EarthBound (1994 Video Game) User Reviews

Incredible adventure, a must play for RPG fans

[bazookaduke · 10/10 · 5 June 2002]

EarthBound is one of those games you finish playing and feel good about. The game takes place in an everyday town. A young boy named Ness (in the original Mother game, also called EarthBound Zero, the boy's name was Ninten). Ness meets a girl, a nerd, and a ninja. The take an amazing adventure across the world collecting pieces of songs to be able to stop an alien invasion from Giygas. Instead of swords and shields, you get frying pans, yo-yos, bats, and bottle rockets. Instead of earning gold, your dad puts money on your ATM card. Instead of monsters, you fight dogs, hippies, crazy shopping ladies, barf, and cavemen.

The music is memorable. I found myself leaving the game on just to listen to the music in Ness's house. The backgrounds during fights are trippy and amazing to watch, especially toward the end of the game. The fighting system is not too easy and not too hard. It's perfect for an RPG. SNES RPGs were known for excellent battle systems.

The main highlight of the game is the humor. The game gets ridiculous at times, with people telling you they farted, crazy enemies. It's fun to call your mom on the phone and listen to her talk about giving the dog a flea bath. You never see your dad in the game. You just talk to him on the phone. My favorite part of the game is when the owl takes your picture and says "say 'fuzzy pickles.'"

Simply put, this game is fun for all ages, especially adults. I'm about 20 years old and I found this game to be extremely enjoyable. This game has great moments that you don't soon forget. So go to the Onett library, pick up a map, and ZOOM great distances in the world of EarthBound. Very few RPGs out today are as enjoyable as this game. Even if you're not into role-playing games, you might just find yourself talking to a Mr. Saturn after popping this into the SNES.

A game that goes deeper than it's childish look.

[The_Light_Triton · 10/10 · 27 May 2017]

At first glance, 1995's Mother 2/Earthbound might seem like a childish game that wouldn't keep a more seasoned gamer occupied. But if someone was brave enough to pay 20$ for a brand new, discounted copy of this game around the time that the 4th generation of video game consoles were fading out, they would've bought a cult classic...and a profitable product - Original, good condition copies of this game top $200 in value in online auctions.

Set in the '90s, Earthbound is the story of a young boy named Ness, who is gifted with Psi powers and is thrust into a quest in the middle of Eagleland (A fictional take on the U.S.A.) to save the world from the evil Giygas.

First of all, This game is loaded with cultural references to a lot of things, from Religion to the Beatles. It rejects Swords in favor of Baseball Bats as weapons, and rejects Potions in favor of Hamburgers for regenerating health. It requires a mind abundant with thought about what to do, but a sense of humor that can determine what is funny and what isn't. And there is lots in the game to laugh at. From the "Parents Opposing Obsession Plan" to the guy who wants to make "Pretty girl paper" and then eating the cake in summers, and finally, fighting master belch, a big pile of barf.

But to look at the game from a different perspective, When you were a child, you would've seen lots of things that didn't make sense that you would see again as an adult, that finally did. This game is a take on that. You are playing as Ness, who is seeing the world for the first time and since he is a child, most of it doesn't make sense at all. This is particularly evident in "Happy-Happy Village" in which all of the members want to paint the world blue. As the player, you realize that part of the game represents a cult that has a goal that seems sensible. But to a child, It looks like a bunch of morons who want to waste their time doing a pointless task.

Thankfully, Nintendo made this game available for $10 on their eShop on the Wii U. That's definitely the best legal option to play this classic...or you could do it the way everyone's been playing SNES games for the last 15 years or so by downloading it for free and playing it on an Emulator.

Either way, go play it. It's definitely worth a few days of your time.

The Odd, Scary, and Downright Goofy World of Earthbound!

[reddragonhero17 · 10/10 · 12 April 2018]

I have a soft spot for odd things and this game appealed to me ever since I first laid eyes on that larger than average, game box while at a supermarket (back when there were VHS tapes and old cartridge games you could rent). I observed the box many times, wondering why it was that size. When I finally got chance to actually play it, I realized why, it's crammed full of surprises that a guidebook was needed for it to cram it all in (I wouldn't read it all the way through if you like great surprises). On the surface it looks childish since you are controlling a bunch of kids, but if you look deeper there's plenty of offbeat mixtures of humor and darkness in a modern world. Being an RPG fan myself, I had to play through this to see everything, which you really have to do to fully appreciate its style. Even when you beat it once, you'll want to play through it again and again to catch everything you missed the time before.

Mostly good.

[Zalis · 3 December 2001]

All in all, Earthbound is a high-quality game. Okay, so the graphics weren't mindblowing. I didn't find a problem with them in the numerous times I played it. Some of the enemies are done pretty well. The game storyline is also quite extensive, traveling all over the "world" to 8 important sites. Good characters and some interesting tangents (Moonside, Ness's Mind. . .) make the game even more interesting. My main two gripes: The item storage is extremely limiting, compared to other RPG's, and going through the pyramind/the desert/dungeon man is tiresome. But that doesn't make it uplayable, so I'm going to get up, erase some erasers, and kick some alien butt.

Cannot believe I missed this one during my younger days

[Aaron1375 · 8/10 · 7 January 2014]

During the 90's I began to become an RPG junkie. I loved role playing games of all types. It was Final Fantasy II (IV) that got me hooked. I had so many RPG games for the SNES, that now I am baffled as to why I never played this game during that time. Even more baffling is the fact I had never even heard of it until two or three years ago. I desperately wanted to play it, but to find a cart of it, meant having to pony up 150 dollars plus, which was a bit too steep. However, I have finally gotten to play this game thanks to an emulator and it was a really fun game. Not quite as good as I was expecting, but overall a good experience. The game is typical of many role playing games in that it starts out great, but kind of finishes a bit weaker than the blazing start. So, for all its quirks, it sadly retained that trait. Still, it was a nice diversion.

The story has you as a little boy named Ness, or whatever you want to name him finding a meteorite up on a hill. A strange fly, named Buzz Buzz joins you and explains that a terrible future awaits the world as Giygas terrorizes the world in the future. Ness must join forces with three other kids and go out into the world to claim a power that can defeat this awesome foe, and try to correct the evils that are being released due to Giygas. Pokey, a next door neighbor, has plans of his own as your group must overcome many obstacles on the way to your clash with Giygas.

The battle system is turned base; however, there are no random encounters as you see the villains on the map. If you are way more powerful than the foe you run into, you do not even have to combat them as you will simply get the win and the experience that goes along with it. The game is lighthearted and funny for the most part and they really did a nice job creating the world. The big cities all named after numbers look great and have a lot going on in them. After you traverse Fourside city though, the cities become vastly less impressive as the places you run into after it get smaller with less things going on in them. Kind of a disappointment as Summers is like the last really nice city you visit. The world, up to that point is just more fun to explore in that it interconnects so well and it is fun traveling by car to the next place, but then the place seems more like you are going somewhere not connected.

As fun as the game is, the other problem I had with this one is Giygas. It most certainly looks disturbing when the final showdown arrives, but it seems like it does not fit the story. I was under the impression that Giygas was an alien invader and he controls various other aliens in an attempt to rule the world. One town is overrun by zombies and ghosts that Giygas has brought forth. The last battle, though, kind of indicates he was kind of a mindless entity that is simply evil. Pokey, too, is also kind of a mystery. Just a couple of plot holes in the story.

Overall, this game is a very good one. I would rank both Final Fantasy II (IV) and III (VI) higher than it, but compared to a lot of RPGs released these days it is great! I wish they would go back to this style more when creating an RPG and be less concerned with super realistic character designs and cinematic scenes and worry more about creating a fun world to traverse and explore. While this one, was not quite the game I thought it was going to be, it was still very entertaining and I am glad that I finally got to play it.

Awesome game!

[axemblue · 9/10 · 8 July 2001]

Earthbound, AKA Mother 2, proves that you don't need great graphics to have a great game. (Although the backgrounds in the fight scenes look pretty cool...) The game is very fun, and has a lot of ORIGINAL humor, which is definitely a plus in my book. And in the English version, they even kept the characters' original names. Well, King the dog was originally "Chibi," but oh well. In Earthbound, you'll face off against lots of goofy bosses, like a pile of barf named Master Belch, and a giant mushroom called... well, "Shrooom!" There are also characters like the chubby inventor, Apple Kid, or the blues band called the Runaway Five. Or how about enemies like evil hippies or demonic petunias?

This game didn't sell well when it first came out, because people cared more about graphics, and avoided the game because of how it LOOKED. If you can find this game on EBay or your local pawn shop, get it. You'll be glad you did. Oh, and be sure to get the Player's Guide, which was packaged with Earthbound, because it's very helpful, and has a lot of funny reading material in it, plus Earthbound scratch-n-sniff cards!

Earthbound is a great game!!!

[mariohead64 · 10/10 · 14 October 2013]

Released in 1995 in just Japan and America, Earthbound is a classic and it even stands up to today's games. It is pretty much the great RPG that everyone must have. It is a very smart game and has great humour. Unlike most RPGs, it is set in modern times (1990's) and instead of earning gold, you get money deposited into your bank account by your dad. Instead of swords and armour, you have baseball bats and bracelets and all the like. It has a lot of charm and any RPG will get a kick out of it. In fact, ANYONE will enjoy it. I'm glad I got introduced to Ness and the Earthbound franchise by Smash Bros. At first, I thought it would be a bad game, but I played it and it was awesome. It shows that even Nintendo's obscure side is awesome. Even better, it's now in Europe via the Wii U virtual console! This RPG is essential!

My all-time favorite video game

[Ivan Ravenous · 10/10 · 14 October 2000]

Man, there's so much to love about this game that I can't even remember it all! One night I was on my friend's computer as he was playing this, and I just happened to glance over as he was getting to Threed, and I noticed that the game had kooky music and was kinda odd.

Later I actually borrowed it and man, I've never been sucked into a game like that before! The story was complex and intriguing and chock full of humor, the music is awesome and nutty, the characters are interesting, and the game as a whole is a joy to play.

It really broke my heart to read that Earthbound 64 has been cancelled. Someday I hope to play Mother as well.

If you have an snes classic, then you have gold in your hands

[amirhabhab · 10/10 · 20 May 2020]

People who have snes classic, you guys have gold, for one the game is hilarious, it makes fun of rpg cliché, it's set in 99's America, the battle system is quite innovative, the characters are all lovable, and the ending is quite disturbing, not gonna talk about it, just recommend everyone to play earthbound beginning on wii u virtual console first, for now, Nintendo has yet to release these games on NSO or a remake trilogy or anything, just make it more accessible, oh yeah the New 3DS has it too

The Ultimate RPG For the SNES

[NyeFan · 10/10 · 1 October 1999]

It doesn't matter what language, Earthbound/Mother 2 (and apparently Okâsân 2) is the best role playing game for the Super Nintendo. Instead of playing in a medieval or futuristic world of magic and fantasy, Earthbound takes place right here at home on present day Earth, where an evil alien force called Giygas is determined to take over the world. No sooner does a message from the future arrive fortelling the destruction of Earth then Ness, our unlikely hero with strong PSI powers, sets out to prevent armageddon. Armed with a baseball bat and his mind, Ness must journey through a vast world, encountering strange people, meeting new friends, and defeating evil influences that are already making themselves known. Earthbound has a fast paced story line and a quirky sense of humor, which more than make up for the graphics (which are nothing to write home about). Great music and awesome battles add to the combo leaving you wishing the game would never end. Though it may seem like a kid's game at first, it is quite a challenge and is interesting no matter what your age. So if you're sick of all the other video games, try Earthbound: A totally different and excellent experience.

A game that far and away exceeded the expectations of the RPG crowd...

[crazyrabbits · 10/10 · 14 July 2006]

It's somewhat sad to see how unfairly maligned the 1995 Super Nintendo classic "Earthbound" was upon it's initial release. People thought the graphics were too simplistic, and not representative of what a good RPG is (and what, Chrono Trigger had better graphics?). I would also point out that people (like myself, I must add) initially dismissed the game as being too simplistic and childish for older gamers.

How wrong I was. This isn't the best game ever, but it's certainly one of the standout games in the RPG genre to be released in the last 20 years, and I firmly stand behind that statement.

Basically, the plot goes like this: Ness, your average ordinary kid, is set on the path of a great adventure when a meteorite crashes near his home in the town of Onett. Journeying through many different cities and acquiring items, spells, and allies (including a pre-schooler named Paula, a math nerd, and the prince of a far-off Kingdom), Ness and his friends must stop the evil Master Giggas from plunging the world into eternal darkness.

What I most liked about the game was that, even though it follows a somewhat linear structure (in that you must get Item A to get to Town B, and so on), the variety and depth of the situations makes for a very immersive and fulfilling experience. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this game. You don't kill monsters with swords and arrows, rather, you beat them to death with baseball bats, frying pans and rulers. Better still, the variety of enemies in the game is quite impressive. Ranging from wild animals to possessed zombies to demonic statues to giant piles of vomit and everything in between, the battles never feel repetitive.

Also, considering the age of this game, it still holds up quite well today, giving gamers a different role-playing experience. Instead of you winning money from battles, it all gets deposited into ATM machines that you can hit up, and then you can buy bizarre items like teddy bears that fight alongside you or even bottle rockets that you can fire at enemies. The only way to save the game is to call your unseen father up and get him to record your progress. Hell, you even use a UFO to get around in the late stages of the game! It's things like this that set Earthbound apart from the countless other RPG clones that tried to emulate the major RPG series like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.

Bottom Line: Without a doubt, this is one of the best console games for the SNES. It's a shame that the cartridge is discontinued, because I think that more people should play this game. I give Earthbound a 10 out of 10, my highest rating. Pick it up if you have a chance.

Honestly the best game ever, no game can even come close to this masterpiece

[Gsgroia99 · 10/10 · 16 October 2013]

Before I get into detail I'm just curious about the fact that a cult classic masterpiece doesn't get a 10, but a 6.4 -_- if I could, I would rate way higher than ten but that's not possible obviously, but then again this site isn't particularly focused on games so I'm not too upset... Any ways their is so much things to say about this game being so awesome I can't fit it all in one review, so I'll just tell you the best parts of it.. •Glorious graphics •the best video game soundtrack ever with so much beauty and nostalgia it will make you have goosebumps! •Lovable and memorable characters and villains •tons of references to things in the real world back then •smart, witty, and clever gameplay features and battle sequences •Nintendo •overall an amazing, unexplainable feeling comes from playing this game that you will love

Well there's more to it but that's the most notable of things. Best game ever. Period

Not the best

[nadeaufamily-20027 · 5/10 · 17 March 2021]

Before i start this, I'm using Mother 3, or Earthbound 2 as a benchmark for this game. First of all, the start of the game is very slow and boring, the battles have no strategy, and the rolling health mechanic is too fast to work at the amount of HP you have. Compare this to Mother 3, where you can run, which makes the whole game faster, on top of having more HP, and special skills you can use. A good comparison is the first bosses, Earthbound's is Franky + Frankystein Mark II, where it's basically just hit, hit, heal, repeat, but Mother 3's first boss is the Reconstructed Caribou, which encourages the use of skills, as it's much easier with Duster's wall staples. Along with that, at the Franky fight, you have about 60 HP and only Ness, who doesn't know much PSI at that point, but at the Reconstructed Caribou fight, you have 3 party members, each with 100-ish HP, and everyone has unique skills. Earthbound isn't that great with characters either, Paula, Jeff, and Poo are all characters that, in a nutshell, go and help ness because they were told too, and Ness himself doesn't have too much more depth, either, his character only develops at the 7th sanctuary and magicant, and not much at that, however, in Mother 3, Flint has a lot of character development in only the first chapter. I won't spoil it, because this is a review on Earthbound and not Mother 3. The story is also nothing to write home about, in a short summary, and skipping details, the story is basically "Ness and friends go to 8 power spots to gain enough power to defeat a big and scary entity". Once again, I won't touch on Mother 3 for this segment. In a nutshell, Earthbound doesn't start getting fun until you get the 3rd party member, The story isn't very complex, and the characters are shallow.

The Greatest Game Ever...

[TMC-Dogemaster · 4 November 2019]

I first got Earthbound in 2016. I got a Wii U. And I wanted games. So I was scrolling through the EShop and found Earthbound Beginnings (Mother, Earthbound Zero) and Earthbound (Mother 2). What I didn't know was that the game was a huge frickin Cult Classic. This game holds a special place in my heart. And I want an animated series and 3D Reboot.

An Original and Timeless Game. Masterpiece.

[King_K_Rool · 10/10 · 30 July 2010]

Earthbound is one of the most memorable and timeless games ever created. I'm not going to explain to much about the story, yet I will point out some huge points into why it deserves such a score.

The Story is well crafted and brilliantly delivered. It has moments of Light hearted feelings, and also the Darkest Deepest temptations built in with perfect emotion.

It does not drag on like most Rpg's do within range, but it does have some parts that are hard/irratable at times. The game is also kept up in real with very witty Comedy, and many cracks at the other Rpg games at the time.

Even with the story being happy/comedy filled at times, there are parts of dark and even scary moments. One word, Giygas.

The HP/PP has some unique uses, and the battles are crafted into a fun way to survive even the hardest of enemies. Making the game very addictive and well worth the time.

It's a pretty long game with many towns and areas to explore. An Adventure that is well worth the journey.

I don't wish to spoil to much, but this is a game that needs to be played, and you will understand everything of how simple/crazy this game can be.

10/10. A very unique rpg experience.

Good As It Gets

[kobetempleton · 10/10 · 4 May 2013]

Typically, anyone who reviews this game has a very positive reaction. Some will say it's simply worth checking out, while others will put it in the Video Game hall of fame. But concerning most of the reviews I've read, the same compliments keep appearing over and over: it's unique, they say, because it takes place in a modern-day universe, unlike the archaic settings of many RPGs. It's unique, they say, because the battle sequences take place from a first-person perspective. It's a great game, they'll say, because of all the weird music and crude humor scattered throughout the storyline. I will not deny any of the above claims; however, they are only the tip of this breathtaking masterpiece, and in my opinion, do not fully represent the ingeniousness that is found in EarthBound. This game is far more than a fun, quirky take on RPGs from the 90s; it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest games ever made, composed beautifully and featuring astounding creativity.

From my perspective, the game's true greatness comes from two main elements. First is the inclusion of excellent characters and monsters within the game. Occasionally, a reviewer will mention how the game features weird and memorable enemies, such as sentient gas pumps and paintings. The beauty of the game's characters, however, comes not only though their bizarreness, but oftentimes, their simplicity. For instance, in one cave, the player will find a simple slug (named the 'Attack Slug') with an uncomplicated graphic design, or in another part of the game, an 'Armored Frog,' these simply being familiar animals with creative adjectives attached to give them some flair. If you're not impressed with the animals, the game suddenly throws robots in your path. The creatively constructed 'Spinning Robo,' for instance, exemplifies the oftentimes futuristic flair found in the cast of enemies, and the well-known image of the 'Starman' (and its various evolutions throughout the game) is perhaps one of the most memorable and creative designs throughout the entire adventure: simple, iconic, deadly, and representative of a creativity that draws from varied spheres of artwork.

The game's second extremely powerful element is the storyline. I will not give away the details, but this story is the most powerful I have yet encountered in a video game. The game is indeed full of humor, but throughout the relatively light-hearted journey, the player encounters numerous doses of seriousness and ominousness, suggesting the fate that awaits the characters. There is plenty of foreshadowing, but not enough to make the end result any kind of a letdown. Essentially, the balance of humor and somberness is flawless; the occasional glimpses into the enemy's master plan are just enough to move the adventure toward its heavy climax. While some games suffer from having a final boss that is an anticlimax, or on the other hand, a boss that drags on for simply too long, EarthBound creates the perfect amount of horror needed for its conclusion, and not only meets the player's expectations, but surpasses them in the most emotional way possible. As I understand, the final battle is the most well-known part of this classic, and due to its highly emotional nature, I am not at all surprised.

In short, EarthBound is probably my favorite video game. It is funny, yet emotional, colorful, yet appropriately replete with philosophy and dark moments, and its conclusion remains, to my mind, one of the greatest climaxes found on any console. Creative, moving, and loads of replay value. I do not think you will be disappointed. 10/10

Amazing!

[der41 · 10/10 · 25 June 2014]

Out of ALL the video games that came out in the 1990's, EarthBoud (Mother 2 in Japan) shines through for me! Its originality, humor,characters, music, it's just so awesome! All the different places to explore, and all the creativity, It's a perfect example of quality we never see today! I have no idea why this game never sold well in North America. If you're tired of all the same genre of games, try EarthBound! You're in for a real adventure, and have you playing for hours on end! Even if your not a fan of RPG's, this is a must play for anyone! If you haven't already, EarthBound is currently available on the Wii U shop for around $10. Happy Playing!

A really dark and lighthearted adventure

[carlitollanoslevesque · 10/10 · 8 April 2023]

I knew this game was a classic and it impacted the RPG genre a lot, but I didn't know how good it was until I played it for myself when it was released on the Nintendo Switch. And I will say this: This game is a masterpiece.

What I love is how the game is presented as a cute and lighthearted game, and it has pretty wholesome moments in it, but the more you keep going into it, the more it gets stranger, and stranger, and you are wondering how far can the human imagination go. It tackles frankly dark themes, but from a child perpesctive, and there's a lot of stuff I wouldn't have gotten as a child.

If you are into story driven games with some disturbing elements, this is for you.

Amazing game!!

[filmssupreme · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

The most amazing video game of all time was ahead of its time and full of fun surprises! Please play!

It can still be played by many people if only people would not scoff at it. Please play, PLEASE! It will be the best! On SNES or Nintendo Switch, just play it, that's it.

Legendary...

[Squirelly Joe · 18 March 2002]

Awsome Awsome GREAT Game. Too great for words. The best part is the story line and the way it moves along smoothly, giving suspense, mystery, comedy, and action all at once. All those so-called gamers that HAVEN'T played it and say it's stupid have no right to call themselves game players. Not violent and graphic, yet not supporting child like graphics, it keeps the flow. I don't know why this didn't become so popular. It was a major hit in Japan. Probably because they are more open minded and don't judge things before they see or get to know them like we have a tendancy to do. (No offense to all who are reading)

Too awesome for words

[pennylane114 · 20 August 2001]

This is the best video game ever. It's so unique and isn't like any other RPG. It's inventive in every way imaginable. Sure, bore yourself to tears with the contrived RPGs with sorcery and dragons and such, but you don't know what you're missing here...

Is there a better game?

[notalentjew · 8 July 2005]

once upon a time, in 1998, i bought this game, not knowing what was inside. from the beginning to the end of this great Nintendo classic, this everlasting battle between the good, (ness, Paula, Jeff, and Poo) verses the evil (starmen, belch, the guardians of the sanctuary locations, the evil Mani Mani Statue, Gyigas, and more!!!!)the graphics may be sub-playstation, but this game came out in 1994!

This game was like Chrono Trigger, but with a cooler story and longer, with more items and enemies! overall I would say that this is the best game ever. soon,earthbound two or mother 3 in japan will be coming out. i suggest to everybody who reads this to buy it!