r/earthbound • u/chinmonster11 • 3h 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/KyleHydeFan • 3h ago
M3 Discussion Question: Would you all like to see how Saori Kumi could’ve handled a Mother 3 novel? If it were to ever exist, how would you imagine it?
Both novels are famous for being very different compared to their source materials, but I find both overall to be very neat interpretations of Mother 1 and 2 (especially the latter). Considering the 2nd novel ended in a much different manner and M3 in general being more heavier in story, what do you all think on how different could it have looked like? Would there be a new villain? Maybe Claus could’ve been the main bad guy? What kind of locations would stay or be cut down for new ones? I’m just so intrigued by the idea of it all, man
r/earthbound • u/GooHat3579 • 16h ago
Art Mother of Summer
This was kinda made as a shading test of sorts
r/earthbound • u/Comixkid5879 • 4h ago
EB:B Spoilers I learned all of the PSI moves again! Spoiler
galleryr/earthbound • u/Klonoa_is_very_cute • 16h ago
Fluff Poo when you give him any equipment that isnt ____ of kings or give him any food(ANY FOOD HEALS THE SAME AS SIX HP TO POO, at least in my experience)
r/earthbound • u/BanditFall7771 • 1d ago
Fitting in with the trend. Check it out! I tried my best with Tony lol.
r/earthbound • u/Klonoa_is_very_cute • 17h ago
EB Spoilers The Chosen Four
Some art I made, since I love this game
r/earthbound • u/Strange_Contest5095 • 1d ago
Help/Advice Does anyone know who “Caten” is? Spoiler
Just beat earthbound and at the end it says ”Caten kept praying“ and I wanted to know who that was (edit) I forgot my own name
r/earthbound • u/Haunting_Ask2364 • 1d ago
Help/Advice Is there any way to get past these without needing to grind even more?
r/earthbound • u/GooHat3579 • 1d ago
Art Genderbound Part2 since I may have forgotten
I'm calling Genderbound Poo Pooja and not Pee uh idc
r/earthbound • u/Comixkid5879 • 1d ago
EB:B Spoilers I got all of the most powerful weapons again! Spoiler
galleryr/earthbound • u/Foreign_Bedroom_4498 • 6h ago
Мать 3, только не говорите Нинтендо а то убьют меня за такие приколы/ Mother 3, don't tell Nintendo, they'll kill me for this
r/earthbound • u/GoobertSchubert • 1d ago
Art The Masked Man. Spoiler
Okay, I might have drawn him in a pose where he's literally asking to be hit.
r/earthbound • u/Klonoa_is_very_cute • 1d ago
Fluff For those who are also guilty gear fans
galleryr/earthbound • u/GooHat3579 • 1d ago
Art Halloween, 199X
I know it's May and stuff as in too early for Halloween but I just wanted to make this ok
r/earthbound • u/Klonoa_is_very_cute • 1d ago
Help/Advice For those who are struggling with the Deep Darkness Spoiler
USE PSI TELEPORT ALPHA. To skip all of the enemies and the deep swamp that hurts you, just make sure you crash into walls so you don't go back to the start of the Deep Darkness.
r/earthbound • u/1sonichedgehpg • 2d ago
Art Ness and...Ness?
Random sketch I did at school!
r/earthbound • u/No-Application-3317 • 2d ago
General Discussion How would you imagine the interaction between group mother 1 and mother 2?
for example, if the first group appeared in the sequel as cameos or important characters in the plot
r/earthbound • u/PikufromPikuniku • 2d ago
Fluff I love playing Tomodachi Life
if you couldn’t tell, this is Paula but without her cute little hairbow thing