Nintendo is undoubtedly best-known for its long-running, ubiquitous franchises: Mario, Zelda, and the like. But sprinkled in the mega-selling mixture are games that sold far less, but have earned their own level of reverence. EarthBound -- launched in 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the US -- is one such adventure. Known as Mother 2 in Japan (the original Mother was a Famicom game that didn't see western release for more than two decades), EarthBound is a truly peculiar, truly charming title, one that pits four children against a dangerous, world-consuming foe. It's a JRPG based heavily on conventions introduced by Dragon Quest, but its quirky style, colorful graphics, and humorous dialogue are all its own. It also didn't sell very well, either in Japan or outside of it, and has many divisive features. So let's chat about all of it -- the whole tapestry that makes EarthBound... well... EarthBound... -- and sort out whether Ness' journey has earned its place in the annals of gaming history.



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