Earthbound turns 30, a Super Nintendo legend that is still very much alive

Super Nintendo continues to be for many the best console in the history of the Japanese company thanks to a catalog that continues to resonate strongly to this day and that was able to stand out at the highest level in a large number of genres.

One of the most notable was undoubtedly the JRPG and within it unforgettable titles such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI and Secret of Mana are some of the examples of a practically endless list, and among which also stands out what is possibly the most unique title in that entire Japanese role-playing catalog: Earthbound.

The second title in the series known in Japan as Mother (Gigu no Gyakushu) was first released in Japan on August 27, 1994, 30 years ago today. A cult classic, a legend that has become even more famous over time than it was in its time, being released in the West only in North America the following year in one of the most memorable editions of a big box with a detailed guide and the representation of monsters, characters and settings in clay.

A memorable game that had a sequel, Mother 3, on Game Boy Advance and which also remained in Japanese territory. Its first installment, originally released for Famicom, could be enjoyed in the West in 2015 thanks to its release on the Wii U Virtual Console under the name Earthbound Beginnings and which is available on Nintendo Switch Online.

Earthbound is full of humor, unforgettable characters and memorable situations that were made possible by the creative mind of Shigesato, a figure of enormous recognition in Japan with a unique history and profile.

An editor and essayist who has also dedicated himself to dubbing and acting as well as, of course, to video game design, creating the Mother saga, Monopoly games and a fishing game, with all his activity in the 90s except for Mother 3 released in 2006. Behind him, an immortal legacy in the video game industry that has helped such outstanding creators as Toby Fox and his excellent Undertale.

Earthbound and the dream of its return

A revered saga in the West despite how exclusive it has been, and that of its trilogy only its second title was released outside Japan and only in North American territory. That has not diminished the growing popularity and the rise of the legend of Earthbound over the years, and the fruit of this has been such charismatic characters as Ness and Lucas, protagonists of Mother 2 and 3, in the Super Smash Bros. saga.

The desire for a remake or a remaster in the HD-2D style that has brought so many gems around the JRPG in recent times, is one of the most talked about by fans of Nintendo and Japanese role-playing.

A legendary title that in its western version is far from most pockets, being one of the most precious and difficult to get jewels in its entirety on Super Nintendo, with a very particular style and a charisma that makes it unique and different from any other game of its time. Three decades on, Shigesato Itoi’s creation is still more alive than ever.