy.

The battle system for the games is a blatant clone of Dragon Warrior's and even Phantasy Star's, which while turn-based, is in a first person view and irritating. The characters are completely unlikable, the story, while 'original' according the the fanboys, is poop. The graphics and sound quality are deplorable in all 3 games, which doesn't make much sense considering all 3 games were created around the end of each of their respective platform's lifespan which means: developers should know the twists and turns of the hardware. The games rely FAR too heavily on grinding, and when I say far too heavily I mean "holy poop I have to grind for 4 days before being able to beat this poop hole". The team behind the series is just completely untalented, Nintendo knows this, and this is why there will never be another Mother game.

Really, the only good thing about Mother, Earthbound, and Mother 3 are some of the tunes.

@TK: Game Freak did not develop the Mother games, but Creatures(Mother developer) developed the Pokemon Trading Card Game and assisted in the development of Red/Blue. They also develop ALL of the poopty Pokemon Ranger games(need I quote my earlier comment on how poopty of a developer they are?). So,  you are incorrect...sort of...lol.

I'll be straight up though, the games aren't unplayable and you'd probably like them if you gave them a shot. I'm just the type of person that won't often lower standards for games. Really what annoys me the most about it all are the intercourse ing fanboys of this franchise. If you think Sonic fanboys are bad, Mother fanboys take the intercourse ing cake in every single way possible.

If you can find it cheap, go for it.

[Shujinco2]

Earthbound is pretty fun. It's VERY difficult, but slow paced. For advanced RPGers only.

And yet, it's the easiest in the series.

But yes. Though it starts off kinda crummy, it get Shitloads better.

Awesome game that everybody should play.

Oh, and you are NOT going to find it for less than 60 bucks. That's a guarantee.

[Qsmash]

And yet, it's the easiest in the series.

But yes. Though it starts off kinda crummy, it get Shitloads better.

Awesome game that everybody should play.

Oh, and you are NOT going to find it for less than 60 bucks. That's a guarantee.

I think Mother 3 is the easiest. I beat nearly every boss without a single problem. Earthbound just kicks my ass. Don't know about Earthbound Zero...

[Thirdkoopa]

@TK: Game Freak did not develop the Mother games, but Creatures(Mother developer) developed the Pokemon Trading Card Game and assisted in the development of Red/Blue. They also develop ALL of the poopty Pokemon Ranger games(need I quote my earlier comment on how poopty of a developer they are?). So,  you are incorrect...sort of...lol.

And Red/Blue partly leads to influence overall of the series.

Also what the intercourse ? Mother 3 has grinding? I agree that Mother/Earthbound Zero is poop (No I really do), Earthbound can tend to be a huge hit or miss, though most people I know get past a lot of combat by speeding it up on the emulator, and Mother 3 is easily the best in the series. It doesn't contain grinding, it contains a more likable plot/characters, more likable combat system (Abit poorly still compared to other great RPG's; "Matching yourself with the music" Was so half assed)

Regardless I still agree it gets more praise than it's worth, especially Earthbound. At least Mother 3 doesn't have a ridiculous amount of praise in comparison to it and Mother...Hell I'd go as far as saying it doesn't deserve any praise.

[Shujinco2]

I think Mother 3 is the easiest. I beat nearly every boss without a single problem. Earthbound just kicks my ass. Don't know about Earthbound Zero...

Odd, I kicked Earthbund's ass. Only problem was figuring out how to beat Giygas, and Electro Specter.

Mother 3 had alot of bosses that were just plain difficult. Both Fassad battles, to note, and Barrier trio.

And Mother 1, forget it. Got to magicant, and got my ass handed to me so many times (FUCKING SKY YDDETS!!!!!!!!!!), I just kinda quit. It's....... a good game, but nowhere even CLOSE to alot of other RPG's.

It's worth about.... 1 play, at least. ( Based on how far I got, that is.)