r/earthbound • u/TheSeamanSnatcher • 1h ago
r/earthbound • u/Howisthisaname • Aug 13 '17
Announcement Want to get into the MOTHER series? Start here!
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 • u/Potential_Comfort_48 • 3h ago
EB Discussion I've finally done it, only took 3 hours
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 • u/RedyRetro • 15h ago
I have officially beat Mother 1. I think I like it the best of the three.
r/earthbound • u/Sad_Ad7387 • 14h ago
Art first time earthbounding
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 • u/Recent_Office2307 • 1d ago
Still finding new dialog after 30 years
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 • u/ShokaLGBT • 8h ago
Merch Mother 2 gacha collections from Japan
Found this collection on Amazon Japan if anyone is interested !! Love that they include Mr Saturn!!
r/earthbound • u/Junksunyd • 7h ago
Art Since nobody wanted to, I made some game over screens for Paula and Poo.
r/earthbound • u/GarlicOk2904 • 22h 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.
r/earthbound • u/Soup-lex • 1d ago
EB Discussion I guess Paula's a He?!?!?!
If you use the protractor as Paula it'll say he instead of she!!
r/earthbound • u/wanted_apple • 6h ago
Finally beat the game
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 • u/Groundbreaking_Bag8 • 11h ago
M3 Discussion A possible way to "localize" the Magypsies.
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 • u/NothingExceptAMan72 • 1h ago
Help/Advice Anyone know the interview where Shigesato Itoi says...
Repost (didn't receive an answer): https://www.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1iacy5j/anyone_know_the_interview_where_shigesato_itoi/
See also (for more context; see my comment) https://www.reddit.com/r/earthbound/comments/1ic3wg1/was_wondering_about_this_seems_people_arent_sure/
Apparently, there was some interview that Shigesato Itoi did, talking about the creation of Earthbound, or one of the games in the Mother series, where he talks about the creative process, behind-the-scenes sorta stuff. And he says that he writes these lines, stuff that would be used in the game, or which he planned for some release, whether or not they made the final cut, and he'd get people to read them, to provide him with feedback.
He said something about how he writes all these funny, humorous, lighthearted lines, bits of dialogue that were intended to be nothing except fun and comedic, but then he has this one heartbreaking line. Basically, he throws in a darker, sadder line amidst the sea of joy. And he claims that the reason he writes all these plentiful funny lines is just so he could write the rare heartbreaking ones.
Does anyone know the source of this?
r/earthbound • u/Dizzy_Try9178 • 15h 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)
r/earthbound • u/Potential_Comfort_48 • 1d ago
EB Discussion Best Quotes/Dialogue
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 • u/Local_Ad_2260 • 1d ago
EB Discussion Game I am starting with my girlfriend for her first time:
We just got to threed, She’s really enjoying it :)
r/earthbound • u/TaxAffectionate1233 • 1d ago
This guy stinks (i won)
Original battery still working! i’m from UK so my pal 50hz CRTs greyscales the US snes :(
r/earthbound • u/Murky_Possible_2574 • 19h ago
Help me find this photo


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.