EarthBound was always one of those games that I wanted to play, but never got around to. By the time that I really wanted to give it a shot, prices had skyrocketed, so I was out of luck. Of course there is always emulation, but it just doesn’t feel right. For example, I could play through Illusion of Gaia every month on my cartridge and SNES if I wanted to and never get bored, but the times I’ve tried playing it on an emulator, I get about an hour in before giving up.

So, after hearing that EarthBound would probably never come to the Virtual Console, I figured I’d just never play it. But lo and behold, on a recent trip to a local game store in Norridge, IL, I found a copy of the game (cart only) for $65. A little pricey for a game that’s over a dozen years old, especially just the cartridge…but I thought to myself that I buy new games now for $60+, so what difference does it make if I spend a similar amount for a game I always wanted to try? So I plunked down the cash, took the game home, and proceeded to have one of the best gaming experiences of my life.

EarthBound, for those that don’t know, is the story of three boys and a girl — Ness, Jeff, Poo, and Paula — as they try to save the world from Giygas. Throughout their journey, they meet many colorful individuals — a travelling band, aliens, robots, hippies, dinosaurs, and angry party men. Really, there is nothing more I can say about the plot and setting that can’t be found on the fantastic website Starmen.net, so check it out if you have the time.

The game itself has a certain quirkiness and charm that I have never seen in games before, which is something that really made the experience stand out to me. Plus, even though they’re sprites, you really feel for the characters by the end, which is always a great sign in an RPG. Not only the characters and story are good, though — the graphics, while simplistic, absolutely ooze charm. The music has a fantastic quality to it as well, highlights including that from Dusty Dunes Desert, Saturn Valley, and Magicant, but it’s pretty much all good. Between the music, the storyline, Moonside, and Mr. Saturn, there is no denying the charm. The climax — the final battle with Pokey and Giygas — is a moment in gaming that I’ll never forget. The only complaint I can think of with the game is the inventory management, but once you get used to the limitations after a few hours of play, even that isn’t a problem.

For a while, I thought that EarthBound really wouldn’t be as good as people make it out to be — you know how nostalgia can cloud the mind. But coming into it with no prior experience, and hence no nostalgia to speak of, I absolutely loved every moment. I hesitate to consider this a “review” since the game came out so long ago, but I will say that for those who have never played the classic title before, make sure you find a way to do so. You’ll be in for a fantastic treat.