This article is part of our new test series, Backlog Club, where we (Nintendo Life!) pick a game that is likely to be on the “game we should play” list, and then we (NL + you!) spend the next month playing it. Here’s the halfway point, Part One of two, where we stop for a minute to check out the game and how much we’re enjoying it.
In May 2022 (it’s May, etc.), we’re playing the JRPG SNES game, Earthboundand discover memories from our childhood that we never had…
My bedroom smelled like burned rubber. Not because I’ve thrown huge Formula 1 parties, or because my furniture is made of old tyres – but because I’ve read Pretty good Fangamer manual for Earthbound, which comes with its own scratch and sniff card, a copy of the card that came with the original game. And let me tell you: It is pungent.
The fact that I’ve spent my own well-earned press money on a book about the game I’m playing tells you a lot about how much I like Earthbound. Very rarely do I like a game enough to willing Do your homework on it, and although it helps that Fangamer’s notebook is a beautiful little thing, framed as a tour guide, it’s all thanks to Earthbound’s incredibly old self that i’m having a lot of success with almost 30 years – cold game. After all, most things start going downhill around 25, right…? (sobbed)
Much as Slay The SpireI still haven’t gotten very far, although it looks like I’m done load. I ventured from Onett to Twoson to Threed to Fourside, visit exciting Valley of Saturn on the go and wish I could stay there forever, and according to the manual, I’m only about page 122 out of 250. But Earthbound is one of those old fashioned JRPGs, rewards you for going back and looking for secrets in every alley and dead end, and I’m bleeding love and cherish confidential, so it may take some time for me to complete this section.
Now, it seems like I’m a little horribly late to the party at this party, because it looks like everyone and their moms have played Earthbound before – but that doesn’t seem to matter too much, since it’s kind of a the game that everyone want you to play, even if you are a little late. It had a pretty classic reputation, so my expectations were high and I was But also reluctantly ever let it go, because I hate when people insist that I do things. I am independent, dang it!
Admittedly, Earthbound has its enemies. The inventory system is, so to speak, more than a little bag where Ness (or Egg, as I have named him) keeps all the random things he finds, some of them are useful and some are not. and NO WAY TO KNOW THAT IS. And as I mentioned, there’s a lot of difficulty, and it’s easy to get lost, overwhelmed, or tired. Or all three.
But it’s completely seductive. In fact, I will tell you a little secret about trading. For whatever reason, game journalists in the UK really like to use the word “charming” to describe the game, often in reviews, because it creates a particular feeling: Complete Totally beaten by a serious fearless game, with a specific kind of enchantment that makes you smile, even if it’s a little rough around the edges.
“Charming” games are games where the wall between you and the developer is so thin that you can almost see them watching you play, like someone just gave you a Christmas present. they do it themselves – suspense, excitement and hope that you like this that they put their whole heart into.
And Earthbound To be seductive. It’s bewitchingly lovely, enchantingly eerie, deeply magical, and utterly unique. Somehow it captures that ’90s vibe (sorry, 9X people) that never really existed, because none of us have ever seen a UFO crash into our back garden, and although 20th century parents were a lot more lax than they are today, I doubt my mom would be very pleased with a 10-year-old I travel the world to save the world. Even when I call home from time to time.
However, I will admit that it is a tiring game. When I got to Fourside, I started to get a little frustrated with how much the NPCs expected of me – they wanted me to go back to my previous towns, donate crazy amounts of money, fix zombie problems their own, going round and round for what they’ve lost, and so on. I have my own mission, damn it! Leave me alone! I’m just a kid!
I know that fetching quests and side quests is part of the journey, but when all your progress is forward one step forward, twenty steps forward, three steps back, and sometimes crashing weird interdimensional space, you might feel a bit like not being allowed to eat your ice cream until you’ve finished other people math homework.
However, I’m having a good time. A nice time. One Ness time. I’m a little tired, but I wanted to see this through to the end, because there are so many unanswered questions: What’s the weird musical footprint? Who is Giygas? Will I ever meet the fourth character, Poo Klunk? And why does that quirky photographer keep interrupting me?
I am very happy to find out. Say “fuzzy pickles!”
Check out Zion’s adorable tribute to the Mother/Earthbound series above! This is not even a purposeful synergy! We’re just cool like that.
Don’t forget to vote in this month’s poll for Next Game of the Month, will be one of these murder mystery adventure stories:
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Do you enjoy playing/replaying Earthbound? Are you going to try Earthbound Beginnings and Mother 3? Let us know your thoughts so far in the usual way!
