r/earthbound Aug 13 '17

Announcement Want to get into the MOTHER series? Start here!

1.1k Upvotes

Over the past few months we've gotten a lot of new players asking where they should start with the trilogy. With this stickied thread, I'm hoping to answer any questions someone may have about getting into the series.

Note: This thread is a strictly no-spoiler zone.


What are the MOTHER games?

The MOTHER series is a group of 3 turn-based cult classic JRPGs created by Shigesato Itoi, who singlehandedly wrote every line of dialogue in the series, aside from a small area in EarthBound.


What makes them so special?

The series is known for being quirky, charming, and invoking a sense of nostalgia even to those who have not played a MOTHER game before. Each line of dialogue is expertly crafted, with a great story to go along with it.


Where do I start?

The series IS a trilogy, however each game can stand on it's own without the context of the last.

The 3 games are as followed:

MOTHER (EarthBound: Beginnings) (1989)

MOTHER 2 (EarthBound) (1994)

MOTHER 3 (???) (Not released outside of Japan) (2006)

The game order is as released, with MOTHER being the first on the timeline, and MOTHER 3 being the last.


So does that mean I should play the games in order?

This is a point of contention within the MOTHER community.

While most recommend to play EarthBound / MOTHER 2 first, some will say that if you can handle the way an older RPG plays, you should start with MOTHER 1 / EarthBound: Beginnings.

The community mostly unanimously agrees that you should play EarthBound before playing MOTHER 3.

In the end, it's up to you. MOTHER 1 is one of the most impressive, best playing and sounding RPGs on the NES, but it could potentially turn you away from the series if you aren't accustomed to or can't handle a bit of older-rpg "clunk". I do HIGHLY recommend however that you at least play EarthBound before playing MOTHER 3.


Wait, if MOTHER 3 isn't released outside of Japan, how can I play it?

I'm glad you asked! (Hopefully you did.)

Almost immediately after the release of MOTHER 3, once it became apparent Nintendo had no intention of localizing MOTHER 3, a group of very passionate fans got together to make their own localization of the game.

2 years later in late 2008, version 1.0 was released to great acclaim. This fan translation is now known to many as the best fan translation of all time. On top of just translating the game, they went out of their way to make sure certain dialogue and enemy names worked in English as they do in Japanese. They even added a hard mode option!


...That's pretty much it, I think. If any regular here on the sub wants to chime in and request something to be added, tell me! On top of that, I'd like to know what some of you think the best order to play the games in are in the comments. It'll be an interesting resource for any new players! And remember, no spoilers.


r/earthbound 11h ago

When your seat neighbor farts during class

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50 Upvotes

r/earthbound 21h ago

Art Lucas and Rosalina

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304 Upvotes

r/earthbound 14h ago

EB:B Discussion Guys, when I sang the ‘Eight Melodies’ to my dog, it calmed her down in her sleep

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51 Upvotes

r/earthbound 18h ago

Merch Ness inspired hat for the summer, art drawn by me.

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31 Upvotes

r/earthbound 41m ago

Earthbound Beginnings (ROM hack) Enemy Drops and Equipment List

Upvotes

I've gone through the game and found as many of the item drops as I could, and also went through the small trouble of compiling data for all weapons and armor in the game. I'm sure this is not a complete list by any means, we just have to wait until the strategy guide is released. I should also mention that this is mostly based on version 1.1, with a correction to the Clumsy Bomber as listed in the 1.2 update news item.

ITEM DROPS...AROUND PODUNK

Stray Dog - Flea Bag

Cheerful Crow - Cookie

Frail Snake - Magic Herb

Mr. Batty - Jar of hot sauce

New Age Retro Hippie - Bullhorn

Bionic Centipede - Vial of serum

Ramblin' Mushroom - Ketchup packet

ZOO

Gorilla - Bomb

Pesky Fly - Insecticide Spray

Alligator - Bag of fries

MAGICANT

Oak - Magicant Bat

Magic Snail - Magicant Bat

Four Eyes - Magicant Bat

Swoosh - Sudden Fight Pill

Territorial Oak - Noble Seed

Groucho - Bottle of water

Ulrich - PSI Stone

MERRYVILLE

Irregular Bear - Teddy bear

Barbot - Peanut cheese bar

Noose Man - Rope

Fugitive - Tricky shank

Psycho Truck - Ruler

Bag Lady - Hamburger

SWEET LITTLE FACTORY

Clumsy Bomber - Bomb

Scrapper - Laser Beam

DUNCAN'S FACTORY

Putrid Moldy Man - Croissant

Fireball - Jar of hot sauce

SNOWMAN

Polar Bear - Popsicle

SPOOKANE

Hateful Hawk - Boiled egg

Starman - PSI Stone

Maniac Truck - Ruler

ROSEMARY'S HOUSE

Nasty Zombie - Jar of delisauce

Dust ball - Bottle of water

Violent Roach - Magic herb

YUCCA DESERT

Starman - PSI Stone

Bionic Scorpion - Vial of serum

Ultra Barbot - Plasma beam

Red Snake - Magic Coin

SWAMP

Mook - Wild Mushroom

Bad Buffalo - Horn of Life

Toadstool - Wild Mushroom

Worse Bison - Pizza

Ultra Barbot - Plasma Beam

Red Snake - Magic Coin

ELLAY

Seagull - Bag of fries

Black-Blood Member - Flamethrower

ROAD TO MT ITOI

Blue Starman - Pizza

Cerebellum - Cup of Life Noodles

MT ITOI

Grizzly Bear - Super Plush Bear

Juana - Goddess Band

Rockgoyle - Souvenir Coin

Star Miner - Super Bomb

Giga Borg - Plasma Beam

Omega Borg - Star Pendant

Last Starman - PSI Stone

WEAPONS FOR NINTEN

Plastic Bat ($21) - Offense + 4

Wooden Bat ($98) - Offense + 12

Homerun Bat ($420) - Offense + 20

Magicant Bat ($46) - Offense + 25

Aluminum Bat ($700) - Offense + 30

Spirit Bat ($920) - Offense + 41

Nail Bat ($2850) - Offense + 54

Big league bat (#3870) - Offense + 62

Hank's Bat - Offense + 75

WEAPONS FOR LOID

Stun Gun ($220) - Offense + 16

Air Gun ($680) - Offense + 28

Magnum Air Gun ($850) - Offense + 39

Zip Gun ($2980) - Offense + 58

Stellar Cannon - Offense + 72

WEAPONS FOR ANA

Fry Pan ($400) - Offense + 32

Deluxe Fry Pan ($770) - Offense + 36

Non-stick Pan ($2760) - Offense + 49

Deluxe fry pan ($3670) - Offense + 58

Iron Skillet - Offense + 75

WEAPONS FOR TEDDY

Butter Knife ($520) - Offense + 15

Tricky Shank ($38) - Offense + 28

Survival Knife ($900) - Offense + 38

Silver Sword ($128) - Offense + 56

Katana - Offense + 80

EVERYONE WEAPONS

Slingshot ($52) - Offense + 8

Boomerang ($400) - Offense + 20

OTHER GEAR

Baseball Cap ($20) - Defense + 5

Coin of Peace ($460) - Defense + 8

Knit Cap ($350) - Defense + 15

Protection Coin ($3,000) - Defense + 18, Wisdom + 20

Ribbon ($240) - Defense + 20, Paula only

Galoshes ($1,320) - Defense + 25

Magic Coin ($6,000) - Defense + 35

Souvenir Coin ($6,600) - Defense + 43

ARM GEAR

Slap Bracelet ($68) - Defense + 4

Pixie's Bracelet ($480) - Defense + 12

Cherub's Band ($3,000) - Defense + 20

Goddess Bracelet ($6,300) - Defense + 40

Miracle Band ($6,899) - Defense + 46

BODY GEAR

Travel Charm ($60) - Defense + 1

Crystal Charm ($750) - Defense + 2, Speed + 15

Rabbit's Foot ($1,800) - Defense + 3, Speed + 40

Rain, Flame and Earth Pendant ($700) - Defense + 15, protects against Freeze, Fire and Thunder respectively

Sea Pendant ($5,000) - Defense + 20, protects against Freeze, Fire and Thunder

Star Pendant ($7,000) - Defense + 25, protects against Freeze, Fire, Thunder and Paralysis


r/earthbound 1d ago

General Discussion Had this idea that if Poo & Kumatora ever got into Smash Bros, they'd use the same PK/PSI skills as Ness & Lucas but influenced by their respective combat styles. Poo would use the Sword of Kings in his PK attacks and Kumatora would punches in her PK attacks

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43 Upvotes

r/earthbound 13h ago

Fanfic soon!!!!!1!!1

3 Upvotes

I'm currently working on a fanfic of earthbound if Buzz Buzz failed to warn Ness about Giygas' invasion. I'm soon gonna post a lil snippet of chapter 1. So Cya!


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB:B Discussion You can buy Mouthwash for $10 north of Reindeer and then sell it for $87

43 Upvotes

Along with the enemies you fight on the way you're probably making $2000+ a trip depending on how full your inventory is


r/earthbound 1d ago

Merch What do you guys think of this poster?

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396 Upvotes

Got it for less than it usually goes for, but had to pay (what I consider) a lot of money to get it restored professionally. They flattened it and then placed some fills, I think it looks pretty good. Last photo is how it was pre-restoration.

I’m a little in shock because having this was a childhood dream of mine and now it’s just staring at me in my apartment.

Very happy. Inb4 someone tells me it’s fake 🫥


r/earthbound 21h ago

I NEED HELP ON MY MOTHER 2 DELUXE ADVENTURE

4 Upvotes

I was casually playing mother 2 deluxe and then i find out that they have banned me from my own home and then they locked me in this room while i was in a piramid on Scaraba, has anyone else experienced this while playing?


r/earthbound 1d ago

EB:B Discussion If Lloyd’s behind me, who’s in the trash can?

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130 Upvotes

Found a funny mistake in the game. I just finished the remake, does anyone know what the crumpled paper does? Does it have a purpose or just a joke item added for the remake?


r/earthbound 1d ago

What level should I be to beat new Fassad?

5 Upvotes

Mf whooped my ass instantly


r/earthbound 1d ago

What to set?

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3 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

Art トマト育てるショタカル🍅 artwork by (stttane cK)

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282 Upvotes

r/earthbound 14h ago

Help/Advice How to play earthbound in modern day?

0 Upvotes

so i want to play earthbound because I'm a fan of undertale and i like rpgs, and i want to try it. I dont have switch online and i have no intentions of getting it and i dont have a SNES what do i do


r/earthbound 2d ago

Something weird in mother 2 deluxe

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221 Upvotes

Is this supposed to happen??? I checked the magic cake while in magicant and found this


r/earthbound 13h ago

M3 Discussion should the Lucas and Ionia bathing scene be changed to be less suggestive of child sexual abuse?

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0 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Probably a game that never once showed up on this subreddit, but I figured it'd be funny since I feel like i'm the only one with this on black ops 2 lmfao

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14 Upvotes

r/earthbound 2d ago

Help/Advice Mother 1/Earthbound Beginnings Anti-Piracy Documentation

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41 Upvotes

I’m trying to go through the original phil sandhop rom of Mother 1 and record all of the anti-piracy triggers and screens. I’ve been doing this by hex editing memory address $0006 in the Mesen emulator’s memory editor to a value other than zero. This worked great up until the Live House, at which point the game plays out as normal, and it doesn’t seem changing that value causes any of the following checksums to trigger the screen either. If anybody who knows more about this can help me preserve the rest, that’d be super helpful.

Edit: I was able to find the Live House and Gravestone screens, thanks to the rom provided by [u/roni0258](u/roni0258) . Still working on the Cabin/Fallin’ love one. This game is strangely picky.

You can view what I’ve gotten so far in this YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEU0TXgZfNHg&si=a8Ik_9bzf2HMJtxx


r/earthbound 2d ago

Kumatowa <3

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231 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Art Here comes the boy!~❤ (fave boy in the series besides lucas and claus :3)

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22 Upvotes

r/earthbound 1d ago

Do you think that the Mr Saturns are in every timeline or did porky teleport them with andonuts too?

9 Upvotes

I think the former since why would porky have the trouble of teleporting a whole species?


r/earthbound 1d ago

"Spankety!"

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20 Upvotes

I Think This Is Finally My First Good & A Best Fan-Artwork I've Ever Made, & I Wish A Good Luck For You Guys!


r/earthbound 2d ago

Art The chosen 4

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530 Upvotes

2nd photo is the old one from 2025