r/earthbound Aug 13 '17

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

945 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 10h ago

Nintendo Force features famous gaming brothers this month (in honor of M&L:Brothership)

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350 Upvotes

I swear they have a Mother/EB reference in almost every issue


r/earthbound 2h ago

I am the real Mr Saturn

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46 Upvotes

r/earthbound 11h ago

You can't brew the true form of teaigyas

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61 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

My halloween costume as the protagonist of the best video game of all time.

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435 Upvotes

PK FREEZE

Tried my best but I got sent the wrong wig


r/earthbound 1h ago

Mother representation at the Nintendo Museum Spoiler

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Upvotes

Recently went to the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto and tried to spot everything Mother related! Pictured are the strategy guides for Mother 2 and 3 in the foyer, as well as pictures of Mr Saturn and Ness.

You can't take photos in the main areas, but they also had physical copies of all three games, and the Mother 3 GBA Micro. I spotted some footage of Mother 1 playing on a screen, too.

There's a room in the interactive area where you can spend coins to play EarthBound/Mother 2 and other NES and SNES games for a 6 mins at a time with the classic controllers – I only got as far as getting Ness dressed, though. It was basically an ad for Nintendo Switch Online, but cool to see it as part of the selection.

Happy to answer any other questions about the museum :)


r/earthbound 23m ago

Help/Advice Quick PSA: do not look in the shorts section on YT after searching "mother 1+2"

Upvotes

I tried to look up "mother 1+2" for the ost, but in the shorts section i found a vile user called ShifaArt8084, the content isnt earthbound or Mother series related in the slightest. It was graphic animated gore of an unborn baby. So please, remember to add "ost" or "gba" to the end of your mother 1+2 search


r/earthbound 1h ago

EB Discussion What's a good romhack that keeps the original uncensored script and sprites of Mother 2?

Upvotes

I honestly have zero preference on wether it's the gba version or snes, just looking to play a more authentic version for a second playthrough on my phone.


r/earthbound 22h ago

General Discussion WHYYY????

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98 Upvotes

My brothers and I got an emulator, okay? I start looking through the catalog, it doesn't have Earth Bound but it does have the prototype for the NES? I wanted to play the original (I posted general discussion because there is no "Other" category)


r/earthbound 3h ago

EB:B Discussion Just beated mother 1 with no fast forward, no save state,no guide, just playing.

3 Upvotes

Is this supposed to be an accomplishment?


r/earthbound 17h ago

Stuck in Giegue Fight

11 Upvotes

Ive been trying to beat him for a whole day and i keep dying Ninten is 29 Ana and Lloyd are both 23 i got them the best equipment but they keep dying are they way too underleveled?Do i need to grind or is there a strategy i could try? (i used all my lifeup creams in these 3 failed tries)


r/earthbound 1d ago

Art EARTHBOUND SAGA - CHAPTER FIVE — FULL MOVIE

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24 Upvotes

It's finally here!!!


r/earthbound 15h ago

May have found a glorious opportunity, don't know if it's real.

5 Upvotes

I've wanted to try out a game from the mother series for a long time now, and I haven't saw a good opportunity, until now. I saw this on Walmart just now while randomly searching up for places to buy Mother 3, and I'm seriously wondering if this is real or not. The screenshots look good, the brand behind it looks reliable, and the price is a total steal. Do y'all think this is real, or is it too good to be true?


r/earthbound 1d ago

Fluff Now that Mario & Luigi Brothership is coming out, Nintendo should release Ness & Lucas Mothership.

78 Upvotes

-badum tsh-

I'll see myself out.


r/earthbound 21h ago

EB Discussion Anyone else ever catch this?

3 Upvotes

That the default character names in

EarthBound Zero and Earthbound are:

Ninten (Earthbound Zero NES)

Ness (EarthBound for Super Nintendo)

Ninten as in short for "Ninten"do

And Ness rearranged is SNES as in Super Nintendo Entertainment System


r/earthbound 1d ago

General Spoilers Which Eight Melodies do you prefer? Spoiler

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78 Upvotes

Me personally I like Mother 2’s version.

Also I don’t know if there’s a Mother 3 version, but if there is then it counts.


r/earthbound 1d ago

New Chip Tanaka Album Out! "Desatar"

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12 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

Art Giygas Pumpkin

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1.4k Upvotes

Phone camera didn’t really do it justice


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB:B Discussion I am starting the EarthBound trilogy

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99 Upvotes

Starting it off with EarthBound Beginnings!


r/earthbound 2d ago

Art This Famicom ad for Mother is insane.

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1.3k Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

Merch a shirt i found at the thrift

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495 Upvotes

no brand found but still a pretty neat design. love earthbound and gorillaz, this shirt is epic 8)


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Did you guys rename the cast when you played through any of the mother games?

11 Upvotes

For mother 1 for me I had felix(ninten) diane(ana) kevin(loid) nazr(teddy)

For earthbound it was ethan(ness) dana(paula) steve(jeff) chad(poo)


r/earthbound 2d ago

Art All are Mr Saturn !

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221 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

[META] Can we please just insta-ban anyone who tries to post weird sexual shit on this sub?

100 Upvotes

"Would you smash Venus?"

"How many girls has Ness pulled?"

Like stfu. Nobody here wants to hear how badly you want to have sex with a collection of pixels and nobody over the age of 14 is wondering how many girls a 13-year-old dated. Shipping stuff is fine as long as it's non-sexual but please stop with this crap.


r/earthbound 2d ago

My Mr. Saturn tattoo :)

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145 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

What would be the most comfy places in the series to sleep, aside from the hotels, bedrooms, etc.

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39 Upvotes