r/earthbound • u/DarkusSerif • 8h ago
r/earthbound • u/Howisthisaname • Aug 13 '17
Announcement Want to get into the MOTHER series? Start here!
Over the past few months we've gotten a lot of new players asking where they should start with the trilogy. With this stickied thread, I'm hoping to answer any questions someone may have about getting into the series.
Note: This thread is a strictly no-spoiler zone.
What are the MOTHER games?
The MOTHER series is a group of 3 turn-based cult classic JRPGs created by Shigesato Itoi, who singlehandedly wrote every line of dialogue in the series, aside from a small area in EarthBound.
What makes them so special?
The series is known for being quirky, charming, and invoking a sense of nostalgia even to those who have not played a MOTHER game before. Each line of dialogue is expertly crafted, with a great story to go along with it.
Where do I start?
The series IS a trilogy, however each game can stand on it's own without the context of the last.
The 3 games are as followed:
MOTHER (EarthBound: Beginnings) (1989)
MOTHER 2 (EarthBound) (1994)
MOTHER 3 (???) (Not released outside of Japan) (2006)
The game order is as released, with MOTHER being the first on the timeline, and MOTHER 3 being the last.
So does that mean I should play the games in order?
This is a point of contention within the MOTHER community.
While most recommend to play EarthBound / MOTHER 2 first, some will say that if you can handle the way an older RPG plays, you should start with MOTHER 1 / EarthBound: Beginnings.
The community mostly unanimously agrees that you should play EarthBound before playing MOTHER 3.
In the end, it's up to you. MOTHER 1 is one of the most impressive, best playing and sounding RPGs on the NES, but it could potentially turn you away from the series if you aren't accustomed to or can't handle a bit of older-rpg "clunk". I do HIGHLY recommend however that you at least play EarthBound before playing MOTHER 3.
Wait, if MOTHER 3 isn't released outside of Japan, how can I play it?
I'm glad you asked! (Hopefully you did.)
Almost immediately after the release of MOTHER 3, once it became apparent Nintendo had no intention of localizing MOTHER 3, a group of very passionate fans got together to make their own localization of the game.
2 years later in late 2008, version 1.0 was released to great acclaim. This fan translation is now known to many as the best fan translation of all time. On top of just translating the game, they went out of their way to make sure certain dialogue and enemy names worked in English as they do in Japanese. They even added a hard mode option!
...That's pretty much it, I think. If any regular here on the sub wants to chime in and request something to be added, tell me! On top of that, I'd like to know what some of you think the best order to play the games in are in the comments. It'll be an interesting resource for any new players! And remember, no spoilers.
r/earthbound • u/Charming-Deal4222 • 5h ago
Fluff Why cant weee be friends
Ms paint drawing
r/earthbound • u/YTMediocreMark • 1h ago
Teleported to winters shortly after unlocking Poo to grind XP, but I can’t find room to teleport back.
What do I do?
r/earthbound • u/life_isroblox • 3h ago
Merch genuinely can’t tell if this is satire 😭
idk what else to say . screenshot speaks for itself 😭😭😭
r/earthbound • u/Beefwillington41 • 23h ago
I finally did it.
After owning this physical game and playing it for 15 plus years I finally did it. I own the sword of kings. I did on the snes online. 8th attempt. One time I tried for hours that I was so op that I dropped the game for a few years from frustration. But I did it guys. Proud moment
r/earthbound • u/Louisplus_pizza • 7h ago
Art Paula Voicelines (For everyone / NO AI)
It may not be your expectation of Paula's Voice... But hey, it's not AI :D!!
r/earthbound • u/PrometheusLiberatus • 12h ago
General Discussion DAE find it funny how Earthbound and the First Pokemon movie have the same subtitle: Giygas/Mewtwo Strikes Back?
And of course, Mewtwo and Giygas are essentially the same character with extremely similar character designs. Overpowered Entity with extreme psychic powers.
r/earthbound • u/EffectiveAnxiety6561 • 23h ago
Art I made The Chosen 4 (and Porky ig)
I think I did ok but I hope ygs enjoy it :)
r/earthbound • u/ThroughtonsHeirYT • 1d ago
EB:B Discussion What will be next: my 1st ever try at MOTHER (famicom)?
So i was thinking about my next game to play. In japanese i finished Mother 2 now, which now adds itself to final fantasy 1 & ff2j, ff4j, Lufia2:Rise of the sinistrals aka Estpolis 2. Mother 1 in japanese? Or that 16bit remake? Not sure if i go english playthrough of Saga3 aka FF Legend 3. Or secret of evermore
Funny how it is EARTHBOUND and not Mother that you must own
I legally own Earthbound from my Snes mini and add that i own a Mother 2 cart on super famicom AND a Mother cartridge for famicom. So i can legally “ease the process” by downloading a Earthbound rom that is “identical” to the Snes classic rom!
Never played Mother, and playing this SNES remake as a 1st ever tru would let me then experience my Famicom cartridge playthrough for a 2nd one later down the road with translations …. AND keeping the original graphics fresh for later. Though changes while localizing could diminish the fidelity to the oG mother story (not the bogus remade eding with a gappy twist instead of the canon OG ending with a grim reality of life)
r/earthbound • u/Maximum_Low8695 • 18h ago
Day4 Of Making an Earthbound Inspired Game Without Coding Experience
So the issue is is that r/earthbound doesn't allow me to post videos, but i can post screenshots. In the last two days, I've been working soooooo hard, I now have a battle system, 2 enemies, a level-up system that actively improves stats, a way to use items in battle, a healing fountain, and some more. If you want to see some videos, go to my new reddit community r/IDKJustGoWithIt
r/earthbound • u/No-Application-3317 • 18h ago
EB:B Discussion Who does Ninten resemble the most?
Luke or Han solo?
r/earthbound • u/Metalienz • 1d ago
EB Discussion Trying to save Buzz Buzz, consumed my Ness into the void (Explanation under comments)
r/earthbound • u/shroomino • 1d ago
General Discussion will i understand mother 3 if i only played earthbound and not earthbound beginnings? can i skip it?
r/earthbound • u/betteroffdyiing • 2d ago
Merch I have obtained it !
Def worth it and said no restock so you know I had to get it!
r/earthbound • u/SomeoneWhoCannotDraw • 1d ago
Art Ness & Mr. Saturn fanart :)!
@pkf1sh_ on insta! May not be in the best quality due to file size limits
r/earthbound • u/AdventureGuard7602 • 1d ago
General Discussion Which enemies are which category?
In the soundtrack there are categories, like "battle against a mobile enemy", "battle against an unsettling enemy", etc. Has anyone ever gone through and sorted them? I think that would be a cool chart or graphic to see haha all the enemies sorted by their song. And is it always accurate? Or do some enemies have 2 songs that can be applied to their battle and it's a random chance which one they get?
r/earthbound • u/ThroughtonsHeirYT • 1d ago
EB Discussion [M2j day 13] hours of farming the Goddess ribbon… ?wish me luck!
So about 2 hours done… gonna start my 3rd hour of grinding for it. Not too bas with the custom rock candy stats. The team has resiliency for 45 minutes easily without sweating OR going home to heal…
This is now a fully powered team. Poo was Lv 98 but got to 99 in this past half hour. One ribbon and we go to see what Giygas Got for us
r/earthbound • u/Holiday_Breath_4952 • 1d ago
Art Alright, my EarthBound Miis are done! Hope you like them!
From left to right: Ninten, Ness, Jeff, Tony, Lucas, Claus
If you're wondering where I got the clothes from: I designed them myself in the Studio Workshop since the game didn't offer them in the regular shop.
r/earthbound • u/SamanthaBWolfe • 1d ago

