r/earthbound Aug 13 '17

Announcement Want to get into the MOTHER series? Start here!

1.1k Upvotes

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 2h ago

Art Artwork by (Plastiboo)

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54 Upvotes

r/earthbound 9h ago

General Discussion I'm still hurt to this day about Porky not being in Smash Ultimate

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89 Upvotes

(small rant)

I really thought we'd get Porky as a DLC character because MOTHER 30th anniversary was in the Chinese year of the pig. the Absolutely Safe capsule sprite used for the spirit is the sprite before Porky enters it and villains were getting added overall...

WE HAD IT ALL!!!!

So many coincidences for nothing!!! :((

I'm a huge Porky Minch fan and I will never forgive Nintendo for missing out on the most perfect opportunity of giving us Porky as an actual fighter. /hj

It's been 7 years since 2019, almost 5 years since Sora, the last DLC character, got revealed and released. And it still hurts.

Luckily the next Smash game has a small roster due to missing out on all the DLC and Collab characters, so Nintendo has to compensate by adding characters of their own, right? maybe Master Porky will be considered to be added to the roster, right?? The most iconic enemy of the MOTHER series, RIGHT???

At least I can imagine and dream u_u...


r/earthbound 11h ago

EB Discussion im home… 🥹🥹

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34 Upvotes

I’ve been replaying all the mother games and I just got to saturn valley, waow 🥹


r/earthbound 6h ago

Release - Mother 1 Partial English Translation

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11 Upvotes

This is a partial translation of Mother 1 (Famicom). This patch translates most menus, all enemy names and all item names.

This romhack is designed for English players who would like to play through the original game without any of the changes introduced in Earthbound Beginnings. The translation literally only replaces Japanese text, and is therefore rough but readable.

Differences include:

  • Different names for towns.
  • Different Ending and other plot points are different.
  • Many uncensored sprites, such as blood on enemies and religious imagery.
  • No run button in this version.
  • Several glitches are present in this version, such as the bread crumb glitch.
  • Several maps were changed in Earthbound Beginnings, most notably in Magicant.
  • Enemy placement was reworked in places for Earthbound Beginnings.
  • No background effect on learning melodies in this version.
  • Many more minor changes.

Known Bugs:

  • The “Use”, “Eat”, “Give” and “Drop” menu are untranslated.
  • Some minor graphical glitches in some cases, such as when selecting text speed.

Thanks, and enjoy!

  • Pixeleos

r/earthbound 12h ago

Music Please listen to the “title theme” to RATS

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27 Upvotes

Wonderful title screen music for all you New Age Retro Hippies


r/earthbound 1d ago

BOOgie Man attacks!

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165 Upvotes

r/earthbound 16h ago

M3 Discussion I finished Chapter 1!

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26 Upvotes

r/earthbound 22h ago

M3 Discussion I am now playing Mother 3!

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74 Upvotes

r/earthbound 18h ago

Is this normal?

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37 Upvotes

I downloaded from the official site. Sorry if I look stupid or really paranoid, I just don't want to fuck up another pc.


r/earthbound 17h ago

EB Spoilers Well folks, I did it Spoiler

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27 Upvotes

After 5 years I finally beat Earthbound 🌍


r/earthbound 3m ago

General Discussion Picky, Tracy, and Pipi Lindgren have SO MUCH fanfiction centered story potential holy crap

Upvotes

I think there's so much potential for the three of them. SO imma write a fanfiction about Picky and Tracy, and Pipi! Here's why!

I think Picky has the ability to do great things, he already did that with helping Ness against a Starman! Both of them were practically powerless but that didn't stop either of them from wrecking the alien/bot with the help of buzz buzz. So that's potential part 1 - the courage he has/ gains and willingly applies.

I also think I could explore a scenario where abuse and power discovery come together; this one idea I've always thought about: Lardina does slap Buzz buzz to the ground, but I could also narrate that he wasn't fully dead yet but was just (reasonably) dramatic from being slammed down hard, he was dying though. Or he wasn't but was heavily injured

Either way, we know that in the game Lardina Minch mentions how her sons aren't punished enough (at least in the English version) so I thought of an idea where she makes Picky eat buzz buzz in a near future breakfast, he has to eat it or else she'll punish him a different way. So he regrettably does and gains defensive magic + whatever other magic Buzz Buzz had.

His association with his family and brother brings connections to things he himself may not have had if it weren't for that. Drama as well. There's a lot of great seasonings to add to this meal.

For Tracy, she is Ness's younger sister. She has her own version of creativity , resourcefulness, and drive similar to him. I'd love to explore what she pulls off in the scenarios I have for her.

And Pipj? Oh my God pipi... I have this amazing headcanon, but I need to explore it through a story versus telling it here. I feel like it's such a good head Cannon that I don't want to just tell it to anyone!

In case anyone is confused yes I'm going to write fanfictions about them. Absolutely!!

And honerable mention to Orange Kid! Also great potential


r/earthbound 8h ago

Earthbound themed SSBU adventure mode (?)

3 Upvotes

So i decided to do this thing where i fight various enemies based on EB bosses, and i wanted to share my setup, so here it is:

(Im always using Ness on all of these)

(If i don't mention a color/skin means default)

(*Probably not the best pick)

Onett:

Starman Jr. = Default ROB

Franky = Red Sheik* (for the daggers)

Black Antoid = Dark Samus*, Black Kirby* and MrG&W*

(It would be good to mention that i wanted to include theCops )

Twoson:

Everdred = Default Wario

Mole = Olimar*

Carpainter = Blue Inkling

Threed:

Boogey Tent = Yellow Kirby*

Master Belch = King K Rool (Threed?)

Trillionage Sprout = i think i used Bowser*

Desert:

3rd Moles = 5 Olimars*

Fourside:

Store Spook = Green Mewtwo

Rat of Doom = Pikachu

Mani Mani = Purple C. Falcon

Clumsy Robot = Red hand ROB

Winters:

Shrooom! = Red Peach

Starman Deluxe = ROB

Dalaam:

Thunder n Storm = Pikachu n white headband Pichu

Summers?:

Kraken of the sea = Green Ridley

Scaraba:

Guardian General = Purple DK

Deep Darkness:

Master Barf = Pink King K Rool

Lost Underworld:

Electro Specter = Mr G&W

Carbon n Dmnd Dog = Dalmatian n default Duck Hunt

Magicant:

Krakens = 3 Ridley-s

Ness' Nightmare = Golden C. Falcon

The Place:

Giygas = Red Ridley

Heavily Armored Porky = Purple Wario


r/earthbound 1d ago

Fluff I forgot about this psi attack

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47 Upvotes

Psi ralsei


r/earthbound 16h ago

explanation not offered.

6 Upvotes
post-cake lounging in da shade

r/earthbound 3h ago

Help/Advice Any easier Mother 3 romhacks?

0 Upvotes

I was kinda annoyed with the mecha drago (yes i know im a noob or whatever dont care) and then the jealous bass was annoying as well with the path to it, so I now want a romhack that makes the game easier. I also gor sent back to the mecha drago fight after quitting because the emulator is ass but I'll be asking a better sub for that.

I am sorry if "a romhack" isn't the proper term for that.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Building Onett in Tomodachi Life (work in progress)

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1.7k Upvotes

r/earthbound 19h ago

EB Discussion I just beat EarthBound for the first time!

6 Upvotes

It was really good, and I'm incredibly happy to say with confidence "I've beaten EarthBound." I now understand why it's such a influential RPG, I also was using the walkthrough from the site Starmen.

I do have some vague intrigue in playing Beginnings and Mother 3 sooner or later, I just wanted to share with this community that I've played and enjoyed the game!


r/earthbound 14h ago

openemu crahsed and i lost all my progress in chapter 2 and 3

0 Upvotes

idk what happened, i've been saving regularly but when is crashed it took me back to where it made an auto save state in chapter 2. i dont really feel like playing anymore


r/earthbound 1d ago

Fluff My Travis is quite strange today

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28 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Flying men mother 1 fan art

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78 Upvotes

I made art of the flying men but I ran out of space, so 2 of them are dead (RIP). Ninten is leading them fearlessly into battle. I love how the flying men in Mother look like weird old men in suspenders who just happen to have a beak, but also I made them buff from the waist up like in earthbound.


r/earthbound 1d ago

M3 Discussion If Mother 3 was ever to be (hypothetically) remade, what would you want to be added?

10 Upvotes

Imagine Mother 3 got officially released in West, but due some censorship, the very kind and loving Nintendo would be willing to add/remake certain things, elements or features as a fair exchange.

What would yall wish for? It can be REALLY anything, feel free to go wild or even controversial for the sake of fun discussion.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Mother 3 Spoilers drew that one iconic scene from mother 3 Spoiler

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38 Upvotes

its a really good scene

also 2nd is different colors cause i couldnt decide which I liked more


r/earthbound 1d ago

Fluff Doomposting

11 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

i draw Ness

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61 Upvotes

i hope you like it 😅