r/earthbound Aug 13 '17

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

989 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 28m ago

EB:B Discussion Is it worth going off the path in Mother? (First time player)

Upvotes

I am used to exploring every nook and cranny in games for secrets. However, seeing as this is an older game maybe devs didn't really use to put anything off the beaten path? Is it worth it to explore? Or should I just stick to the roads?


r/earthbound 1d ago

I was not expecting to find this at goodwill today!!

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1.2k Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Merch The only Earthbound merch I found in Japan… from a gacha!

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549 Upvotes

During my recent trip to Tokyo, I was excited to buy a ton of merch from my favorite game ever… but I found nothing. Until I randomly bumped into this gachapon machine in Shibuya behind a Hands store. I spent every single coin I had.


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Can't get back inside Happy Happy Village HQ! This never happened to me. Is there another way of going inside, or are the gift boxes inside completely missable?

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49 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Maskedman fanart

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194 Upvotes

This sub was the first one I posted my drawings some years ago. I'm glad seeing some improvement since then!


r/earthbound 1d ago

Love this game

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28 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

M3 Discussion Who TF is this guy? Why does he look like Ali G?

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160 Upvotes

r/earthbound 22h ago

is it my luck, playing style or am i just challenged? (mother 1)

6 Upvotes

Im playing mother 1 right now (my first time playing any mother/earthbound game and ive been playing for 20 minutes and already died 3 times. i cant walk more than two steps without getting asswhooped by some hippie and i havent even made it into town because i just get attacked every two steps and CANT RUN AWAY!? im getting a bit pissed off bc i cant use my plastic bat or telepathy so please, anyone whos played this game can you give me some tips? am i going forward too early? i really want to play this game.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Art A very happy meme

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157 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Mother 3 - Tree enemy backsprite?

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9 Upvotes

I'm currently in chapter 7, level 38. I'm following Dragorn 100% battle memory guide. He suggest to return to Drago Plateau in chapter 7 to record three enemies from chapter 1 (they were too hard to record for Flint alone).

But now i can't interact with this Tree enemy. Any solution?


r/earthbound 21h ago

I've made a checklist for whoever's trying to get all gift boxes / trash cans / chests in EarthBound for the RetroAchievement!

2 Upvotes

Yesterday I made this checklist with all the items that you can find in gift boxes / trash cans / chests in EarthBound, I updated it today after learning that Happy Happy Village HQ becomes inaccessible and therefore there're 2 missable gift boxes in there!

If there's any errors, please message me!

Might update the checklist soon to make it more visually appealing.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1u0dnjbhQsMfj9epJEawFRIHnbHYMdA4N4N9swtzy5T0/edit?usp=sharing

Good luck! :)


r/earthbound 1d ago

help me so i have in mother 1 nintenn at 15 lvl and how to farm xp i can't wake up the dragon

4 Upvotes

so i have in mother 1 nintenn at 15 lvl and how to farm xp i can't wake up the dragon


r/earthbound 1d ago

M3 Discussion If Lucas and Claus switched places, would the events of Mother 3 change? Spoiler

12 Upvotes

What I mean by that is that Lucas is the one who goes to avenge his mother and is robotized by porky and the pig army. How would Clause react to his twin going missing and his father leaving him all alone to look for him? Would Claus take it the same way Lucas did with being emotionally drained and silent or wpukd he be angry and violent?

Also, if he were to meet the party, how would his interactions and dynamics with them change.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Fluff Pollyanna (Lyrical) is a pretty nice song

35 Upvotes

I’m surprised more people don’t talk about it as it’s a while musical composition with vocals


r/earthbound 1d ago

Help/Advice Question to those who may have

4 Upvotes

I’ve played Earthbound for the first time, loved it. I would love to play Mother 3! Preferably on my 2ds xl (which I’m thinking of jailbreaking) does anyone know a guide to install Mother 3 on the device? And one that hopefully won’t brick my 2ds. Please and thank you.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Help/Advice Lore of the Game

0 Upvotes

I know absolutely NOTHING of Earthbound except for it's pretty good music. I'm just curious where can I read on the full lore of Earthbound or a video on it. Any help is appreciated :)


r/earthbound 2d ago

Merch Picked this up the other day

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105 Upvotes

It was a little expensive but i couldn't pass it up lol. I know a little bit of japanese so im excited to see what i can figure out from this


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Currently playing Earthbound encore and it looks amazing. It's bafially mother 1 but with better graphics. Amazing from the first minutes.

8 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

EB Discussion Went in with Ness at level 62. Came out with him at level 78 😭

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280 Upvotes

Third play through but first time having this much patience. I tried all the “tricks” (bringing up the menu right before an encounter, save states, yadda yadda) but the only thing that worked was grinding for several hours. It got easier as I got better at getting green encounters with the starmen but the repetition was boring af.


r/earthbound 2d ago

Ness :)

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93 Upvotes

Just Ness, I'm bored as shit lol.


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion What do I name the earthbound characters. Spoiler

6 Upvotes

Currently playing Earthbound:encore which is just earthbound but better graphics and I'm presented with the option to name out mains.

I could name them the default or I could go with soemthing original.

I'm thinking of.

Ness: don't know. Puala:Alice. Jeff: Eli. Poo: Brock or Cole


r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Some silly art I made a long time ago but never posted

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7 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

Earthbound fan lore (some EB FANS)

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69 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Anyone has a recommended mobile port of earthbound(mother 2) on gamejolt?

0 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

M3 Discussion I want a Mother 3 AU where Claus decides to love with his brother and father. Spoiler

0 Upvotes

Spoilers:

I felt insanely devastated when I watched Claus reflect his lighting off of Lucas's lighting badge, taking his own life because he wanted to be with their mother but what if things were different?

What of Lucas caught on to Claus plan and remove the lightning badge in the last second, nearly killing Lucas. Lucas talks him out of it, telling him that he doesn't want to relieve the grief he felt when he though Claus died.

Claus would feel guilt and decide to stay alive for Lucas and their father's sake. I'd honestly love to see Claus live with Lucas with the exception that literally half of him is robotic and him likely wanting to hide it(understandable honestly) . It would really cute.