It's somewhat sad to see how unfairly maligned the 1995 Super Nintendo classic "Earthbound" was upon it's initial release. People thought the graphics were too simplistic, and not representative of what a good RPG is (and what, Chrono Trigger had better graphics?). I would also point out that people (like myself, I must add) initially dismissed the game as being too simplistic and childish for older gamers.
How wrong I was. This isn't the best game ever, but it's certainly one of the standout games in the RPG genre to be released in the last 20 years, and I firmly stand behind that statement.
Basically, the plot goes like this: Ness, your average ordinary kid, is set on the path of a great adventure when a meteorite crashes near his home in the town of Onett. Journeying through many different cities and acquiring items, spells, and allies (including a pre-schooler named Paula, a math nerd, and the prince of a far-off Kingdom), Ness and his friends must stop the evil Master Giggas from plunging the world into eternal darkness.
What I most liked about the game was that, even though it follows a somewhat linear structure (in that you must get Item A to get to Town B, and so on), the variety and depth of the situations makes for a very immersive and fulfilling experience. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this game. You don't kill monsters with swords and arrows, rather, you beat them to death with baseball bats, frying pans and rulers. Better still, the variety of enemies in the game is quite impressive. Ranging from wild animals to possessed zombies to demonic statues to giant piles of vomit and everything in between, the battles never feel repetitive.
Also, considering the age of this game, it still holds up quite well today, giving gamers a different role-playing experience. Instead of you winning money from battles, it all gets deposited into ATM machines that you can hit up, and then you can buy bizarre items like teddy bears that fight alongside you or even bottle rockets that you can fire at enemies. The only way to save the game is to call your unseen father up and get him to record your progress. Hell, you even use a UFO to get around in the late stages of the game! It's things like this that set Earthbound apart from the countless other RPG clones that tried to emulate the major RPG series like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.
Bottom Line: Without a doubt, this is one of the best console games for the SNES. It's a shame that the cartridge is discontinued, because I think that more people should play this game. I give Earthbound a 10 out of 10, my highest rating. Pick it up if you have a chance.
How wrong I was. This isn't the best game ever, but it's certainly one of the standout games in the RPG genre to be released in the last 20 years, and I firmly stand behind that statement.
Basically, the plot goes like this: Ness, your average ordinary kid, is set on the path of a great adventure when a meteorite crashes near his home in the town of Onett. Journeying through many different cities and acquiring items, spells, and allies (including a pre-schooler named Paula, a math nerd, and the prince of a far-off Kingdom), Ness and his friends must stop the evil Master Giggas from plunging the world into eternal darkness.
What I most liked about the game was that, even though it follows a somewhat linear structure (in that you must get Item A to get to Town B, and so on), the variety and depth of the situations makes for a very immersive and fulfilling experience. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this game. You don't kill monsters with swords and arrows, rather, you beat them to death with baseball bats, frying pans and rulers. Better still, the variety of enemies in the game is quite impressive. Ranging from wild animals to possessed zombies to demonic statues to giant piles of vomit and everything in between, the battles never feel repetitive.
Also, considering the age of this game, it still holds up quite well today, giving gamers a different role-playing experience. Instead of you winning money from battles, it all gets deposited into ATM machines that you can hit up, and then you can buy bizarre items like teddy bears that fight alongside you or even bottle rockets that you can fire at enemies. The only way to save the game is to call your unseen father up and get him to record your progress. Hell, you even use a UFO to get around in the late stages of the game! It's things like this that set Earthbound apart from the countless other RPG clones that tried to emulate the major RPG series like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.
Bottom Line: Without a doubt, this is one of the best console games for the SNES. It's a shame that the cartridge is discontinued, because I think that more people should play this game. I give Earthbound a 10 out of 10, my highest rating. Pick it up if you have a chance.