Product ReviewsEarthBound (Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1995)

Earthbound lost classic- if you're looking for it.

Okay, I hate turned based rpg's.... there I said it, I have betrayed my credo of fellow nerds and I'm ready to get thrown to the lions. I just feel like they take the most GED programming skills, and rarely offer anything to the genre. So what makes this one different?
Graphics/Design: 24 MB (EB has) is considered to be a big ass game for the time. Earthworm Jim was 24 MB and it looked amazing... this game was made by HAL (responsible for Kirby and Lolo) as well as APE (who would go on to make Pokemon) and boy does it look like it... 24 MB not spent on design. HOWEVER- part of the reason was this game POV wasn't a straight top down but a 45' angled downward, during the time this was a b**ch to program. Also this game is a sequel in Japan (Mother 2) and having seen Mother 1 (NES) it is a definite upgrade and I could accept that the character designs were the "style" of the game.
Music: A gemstone of this game, the music always fits the mood, it's eclectic, crosses genre's and was the first Nintendo game to use sampling (Public Domain Liberty Bell/Monty Python, Little Rascals) -unfortunately, some of these samples are not licensed (All you Need is love, Sgt.Pepper reprise, Tequila). And sometimes I feel the referencing might have moved into uncreative and dangerous legal waters.
Writing/Story: Some people find this game funny, the humour is punny and odd, But it does have some authentically amusing moments. As well the game does get serious but only during the last hour or so in which case it still manages to keep on entertained, as well as introduces the world to one of the most beloved and one of the first truly disturbing bosses of all time- a mind F**k that leaves you wondering.
Game play: So....very....standard..... walk fight walk some more and... why is that guy running away from me? what happens if i chase him down? BOOM! The truly original part about EB is the automatic win system- The first and one of the few games to use this. As well as the advantage system (depends on which way you're facing directly before the battle) This is what makes the game great.
Earthbound is a lost gem... also to an extent "nintendo's shame" (more due to lousy marketing). 4x the size box, pack in guide/magazine, scratch n' sniff stickers, and then the game... as a child i remember renting this game laughing as the "dung beatle" (appropriate play on words spelling) and then wondering- so, what the hell is this? Aside from Super Mario RPG I wasn't familiar with the genre, even most Final Fantasy games didn't hold my amusement, as I got older like most people I enlarge forgot about most games.
So when I got into collecting I tried to get this game... I found out that it's become a collectors item. The main reason I give this game a 4/5 is because even I myself having played and liked this game had a hard time justifying the price tag it often fetches (under 100 US is a "good deal"). It's one of those carts you get in case the internet gets "broken" or you're trapped in a bunker...or you just wanna brag your ass off.Read full review...

Outstanding

This is THE cult classic. If you haven’t played it, do yourself a favor and get it. Very few games have the audacity to make fun of their own genre. This game does it shamelessly. If you hate turn based RPGs, you will like this game. If you love turn based RPGs, you will love this game. Do yourself a favor, if you only play one retro game ever, make Earthbound (Mother 2) the game you play.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: 254mako

A Great Game For The SNES.

This game is a lot of fun. It's pretty quirky. While I haven't beaten it yet, I'm amazed at how good the game is so far I'm an old-school gamer, and an almost exclusive RPG player. The only thing I don't like about this game is the PRICE! You'd think even an AMAZING SNES game would sell for like $20-$40, because of its age. But I bought this for $89 I think, and it was early 2010 when I got it, a full FIFTEEN years after the game came out. Anyway, other than the price, the game is awesome. Even though this game came out in 95, the graphics are pretty good. The game looks good, and it's bright and colorful. But also has some somber factors. Like the idea of home-sickness(which can plague the main character, manifested as an actual illness). The game is great, but don't take my word for it. I like the game. Play it and see what you think.Read full review...

The game is great and all

But seriously, people go too crazy over it... I bet 90% of the people that bought this game didn't even know about it before Super Smash Bros. came out. Anyhow, I collect games from my childhood and that's really the only reason I was paying so much for it since I'm fond of my memories. The game has great music, alright graphics, good storyline, and it's funny, not to mention that the creator of the game and I have the same favorite band, The Beatles. Anyhow, the game is very fun and has obviously become an item for collectors of SNES games, possibly due to Super Smash Brothers which I am currently mad at for making a game a success for the worst possible reason ever and making it harder for me to find at a good price... I have searched long and hard for this game and finally decided to give in and buy it, and it only took 13 years

Also, proof that this game was very unpopular back when I was young is the fact that Mother 3 isn't being released into America, why? Because Mother 2/Earthbound didn't sell well. I only know 2 people in real life and online that have ever played Earthbound as a child. And they even say that they know very few people that played it before Super Smash Bros. The only reason I should thank Super Smash Bros for is helping me to remember the name of the game, though I would have gotten the name eventually considering I had a very good description of the game and knew one of the two people for a long time and he loved the game since he was young. I spend 2 of those 13 years trying to find the name of the game out.

I wanted to mention something else. I have more reason to care for this game than most people. First, it was a childhood memory of mine, second of all, the name of the game was after a John Lennon song, the leader of my favorite band, The Beatles. Third reason, as I stated before, I obsessed over the game because I forgot what it was about. Reason four, I play Super Nintendo like crazy, and if Earthbound was really "T3H GREATEST SUPER NINTENDO GAME EBER!" I would be playing it most often, why don't I? It's not that great.

I see some of these reviews, no offense, I'm sorry I don't usually talk about other's reviews, keep to myself, but this is just too bad, I would not do this unless it was because I have never bashed other's reviews before in my own, why? Because I don't think it's professional, but right now it's so very bad that I feel I have to, therefore, I shall. Forgive me.

"Earthbound like no other."

Play Dragon Quest. That's all I have to say to this one.

"BEST SNES RPG EVER!"

Yeah dude, I love Metal Gear Solid, but I don't say "IT'S THE BEST PLAYSTATION GAME EVER!" Probably because from a unbias perspective, it's not.

"Best Game"

It's not a rare game and I finally found out why. A HUGE amount of copies were mass produced in America, meaning you could find it under your toilet back in the day without buying it. Why would it be rare now? I'm pretty sure Earthbound didn't just leave Earth to fight off some aliens.

An RPG. Epic? Maybe not. Fun? Absolutely.

This one is accurate. The RPG is more fun than most RPGs on SNES. But from an overall standpoint, it isn't the greatest SNES game ever, I don't think personally that it deserves top 10. People treat this game like GOD created it. No offense, but it's not all that funny, I only laughed at the Beatles jokes. Fun game, just exaggerated, it's like people have only played THIS RPG and nothing else.Read full review...

Weird game but really cool.

I started liking ness because I destroy with him in smash bros melee so my interest grew into spending 200 dollars to experience his game on my snes and not a ROM. It's so weird as an RPG but strangely interesting, graphics amd music are really nice for snes and the story is fun and compelling.. If you want a perfect copy be prepared to pay a little more and remember.. Authentic cartridges of Earthbound are made in mexico not japan!! (Displayed on the top of the back label) Study up to make sure your possible future copy is a real one :)Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: twobrothersgames

Works great and looks great!

Got it in a few days earlier than expected. the label was in great condition and the game works well and save! A wonderful addition to the collection

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: fantasygaming55

Perfect

I’ve been wanting to buy this game in its original cartridge for about 8 years now, but I’ve never had the money. Finally, I was in the position to buy it, and it arrived to me in great working condition. Couldn’t be happier :)Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: cjmarq2345

Amazing!

I have been waiting for years to be able to play this game again but I could not afford an original copy of the game! I found this and I am now able to play a child hood memory again! I cant thank you enough!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: heyaugh

Earthbound is a MUST HAVE for any gamer!

I have been a HUGE fan of Ness since I was around six. Never owning a SNES at the time and only a PS1, I never got to experience Earthbound until I was in middle school. I owned a SNES at the time, but never could find Earthbound. Sadly disappointed, I tried multiple old video game stores and even current ones (Game Stop, etc.) if they perhaps had any. No such luck. Bidding on various items on Ebay, I lost quite a lot (mainly because I was poor at the time and couldn't pay for the high prices.) But when I finally got one though, I screamed and tackled the mailman as my game was being delivered.
But the main reasons why I absolutely love Earthbound and it is my favorite game ever is because everything about it is so memorable. Pokey asking Ness to get his brother and then being a chicken in battle. Digging through trashcans for food and then (eww) eating it when health is low. Even the other members of the Chosen Four were memorable. You can tell there is some quality about them that makes them different from others and has a special place in your heart, even when they all have to eventually split ways later, thus causing you to tear up and yearn to play it again. Earthbound has a LOT of stuff from our pop culture like the Beatles and Monty Python, and is chuck full of weird-but-funny stuff that will keep you occupied for hours. Yes, the graphics might not be so great compared to other games, but the storyline and characters make up for it a LOT.
The thing that touched me the most was the Gigyas battle. Nobody ever heard of little kids PRAYING to beat a scary devil man, yeah? So that was quite a surprise, and how the player (yes YOU) was the one who dealt the most damage was impressive too. Then when you arrive back in Saturn Valley and have to leave, you just want to cry because you have become so attached with these little pixelated characters that you just don't want them to go. So that's when you start the game over. and over. and over until you die of old age.
These are just some of the reasons why Earthbound has still remained in my heart for years and why I think you should buy it.Read full review...

Good game, but be careful how much you're paying for it.

No doubt, Earthbound is a good game. It's not a GREAT game, in my opinion. I wouldn't even say it was the greatest RPG of its time (I feel Lunar: The Silver Star and Lunar: Eternal Blue were better). Nevertheless, this is certainly a classic that anybody should have in their collection.

I'd suggest watching the price, though, as these sometimes can get very expensive. Bear in mind that Earthbound sells as a Download on Wii U (with the ability to save the game at any point) for $10, so if the price of the cartridge starts to exceed what it costs to buy a Wii U (+/- $250 at this point, depending on the package) + $10, you're paying too much unless you just need to have that cartridge to hold in your hand. More than that, just buy the Wii U and you can have Earthbound plus be able to play whatever other games become available. Personally, I just don't see the value in having the cartridge (unless, again, you value the nostalgia factor or you are collecting).Read full review...