Don't mind me, I'm just completely obsessed with Nintendo's Mother at the moment

My apologies for failing to publish anything new here over the last week. Between Hurricane Harvey (which dumped a ton of rain on Austin but otherwise spared the city the kind of devastation seen in Houston) and a bit of "back to work blues" (now that we're settled in our new home, my husband and I have decided to end our sabbatical year a few months short and start looking for jobs), I haven't been in the mood to write.

I have been in the mood to play games, though. Or at least I've been in the mood to play Mother--aka, the RPG known to a lot of Western Wii U owners as EarthBound Beginnings.

Unfortunately for the other titles I was enjoying before I started Mother--Dragon Quest for Famicom, Great Greed for GameBoy, the Monster Hunter Stories 3DS demo and Opoona for Wii among them--that's all I've been in the mood to play for the last 10 days or so.

In that time, I've spent nearly 20 hours with Shigesato Itoi's first foray into the world of video games.



I actually put a few hours into Mother (or rather the leaked EarthBound Zero ROM) a few years back, but left it behind for some reason I can't remember and never returned to it.

There's no way something similar happens this time around, I can assure you. Although I enjoyed my initial attempt at the game, I'd hardly say the experience blew me away. That's exactly how I'd describe Mother's current effect on me, though.

Yes, it is antiquated in many of the same ways most Famicom and NES RPGs are--with the first Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy titles being prime examples. Yes, it basically requires you to grind. Yes, it's often frustratingly and even hilariously brutal.

But it also can be surprisingly touching. And weird. And beautiful.

That last comment is sure to raise a few eyebrows, but I refuse to take it back. Which isn't to suggest I considered Mother to be a work of art from the word go. My first impression of it was that it looked like a rough--very rough--draft of its 16-bit sequel. Over time, though, my opinion of its aesthetic softened quite a bit.

The first visual component of Mother that got me to think of the game as something other than messy was its enemy sprites. Almost without exception, they display a decidedly American cartoonishness that is perfectly fitting for a title that's set in, and tends to poke fun at, the United States of the 1980s.



There are other touches that add to Mother's visual appeal, though, if you keep your eyes open for them. The Peanuts-esque character sprites are a noteworthy example, as are the rather scraggy environments. (To be fair, the latter can seem samey, but each one features at least a handful of grin-inducing details that make it easier to stomach the monotony encountered elsewhere.)

That said, I wouldn't recommend playing Mother (or EarthBound Beginnings) for its graphical flourishes. No, the game's refreshingly nontraditional setting and bizarro sci-fi story are the main bullet points that should prompt you to boot it up in whatever fashion makes you the most comfortable.

All of the above-mentioned reasons--as well as the magnificent soundtrack composed by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka--are without a doubt responsible for fueling my obsession with this decades-old (it first hit Japanese store shelves all the back in 1989) role-playing game. Here's hoping they continue to fuel it right on through Mother's credit roll.

See also: 'a few thoughts on Opoona (Wii) now that I've finally played it for a couple of hours'

In honor of Satoru Iwata, here's my most recent contribution to #CIBSunday

I don't often contribute to the social-media phenomenon that is #CIBSunday, but I decided to make an exception today because I recently acquired a copy of Mother 2 for the Super Famicom and showcasing a few photos of its beautifully minimalist packaging here seemed like an appropriate thing to do given the recent passing of Satoru Iwata, who helped whip this classic RPG into shape back when he worked for HAL Laboratory.



As for what took me so long to add this brilliant game to my collection, well, a big part of the story is that my initial plan was to buy a complete-in-box copy of the North American release, which of course is known as EarthBound. In the end, though, setting aside $300 or more for such a purchase was a bit too much for me to swallow, so I put my dreams of owning some form of this classic RPG on the back burner and turned my attention to other titles that would be far easier to obtain.

I returned to this quest a month or so ago after I came across (while perusing eBay, naturally) the copy of Mother 2 that can be seen in the snapshots shared throughout this post. That was mainly due to the fact this particular copy was cheaper than most of the ones that make their way onto the auction site these days, but it also was due to me figuring I've learned enough Japanese by now to stumble my way through Shigesato Itoi's eclectic adventure in its native language.

Anyway, enough about that. The stars of this post are the lovely box, cartridge and instruction manual that make up the entire Mother 2 package. Personally, I'm not sure which element I love the most--the outer box, with its iconic logo, or the inside of the aforementioned manual, which includes some of the most wonderful clay models you're likely to come across in the gaming world.  

Mother 2's cart label (below) is pretty awesome, too, of course.

Sadly, it'll probably be a while before I stick this cartridge into an actual SNES or Super Famicom and give it a go. After all, I don't own either of those consoles at the moment--or at least I don't have one with me here in Seattle. An old SNES is sitting in a closet in my parents' house back in Madison, Wisconsin, but I won't be able to get my mitts on it until at least Christmas.



Sure, I could use this as an opportunity to, at long last, pitch in and pick up a Super Famicom Jr.--a system I've wanted for ages--before then, but the reality is I'll probably just wait until the holidays so I can spend that money on some other game-related treasure that catches my eye in the coming months.

What all of that said, what do you think of this game's packaging, or what do you think of the game itself? Share all of the lurid details in the comments section below, if you're the sort who's open to such things.

A few more words on Satoru Iwata's passing

I know. I should've returned this blog to its "regularly scheduled programing" by now. Actually, that was the plan--until I came across a couple of things today that prompted me to push that back yet again so I could ruminate once more on the passing of Nintendo's Satoru Iwata.

Actually, I think most people would be hard-pressed to describe the post I published yesterday about Iwata's untimely death (due in some way to the "bile duct growth" he first told the world about last year) as some sort of meditation.

In my defense, I was in shock. It wasn't the kind of horrific, gut-wrenching shock that hits you when someone truly close to you dies (or even nearly dies, as the case may be), but it was shock all the same.

So, I cobbled together a few sentences that let the world--or at least the minuscule segment of it that frequents this blog--that this seemingly kind and gentle business leader (I say "seemingly" because I obviously didn't know the man personally, so all I can go on is the persona he presented to the public) had died and also passed along a couple of his most noteworthy professional accomplishments.

What those sentences failed to convey were many of my own feelings on the matter. Of course, what are you supposed to say when someone you didn't really know passes away?

Yes, I respected him greatly, I thoroughly enjoyed watching him "host" many of the "Nintendo Direct" videos the company he led for the last decade-plus occasionally offered the Internet-enabled masses and poring over the many "Iwata Asks" interviews that allowed him to geek out with fellow game creators has become one of my most-cherished pastimes in recent years, but even then it feels strange to admit that I'm genuinely sad that he's no longer alive.

This morning, though, I came across the following farewell message that was penned by Shigesato Itoi, who worked side by side with Iwata to wrap up development of Mother 2 (EarthBound) in 1994, and its tenderness moved to such an extent that I couldn't help but share it here:

No matter the farewell, I think the most appropriate thing to say is “we”ll meet again.” We are friends so we”ll see each other again. There is nothing strange about saying it. Yeah. We’ll meet again. 

Even if you didn’t have the chance to put into words how sudden it was going to be, how far you’d be traveling, or how you went much earlier than expected, I know you went wearing your best. 

You always put yourself second to others no matter what, helping anyone who needed it whenever they needed it. You were that kind of friend. Although you may have been a little selfish for the first time ever by taking this journey. 

The truth is though that I still don’t believe any of it. I feel like I am going to receive a message from you inviting me out to eat at any moment. I wouldn’t mind if you were to ask me like always if I had some free time. Even still, I’d ask you as well. 

Still, “we’ll meet again.” It would be great to hear from you whenever and wherever; I’ll being calling to you too. I’ll call if I have something to discuss or I want to tell you a great new idea I’ve had. 

We’ll meet again.

Then again, you’re here with me now.

(Note: the text above was translated by kamedani.tumblr.com, while Itoi's original words can be read at 1101.com.)

Out of this world: Nintendo's first Mother game finally earns an English release (via the Wii U eShop) as EarthBound Beginnings

I'm sure all, or at least most, of you have heard this news elsewhere already, but just in case you're among the handful who haven't: last night, Nintendo decided to shock everyone and drop an official English localization of the original Mother game on the Wii U's European and North American eShops.

This is the 8-bit precursor to the SNES game, EarthBound (known as Mother 2 in Japan), that has garnered quite the cult following in the two decades since it first hit North American store shelves in 1995, for those of you who are lacking a bit of knowledge about this series of wonderfully and endearingly odd RPGs.



Another morsel of info some of you may or may not know about Mother (aka EarthBound Beginnings): Nintendo translated the game into English shortly after it hit the streets of Japan (in 1989, for the Famicom), but its North American release was scrapped at the last minute in favor of its 16-bit sequel.

If you'd like to learn a bit more about this heretofore-unreleased NES title before handing over nearly seven of your hard-earned dollars for a digital copy of it, you may want to check out the trailer above or the message from series creator, Shigesato Itoi, that can be seen below (and here).



You also may want to check out a couple of previous posts I've published about this game--one of which features a few photos of Mother's fabulous box and cartridge, and one of which offers a glimpse at its similarly stellar instruction manual.

The only other thing I've got to say about this whole she-bang is that I sincerely hope the powers that be at Nintendo eventually decide to put EarthBound Beginnings on 3DS eShops around the world, too, as it would be a real shame if only Wii U owners got to experience it.

I will hug, and pet and squeeze my new Hobonichi Techo and call it Mother (or maybe Onett)

I've wanted a Hobonichi Techo ever since I first became aware of the existence of this popular Japanese daily planner--which is produced by Shigesato Itoi's company Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun, aka Hobonichi--some time ago.

The Itoi connection is of the main reasons for my interest in this product, of course--hello, the man gave the world three of best video games ever in Mother, Mother 2 (EarthBound) and Mother 3--but another is I love that a culture of creativity and customization (for lack of a better phrase) has built up around these planners in the last few years.

So, in early January, when the "Onett" (yes, the same Onett that's found in Mother 2 and EarthBound) cover once again became available for purchase--it was sold out for a while at the end of 2014--I nabbed one.

Although it was left on my doorstep a few weeks ago, it took me until this past weekend to take some photos of it.

Before we get to my snapshots of the snazzy Onett cover, let's check out the similarly snazzy packaging that protected my Techo and related products as they made their way across the pond.

As nice as Hobonichi's packaging is, there's little question that it pales in comparison to the Onett cover (and associated components) that I mentioned earlier.

For example, check out the Mr. Saturn-branded "pencil board" (above) that was stuck inside my Onett cover. (You can slide this accessory under the page you're currently writing or drawing on to keep from marking the ones below it.)

As for the Onett cover, well, it kind of speaks for itself, don't you think? (It's showcased in the photos above and below this text, in case anyone missed that fact.)



Unfortunately, I haven't actually started using my Techo, so I can't yet share with you any cute, crude or otherwise creative doodles. (That's mainly what I'll be including in my planner, in case you're curious.)

As soon as that happens, though--and it should be soon, as I did a bit of "practice doodling" on random pieces of paper over the weekend--I'll photograph or scan my favorite concoctions and then publish them here, on Instgram, on Twitter and maybe even on deviantart.

The only 'animated EarthBound tribute' video you ever need to view

I was going to publish a post about an entirely different subject today, but it's going to have to wait until tomorrow because the awesome "animated EarthBound tribute" video that can be viewed below (or here) deserves your undivided attention for the entirety of the next 24 hours.



Do you think that if Shigesato Itoi took a couple of minutes out of his surely busy day to watch this sucker he might be convinced to give the world another entry in the wondrous Mother/EarthBound series? Yeah, I doubt it, too. (Insert sad-face emoticon here.)

EarthBound on the brain

You know what I'd like to play on my 3DS sometime soon? No, not Fantasy Life--although I'll definitely be ripping into this role-playing game's packaging and popping its cartridge into my pink-and-white XL as soon as it arrives on my doorstep late next month.

In fact, the game that's currently topping my 3DS wish list isn't even a retail release; rather, it's a digital one--or it would be this time around.

As for which digital title I'm talking about: it's EarthBound--although I kind of gave that away in the header above, didn't I?

In any case, why has Nintendo made its classic RPG available to folks who own a Wii U but not to those who own a 3DS? I have no idea, but I hope they rectify the situation in the near future.

While all of us Wii U-less EarthBound fans wait for that to happen, we may as well content ourselves by ogling the following pair of illustrations that were inspired by this Shigesato Itoi-made masterpiece.

This first piece was produced by Orioto and is called "Night Visitor." (See it in all its original glory here.)

The colorful creation above ("Psychic Kids"), on the other hand, was concocted by Ry-Spirit. (Take a closer look at it here.)

See also: 'Thanks to my recently completed EarthBound playthrough, I can't get this tune out of my head'

What do you think of the fan-made Mother 4?

I ask because I'm not sure what I think of this creation myself. I mean, I really can't fathom an Itoi-less Mother game having even a modicum of the charm and wit that can be found in the series' first three entries, but I also have to admit I really like how this release is shaping up in terms of its aesthetics--which are shockingly (in a good way) reminiscent of Mother 3's visuals, in my opinion.



The question is, will the final product--which is expected to be released late next year for Windows, OS X and Linux--feature a script that's anywhere near as charming and emotional and intelligent as its predecessors? As I've already said, I'm not at all sure it will, but my fingers are crossed in the hopes that I'm wrong.



To see more screenshots of Mother 4, or to keep track of its progress, check out the game's official website, mother4game.com. Also, let me (and everyone else who frequents this blog) know in the comments section below what you think of this fan-made sequel.



See also: 'A fascinating look at EarthBound's localization'

A fascinating look at EarthBound's localization

I haven't finished it yet (I know, I know), but that hasn't kept me from professing my undying love for Shigesato Itoi's EarthBound (aka Mother 2) anyway. As such, I tend to glom onto any article I come across that's related to this treasure of an RPG.

Few of them are as fascinating as the one Wired published yesterday, though. That's because this one features a Q&A with Marcus Lindblom, the man who translated--and in many cases, re-wrote--the game’s text from Japanese to English.

Here's my favorite passage in the piece--in which Lindblom chats about the difficulty of this particular localization--although there are a number of other sections that are just (or nearly) as compelling.

"We had to go back and forth and figure out what would be the best thing to do in some of the stranger situations in the game.

I believe this illustration was created
by the person behind this tumblr.

"For example, you know the part in the game where there’s an iron pencil and eraser statue blocking your path, and you need to get an item called the 'pencil eraser' and the 'eraser eraser' to progress? In the original version, the pencil was an octopus and the eraser was a Japanese kokeshi doll.

"So those two objects, I knew just wouldn’t play in the U.S. I mean, I couldn’t do an octopus because people here don’t really care about octopi (laughs). Whereas they’re really important in Japan and they’re this… You know there’s a group of people in Japan where octopus and sealife is a big deal in their life and culture.

"Then the kokeshi doll was more of a play on words in Japanese, because the word keshi means to erase. So Mr. Itoi did this clever pun in the Japanese game where you get an item called the 'kokeshi keshi.'

"So when I was trying to figure out how to handle that, the guy from Japan was like, 'I have no idea what you want to do here. You can make it weird if you want.'

"Then I said 'Well, there needs to be something that’s an eraser,' and I thought, 'Well, if the item is called the ‘pencil eraser’ then it’s kind of funny if there’s just a big metal pencil.' So that worked and then the next thing was like, okay let’s just call it the 'eraser eraser.' Which ended up playing off the 'kokeshi keshi' idea.

"It worked out but that was one of those cases where I had to come up with something odd that didn’t really have all that much to do with the original Japanese."

Another series of questions and answers reveals that Itoi himself wasn’t all that involved in the localization process, which I find more a bit shocking considering how much the game has always seems like such a labor of love for the famed writer.

Calling all Mother fans who aren't short on spending cash

Feel free to file the following under "Things Bryan Desperately Wants, But Definitely Doesn't Need."

What's "the following," you ask? Why, only the drop-dead gorgeous EarthBound Zero reproduction carts (and cases) currently being made and sold by the folks at Rose Colored Gaming.



Actually, although "currently being made" may be accurate, "currently being sold" is less so--due to the fact that they're marked as "temporarily sold out" at the moment.



Thankfully, Rose Colored Gaming's proprietor assures that he and his crew "plan to produce as many of these as possible for as long as possible."

Will any of you order a copy or two for yourself when they're available once again?

Anybody want to spot me about $3,500 so I can buy this unopened copy of EarthBound?

Would I like to own a complete-in-box copy of EarthBound someday? No question. Would I like to spend somewhere between $1,600 and $3,500 on said copy? No way.

If the activity on this ebay auction is any indication, someone's going to spend that much money on a copy of Shigesato Itoi's SNES classic within the next few days.



Granted, the copy in question is unopened and appears to be in pristine condition, but even then I can't imagine spending that much money on it.

I don't suppose any of you are planning to jump in on this particular auction before it ends on Thursday morning?

(Via retro-treasures.blogspot.com)

Shigesato Itoi and Satoru Iwata chat about the making of Mother 2 (aka EarthBound)

Nintendo's Satoru Iwata and Hobo Nichi's Shigesato Itoi recently sat down--with Itoi's colleague, Nagata--to talk about the making of Mother 2 (EarthBound to those of us in North America).



This little tête-à-tête apes the format of Nintendo's wonderfully informative Iwata Asks interviews that I've written about here and there--which is a very good thing indeed.

Also a very good thing: for the last few days, the person behind the KameDaniRyuu tumblr has been publishing translated versions of the discussion between Itoi, Iwata and Nagata.

My favorite parts of this EarthBound-cenric Q&A include the revelation that Itoi and his team worked on the game for four years before Iwata, head of HAL Laboratory at the time, swooped in and whipped it into shape (it hit the streets a year later) and that Itoi wrote its script by hand with a pencil.



To read KameDaniRyuu's translations of this chat, check out the introduction here, part one here, part two here and part three here.

Five favorites: EarthBound/Mother 2 tunes

As those of you who read this recent post already know, I started playing EarthBound again just over a week ago. I say "again" because I've played this classic SNES RPG on a number of occasions in the past--with the first time occurring shortly after its 1995 release. (I rented it from one of the local grocery stores.)

Although I (believe I) experienced a fair bit of EarthBound during that initial playthrough attempt, I'm pretty sure I've bested that effort during my current one. Regardless, there's no way I'm walking away from the game before the end credits roll this time around.

What are the things that keep me coming back for more (and more and more, if this past week is any indication)? EarthBound's heartfelt story, of course, but also its unique setting and charming graphics. Oh and, last but not least, its amazing soundtrack.

Speaking of which, I'm so in love with this game's soundtrack that I've decided to pen not just one but two blog posts about my 10 favorite EarthBound tunes (thus far). Here are the first five (in alphabetical order):



1. "Boy Meets Girl"--Is there a song that's more emblematic of EarthBound than this one? I'd be hard-pressed to name one. After all, not only is it imbued with a breezy, carefree energy, but it's also infused with a sense of determination--thanks in large part to its ever-present drum beat--and a healthy dose of wistfulness.



2. "Humoresque of a Little Dog" (aka "Buy Somethin' Will Ya!")--If there's a tune on the EarthBound soundtrack that I'll likely never tire of, it's this spirited one. As lovely as the in-game composition is, though, it has nothing on the arrangement performed (above) by YouTube user impathesheikah.



3. "Sunrise & Onett Theme"--Here's another feel-good EarthBound track. This one has a winsome quality to it that really appeals to me for a number of reasons. I also like that it's kind of a call to adventure. None of those traits are all that present in the version included in the video above, but they're definitely on display in the iteration that can be heard here.

I'm taking a rain check RE: this month's 'Bye-Bye, Backlog' selection

You may have noticed that I've yet to publish a "My Month with ..." post in March. That's because I've decided to step away from my backlogathon for the time being.

Don't worry, I plan to get back to it again in April, but for the next few weeks I'm going to focus on the small pile of 3DS games that either have already found their way to my doorstep (expect to read about one of them tomorrow, by the way) or will do so soon instead.

I'm also going to spend some quality time with a game I haven't played in ages--with that game being Shigesato Itoi's magnificent EarthBound (or Mother 2 to you purists).

Why have I decided to turn back the clock and play through this Americana-themed RPG like it's 1995 once again? To be painfully honest, it's because I've never actually seen this game's end credits (gasp!) and I'd finally like to do so.

All of you fellow EarthBound fans should be happy to hear that I'm already off to a good start. After playing the game for a few (four or five, maybe?) hours this weekend, I've reached Peaceful Rest Valley and I'm not too far away from rescuing Paula and putting my days as a lonesome adventurer behind me.

I have no idea how much more of the game I'll be able to play this week given my real-life workload and my desire to continue working my way through Fire Emblem: Awakening, but I think I'll be able to put at least a few additional hours into it.

In the meantime, do any of you consider yourself to be EarthBound fans? If so, what are some of your favorite memories as they relate to this charmingly humorous and heartwarming title?

See also: Previous 'Bye-Bye, Backlog' posts

Additional evidence that Shigesato Itoi is an awesome guy

The main pieces of evidence that Shigesato Itoi is an awesome guy, of course, can be found in the trio of quirky-yet-poignant RPGs he made for Nintendo systems between 1989 and 2006 known as Mother, Mother 2 (aka EarthBound) and Mother 3.

Another such morsel of proof just popped into my conscience, though, thanks to the stellar Yomuka! blog--with that morsel being that Itoi and his colleagues at Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun (Almost Daily Itoi News) have a tradition of "celebrating the release of every Animal Crossing game by turning office-wide gameplay into an actual work project."



Not only that, but pretty much every employee at "Hobo Nichi," as Itoi's company is called, maintains a blog about their experiences. Check them out by visiting 1101.com and then clicking on the heads of each staffer (scroll down to the bottom of the page). If you only want to see Itoi's Animal Crossing: New Leaf blog, go here.

(Via yomuka.wordpress.com)

It's déjà vu all over again

I swear I've used this headline before (which would be rather appropriate, don't you think?), but I can't be bothered to search the archives at the moment. Anyway, my apologies if that's the case.

As for why I'm using it here: Well, it appears that someone is busy hacking EarthBound (aka Mother 2) in order to remake the first Mother game (EarthBound Zero to us savages in the States). Here's a "walkabout" video of said hack's currently unpopulated world:



Considering the number of similarities between EarthBound Zero and its officially-released-in-the-US sequel (or Mother and Mother 2, if you're a purist), I'm not entirely sure I understand the point of this project.

Still, I'm such a fan of Shigesato Itoi's series that I'll surely keep an eye on it until it sees the light of day. Who knows, I may even decide to play through it. Should I do that, though, I hope I'll make it further than I did when I tried to play through the original.

(Via gonintendo.com)

Manual Stimulation: Mother (Famicom)

I'm loath to admit it, but I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the instruction manual that's included with every copy of the cult classic known as Mother (EarthBound Zero to some of you).

Why on earth do I hate the Mother manual? Well, for starters, it's not a manual, per se. Rather, it's a huge piece of paper--a poster, really--that's been folded into a two-inch-by-three-inch rectangle. (What can I say? I much prefer manuals that can be flipped through, one page at a time, to ones that require folding and unfolding.)

Another reason I'm not a huge fan of the Mother manual: There's a lot more text, and a lot fewer illustrations and screenshots, than I expected to see in such a production.

That's not to say it lacks any interesting art whatsoever. On the contrary, a number of interesting illustrations and photos (of what appear to be clay models) can be found within the folds of Mother's instruction manual. (They're fully responsible for the love I feel for this booklet, by the way.)

For instance, there are these models of the game's main party members (Ninten, Ana, Lloyd and Teddy):



I also like the models seen on this otherwise-text-filled page:



Click on any or all of the scans above or below to take a closer look at them, by the way.

Photos of even more clay models can be found on the following page, which details Mother's many enemy characters.

Remember that interview in which Shigesato Itoi mentioned a Mr. Saturn spin-off game?

Unless you're Japanese and you're old enough to have read the November 1996 issue of The 64DREAM magazine, you're probably shaking your head in the negative right now.

No worries. Lindsey over at the Yomuka! blog has you covered. She recently translated into English the above-mentioned interview--in which Shigesato Itoi not only chatted (briefly) about a Mr. Saturn spin-off (an action-puzzle game, to be more specific), but also discussed his original intent to make Mother 3 two-dimensional (back when it was still a Nintendo 64 game), his role in naming the Nintendo 64 and more.

Is it strange that I drooled over this screenshot as a teen?

Despite its age, the translated interview--which can be found here--is well worth a read if you're any kind of Mother/EarthBound fan (and, really, what self-respecting gamer isn't?).

See also: Other Mother-related posts

This ain't your Mother's game ad

This rather epic, if a bit corny, commercial was used to promote Shigesato Itoi's Mother (aka EarthBound Zero) prior to its Japanese release in 1989.



After spending some quality time with the game over the last week, I can't help but think about how it would have fared in the US--had it been released in, say, 1990 or 1991.

Given its all-American hero, setting and story--not to mention its humor--I have a feeling it would have sold better than Nintendo of America's marketing execs believed at the time.

More Famicom fabulosity

Well, I recently caved and bought a few more Famicom carts. (What a shocker, right?) Which games did I pick up? I think I'll reveal one of them now, and the other tomorrow.

Today's reveal is none other than a complete-in-box copy of Shigesato Itoi's Mother (aka EarthBound Zero). I've been eyeing up this game for some time, so when I saw a cheap-ish copy show up on eBay a few weeks back I pounced on it.

While waiting for it to arrive, I began playing through the unreleased prototype of the North American version of the game (the aforementioned EarthBound Zero).

Although its graphics can't compare to its slick-as-snot sequel, Mother/EarthBound Zero holds its own in pretty much every other department. For starters, it's hilarious--with my favorite line thus far being, "Rat uttered dirty words." Also, it has a great soundtrack. (I'm especially impressed with the varying battle themes.) Most importantly, though, it's just plain fun.

I'm sure I'll have more to say about this wonderful game soon, but in the meantime why don't you check out (here) the rest of the photos I took of the Mother box and cartridge? (If you're at all interested in either, of course.)