4cr Retro – EarthBound (SNES)
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.
Jody Anthony - September 17th, 2009 - 
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A.J. on September 17, 2009 at 10:42 am
Well, this finally did it for me. Looks like I’m going out finding a way to play this game.
I, too, have been skeptical about this game. Now I’m just excited to get started.
N Rumas on September 17, 2009 at 11:40 am
Jody, I really enjoyed reading this — you don’t see many fresh takes on this game from people who are just having their first experience with it.
I’ve started EarthBound various times, and I LOVE it, but I’ve never finished it. Right now my priority is still on Mother 3, which I hope to have finished soon, and then it’s EB or bust. I just wish the VC release would have happened.
ptc on September 17, 2009 at 11:51 am
Skeptical about earthbound!? You’re silly, a.j.
the.maverickk on September 17, 2009 at 12:46 pm
This reminds me of something that was mentioned by some people on Invisible Walls over at GT. Or at least how Marcus was criticizing Muramasa for being a dated game, and that it shouldn’t be worth more then $20, considering that it was in the vein of Super Metroid, which you could buy on the virtual console for $8.
People seem to feel that old games should be worthless or free or something. Mind you a lot of these old games are absolutely and totally amazing (and I should know cause I consider myself a retro gamer who goes to actual retro game shops) and worth every penny you may drop for a game.
As an example I’ll state that like yourself Jody I have spelunked up to $65 dollars for a SNES game in recent years. Specifically on Mega Man X3 which is very rare to find in cartridge form, and is an excellent game. Yet it’s totally worth it considering cartridge is the only way to play… seeing as how when they released the Mega Man X collection they choose to include the the PS/CD version of the game… which doesn’t fit in with the last 2 X games sadly with it’s crappy sound effects and lame remixed music.
Another example is that I bought Super Metroid for $30 dollars a couple years back before Virtual Console and I still consider it one of my best purchases since it was my first time playing it on my SNES.
As far as I see things people think that these old games should be dirt cheap but considering they can still compare to and compete with the best games today has to offer today, that they stand the test of time… to be honest their value should be more then what most people pay for them. I personally hope to have a considerable collection of classic titles in cartridge form before the day in which cartridges disappear or go missing in favor of digital distribution.
overtninja on September 17, 2009 at 2:38 pm
the conceit that games which are old should cost way less than games do now, and that games that aren’t at the bleeding edge of the graphical horizon should be similarly priced, are likely the opinions of people who are more attached to the raw visual spectacle than they are about the actual quality of the game in question.
i have a buddy who can’t play video games that are older because he hates the way they look now, and feels as though they are no longer worth the time because of the way they look – the actual gameplay isn’t even a question. some people are like this, and must be wowed with ‘realistic’ graphics, whatever those are – i usually use the analogy of being able to see the sweat pour off a character’s knitted brow in a basketball game. sadly, so much of video game has become about the way it looks and not whether or not the game is actually a good game, and there has been a woeful glut of very pretty but generally bad video games on the market for a very long time.
i’m of the opinion that if a game is a good enough game the graphics are a secondary consideration. there is a reason people still play super mario brothers for the NES, or the original legend of zelda, or any number of great games for the snes, even though the graphics aren’t even up to GBA-level. those things don’t matter if the game is really good, and people who play video games for the actual game and not because it’s like watching a high-budget action movie know this.
also, if murumasa’s gameplay is ‘dated’, video games are dead. the very idea that there is no longer a place for a 2d sidescroller hack&slash game is totally absurd. i mean, really? dated? really?
Some Guy on September 17, 2009 at 4:04 pm
You should really, really, really go through Mother 3 whenever you have the time. I love Earthbound, but Mother 3—especially its story—is even more incredible. The translator did a good job too.
Buy the Fangamer guidebook if you feel like it too—it’s wonderful and lovingly made; I wouldn’t hesitate to call it the best game guide that I’ve ever bought.
Jody Anthony on September 17, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Yeah, I’m playing through Mother 3 now. I got about 12 hours in when the translation was released, but ended up stopping. After EarthBound though, I am giving it a new playthrough. I really did love that first 12 hours, and I’m looking forward to playing through that far again, and all the way through for the first time.
and I have that mother 3 handbook, it is fantastic.
MAL on September 17, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I have always wanted to play this. I have a feeling that as soon as I pony up what they are asking for on eBay, it will drop on the VC.
RTC on September 17, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I recently did the same thing. I was able to get Earthbound for about $70. I also had to get a SNES to play it on. But, my SNES was only $40 and it came with a bunch of other classics (Zelda, Mario world, Ys III and a few others). So I dropped $110 to play Earthbound. But, so far, it seems worth it. Besides, that’s the cost of two games for a “modern” console. And, I’m sure I would have enjoyed “Generic Bald Space-marine Shooter” and “Shigeru Miyamoto’s Game for Your Grandma” a lot less than Earthbound.
Jamie Love on September 17, 2009 at 7:52 pm
@RTC – Who told you about Game for Your Grandma?!? It’s still under embargo!
RTC on September 17, 2009 at 10:23 pm
@Jamie I just have an incredible ability to predict new games. Wait, I’ll do another… EA Tiburon is hard at work on a sequel to their recent sleeper hit. Expect more football action, and the return of a certain lovable (if somewhat elderly) announcer. Look for a release middle of next year. See? Uncanny isn’t it?
IronROB on September 18, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Yes, seeing as Japan doesn’t even have Mother 1 or 2 on the VC yet and is out of the Mother1+2 copies its become clear to me that Nintendo stopped caring about the series a long, long time ago in anyway whatsoever.
I have to start getting Mother 1 and Earthbound on Ebay or something.
naoshi on September 18, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Earthbound was the greatest shit ever. Don’t play fucking halo, just good games you cigarettes.
Nucbunnies on September 19, 2009 at 1:45 pm
thanks for the spoilers…
the.maverickk on September 19, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Continuing on the topic of classic cart games I walked into a store here in St.Catharines Ontario (I’m a Canadian afterall) and browsed the Retro game store which sells classic games.
I came across the following games, boxed and unboxed cartridge SNES games. They had Yoshi’s Island boxed for $30 dollars, Final Fantasy III boxed for $75, unboxed $60, Super Mario RPG Boxed $70, Super Mario Kart boxed $50, Earthbound boxed $95, Donkey Kong Country 2 boxed $30, Super Metroid boxed $40 unboxed $25… I could go on. The truth is that for some of the best of the best games of years past, you can pay just as much as any new game, even if they are used. I wished my budget had been bigger, but instead I walked out with Metroid II: Return of Samus, which cost me $8 unboxed, and a GCN Wavebird controller which set me back $45.
I’m just happy to finally get a chance to not just play but own the last Metroid game I have yet to play. As old, and colourless as it may be I will savor every moment of it.
@ Overtninja
I feel much the same way in terms of people I know… some will not touch any game that is 2D, side scroller, or that doesn’t have the most up to date graphics. Even worse are those who refuse to play anything that does not have an “Online” multiplayer feature. Especially that online games probably only make up 2% of the entire video game library since the beginning of time.
It makes me sad that people think Muramasa is dated because of it’s gameplay and mechanics, gameplay that serve as the core of some of the greatest games of all time, and have yet to be duplicated in 3D games.
Karma on September 22, 2009 at 2:26 pm
@naoshi: Fail troll is fail.
Please, by all means… continue to pretend that your worthless trolling opinion actually matters, somehow.
You’ll remain the only one who thinks so, while everyone else laughs in your face.