EarthBound: Difference between revisions

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155 bytes removed ,  23 March
cleanup, it's not really a sequel since it doesn't continue the story
(Rewording for clarity.)
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(cleanup, it's not really a sequel since it doesn't continue the story)
 
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{{Wikibound}}
{{Wikibound}}
'''EarthBound''', known in Japan as '''Mother 2''', is a {{c|1994}} {{c|RPG|role-playing}} game developed by [[Ape]] and [[HAL Laboratory]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the {{c|SNES|Super Nintendo Entertainment System}}. It is the sequel to [[EarthBound Beginnings]], which was formerly Japan-exclusive under the name Mother; like its predecessor, the game is set in the modern world, rather than the fantasy environments of its RPG contemporaries. Unlike its predecessor, the game was released in North America in 1995, but was not released in Europe until its {{c|Wii U}} rerelease in 2013.
'''EarthBound''', known in Japan as '''Mother 2''', is a [[role-playing]] game developed by [[Ape]] and [[HAL Laboratory]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[SNES]] in [[1994]]. It is the second game in the {{Mother}} series, following [[EarthBound Beginnings]]. Like its predecessor, the game is set in the modern world, rather than the fantasy environments of its RPG contemporaries. The game was released in North America in 1995, but was not released in Europe until its [[Wii U]] release in 2013.


Development began shortly after the release of Mother, running aground several times along with the project repeatedly facing threats of cancellation; it wasn't until HAL Laboratory president Satoru Iwata stepped in that Mother 2 began to see an eventual release. Releasing to critical acclaim in Japan, Mother 2 was released in the United States under the name EarthBound and was backed up by a massive advertising campaign; the game was a critical and commercial failure, however, owning to criticism directed toward the game's off-kilter marketing campaign and its art direction amidst RPGs like [[Chrono Trigger]] and [[Final Fantasy VI]]. It was only with the emergence of fan-community efforts that EarthBound regained relevance in the US, and the game was re-released for the [[Wii U]] Virtual Console in Japan in March of 2013 and worldwide in July that same year before being released for the [[Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console]] in March of 2016 and for the [[Nintendo Switch]] Online service in February of 2022. In Japan, it was re-released on the [[Game Boy Advance]] along with [[EarthBound Beginnings|the first game]] as [[Mother 1+2]] in June of 2003. On April 20, {{c|2006}}, a sequel titled [[Mother 3]] was released on {{c|Game Boy Advance}}, exclusively in Japan.
Development began shortly after the release of Mother, running aground several times along with the project repeatedly facing threats of cancellation; it wasn't until HAL Laboratory president Satoru Iwata stepped in that Mother 2 began to see an eventual release. Releasing to critical acclaim in Japan, Mother 2 was released in the United States under the name EarthBound and was backed up by a massive advertising campaign; the game was a critical and commercial failure, however, owning to criticism directed toward the game's off-kilter marketing campaign and its art direction amidst RPGs like [[Chrono Trigger]] and [[Final Fantasy VI]]. It was only with the emergence of fan-community efforts that EarthBound regained relevance in the US, and the game was re-released for the [[Wii U]] Virtual Console in Japan in March of 2013 and worldwide in July that same year before being released for the [[Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console]] in March of 2016 and for the [[Nintendo Switch]] Online service in February of 2022. In Japan, it was re-released on the [[Game Boy Advance]] along with [[EarthBound Beginnings|the first game]] as [[Mother 1+2]] in June of 2003. On April 20, [[2006]], a sequel titled [[Mother 3]] was released on the [[Game Boy Advance]], exclusively in Japan.


In retrospect, critics praised EarthBound upon its Wii U Virtual Console rerelease, with praise being directed towards the game's humor, tone, writing, and graphics, with a general consensus that the game had aged well over the years. EarthBound is now considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time.
Critics praised EarthBound upon its Wii U Virtual Console release for the game's humor, tone, writing, and graphics, with a general consensus that the game had aged well over the years. EarthBound is now considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time.


The game's story is largely distinct from that of its predecessor, but there are some elements and characters that connect the two games. Most notably, Giegue, renamed Giygas in the English version of EarthBound, reprises his role as the main antagonist from EarthBound Beginnings.
The game's story is largely distinct from that of its predecessor, but there are some elements and characters that connect the two games. Most notably, Giegue, renamed Giygas in the English version of EarthBound, reprises his role as the main antagonist from EarthBound Beginnings.