LogFAQs > #980846801

#11. EarthBound (1995)
Total Points: 50
List Appearances: 23
First Place Votes: 0
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Write-up provided by LightningStrikes
On the NES Shigesato Itoi directed the unusual contemporary-set RPG Mother, which was localised and to be released as Earth Bound in the US. The English language version of the game was completed, but never released (until 2015 on Wii U). Mother 2 was released in English as EarthBound, but not released in Europe (until 2013 on Wii U), and its sequel Mother 3 was never released outside of Japan. This all adds up to the EarthBound franchise having an unusual degree of mystery around it, like it is a series of games Nintendo doesnt want you to play. This feeling is only added to by the fact that this game is REALLY weird! Its a SNES RPG in a contemporary (and highly American) setting which is already pretty odd. But on top of that it has enemies ranging from hippies to KKK parodies to the third strongest mole, a story that feels like its barely holding a coherent thread from start to end while still being compelling, a soundtrack that is clearly citing from popular music, and a very strange for its time sense of humour. In particular I loved the password puzzle where it gives you a text box and the answer is just to not press anything for three minutes. These are not aspects that were common at the time but today make it feel incredibly modern and ahead of its time. This is a game that you almost struggle to believe it was made in the mid-90s. It was never fully appreciated on release but has only become more popular. As somebody who first fully played through it in 2013, its easy to see why.