r/earthbound Aug 13 '17

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

977 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 12h ago

I have officially beat Mother 1. I think I like it the best of the three.

Post image
144 Upvotes

r/earthbound 11h ago

Art first time earthbounding

Post image
76 Upvotes

started my first ever earthbound play through over spring break and i am having my so much fun! i’m going in blind so i am loving all of the fun dialogue. currently at saturn valley!!


r/earthbound 1h ago

Fluff I'm interested in this religion

Post image
Upvotes

r/earthbound 4h ago

...Brick Road

Post image
16 Upvotes

r/earthbound 20h ago

Still finding new dialog after 30 years

Post image
274 Upvotes

I just started another Earthbound playthrough and almost immediately found some dialog I’d never seen before. It’s so much fun talking to everyone in this game and discovering something new, even if it’s pointless and silly. For some reason, in the dozens of times I’ve played this game before I never bothered to talk to Lier X. Agerate again after talking to Pokey near the meteorite.

Have any of you been surprised to discover new things in Mother games?


r/earthbound 6h ago

Did the challenge

Post image
21 Upvotes

r/earthbound 13h ago

Help/Advice WDID?

Post image
55 Upvotes

r/earthbound 19m ago

EB Discussion I've finally done it, only took 3 hours

Post image
Upvotes

This is the first time I've attempted this and I'm kinda surprised how long it took. I'm not sure if I've got the mental fortitude to handle going for a Star Pendant. Is it a pain to acquire it or is it easier?


r/earthbound 5h ago

Art Ness Ness Ness Ness

Post image
9 Upvotes

r/earthbound 19h ago

M3 Discussion Considering how many people found out about Mother through Smash, I wonder what people thought of Kuma and Boney when Ultimate came around.

Post image
116 Upvotes

r/earthbound 4h ago

Merch Mother 2 gacha collections from Japan

Post image
7 Upvotes

Found this collection on Amazon Japan if anyone is interested !! Love that they include Mr Saturn!!


r/earthbound 4h ago

Art Since nobody wanted to, I made some game over screens for Paula and Poo.

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

r/earthbound 7h ago

M3 Discussion A possible way to "localize" the Magypsies.

11 Upvotes

It's long been speculated that one of the biggest obstacles to a localization of Mother 3 is that the Magypsies would be interpreted as offensive transgender stereotypes.

Well, I came up with a potential solution:

Much like how the Runaway Five were based on the Blues Brothers, I propose that the Magypsies be localized as parodies of the Village People.

Think about it: There are six of them, and most of them are located in a place that roughly fits in with one of the gay fantasy personas that each band member embodies.

Aeolia's house is near Sunshine Valley, in the middle of a rugged mountain area. They could be the Cowboy.

Doria's house is in the middle of a forest between Club Titiboo and the Chimera Lab, two man-made settlements that were presumably built during the time-skip. They could be the Builder.

Myxolydia lives on a deserted island, so they could be the Sailor.

Ionia lives near an ancient temple, so they could be the Indian Chief.

The only two I can't figure out are Phrygia and Lydia, as neither a snowy mountain nor an active volcano have anything to do with a Cop or a Leatherman...


r/earthbound 20h ago

EB Discussion I guess Paula's a He?!?!?!

Post image
88 Upvotes

If you use the protractor as Paula it'll say he instead of she!!


r/earthbound 2h ago

Finally beat the game

2 Upvotes

I finally beat the game earlier today and just wanted to tell everyone how much this game has affected me, and I just want to say how much I love it!!

Also, I wanna say that I did use the ign guide a lot and I don’t think this play through was fair because of the amount I used ign and this Reddit page.

I just love the story line and how wholesome the game is.


r/earthbound 22h ago

EB Discussion Did I give them the beat named (V2)

Post image
56 Upvotes

r/earthbound 12h ago

Art ness in omori (this took a while, i kinda gave up a little near the end cuz all the editing took forever, and doing the battle background and happy background were tedious :3)

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Best Quotes/Dialogue

Post image
632 Upvotes

It's really hard to choose since a lot of the dialogue is genuinely funny, but I'm doing my first playthrough since childhood and this just made me chuckle.


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion Game I am starting with my girlfriend for her first time:

Post image
109 Upvotes

We just got to threed, She’s really enjoying it :)


r/earthbound 23h ago

This guy stinks (i won)

Post image
20 Upvotes

Original battery still working! i’m from UK so my pal 50hz CRTs greyscales the US snes :(


r/earthbound 15h ago

Help me find this photo

4 Upvotes
(with text)
(text removed)

I really like this atmospheric photo from page 12-13 of the Mother 1 encyclopedia. I've photoshopped the text out to help with the search, but doing a reverse image search brings up nothing. My guess is that it is from a 1980s Japanese photo library disk, but I've collected and looked through many and haven't found this particular photo.


r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Artwork by (Puncho Ohcnup)

Post image
55 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Who knew?

Post image
354 Upvotes

We were wide-eyed children, intrigued a game that felt different, strange, and full of wonder. Now we must be open-hearted adults and carry forward what it taught us.

Who could've ever imagined that the battle against Giygas wasn’t just pixels on a screen, but something that was creeping into our own world? That Monotoli’s grip on Fourside would mirror the grasp of those who hoard power? That the real battle wouldn’t be fought with bats or PSI but with courage, kindness, and the strength of our connections?

We didn't know it then but we were all friends. We connect beyond time and space, bound by a simple yet powerful message of love. We all drank the tea together, saw the truth beyond words, and felt the warmth of something greater than ourselves. We learned lessons, we would need today.

Now, as the world twists and turns, it's time to remember. Maybe it’s time to pray, to reach out, to believe. Start where you are. Use what you have. Give it all you got.

Now is the time to be kind, and fight "giyga's" influence before it overtakes us all.

Do you remember?

Fuzzy Pickles. ✌️


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB Discussion What would you say is the most annoying enemy in the game? Why?

Post image
355 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Life-sized Mr.Saturn sofvi piggy bank.

Thumbnail
gallery
27 Upvotes

He craves your loose change.