EarthBound (1994-)

EarthBound, developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory, was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994 in Japan (under the title Mother 2) and in 1995 in North America. Published by Nintendo, the game is the second entry in the Mother series, created by writer and director Shigesato Itoi. While the original Mother (1989) was released only in Japan for the Famicom, EarthBound marked the series’ first official appearance in the West, albeit without the “Mother” branding.

The game follows a young boy named Ness and a group of friends as they travel the world to defeat the evil alien force Giygas. Unlike many role-playing games of its time, EarthBound features a modern-day setting, complete with shopping malls, burgers, and baseball bats instead of medieval weapons or fantasy landscapes. The gameplay combines traditional turn-based battles with quirky humor and a distinctively offbeat tone. It’s also remembered for its psychedelic battle backgrounds, catchy soundtrack, and fourth-wall-breaking moments that added to its charm.

EarthBound was initially promoted in the U.S. with a quirky and controversial marketing campaign featuring scratch-and-sniff ads and the tagline "This game stinks!" This approach, while memorable, failed to connect with mainstream audiences at the time, and the game sold poorly outside Japan. Critics were lukewarm upon release, often dismissing its visuals as simplistic. However, over the years, EarthBound gained a strong cult following, particularly thanks to the internet and Ness’s inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. series starting in 1999, which helped spark renewed interest in the game.

Beyond its original SNES release, EarthBound has since been re-released on several platforms. It became available on the Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Consoles, and later appeared in the Super NES Classic Edition mini-console. In 2022, it was also added to Nintendo Switch Online’s library of classic games. Although the original Mother (later unofficially localized as EarthBound Beginnings) and the Japan-only Mother 3 remain less accessible, EarthBound has become one of Nintendo’s most cherished cult classics, admired for its unique storytelling, heartfelt moments, and distinct personality.

Images from MobyGames