GENRE
	RPG
	DEVELOPER
	HAL / Ape
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	WORTH PLAYING TODAY?
	yes
	BUY NOW AT

When I say that no review can give this game justice, I can only be speaking of the indescribably entertaining Earthbound for the Super Nintendo. Released as the sequel to Mother across the world, this game has fascinated this gamer (and many others) with its unique combination of style and depth.

Placed in the year 199X (Yes, that’s what it says at the beginning of game), Earthbound is about a group of four average kids who must battle the forces of evil. The game begins when Buzz-Buzz (a fly) comes back through time to warn Ness after a meteor has just struck the ground -- right behind Ness’s house. Once the meteor hits, the hero wakes up in his jammies -- a risque feat not rivaled by any game since Earthbound. It is later revealed by Buzz-Buzz that the archenemy Giygas is planning on invading, and destroying, the world. The game then proceeds with Ness and his gang trying to find Ness' “My Sanctuary” locations which enable Ness to channel his Earth powers.

The forces of evil just won’t rest, however, as Ness battles many a quirky foe -- Belch, a Zombie Tent, Crazed Hippies, and a crazy, dream-producing object known as the Mani-Mani statue. However, Ness and his crew are not alone in this fight. Along the way, they meet up with Mr. Everdred, a crook with a good heart; Ness’s mom, who just happens to make Ness steak every night; and Ness’s dad, who is the one that Ness constantly calls to save his progress -- oh yeah, he also puts money in the bank. Thanks dad! As if all this weren’t enough, you can order a pizza anytime you feel like, and they deliver anywhere -- and when I say anywhere, I mean, anywhere.

Despite coming out so long ago, no game that I have played since has entertained me more than this gem has.

visuals

The visual style of this game is one that definitely attracts the eye. The colors are bright and vibrant. The screen is filled with the bustle of a city; taxis dash around, citizens walk over and about, and the enemies can actually be seen running at you (unlike the Final Fantasy series whose battles begin invisibly and randomly). The battle scenes have some psychedelic backgrounds with some goofy, yet paradoxically fierce-looking enemies. The architecture in this game is also amazing for the Super Nintendo. Take a look at the city of Fourside and you will see what I’m talking about. The game is filled with skyscrapers and four-level malls. The game also gets you out of the city by letting you go to the desert, the Far East, the beach, and even the underground of the Earth itself!

If I had to choose a problem with the visuals, it would be the fact that I couldn’t see Ness in combat. The battle view follows the over-the-shoulder first-person style similar to that of Dragon Warrior. Other than that, the visuals of this game draw you in and refuse to let go.

audio

The audio in this game fills you with the atmosphere of Earthbound. From the very first moment after the meteor hits close to Ness’s house, the music becomes eerie. Combined with the dark surroundings, the music immediately pulls you in and cranks up the suspension factor tenfold.

Not the whole game is filled with scary, dreary music though. Earthbound is a game that plays 70’s disco style music to fit the carefree moments in the game -- of which there are plenty. The Runaway Five make appearances frequently throughout the game to lighten up the mood as well.

The music is also culturally varied as when Ness travels to Dalaam in the Far East to meet up with his final teammate, Poo. There are also South American flavors in this game; One that especially sticks out in my mind is the bus theme that took you from Twoson to Threed.

All in all, the music matches the story elements of this game perfectly and gives it all at the right dose -- not too much and not too little.

gameplay

The game starts out mildly difficult but not too hard as you confront The Sharks, the local ruffians of Ness’s hometown. The difficulty of this game is well balanced and allows for a smooth progression over the course of your adventure. However, since this is a retro review, I’d rather not focus on the gameplay elements of this game but what you can do if you decide to play this game again.

Some things you might want to try the second time around would be...

• The Rock Candy Trick -- Ever wanted to have an all-star team but never had the Game Genie to do it for you? Fear no more! The rock candy trick is one of the coolest tricks in this game. To do it, find a rock candy somewhere (they are hidden in various places in the world; it's not too hard to find one). Then, buy some sugar packets in the Twoson marketplace, where Everdred hangs out. After this, get into battle and have the person holding the rock candy use it, the sugar packet will disappear but the rock candy will not! This trick will randomly raise one stat slightly and can be done an infinite number of times. Be careful not to go over the 255 integer limit though, doing so can make your character have their traits reset back to just 1!
• The Level-Up Trick -- This is one handy little trick that I unfortunately learned only my third or fourth time around playing this game. In the Scaraba Desert, look for a small red insect called the Criminal Caterpillar. Once your level is sufficiently high enough, it will run away from you and give you an instant victory--worth about 28K of experience points instantly! This is a quick and effective way to level up, and a sure-fire way to achieve the maximum amount of statistics possible.

• Rare Items -- Wanted to get some of those rare items you missed out on the first time through the game? Well, there is no code or trick that I can give you to let you get those items, but I can point you in the right direction. Be wary though, the chance of getting one of these amazing items is 1/128 -- in other words, you might end up watching the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy a couple times in a row before you get an item.

The Gutsy Bat, the most powerful bat in the game for Ness, is located only in Ness’s dream. You get it by defeating the Bionic Kraken. Another item is the Sword of Kings, the only weapon that Poo can ever equip in the entire game. You can obtain this item from defeating Starmen Deluxe's under Stonehenge. You can get the Magic Fry Pan by fighting Chomposaurs in the Underground and you can get the Broken Antenna (which can be fixed into the Gaia Beam) from the Uncontrollable Spheres in Lumine Hall. Lastly, you can get Star Pendants in the Fire Spring and the Goddess Ribbon from Ghosts of Starmen in Onett (at the end of the game only).

These items will make your party go from zeroes to heroes in no time flat!

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Earthbound is a game filled up to the brim with personality, atmosphere, and entertainment. It’s easy to see why this game has developed such a cult following --myself included. There are simply no words that can adequately describe this game; it’s just so weird and quirky that words fail me. If you own this game, you owe it to yourself to at least go mess around in Onett for just a little bit. If you have never played this game before but are a fan of RPG, adventure, or games filled with great storylines, this is the perfect match for you. And finally, from one Earthbound fan to another, do your mom a favor and get out of your jammies before you play this game!

9.0/10